Saving Grayton Beach
- Thread starter SoWalSally
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Awesome video! One of those pics was mine, would have been nice to have been asked!
So thankful to Bets and proud of my Dad, Brown Pinkston, one of the "Friends". Grayton Beach is indeed a very special place.
At least 10 of the pictures in this production are from the private Anna Smith/Sonny Hollingsworth collection. The Smith family has a long Grayton Beach history.
P.W. Smith visited Grayton Beach in 1899. His daughter, Anna Smith Hollingworth Reardon, would later write the story of this early beach visit along with other Smith memoirs. Anna's brother was Tuff Smith. Tuff and Alline Smith built their house in Grayton in 1925. The pictures of the boats coming in from fishing are Tuff.
Anna is featured in the one entertaining the troups. The Smith's loved their dogs and several of the dog pictures are from their collection. Sonny Hollingsworth is Anna Smith's son. He attended the SRB100 this year and enjoyed the worm thumping, an event Anna's sister wrote about recounting how she and her sister helped Tuff gather his worms for fishing.
The Smith house was across the street for many years from the Butler store. It has since been moved, but is still in Grayton Beach. It is the house featured with the car out front. The Smiths had moved to Walton County from South Dakota between 1901 and 1903. Others moved from South Dakota such as the Butlers. Sonny, Van Ness and Thornber were all school mates. L.I. Smith was the family patriarch and businessman who owned resorts in Camp Walton, a home on the historic circle in DeFuniak, numerous other interests in Northwest Florida and was a banker.
The Smith family also ran a dairy in DeFuniak Springs for many years (1906-1949). One of the original homes still stands on 331. Another home from the dairy was moved to Pt. Washington. Many families spent time living between DeFuniak, Grayton and other historic beach communities in South Walton.
P.W. Smith visited Grayton Beach in 1899. His daughter, Anna Smith Hollingworth Reardon, would later write the story of this early beach visit along with other Smith memoirs. Anna's brother was Tuff Smith. Tuff and Alline Smith built their house in Grayton in 1925. The pictures of the boats coming in from fishing are Tuff.
Anna is featured in the one entertaining the troups. The Smith's loved their dogs and several of the dog pictures are from their collection. Sonny Hollingsworth is Anna Smith's son. He attended the SRB100 this year and enjoyed the worm thumping, an event Anna's sister wrote about recounting how she and her sister helped Tuff gather his worms for fishing.
The Smith house was across the street for many years from the Butler store. It has since been moved, but is still in Grayton Beach. It is the house featured with the car out front. The Smiths had moved to Walton County from South Dakota between 1901 and 1903. Others moved from South Dakota such as the Butlers. Sonny, Van Ness and Thornber were all school mates. L.I. Smith was the family patriarch and businessman who owned resorts in Camp Walton, a home on the historic circle in DeFuniak, numerous other interests in Northwest Florida and was a banker.
The Smith family also ran a dairy in DeFuniak Springs for many years (1906-1949). One of the original homes still stands on 331. Another home from the dairy was moved to Pt. Washington. Many families spent time living between DeFuniak, Grayton and other historic beach communities in South Walton.
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Still think the old hotel, along with some other structures should be put on the historic register.
...I had printed this off at one time! Great story - Thanks for the reread!
It is amazing we still have such a large amount of gorgeous beach with dunes and state preserve - right in and all around Grayton Beach. It is what makes it so special! It is what makes it a favorite (and only) beach to so many.