Walton County and South Walton History

[SoWal Buff]

by Brenda Rees

The Spanish began naming towns, rivers and bays, usually after Saints, as they explored and colonized Florida in the 16th Century. In the 17th Century, following Saint Rose’s death and Sainthood, the Spanish name a major bay in what is now the Walton County, Florida area “Santa Rosa Bay” and publish the name on maps of Florida.

The name was changed by the British around 1778 to Choctawhatchee Bay. Thus, the longtime Spanish name of Santa Rosa Bay became unknown to many contemporary residents and visitors to South Walton and Florida.

During the American Revolution, the British have control of West and East Florida, their 14th and 15th colonies. British soldiers were marching from the capital of West Florida, Pensacola, to St. Augustine, the capital of East Florida. Elba Wilson Carswell said in his book, “Tempestuous Triangle” that the Stuart-Purcell map developed during this march changed the name to Choctaw Hatchee.

Carswell said it might have been a name misunderstanding. The bay had also been known as the Chacta-Hatchi after the Chatots, not Choctaw. Swanton also mentions this in his book “The Indian Tribes of North America.” The Spanish get Florida back for the last time after the Americans win their independence from the British.

Spain maintains control until Florida is wrested from them by the United States of America. Florida became a U.S. territory. Andrew Jackson shows up in 1821 to be the Governor of the Floridas and George Walton, Jr., our Walton County namesake, arrives to be Secretary of State for West Florida. Walton County is formed just a few years later, Dec. 29, 1824.

Per my research, United States postal records show Santa Rosa as the named post office in 1910. The Santa Rosa Beach post office is named on April 1, 1955 from Santa Rosa.

Many older beach communities in the area did not use this address at this time. For example, Pt. Washington had its own post office. Many Eastern Lake residents, for example, used Pt. Washington as their postal address.
Older Historical Communities in the Santa Rosa Beach Area
There are other historical communities in South Walton that are older than the 1910 platted Santa Rosa Plantation. Currently many of the older communities use the Santa Rosa Beach address as it is the area's official U.S. Post Office, while they maintain their historical identity. Pt. Washington, for instance, had a U.S. Post Office and many in the Eastern Lake area used this address as late as the 1970s. The Pt. Washington Post Office was recently closed. I have an 1886 map that clearly shows Pt. Washington.

John Wesley had a land grant in Pt. Washington in 1895. His son William H. Wesley and wife Katie, had a land grant in the Eastern Lake area in 1903. Their plat had Pt. Washington listed.

1910 Camp Walton Postcard from Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon collection. Anna's great Uncle L.I. Smith was the owner of the Gulfview hotel and resort in Camp Walton. Camp Walton is in Walton County at this time, so would be part of "South Walton." Okaloosa County wasn't formed until 1915, half out of Walton County and half from Santa Rosa County. Interestingly, most of South Walton had gone to Washington County in 1825 and did not return to Walton until 1913. So, Santa Rosa would have been in Washington County in 1910 while Camp Walton was in Walton.

L.I. Smith owned a beach resort in Camp Walton. See my other history blogs, especially "Anna's Stories" for pictures and early postcards of 1908 and 1910. L.I. Smith and his nephew P.W. Smith had traveled to Grayton Beach in 1899. They permanently moved from South Dakota to Walton County in 1903. The Florida Chautauquas of 1901, 1902 and 1903 had attracted them to Walton County. In today's NWFL paper (3-22-2010), it quoted Van Ness Butler saying his family came in 1907. The Butlers and Smiths were both from South Dakota.

In an email and telephone conversation recently, another gentleman in the area said he has pictures and notes from his family being in the Santa Rosa area around 1860.

A lot of this area is also known as the Emerald Coast. Many places in Northwest Florida have used the descriptive name "Emerald Coast" for many years.

More post office notes:
Of course, Miramar Beach has a post office now for Sandestin area residents. Sandestin is in Walton County and not in Destin, Okaloosa County which has its own post office and is an incorporated city with specific borders.

 

[Jane]

Walton County was organized by European Americans in 1824. It was named for Colonel George Walton Jr., secretary of the Florida Territory from 1821 to 1826. Walton, the son of George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born August 15, 1786, in Augusta, Georgia, and died March 20, 1859, in Petersburg, Virginia.[3]

Between 1763 and 1783 the territory that has since become Walton County was part of the colony of British West Florida. During this time British settlers permanently settled in the area, becoming the first English-speaking people to permanently reside in what is now Walton County. During this period Scottish settlers migrated from the backcountry of the Carolinas and settled in the Defuniak Springs area while English settlers, most of whom were either farmers or fishermen, settled in the southern portion of the county by the sea, settling throughout the area that has since become Santa Rosa Beach, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, Point Washington, Seaside and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Point Washington State Forest.

While the Scottish settlers had come from a recently established Scottish-majority settlement in North Carolina, the English settlers came largely from the English regions of Norfolk, Dorset and the western half of Sussex. Both the Scots village in the northern portion of the county and the English community along the coast were largely self-contained and had economies that were entirely operational without external trade, as all products in use were made within the two respective communities, and the only external trade was between the Scots in Defuniak Springs and the English farmers/fishermen by the coast. Neither community exported the goods they produced for profit, nor did they have any imported goods at all as both communities relied on self-produced subsistence agriculture.[4][5][6] The original settlements were in the Euchee (Yuchi) Valley, near the landing on the Choctawhatchee River that was maintained by a mixed-race Yuchi named Sam Story, whose mother was Yuchi and father was an early Scots trader in the area. The white settlers founded one of the first Presbyterian churches in Northwest Florida. It is still an operating parish and has a historical cemetery.

When the Spanish regained control of Florida in 1783, roughly two-thirds of the British settlers in Pensacola left the colony to find permanent habitation elsewhere, including in the Bahamas and Bermuda, however none of the English or Scottish settlers in what has since become Walton County left with them. The Spanish came to regard the English and Scottish settlers in what has since become Walton County as "stubborn" and "ungovernable" as the Spanish were unable to make them obey Spanish law. They unanimously refused to convert to Catholicism, despite the fact that Spanish law said they were only allowed to remain in Florida if they did so and the Spanish were unable to compel them to pay taxes to the local Spanish government. As settlers from the newly created United States of America began migrating into north Florida the English and Scottish settlers in what has since become Walton County became gradually absorbed into this community, which would subsequently become the majority population in North Florida.[4][5][6][7]

In 1860, there were roughly 573 military aged men in Walton County. Of that population, 62, or 11%, went to serve in the Union unit, the 1st Florida Cavalry Regiment that was mustered in on October 29, 1863.[8] The first Confederate monument in Florida, located at the Walton County Courthouse, records the names of 94 soldiers who died fighting for the Confederacy.[9]

In 1995, three planned communities designed by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk of the Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company were founded. The communities, named Alys Beach, Seaside, and Rosemary Beach are examples of a style of urban planning known as New Urbanism.[10][11] The final plan for Seaside was complete around 1985.[10]

Seaside was used as the main filming location of the 1998 film The Truman Show.[12]

 

[Jane]

Walton County's Early History

Source: Walton County Heritage Association

In the spring of 1820, Neil McLendon of Richmond County, North Carolina, his brother Lochlin, brother-in-law Daniel D. Campbell, John Folk and their families started out with their teams in the direction of Pensacola, Florida. After many days full of eventful happenings, the travelers reached Bluff Springs, Florida and camped for a while along the banks of the Escambia and Blackwater rivers. While in Pensacola on a trading trip, McLendon learned about a beautiful area up the choctawhatchee Bay that was then inhabited by a friendly tribe of Indians known as the Euchees. Soon afterwards, Sam Story, the chief of the tribe, was introduced to McLendon and extended to him a very cordial invitation. Upon seeing the new country, McLendon was well pleased. He chose a new home for his entire company. This settlement was on Bruce Creek opposite what is now known as Eucheeanna.


News of the new country spread...
News of the new country spread rapidly and soon emigrants from North and South Carolina began to roll into Florida. these emigrants settled in a fertile valley twenty-five miles wide where farming and the raising of sheep and cattle provided a good living for all. This valley was named Euchee Valley in honor of the friendly Euchee Indians who lived there for many generations.


Walton County was created in 1824...
Walton County was created in 1824; its present area is 1,028 square miles. Portions of territory were given in 1846 to help form Washington County. In 1848 a northeastern portion was given to Holmes County and in 1915, a western portion of Walton and an eastern portion of Santa Rosa counties were untitled to form Okaloosa County.
The census of 1920 reported...


The Census of 1920 reported the county population as 12,119. The 1980 census was 23,000, and the census of 1990 was 27,759. There are three incorporated towns in Walton County. DeFuniak Springs, the county seat, was incorporated in 1901, Paxton in 1953 and Freeport in 1963.


The county was named for...
The county was named for Colonel George Walton, secretary of West Florida during the territorial governorship of Andrew Jackson. Walton was the son of George Walton, Governor of Georgia and signer of the Declaration of Independence.


Since the early days, farming...
Since the early days, farming has been an important occupation of the majority of the citizens in Walton County. The soils of the county vary in character from the heavy river bottom lands to the lighter sandy loam of the hills, under-laid by clay subsoil. The latter type is especially adapted to the growing of wild Satsuma, grapes, pears, figs and peaches. The staple crops most produced are corn, soybeans, peanuts, wheat, sugar cane, sweet potatoes and forage crops.


One of the principal industrial developments...
One of the principal industrial developments of the county was poultry raising. The dairy and beef cattle businesses are established industries. Timber and related products (especially pine) are primary resources. tourism is also one of the largest industries in the county. The sugar white beaches are reported to be the most beautiful anywhere.


In 1881, Colonel W.D. Chipley...
In 1881, colonel W.D. Chipley, Major W.J. Vankirk and W.T. Wright, members of a surveying party seeking a route for the projected Louisville and Nashville Railroad, planned the town of DeFuniak Springs. As they roamed through the dense pine forest and rested on the grassy slopes near what is now known as Lake DeFuniak, they envisioned a prosperous settlement and named the location for Mr. DeFuniak, a then prominent official of the L&N Railroad.


A bond company was formed, a hotel built...
A bond company was formed, a hotel built and soon recruits began to arrive. among the first visitors was Dr. A.H. Gillet of the New York Chautauqua who was looking for a desirable location for the winter assembly. Dr. Gillet's visit resulted in the organization of the Florida Chautauqua Association in August 1884. Arrangements were made for the first assembly to be held February 10 to March 7, attracted much attention and soon families from near and far began to gather about the little town where they saw the realization of their desire for better educational advantages.


The success of the Florida Chautauqua programs...
The success of the Florida Chautauqua programs, presented continuously from 1885 to 1922, may be attributed to the genius and unselfish devotion of the Honorable Wallace Bruce and his son, Mr. Kenneth Bruce, whose combined years of leadership nearly spanned the life of the original Florida chautauqua era. In 1976 the citizens of Walton County expressed a great desire to preserve this great heritage and revived the Chautauqua spirit by way of an annual calendar of events.


The first institution for higher learning...
The first institution for higher learning in Walton County was the Knox Hill Academy which was founded in 1884. For more than half a century, this school rendered a real service to the youth. The most outstanding recognition gained by the school was during the years when Professor John Newton, a pioneer schoolmaster of Pennsylvania, directed its activities.


The State Normal School...
The State Normal School for white students was authorized by the Constitution of 1885, and opened in DeFuniak Springs on Monday, October 3, 1887. it was devoted exclusively to preparation of teachers for the schools of Florida and was, at that time, the only school of its kind in the state. In 1904, the Normal School was purchased from the state by the Honorable Daniel Campbell and others of DeFuniak Springs in 1906. It was the purpose of the purchasers to give to the public an institution of learning where people of all denominations might send their children to be educated under distinctly Christian influences. The institution was named Palmer College in honor of the late Reverend B. M. Palmer, the first moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. The school opened on October 2, 1907 and, through 1916, offered four-year college degrees as well as preparatory courses. General elementary school and secondary school courses were offered through the spring term of 1936. Due to financial difficulties, the trustees decided not to open the school in the fall of that year.


The Thomas Industrial Institute was founded...
The Thomas Industrial Institute was founded as a memorial to Dr. Hiram W. Thomas of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Thomas was a great believer in industrial education long before vocational features we introduced in the schools of the country.


The county's first high school was...
The county's first high school was established in DeFuniak Springs in 1903, just a year before the close of the Normal School. It was constructed in 1901 at a cost of $15,000 and was said to be second to none in the state. Many of the early teachers were also pastors of country-side churches. In numerous instances, the same building was a classroom on weekdays and place of worship on Sunday.


Tivoli Elementary and Junior High Schools were established...
Tivoli Elementary and Junior High Schools were established in 1912 for black students. Grade 10 was added in the 1935-36 school year, grade 11 in 1936-37 and grad 12 in 1937-38. The schools were closed in 1969. Currently, the Tivoli Complex is used for district administrative offices.


The historic downtown area is home to...
The historic downtown area is home to Lake DeFuniak, a naturally round lake that is approximately one mile in circumference and perhaps fed by a small natural spring. The lake is surrounded by beautiful homes and three churches, along with the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood and the Walton-DeFuniak Library, which is the oldest continuously operating library in the state of Florida.


The lake yard is home to Christmas Reflections...
The lake yard is home to Christmas Reflections from the day after Thanksgiving to December 31. Millions of lights illuminate the pines and oaks along with seasonal displays.


Beautiful historic DeFuniak Springs is located...
Beautiful historic DeFuniak Springs is located in the heart of Florida's panhandle at the crossroads of Highway 331 and Interstate 10 and has an estimated population of 5,200.

 

[Jane]

1814-1818

Andrew Jackson entered Florida in search of Indians. The majority of Indians were in central Florida, but sizeable bands lived in northwest Florida.
1820

Neil McLendon became the first white man to enter Walton County for the purpose of making his home there. His daughter Anna is said to be the first white child born in Walton County.
1821

On July 17, 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States of America, making Florida a United States territory.
On July 21, 1821, the Florida territory was divided into two counties, Escambia on the west and St. Johns on the east.
Henry M. Brackenridge met Andrew Jackson on the Mississippi River and became Jackson’s secretary for his upcoming mission to the new Florida territory.
The yellow fever epidemic killed 300 of the 400 residents in Pensacola.

1822

Jackson County was formed from Escambia County.
On June 11, 1822, Henry M. Brackenridge was appointed Judge for the West Florida territory.
Brackenridge purchased land on Santa Rosa Sound and conducted court session in Pensacola, Chipola, Tallahassee, and Webbville.

1824

Walton County was created from Escambia and Jackson counties on December 29, 1824 (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 2/p. 260).
The county was named for Col. George Walton, Secretary of the West Florida Division, 1821-1826.
Alaqua was the first county seat of Walton County.
Work commenced on a road between Pensacola and Tallahassee, which would pass through Walton County.

1825

Walton County gained territory from Escambia County, exchanged some territory with Jackson County, and lost some territory to the formation of Washington County (Fla. Terr. Acts 1825, 4th sess., p. 35).
1826

During the first quarter of the year, James Exum and James Lane surveyed land in Alaqua. A settler named Vaughn was living near what is now Alaqua Methodist Church (Steele Church).
1828

Henry M. Brackenridge was appointed Judge for the District of West Florida.
Brackenridge purchased land in Alaqua.
On August 22, 1828, Hardy Wood recorded his land deed that touched a corner of Brackenridge’s land.

1829

On May 15, 1829, Judge Brackenridge recorded his land deed.
1830

Tallahassee was selected as the state capital of Florida.
Freeport was first settled; its former names were “Genoa” and “Four Mile Landing.”
On June 1, 1830, the first court session was held at Alaqua in Brackenridge’s home that he shared with James Evans.
The federal census of September 27, 1830, listed 1,207 persons in Walton County.
The second court session was held on December 1, 1830, Florida vs. Pagget and Alley.

1831

Henry G. Ramsay, Clerk of the Superior Court of Walton County, sent his report about the last six months of court proceedings on June 6, 1831.
1836

The Seminole War was fought in Walton County.
1837

The first post office in Freeport was built near the location of the present Freeport Middle School.
On February 28, 1937, members of the Alberson family who lived on the Alabama/Florida border were killed by Indians.
In April 1837, a family near a Blackwater River lumber mill captured a Creek family, causing incidents between the Creeks and other settlers.
On May 13, 1837, Indians attacked a white encampment. Both sides suffered four casualties each.
On May 19, 1837, a skirmish called Battle Bay, which was near Bruce, resulted in three white and ten Indians dead.
Governor Richard Keith called on militias from Jackson, Washington, and Franklin counties to help in the battles against the Indians.
At the end of May 1837, about 70 Creeks surrendered and were taken west.

1838

The Second Creek War in Alabama started in July 1838, during which Indians raided the Panhandle area.
1840

The first store in Freeport was opened.
The federal census of 1840 listed two persons drawing a war pension, Joab Horn and Aaron Snowden.

1845

On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States of America.
The county seat was moved to Eucheeanna.

1846

A portion of Walton County was taken to form Washington County.
1848

A portion of Walton County was taken to form Holmes County on January 8, 1848 (Fla. Laws 1847, 3d sess., ch. 176, sec. 1/p. 45).
Knox Hill Academy was founded. It was the first institute of higher learning in the county.

1851

On January 11, 1851, Walton County gained part of Santa Rosa Island from Escambia County and exchanged some territory with Santa Rosa County. (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., ch. 411/p. 146)
1853

Walton lost some territory to Santa Rosa County. (Fla. Laws 1852, 6th sess., ch. 571/p. 145)
1855

Union Springs Baptist Church was the first church in the community.
1858

Cotton and corn were the major crops in Eucheeanna.
1859

Knox Hill Pottery was operated by M. M. Odom and Robert Turnlee.
1863

Alaqua Methodist Church (Steele Church) was founded.
1864

The Civil War came to Freeport.
Union forces surprised the village of Eucheeanna on September 23, gathering horses and mules, and making prisoners of fifteen private citizens.

1870

The first turpentine still was founded in the eastern part of what would become DeFuniak Springs.
1871

The first monument in Florida to honor its Confederate dead was placed in Eucheeanna.
1875

Freeport’s first church, Freeport Presbyterian, was constructed.
1878

Mount Nebo Church in was built in what would become DeFuniak Springs.
1881

On January 27, 1881, Walton County was granted concurrent jurisdiction with Washington County over the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay. (Fla. Laws 1881, 11th sess., ch. 3258/p. 73)
Work commenced on the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, linking Pensacola with Chattahoochee on June 1, 1881.

1882

The railroad reached the area, and a depot was built.
A group of railroad executives gambled to see whose name would be on the new town. Col. Frederick DeFuniak won.
The “Funiak” Post Office was established, most likely across from the old railroad depot on Circle Drive.
Murry Cawthon moved to DeFuniak Springs with his wife and eight sons. He built one of the first houses in DeFuniak Springs on Hwy. 90. Harley Henderson had it moved to South Walton in 2000.

1883

The railroad between Pensacola and Chattahoochee was completed.
The First Presbyterian Church was established in DeFuniak Springs.

1884

The Florida Chautauqua Association was established.
W. D. Chipley platted the city of DeFuniak.
The Chautauqua Hotel was built.
W. B. Saunders published the first issue of The Signal, the first newspaper in Walton County.
The Magnolia Cemetery property was donated by Murray Cawthon.
The first baby born in DeFuniak Springs was Fannie Lee Cawthon.
The first hotel was on Baldwin Avenue in the middle of what is now 9th Street.

1885

The first Florida Chautauqua Assembly was held from February 18 until March 7, 1885.
The county seat office in Eucheeanna burned. All records were lost.
The McCormick Institute, the first private school in DeFuniak Springs, opened.
The Southern Forestry Conference met on Lake DeFuniak in December 1885.

1886

What was to become the Florida Education Association first met on March 4th in the Chautauqua building.
William J. Van Kirk of the Lake DeFuniak Land Company revised the plan for DeFuniak Springs.
The first courthouse in DeFuniak Springs was built, making it the county seat.
The Confederate monument was placed on the front lawn of the courthouse.
The library was built. It remains the oldest library in continuous service in Florida.

1887

The State Normal School in DeFuniak Springs opened on October 3, 1887.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.
There were approximately 150 buildings in DeFuniak Springs.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, Northern Branch, was established.
The P. L. Biddle home was built and was later placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1888

Larkin Cleveland purchased The Signal and renamed it the DeFuniak Springs Herald.
Wallace Bruce built Dream Cottage, the second oldest house on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.
The jail in DeFuniak Springs was built. The jailer’s wife often assisted female prisoners. Male prisoners were allowed in the halls and on the porch.

1889

The original train depot was replaced by the current one on Circle Drive.
The McCormick Institute closed because its building was destroyed by fire.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.
The Northern Methodist Church was built on Circle Drive.

1890

The population of DeFuniak Springs was 672; the county’s population was approximately 2,000.
St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church was organized.
The Presbyterian Church was built on Circle Drive, but the original building was later destroyed by a storm.
A room at the Hotel Chautauqua was $2.00 a day, the same price as renting a saddle horse for a day.

1892

The first issue of The Florida Chautauqua quarterly newsletter was published.
Royal W. Storrs started The Breeze newspaper.
A pear orchard of 500 trees in Walton County was expected to yield six bushels per tree.

1893

William Rogers and Company, which later became Beach-Rogers & Co., opened its lumber mill.
The congregation of St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church started meeting.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.

1894

Wallace Bruce chaired the Chautauqua Assembly starting in 1894 and lasting until his death in 1914.
1896

The St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church building was erected on Circle Drive.
1897

Dr. G. P. Morris and his wife, who was also a physician, opened the DeFuniak Springs Sanitarium for chronic diseases.
1898

DeFuniak Springs experienced an unusual snowstorm in the winter.
On September 19, a fire destroyed 22 wooden buildings on Baldwin Avenue in DeFuniak Springs.

1899

King & Co., a drug, grocery, hardware, and dry goods store, at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Sixth Street, opened on December 12th. It closed in 1998.
1900

The population of DeFuniak Springs was 1,661.
1901

DeFuniak Springs was incorporated. It was 265 feet above sea level, 270 feet above the Gulf of Mexico.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, began meeting in DeFuniak Springs.

1902

The First Baptist Church was organized.
1903

The first high school was established in DeFuniak Springs.
The Big Store on Baldwin Avenue was built by Burress Cawthon.
The Cawthon State Bank building on the corner of Baldwin and 8th opened.

1904

First National Bank was founded at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 7th Street.
The First Baptist Church was built at the corner of Live Oak and 11th Street. It burned in 1926.

1905

The Florida State Normal School was closed; women were sent to Tallahassee and men to Gainesville.
Smith’s Dairy, which was located two miles south of DeFuniak Springs, opened.
Frederick DeFuniak, for whom DeFuniak Springs was named, died in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 29th.

1906

Cawthon State Bank was founded at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 7th Street.
1907

Palmer College and Academy, the first junior college in Florida, opened in DeFuniak Springs. It closed in 1916.
The first public water works system in DeFuniak Springs was installed.
A hotel and sanitorium was built on 8th Street by Dr. G. P. Morris and wife (also a physician).
The Methodist Episcopal Church branches, North and South, merged.

1908

A flowing well was constructed in Freeport.
The first brick school building in DeFuniak Springs was the high school, which was built at a cost of $15,000. It later became Maude Saunders Elementary School.

1909

The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was completed at a cost of $28,000. The auditorium could seat 4,000.
Electricity was available in DeFuniak Springs by the end of the year.
Charles and Minnie Gordon purchased the first Ford automobile in Walton County.

1910

Alterations were made to the DeFuniak Springs train depot.
Several sections of the walkway around Lake DeFuniak were paved.

1911

Alterations were made to the DeFuniak Springs train depot.
John L. McKinnon published History of Walton County.

1912

Tivoli School opened in DeFuniak Springs as an elementary and junior high school for blacks.
The name of the Hotel Chautauqua was changed to the Walton Hotel.

1913

Walton County gained territory from Washington County on May 17, 1913. (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6508, sec. 1/p. 359)
The Thomas Industrial Memorial Institute opened on South 2nd Street in DeFuniak Springs. It closed in 1924.

1914

Newton Hall, the boys dormitory at Palmer College, was completed at a cost of $20,000.
W. B. Harbeson moved his large sawmill from Mississippi to Baldwin Avenue in DeFuniak Springs.
A fire destroyed Freeport’s first hotel, the San Gala Hotel.

1915

The Palmer College administration building was destroyed by fire and other buildings were damaged on January 30th.
The DeFuniak Springs Woman’s Club was organized.
A portion of Walton County was taken to form Okaloosa County on September 7, 1915 (Fla. Laws 1915, 15th sess., gen., ch. 6937, secs. 1, 24-25/pp. 303, 310; HRS Fla., Okaloosa, 6).
McCaskill residence in Freeport was turned into a hotel.

1916

The Walton High School building was converted to the Maude Saunders Elementary School.
Palmer College closed.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs with 700 teachers and superintendents attending.

1917

Sidney J. Catts of DeFuniak Springs was inaugurated as Governor of the State of Florida.
1918

The United States entered World War I.
The first water tower was built in DeFuniak Springs. It was replaced in 1991.

1920

The population of DeFuniak Springs was 2,097.
1921

Murray’s Theater, the first movie theater, was built by Charles Murray on Baldwin Avenue.
1924

The Thomas Industrial Memorial Institute closed at the end of the school year.
The First National Bank clock was installed at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 7th Street.
Former Governor Sidney J. Catts purchased Sunbright Manor on Live Oak Avenue.

1925

The Walton County Chamber of Commerce was organized.
The population of DeFuniak Springs was 2,359, an increase of 262 people since 1920.
The population of Walton County was 13,664.

1926

Fire destroyed the First Baptist Church building at the corner of 11th Street and Live Oak Avenue.
The current courthouse was built in DeFuniak Springs, and the Confederate monument was placed nearby.
The city-owned utility company was sold to Gulf Power Company.

1927

The Chautauqua Assembly of the early 1900s was dissolved.
A new brick building and educational center for the First Baptist Church opened on Christmas Day.

1928

Circle Drive, which was originally called Wright Avenue, was paved.
1930

The P. W. Miles Lumber Company bought the Beach-Rogers mill.
The Bethel Presbyterian Church was established on Roosevelt Avenue in DeFuniak Springs.

1931

Allison’s Grocery was started by Fennie Allison and her husband.
St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church constructed its first building in DeFuniak Springs.

1934

The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was sold to the City of DeFuniak Springs.
1935

Palmer College closed.
10th grade students were added to Tivoli School.
Henry Koerber started his chicken and feed business east of DeFuniak Springs.

1936

11th grade students were added to Tivoli School.
The Kiwanis Club was organized.

1937

12th grade students were added to Tivoli School.
The first Florida Music Festival was organized by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

1940

The Pilot Club was organized.
1941

The United States entered World War II.
Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Works built a bottling plant on North 9th Street in DeFuniak Springs.
Electricity came to Freeport.

1943

The W. B. Harbeson sawmill had already closed after a fire, and most of the equipment was sold in 1943.
The first Freeport school burned down.

1944

The U.S. government procured land for the Eglin Reservation, forcing houses and churches to be abandoned.
Members of the Cosson family were killed by the error of an Eglin Reservation pilot.

1945

Southwide Baptist Church was established to replace the Alice Creek and New Home Baptist Churches.
1946

The building that was built for the Sanitarium and later housed the state welfare office burned down.
The bridge connecting Freeport to South Walton was built.

1948

The DeFuniak Springs Garden Club was formed.
1949

Smith’s Dairy ceased operation. It is said to have been the oldest continuously operated dairy farm in Florida.
1954

The poultry plant opened. It closed in 2004.
1955

Ina Simmons Thompson was the first woman appointed to the Governor’s “Little Cabinet.” She served as head of Motor Vehicle Licensing.
Maude Saunders Elementary School ceased using the 1909 building that was built for Walton High School.

1956

The Breeze newspaper was purchased by the DeFuniak Springs Herald.
1963

Lakeside Hospital opened.
The New Walton Hotel building was demolished.

1964

The Walton County Hospital on College Avenue was built.
1971

The last passenger train stopped at the DeFuniak Springs depot on April 21.
1972

The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1973

Henry Koerber sold his poultry business to Showell Farms.
1975

Hurricane Eloise passed through DeFuniak Springs, destroying the Chautauqua Building’s auditorium.
1977

The new Walton High School was built on Walton Road.
1979

Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Works closed its DeFuniak Springs bottling plant.
1981

A new building was completed for St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church in DeFuniak Springs.
1982

The City’s Centennial Celebration brought descendants of Frederick DeFuniak from Birmingham to DeFuniak Springs.
1983

The Walton County Heritage Association was formed from the group called STOP (Save This Old Place) which had been restoring the Chautauqua Theater.
1991

The first water tower in DeFuniak Springs was replaced.
1992

Allison’s Grocery closed.
Chautauqua Winery opened.

1994

Showell Farms sold its poultry business to Perdue.
1998

King Hardware closed after almost 100 years in business.
2000

The City restored the L & N Railroad depot.
Harley Henderson moved the 1882 Murry Cawthon house to south Walton.

2002

The Walton County Heritage Museum opened on July 4th in the train depot building.
2003

The piers on Lake DeFuniak were replaced.
The women who operated the H & M Hot Dog stand retired, and a new owner reopened it.
A new hospital was built on Freeport Road (Hwy. 331).

2004

Perdue closed its poultry processing plant in DeFuniak Springs.

Walton Past to Present – People and Places in Walton County, Florida

waltonpast2present.com

 

[Jane]

Native American Influence

In the 1700s and 1800s, Native American tribes including the Muscogee, Creek and Euchee Indians lived in and around Walton County. Today, the Muscogee Nation of Florida is 1,100 members strong. For generations, the Muscogee people have strived to preserve their language, culture, songs, stories and way of life. Today, the Muscogee Nation of Walton County, located at 278 Church Road in the town of Bruce, seeks to share its heritage with residents and visitors alike. The historic schoolhouse is filled with crafts and work of the tribe’s elders.


DeFuniak Springs

Located in northern Walton County, DeFuniak Springs was founded in 1880 and is the county seat. At the heart of this historic town is one of two naturally round spring-fed lakes in the world (the other is located near Zurich, Switzerland). DeFuniak Springs started out as a railroad town, serving as a stop on the route of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. In February 1885, the Chautauqua Assembly, a cultural celebration originally held at a campsite on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in New York, held its first winter celebration in DeFuniak Springs. This annual assembly, which brought in speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day, transformed DeFuniak Springs into one of the cultural centers of the southeast until the late 1920s.

Today, efforts are underway to continue the cultural activities of the town. The community continues the tradition of holding the Chautauqua Assembly each February. DeFuniak Springs is also focused on preservation and a walk through the historic district around the lake is like a journey back in time. Historic buildings await exploration and a canopy of towering mossy oaks shade the roadways. A stroll down the quiet streets allows visitors to admire ornate, Victorian-style homes, representative of time when labor and materials were plentiful and elaborate architectural details were featured in nearly every home.

The Walton-DeFuniak Library was established in 1886 and is the oldest library in the state still serving the public (the library in St. Augustine is only library that is older). Also located in the historic district is the Depot Station, which today houses the Walton County Heritage Association and Museum, filled with relics from Walton County’s past. Down the street, the Historic Chautauqua Building (aka Hall of Brotherhood) was established in 1909 and served as an enclosed amphitheater. The building was severely damaged during a Hurricane Eloise in 1975; however, several portions of the building have been restored. The building continues to serve as a focal point of the community, and is used for a wide variety of activities.


Paxton

Located near the north edge of the county, Paxton became home to the area's first sawmill in 1903. As the commerce around the mill increased, the community grew. Today, Paxton continues to flourish and grow from its early farming roots and is also the site of the highest point in Florida at 345 feet above sea level. Known as Britton Hill in the Lakewood County Park, the unique Florida plateau is photographed by hundreds of visitors each year.


Freeport

With the introduction of sawmills, logging, and turpentine processing, other areas in Walton County began to grow and prosper. The town of Freeport benefited greatly from these industries and soon became a renowned shipbuilding center along the gulf coast. The town’s name is derived from its early roots as a shipping port that was free from any type of imported goods tax. Due to this, the ships would deliver or pick up goods tax-free, making it a popular and successful port in Walton County.


Santa Rosa Beach

In the late 1800s, towns were beginning to form south of the Choctawhatchee Bay. By the early 1900s, Hogtown Bayou in Santa Rosa Beach was a bustling town center. Steamboats bringing in residents from Mobile and Pensacola helped to quickly grow the area’s population to nearly 1,200 people. Unfortunately, a crop disaster followed by a hurricane spelled doom for the town. The town eventually took on a lawless "Wild West" vibe and many residents boarded steamboats and left en masse. The town's hotels, churches, stores, cafés, and cottages took on the feeling of a true ghost town. The few remaining locals eventually dismantled the town for lumber. Today, Cessna Landing (named for the town founder) is a public park and quiet place with picnic areas and a fishing dock. Next to the park, the Bayou Arts Center of Walton County hosts groups for art classes, workshops and other cultural events.


Point Washington

The historic community of Point Washington lies on the Choctawhatchee Bay and includes several bayous. A busy sawmill was the center of activity around the turn of the century, shipping lumber around the world. Today, the historic Wesley Mansion, located in Eden State Gardens, is one of the few historic treasures that still exist in South Walton.


Grayton Beach

Along the beach, there was also activity. In 1885, Army Major, Charles T. Gray built a homestead along the coast. At the time, the federal government owned much of the land and few people had reason to settle there. The soil was too sandy to farm and there were better timberlands inland. The closest settlement was at Point Washington to the north. Five years later, Army General William Miller and William Wilson moved their families there and mapped out where the village's streets and blocks would be built. Named after Major Gray, Grayton Beach celebrated its 110 year anniversary in 2000.

Reaching Grayton Beach at that time was not easy. There were no bridges over the Choctawhatchee Bay, and what roads existed were merely sand trails. In 1913, W. H. Butler and his son, Van R. Butler, made the day-long trip from DeFuniak Springs to Grayton Beach and ended up staying. W. H. Butler decided to start a resort project and bought most of what is now Grayton Beach. The Butler family built and rented cottages, sold an occasional lot and operated the town’s general store and a dance hall (site of the present-day Red Bar).

Access to Grayton Beach became easier with the construction of Highway 98 and the Highway 331 bridge in the 1930s, and Grayton began booming. In the 1940s, the addition of electricity and the beginning of World War II brought more people to the town. In 1942, the U. S. Coast Guard established a 40-man station here, and the federal government rented many of the homes for barracks and offices. The only building still standing in Grayton Beach that is thought to date back to the beginning of the town is a two-story home, known as the Wash-A-Way, at the end of County Road 283. In the Wash-A-Way, you can find the name of one guardsman written in ink on the wall of a closet he used as a darkroom.

The community and the state have helped keep Grayton Beach small by virtually surrounding the community with park land. In 1967, the state used its land east of the town to create Grayton Beach State Recreation Area. In 1985, after years of lobbying by residents, Florida bought the village's beachfront and the dunes and forest land to the west and north.

Historically the development of Walton County can be attributed to its largest industry at the time, farming. As time passed, other industries such as logging and the harvesting of pine gum and turpentine played a vital role in the growth of the area. Watch our History Of South Walton video.

Today, tourism contributes greatly to the county’s success. Annual events and historical and cultural festivals throughout the year showcase Walton County's rich heritage.

 

[Jane]

Walton county beach history - Walton County Beaches

The history of South Walton, Florida beaches is deeply intertwined with the development of the region and its transformation into a popular tourist destination. Here's an overview of the historical evolution of these beautiful coastal areas:

Early Settlement and Native American Influence:

- The history of South Walton's beaches begins with the presence of Native American tribes, including the Muscogee (Creek) and Choctaw, who inhabited the area for centuries.

- These tribes had a significant influence on the region's early history, leaving behind traces of their culture and lifestyle, which can still be seen in the area's place names and archaeological sites.

Colonial and Early American Period:

- The arrival of European explorers and colonizers, particularly the Spanish, in the 16th century, impacted the region's development. Spanish exploration and attempts at colonization left a mark on the area's history.

- Over time, the United States' expansion and acquisition of Florida in the early 19th century led to an influx of settlers and the establishment of permanent communities along the coast.

Agriculture and Timber Industry:

- Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the region's economy was primarily based on agriculture, including cotton farming, and the timber industry.

- The abundance of timber and the development of the lumber trade played a crucial role in the economic development of the area.

Tourism and Development:

- The rise of tourism in South Walton can be traced back to the early to mid-20th century when the area began to attract visitors seeking the natural beauty of its beaches.

- The development of infrastructure, such as highways and later airports, contributed to the accessibility of the region, leading to an increase in tourism and the construction of vacation homes and resorts.

Modern Era and Sustainable Development:

- In recent decades, South Walton has become known for its commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation. The communities in the area have worked to balance the growth of tourism with the conservation of the region's natural resources.

- This focus on environmental stewardship has contributed to the area's appeal, attracting visitors who appreciate the unspoiled beauty of the beaches and surrounding landscapes.

Today, South Walton's beaches are celebrated for their pristine sands, clear waters, and unique coastal dune lakes, offering a serene and picturesque escape for visitors from around the world.


Walton County, Florida is renowned for its stunning beaches and beach communities, particularly in South Walton County. Here's a detailed overview of some of the notable beaches and beach communities in the area:


1. **Seaside**: Known for its pastel-colored beach houses and New Urbanist design, Seaside gained fame as the filming location for "The Truman Show." The community features quaint shops, art galleries, and a central amphitheater. Its pristine beach is characterized by powdery white sand and emerald waters.


2. **Rosemary Beach**: This planned community boasts an elegant, European feel with cobblestone streets and a mix of Caribbean and New Orleans architectural influences. Visitors and residents can enjoy boutique shopping, fine dining, and access to a beautiful beach.


3. **WaterColor**: As part of the larger Santa Rosa Beach area, WaterColor offers a mix of luxury homes, boutique shops, and upscale dining options. The area is known for its natural beauty, including coastal dune lakes and access to the Gulf of Mexico.


4. **Grayton Beach**: Grayton Beach State Park is a highlight of this area, offering pristine beaches and a laid-back, bohemian atmosphere. The community is home to charming beach cottages, art galleries, and a range of outdoor activities.


5. **Alys Beach**: Recognizable by its striking architecture and pristine landscaping, Alys Beach is a luxury community with a focus on sustainability and beauty. The beach here is part of the larger South Walton Beaches and offers a tranquil and upscale experience.


6. **Miramar Beach**: Located to the west of South Walton, Miramar Beach is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and access to amenities such as the Silver Sands Premium Outlets. The beach features powdery sand and clear waters, making it a popular destination for vacationers.


7. **Dune Allen Beach**: This beach community offers a more secluded and quiet atmosphere, with access to coastal dune lakes and a range of natural landscapes. It's a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts and those looking for a serene beach experience.


8. **Inlet Beach**: As the easternmost community in South Walton, Inlet Beach provides a more relaxed and residential feel. Visitors can enjoy quiet beaches, access to Camp Helen State Park, and charming local eateries.

These communities collectively make up the renowned South Walton Beaches, known for their natural beauty, upscale amenities, and a diverse range of experiences for visitors and residents alike.

 

[Jane]

https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321166

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF WALTON COUNTY .

In the spring of 1820, Neill McLendon of North Carolina made his way into what is now Walton County. Going on foot and alone into the Euchee Valley, he formed a friendly alliance with Sam story, the chief of the Euchee Indians, and received from the chief a gift of as much land as he chose to 'blaze' around".

Thus does Caroline Mays Brevard describe the first settlement of Walton county by a scotchman, who, returning for his wife and children, left a comfortable settlement to brave new perils. Later west Florida was to become too crowded for him and he was again to break with the old and set out for Texas.

The trail the McLendons blazed into the wilderness was soon after taken by other scotch Presbyterians, the McKinnons, the Mcvaskills, and the McLeods, some of whom came direct from Scotland. These pious scotch made up a hardy band of pioneers who industriously set about building up a permanent community. To it "the name Euchee Anna, was given in compliment to the Euchee Indians and to Mrs. Anna McLeod, with of one of the leaders of the enterprise.

Living at peace with the Indians, these sturdy settlers built log cabins, school houses, and churches and cleared and planted land. Inseparable as they were by common heredity and environment they remained for several years isolated from the world save for infrequent trips to Pensacola for supplies in boats of their own rude construction. Thus they sought among themselves for social pleasures and round them in logrollings, cornshuckings, cane grindings, spelling matches, and quilting bees,.

Indeed, these people were so self-sufficient that they even furnished their own historian in Colonel John L. McKinnon, a son of the pioneer, whose volume History of Walton County graphically describes the life of these early Floridians around the clock and around the sun.

Despite the early settlement (it was prior to the formal transfer of west Florida by Spain to the United States) of this territory by the Scotch, the county, on its creation December 29, 1824, out of Escambia County by an Act of the Legislative Council of the territory of Florida, was named in honor of a non-resident, Colonel George Walton, secretary of west Florida in the provisional government under Andrew Jackson.

Section one of the Act creating Walton County redefines Escambia County, particularly the eastern boundary
as a line beginning at the east end of Santa Rosa Island and running due north to the Alabama line. Using this as the western boundary of Walton County, section two of the same Act further defines the boundaries: "That there be, and hereby is established a county to be comprehended within the following boundary lines, beginning on the boundary line at the north east corner of Escambia County, running east along the boundary line of said Territory to a point on the said line, whence a line running south east will strike the south east side of Hickory Hill, thence a direct line to Wood's ferry on Bear Creek, thence down said creek to St. Andrew's Bay, thence through the middle of said bay to the Gulf of Mexico, thence along the shores of the Gulf to the beginning, to be called Walton County".

From 1824 to 1915 the boundaries of Walton County have a history of their own. In 1846 a southeastern portion of the county is used to help form Washington County while two years later a northeastern part is used for a similar purpose in the case of Holmes County. In 1851 and 1853, after the creation of Santa Rosa County, small changes were made in the western boundary of Walton County, one adding to and the other subtracting from its territory.

In 1913 when Bay County was created out of Calhoun and Washington Counties Walton County regained part of the territory yielded to Washington County in 1846. Finally, in 1915, Okaloosa County was formed from eastern portions of Santa Rosa and western parts of Walton, leaving the latter defined today by Section 11, Article I, Chapter II of the Revised General Statutes of Florida, 1920: "Walton county shall be comprehended with the following boundaries-- beginning on the Alabama State line where it is intersected by the line dividing centrally range eighteen west; thence south along the section lines to the line dividing townships two and three, north, in range eighteen, west; thence east to the Choctawhatchee river; thence down the main channel of the Choctawhatchee river to a point where said Choctawhat- chee river intersects the range line dividing ranges seventeen and eighteen, west; thence south along said range line to the Gulf of Mexico; thence in a westwardly direction following the meanderings of said Gulf to the range line dividing ranges twenty-one and twenty-two, west; thence north up said line to the dividing line between Florida and Alabama; thence easterly along said State line to the place of beginning".

The first county site of Walton County was at Alaqua, a small settlement some fifteen miles southwest of Defuniak Springs. However, a short time later it was moved to Euchee Anna. Here in 1885 the courthouse burned down and the records of the first government of the county were destroyed. Thereafter a rented building served as a courthouse until February 16, 1886 when by a special county election DeFuniak Springs was selected as a new county site. Here again a rented building was used for a courthouse until August of 1888 when upon the gift of a block of land from a real estate company a courthouse was erected which served until the construction of the present building in 1926.

 

[bob bob]

Later west Florida was to become too crowded for him and he was again to break with the old and set out for Texas.

This part (circa 1820) cracks me up and I will think of it any time someone complains to me about traffic, development, etc.

Thanks for posting all this! Fascinating!

 

[Lake View Too]

Walton county beach history - Walton County Beaches

The history of South Walton, Florida beaches is deeply intertwined with the development of the region and its transformation into a popular tourist destination. Here's an overview of the historical evolution of these beautiful coastal areas:

Early Settlement and Native American Influence:

- The history of South Walton's beaches begins with the presence of Native American tribes, including the Muscogee (Creek) and Choctaw, who inhabited the area for centuries.

- These tribes had a significant influence on the region's early history, leaving behind traces of their culture and lifestyle, which can still be seen in the area's place names and archaeological sites.

Colonial and Early American Period:

- The arrival of European explorers and colonizers, particularly the Spanish, in the 16th century, impacted the region's development. Spanish exploration and attempts at colonization left a mark on the area's history.

- Over time, the United States' expansion and acquisition of Florida in the early 19th century led to an influx of settlers and the establishment of permanent communities along the coast.

Agriculture and Timber Industry:

- Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the region's economy was primarily based on agriculture, including cotton farming, and the timber industry.

- The abundance of timber and the development of the lumber trade played a crucial role in the economic development of the area.

Tourism and Development:

- The rise of tourism in South Walton can be traced back to the early to mid-20th century when the area began to attract visitors seeking the natural beauty of its beaches.

- The development of infrastructure, such as highways and later airports, contributed to the accessibility of the region, leading to an increase in tourism and the construction of vacation homes and resorts.

Modern Era and Sustainable Development:

- In recent decades, South Walton has become known for its commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation. The communities in the area have worked to balance the growth of tourism with the conservation of the region's natural resources.

- This focus on environmental stewardship has contributed to the area's appeal, attracting visitors who appreciate the unspoiled beauty of the beaches and surrounding landscapes.

Today, South Walton's beaches are celebrated for their pristine sands, clear waters, and unique coastal dune lakes, offering a serene and picturesque escape for visitors from around the world.


Walton County, Florida is renowned for its stunning beaches and beach communities, particularly in South Walton County. Here's a detailed overview of some of the notable beaches and beach communities in the area:


1. **Seaside**: Known for its pastel-colored beach houses and New Urbanist design, Seaside gained fame as the filming location for "The Truman Show." The community features quaint shops, art galleries, and a central amphitheater. Its pristine beach is characterized by powdery white sand and emerald waters.


2. **Rosemary Beach**: This planned community boasts an elegant, European feel with cobblestone streets and a mix of Caribbean and New Orleans architectural influences. Visitors and residents can enjoy boutique shopping, fine dining, and access to a beautiful beach.


3. **WaterColor**: As part of the larger Santa Rosa Beach area, WaterColor offers a mix of luxury homes, boutique shops, and upscale dining options. The area is known for its natural beauty, including coastal dune lakes and access to the Gulf of Mexico.


4. **Grayton Beach**: Grayton Beach State Park is a highlight of this area, offering pristine beaches and a laid-back, bohemian atmosphere. The community is home to charming beach cottages, art galleries, and a range of outdoor activities.


5. **Alys Beach**: Recognizable by its striking architecture and pristine landscaping, Alys Beach is a luxury community with a focus on sustainability and beauty. The beach here is part of the larger South Walton Beaches and offers a tranquil and upscale experience.


6. **Miramar Beach**: Located to the west of South Walton, Miramar Beach is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and access to amenities such as the Silver Sands Premium Outlets. The beach features powdery sand and clear waters, making it a popular destination for vacationers.


7. **Dune Allen Beach**: This beach community offers a more secluded and quiet atmosphere, with access to coastal dune lakes and a range of natural landscapes. It's a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts and those looking for a serene beach experience.


8. **Inlet Beach**: As the easternmost community in South Walton, Inlet Beach provides a more relaxed and residential feel. Visitors can enjoy quiet beaches, access to Camp Helen State Park, and charming local eateries.

These communities collectively make up the renowned South Walton Beaches, known for their natural beauty, upscale amenities, and a diverse range of experiences for visitors and residents alike.

It's fairly irritating that this list of prominent beach communities neglected to mention Seagrove. My home town, quite possibly, may have had a longer history than even the grayt Grayton Beach. Has anyone ever wondered why the nearby lakes are called Eastern Lake and Western Lake? I surmise that the first explorers and map makers of this area discovered Seagrove first. But Grayton is still grayt, also.

 

[bob bob]

It's fairly irritating that this list of prominent beach communities neglected to mention Seagrove. My home town, quite possibly, may have had a longer history than even the grayt Grayton Beach. Has anyone ever wondered why the nearby lakes are called Eastern Lake and Western Lake? I surmise that the first explorers and map makers of this area discovered Seagrove first. But Grayton is still grayt, also.

Odd considering there is a lot of history about Seagrove in SoWal history. Probably came from a Walton County site. They are hit or miss.