ChazzCreations Limited
© 1974-2023 ChazzCreations.com A Non~profit Organization. Over 45 years of Family Genealogy Research. Pictures may be used or copied with the hopes that it keeps the family history going to the next generation...
ChazzCreations
PO BOX 1909
POST FALLS, ID 83877
Alachua Family Memories
Betty Smith Brown: Wonderful memories. My Dad used to run the theater. I remember going up the stairs to the little Hot room where the film projector was. And would sit there and watch him change the film out go the large metal containers. Wow so long ago! Yes good memories.
Barbara Graham-Langer: My mother, Doris Sealey, played the piano in this movie theater when there was no sound; in the days of "silent" movies!! My grandparents the Walter Sealeys lived just two blocks from downtown in a home on Main St. that was built around 1912. My grandfather owned a clothing store next to the Woman's Club (the W. H. Sealey Bldg.- still standing!) I was raised in Alachua, coming to school in 1942 (3rd grade) and remaining there until 1952 when I graduated. My mother taught lst grade for over 12 years. I remained living with my grandparents until I married in 1957. What wonderful memories I will always cherish from my hometown! My husband bought our first car when we married in 1957, from Bill Enneis.
Thigpen's Drug Store was on the corner of Main Street. Thigpen's had a soda fountain and you could always find Dr. Goode in there...Willie's Barber Shop was behind the drug store, Joann Stengel's beauty salon is there now...Rogers packing shed, Macs grocery, the old Ford place...Copland Sausage plant had 2 packing sheds next to the store, by the RR tracks, one burned down and the other is now AFL...the old city run Ice House and Cold Storage which was the dance barn and now the Door company...The Suwanne Store was run by Mr. Martin...plus the old two room jail house and the old cotton gin.
By H J. Waters: The Leland R. Waters family moved to Alachua, Fla. in 1934. My dad was the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Co. (SAL) Agent. (Now CSX) He handled the freight being shipped on the railroad and held it for the customer. He also sold tickets to ride the train to Wiliford, Bell, Curtis and Wannee to the west of Alachua, and to LaCross, Brooker, Sampson City, and Starke to the east of Alachua. Starke, FL was the beginning of this branch line, and Wannee was the end. There was a Y on the banks of the Suwannee River to turn the train around.
My Uncle Charlie, the C.L. Waters family, was the agent at the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) across the street, both depots were on the south end of town. The ACL was a main line railroad connecting Jacksonville, Fla. to Tampa, Fla. Only the ACL (CSX) remains in existence. The ACL had another mainline railroad on the north end of town. It connected Valdosta, Ga. to Palatka, Fla. It carried freight only.
U.S. Highway 441 ran through Alachua on main street; the by-pass and overpass was not built until the forties. A Greyhound bus line provided passenger and freight service to Alachua. It is no longer being served. During the thirties the town's population was about 700 -800. It was a small farming community with very little mdustry. It did have a blacksmith shop owned by Warner Mott from Hague. There was a livery stable in the middle of town run by Dewitt Hague. Formerly there had been a big cotton farming operation in the area supporting two cotton gins. One gin was in the middle of town on a spur railroad track of the SAL and one on the south end of town on SAL's mainline. However, the boll weevil destroyed the cotton growing and the gins closed. The stock market crash and the following depression brought hard times to Alachua. In general ,however, because the "Main stay'* of the economy of the community was farming, the area did not suffer as much as other areas.
Saturday was the big day of the week. Little happened during the week; school, church, gardening, cleaning yards and a few social club meetings. Saturday, Alachua burst into activity. All the country folk came to town to buy all their supplies for the farm. There was visiting with friends, getting haircuts and other amenities of life that you hadn't done in weeks or months. The Lions Club sponsored a movie m the evening on an empty lot in the middle of town. There was activity from 10 AM until 10 PM. Most businesses closed at 5 - 6 O'clock, but grocery stores stayed open until 8-10 O'clock.
Almost annually in the fall we had a carnival in town. It set up on a lot where the present Woman's Club is located. There were usually 8-10 side shows and 4-6 rides. Two rides that were always there
was the Meny-Go-Round and the Ferris Wheel. At one time I lived across the street from, on the west side, the carnival. I didn't get to attend much because there was little money. We usually went one time during the stay. The carnival would set up on Sunday/Monday and tear down and move on the following Sunday.
The Lions Club sponsored the Boy Scouts. Mr. W.T. Roberts was the Scout Master. The scouts played a big role in the community in the 20 - 40's. The Four H Club, sponsored by the school and County Agent, was a big influence in the community.
The school activities were the focus of the social and entertainment life in Alachua. Occasionally a theatrical company would come to town and help the community put on a production of some kind. Among the other things you did for entertainment or diversion was to go to Gainesville to see the movies. There were two theaters in Gainesville; the Florida Theater on University Avenue and the Ritz (Or Lyric) Theater near the post office. One of the cool things about going to tlie movies in Gainesville; they were air conditioned. Very few businesses were cooled back then. You could also go to High Springs on Saturdays to the Priest Theater to the movies. Ehjring hot weather you would go to Poe Springs, a few miles west of High Springs for swimming and a picnic or to Blue Springs, which was a little further west. Another place for swimming was Pinkerson Springs, in Hague or Glen Springs in Gainesville.
One other notable place to go for some diversion was Warren's Cave. It was located just west of present day I - 75 on the south side of Millhopper Road to Gainesville. It was a moderately size cave and shaped like a huge cross. The east-west passage was the largest From the west entrance you went east down a gradual slope for 30 to 50 feet. There were small rooms on either side. When you got to the bottom and center of the cross, you could see an extension to the north that extended 30 to 40 feet. Another extension went south about 30-60 feet. You could not see the top of the cave unless you had a big electric lantern. My guess was the ceiling was 50 - 70 yards before the passage narrowed to very small. Several university students were injured exploring the cave and rumor has it that possibly one or more may have died as a result of dare-devil climbing. Fortunately my experiences turned out OK. As the participation in WWII grew in scope and activities the depression ended and the good times returned.
My Uncle Charlie, the C.L. Waters family, was the agent at the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) across the street, both depots were on the south end of town. The ACL was a main line railroad connecting Jacksonville, Fla. to Tampa, Fla. Only the ACL (CSX) remains in existence. The ACL had another mainline railroad on the north end of town. It connected Valdosta, Ga. to Palatka, Fla. It carried freight only.
U.S. Highway 441 ran through Alachua on main street; the by-pass and overpass was not built until the forties. A Greyhound bus line provided passenger and freight service to Alachua. It is no longer being served. During the thirties the town's population was about 700 -800. It was a small farming community with very little mdustry. It did have a blacksmith shop owned by Warner Mott from Hague. There was a livery stable in the middle of town run by Dewitt Hague. Formerly there had been a big cotton farming operation in the area supporting two cotton gins. One gin was in the middle of town on a spur railroad track of the SAL and one on the south end of town on SAL's mainline. However, the boll weevil destroyed the cotton growing and the gins closed. The stock market crash and the following depression brought hard times to Alachua. In general ,however, because the "Main stay'* of the economy of the community was farming, the area did not suffer as much as other areas.
Saturday was the big day of the week. Little happened during the week; school, church, gardening, cleaning yards and a few social club meetings. Saturday, Alachua burst into activity. All the country folk came to town to buy all their supplies for the farm. There was visiting with friends, getting haircuts and other amenities of life that you hadn't done in weeks or months. The Lions Club sponsored a movie m the evening on an empty lot in the middle of town. There was activity from 10 AM until 10 PM. Most businesses closed at 5 - 6 O'clock, but grocery stores stayed open until 8-10 O'clock.
Almost annually in the fall we had a carnival in town. It set up on a lot where the present Woman's Club is located. There were usually 8-10 side shows and 4-6 rides. Two rides that were always there
was the Meny-Go-Round and the Ferris Wheel. At one time I lived across the street from, on the west side, the carnival. I didn't get to attend much because there was little money. We usually went one time during the stay. The carnival would set up on Sunday/Monday and tear down and move on the following Sunday.
The Lions Club sponsored the Boy Scouts. Mr. W.T. Roberts was the Scout Master. The scouts played a big role in the community in the 20 - 40's. The Four H Club, sponsored by the school and County Agent, was a big influence in the community.
The school activities were the focus of the social and entertainment life in Alachua. Occasionally a theatrical company would come to town and help the community put on a production of some kind. Among the other things you did for entertainment or diversion was to go to Gainesville to see the movies. There were two theaters in Gainesville; the Florida Theater on University Avenue and the Ritz (Or Lyric) Theater near the post office. One of the cool things about going to tlie movies in Gainesville; they were air conditioned. Very few businesses were cooled back then. You could also go to High Springs on Saturdays to the Priest Theater to the movies. Ehjring hot weather you would go to Poe Springs, a few miles west of High Springs for swimming and a picnic or to Blue Springs, which was a little further west. Another place for swimming was Pinkerson Springs, in Hague or Glen Springs in Gainesville.
One other notable place to go for some diversion was Warren's Cave. It was located just west of present day I - 75 on the south side of Millhopper Road to Gainesville. It was a moderately size cave and shaped like a huge cross. The east-west passage was the largest From the west entrance you went east down a gradual slope for 30 to 50 feet. There were small rooms on either side. When you got to the bottom and center of the cross, you could see an extension to the north that extended 30 to 40 feet. Another extension went south about 30-60 feet. You could not see the top of the cave unless you had a big electric lantern. My guess was the ceiling was 50 - 70 yards before the passage narrowed to very small. Several university students were injured exploring the cave and rumor has it that possibly one or more may have died as a result of dare-devil climbing. Fortunately my experiences turned out OK. As the participation in WWII grew in scope and activities the depression ended and the good times returned.
C. B. "Beb" Waters and B. Quinn Waters:
Maybe I should begin with a point of clarification. As far as I know, I don't have dementia, but I'm often confused about just who I am. For most of my life, I was and you all knew me as...) Quinn. However, after reaching Medicare age, I was forced by a rigid rule of the U. S. government (a rule that I believe to be discriminatory and thereby unconstitutional) to be Beverly Q. Waters. Frankly, it's been only out of respect for my parents that I never legally changed my name.
Okay, with that behind us, let's see what my dad, at the age of 97, now recalls about the old days in Alachua. Along the way I'll also throw in a few of my own memories. My grandfather Charles L. Waters ("Papa Waters") was a station agent for the Atlantic Coastline Railroad in Alachua. His station was at the southernmost rail line running by Copeland Sausage Company and Ennis Motor Company. His brothers Leland and David were also station agents. Leland manned the Seaboard station just a few yards from Papa Waters' Coastline station on the south end of town. David manned another Coastlme station, known as "East Alachua," which was located up by the current location of US 441. The old road tfiat comes in under the railroad overpass and then turns north at Main Street was the original US 441 . That is how Main Street first came to be paved: by being designated as a federal highway.
During the very early days, the trains came to Alachua but did not go to High Springs. Passengers traveling to High Springs would disembark in Alachua and look for other transportation to High Springs. During this period, my grandfather would often provide a horse-and-wagon shuttle service. I don*t know how much he charged, but reportedly he frequently had customers.
During national elections. Papa Waters would sit by his telegraph key to get election results. As results were telegraphed in, he would give them to my dad (Beb), who would "run" them to City Hall, where a large board displayed the latest election information.
The center of town in those early days was just north of the Seaboard tracks, on the southern end of Main Street, as I think of it today. There were two hotels and stores of all types. The town also had two banks: the Bank of Alachua and the First National Bank. The Bank of Alachua did not survive the depression. The First National Bank survived until recently when it was sold to Capital City Bank.
There were three cotton gins, two for short cotton and one for long cotton. A large quantity of cotton was produced in the area. There were two blacksmiths and two liveiy stables. Most folks traveled by horse and wagon, and very few had cars. Most streets were unpaved.
Okay, with that behind us, let's see what my dad, at the age of 97, now recalls about the old days in Alachua. Along the way I'll also throw in a few of my own memories. My grandfather Charles L. Waters ("Papa Waters") was a station agent for the Atlantic Coastline Railroad in Alachua. His station was at the southernmost rail line running by Copeland Sausage Company and Ennis Motor Company. His brothers Leland and David were also station agents. Leland manned the Seaboard station just a few yards from Papa Waters' Coastline station on the south end of town. David manned another Coastlme station, known as "East Alachua," which was located up by the current location of US 441. The old road tfiat comes in under the railroad overpass and then turns north at Main Street was the original US 441 . That is how Main Street first came to be paved: by being designated as a federal highway.
During the very early days, the trains came to Alachua but did not go to High Springs. Passengers traveling to High Springs would disembark in Alachua and look for other transportation to High Springs. During this period, my grandfather would often provide a horse-and-wagon shuttle service. I don*t know how much he charged, but reportedly he frequently had customers.
During national elections. Papa Waters would sit by his telegraph key to get election results. As results were telegraphed in, he would give them to my dad (Beb), who would "run" them to City Hall, where a large board displayed the latest election information.
The center of town in those early days was just north of the Seaboard tracks, on the southern end of Main Street, as I think of it today. There were two hotels and stores of all types. The town also had two banks: the Bank of Alachua and the First National Bank. The Bank of Alachua did not survive the depression. The First National Bank survived until recently when it was sold to Capital City Bank.
There were three cotton gins, two for short cotton and one for long cotton. A large quantity of cotton was produced in the area. There were two blacksmiths and two liveiy stables. Most folks traveled by horse and wagon, and very few had cars. Most streets were unpaved.
One of the blacksmiths was Mr, Benjamin Warner "Buck" Mott (D. Ray Harrison, Jr's grandfather). Mr. Mott's blacksmith shop was just up the street from the barber shop of Willie Cauthen (Hal's dad). Mr. E, D. Hague's livery stable was across the street. The other livery stable was owned by Mr. Sandlin and it was on Church Street.
One of tfie hotels, The Hawkins House, later named the Skirvin Hotel, was just south of the southernmost railroad tracks. It had a large dining room with (I think) two long tables, each seating 25 to 30 guests. Large bowls and platters of meats, potatoes, vegetables and breads were placed on the tables and the guests would pass them around just like at a large family gathering. I recall one summer when Dad and I were "batching" and he and I ate there quite often.
I remember the periodic visits by the horse-drawn ice wagon, weekly or maybe more often. Most houses really did have an "ice box" in those days. Living in town, we enjoyed the convenience of regular home delivery of the block of ice needed to keep food in the box cool. The old man who delivered the ice was named Lige, but I don't recall the name of the horse that pulled the wagon.
The best-known train that ran through town was named "Peggy." Peggy was a Seaboard train that ran from Staike through Bell to Wannee, where the train would turn around and retrace its route. I recall a story that now escapes Dad's memoiy about what his mom and the other Waters mothers would do from time to time when the kids got under foot. Since all three moms in the Waters clan had access to the railroad, they could use "Peggy" to occupy the kids for a few hours. Simply put the kids on the train when it arrived from Starke, and they would be out of the way for a few hours while riding down to Wannee and back.
I remember at least one occasion when my cousins Larry, Johnny Dampier, Lano (Delano), maybe Clara Nell, and I made that trip. I think I was about 10 or 12 at the time. Somewhere between Alachua
and Bell, the train stopped at a crossing in the middle of nowhere, probably where the north/south tracks run just west of US 41. The stop allowed the trainmen to swing open gates to allow the train lo
pass though. Since all the "big boys" (older cousins) got off during the temporary stop, of course I did too. As the runt of the lot, I was the last to grab for the hand rail when the train started moving, and I almost had a very long walk back to Alachua.
Other entertainment for Waters boys: Ventures into Warren*s Cave were treacherous in Dad's day. He says they had no flashlights, so they took "fat pine" sticks to light up, once they were deep enough to need a light source.
Dad recalls one occasion when the circus was in town and some of the horses got loose just as a train was passing though. He saw the train kill three of the horses.
I recall when Alachua had a free picture show. It was an outdoor theater composed of a billboard-type screen and rows of logs for the audience to use for seating. Shows were only available on Saturday night. The show was located in a vacant lot on the east side of Main Street, approximately one block south of the main downtown intersection, where the First National Bank was located for many years.
In both Dad's day and mine, we all played games with marbles. Marbles were a lot less expensive than the electronic devices kids have for entertainment today. So was everything else!
One of tfie hotels, The Hawkins House, later named the Skirvin Hotel, was just south of the southernmost railroad tracks. It had a large dining room with (I think) two long tables, each seating 25 to 30 guests. Large bowls and platters of meats, potatoes, vegetables and breads were placed on the tables and the guests would pass them around just like at a large family gathering. I recall one summer when Dad and I were "batching" and he and I ate there quite often.
I remember the periodic visits by the horse-drawn ice wagon, weekly or maybe more often. Most houses really did have an "ice box" in those days. Living in town, we enjoyed the convenience of regular home delivery of the block of ice needed to keep food in the box cool. The old man who delivered the ice was named Lige, but I don't recall the name of the horse that pulled the wagon.
The best-known train that ran through town was named "Peggy." Peggy was a Seaboard train that ran from Staike through Bell to Wannee, where the train would turn around and retrace its route. I recall a story that now escapes Dad's memoiy about what his mom and the other Waters mothers would do from time to time when the kids got under foot. Since all three moms in the Waters clan had access to the railroad, they could use "Peggy" to occupy the kids for a few hours. Simply put the kids on the train when it arrived from Starke, and they would be out of the way for a few hours while riding down to Wannee and back.
I remember at least one occasion when my cousins Larry, Johnny Dampier, Lano (Delano), maybe Clara Nell, and I made that trip. I think I was about 10 or 12 at the time. Somewhere between Alachua
and Bell, the train stopped at a crossing in the middle of nowhere, probably where the north/south tracks run just west of US 41. The stop allowed the trainmen to swing open gates to allow the train lo
pass though. Since all the "big boys" (older cousins) got off during the temporary stop, of course I did too. As the runt of the lot, I was the last to grab for the hand rail when the train started moving, and I almost had a very long walk back to Alachua.
Other entertainment for Waters boys: Ventures into Warren*s Cave were treacherous in Dad's day. He says they had no flashlights, so they took "fat pine" sticks to light up, once they were deep enough to need a light source.
Dad recalls one occasion when the circus was in town and some of the horses got loose just as a train was passing though. He saw the train kill three of the horses.
I recall when Alachua had a free picture show. It was an outdoor theater composed of a billboard-type screen and rows of logs for the audience to use for seating. Shows were only available on Saturday night. The show was located in a vacant lot on the east side of Main Street, approximately one block south of the main downtown intersection, where the First National Bank was located for many years.
In both Dad's day and mine, we all played games with marbles. Marbles were a lot less expensive than the electronic devices kids have for entertainment today. So was everything else!
Bland Horse Races 1944 By Kent Doke:
The Bland horse races actually started in Haynesworth in the summer of 1944 when Paul Emery and I raced our horses on the straight graded road North of Hollingsworth. I had borrowed an English saddle to race with and when we jumped off, the right stirrup leather came off the safety catch and was dragging. I couldn't get it off my foot and was afraid the horse would step on it and drag me off I always claimed that was why I lost the race and it was why I rode bareback in all the races to follow.
Somehow Jessie Shaw got involved and we started having horse races in Bland every Wednesday afternoon after school. At that time people not in the service were making more money than they had ever made in their life. Gasoline was rationed so no one could go very far. No cars were being made during the war so people rode with each other to the nearest entertainment. What is now County Highway 241 that runs out from Alachua to the Santa Fe River was at that time a seldom graded road. In the late thirties and early forties this new road was being cut using only mules and convict labor. I still remember the guards with shotguns loaded with buckshot guarding the prisoners as they drove the two mule teams pulling small drag buckets of dirt. All construction stopped when WWII started.
Jessie really got into the racing; he would grade one quarter mile of the road using a tractor and a grader he bought. He cut the fence so cars could be parked on the West side of the road and, at it's peak, we would have about 250 people out to see the races. The riders I remember were Paul Emery, Red Gregory and myself from our area.
There was no organized betting but a lot of it went on. We would have horses from Columbia, Union, Bradford and Alachua Counties. I raced my own horse, The Santa Fe River Ranch entered a horse, Jessie raced a horse, Roy Ceilon, J. D. Rimes and sometimes George Duke would have horses entered in the races. We usually would have at least 6 or 7 races in an afternoon. I was very lucky as Roy Ceilon and J.D. Rimes asked me to races their horses. I never lost a race on either of their horses. J.D. paid me $5.00 and Roy paid me $10.00 each time I raced for them so I thought I was rich! ! Once George Duke brought a race horse and jockey with a jockey saddle in to race against Roy's horse. We were very lucky to win that race and did so only because the jockey couldn't control the horse at the start. He aknost won even after we got about a thirty yard head start. The crowd started asking for a race between Roy's horse and J.D.'s horse. Finally it was decided that since Roy paid me more I should ride his horse. The jockey J.D. chose must have never ridden a horse in a race before because we beat him by twenty yards!
As the weather got colder attendance dropped off and the Bland Horse Races died forever. About fifty years after the races had stopped I asked Roy how much he thought was bet on those races and he said probably about twenty five hundred dollars.
Also about fifty years later I was introduced to an old lawyer in Gainesville who asked me if I had ever ridden horses in the Bland Races. He said Mr. Richard had told him to bet on the rider, not the horse. Makes me feel good, even now.
The Bland horse races actually started in Haynesworth in the summer of 1944 when Paul Emery and I raced our horses on the straight graded road North of Hollingsworth. I had borrowed an English saddle to race with and when we jumped off, the right stirrup leather came off the safety catch and was dragging. I couldn't get it off my foot and was afraid the horse would step on it and drag me off I always claimed that was why I lost the race and it was why I rode bareback in all the races to follow.
Somehow Jessie Shaw got involved and we started having horse races in Bland every Wednesday afternoon after school. At that time people not in the service were making more money than they had ever made in their life. Gasoline was rationed so no one could go very far. No cars were being made during the war so people rode with each other to the nearest entertainment. What is now County Highway 241 that runs out from Alachua to the Santa Fe River was at that time a seldom graded road. In the late thirties and early forties this new road was being cut using only mules and convict labor. I still remember the guards with shotguns loaded with buckshot guarding the prisoners as they drove the two mule teams pulling small drag buckets of dirt. All construction stopped when WWII started.
Jessie really got into the racing; he would grade one quarter mile of the road using a tractor and a grader he bought. He cut the fence so cars could be parked on the West side of the road and, at it's peak, we would have about 250 people out to see the races. The riders I remember were Paul Emery, Red Gregory and myself from our area.
There was no organized betting but a lot of it went on. We would have horses from Columbia, Union, Bradford and Alachua Counties. I raced my own horse, The Santa Fe River Ranch entered a horse, Jessie raced a horse, Roy Ceilon, J. D. Rimes and sometimes George Duke would have horses entered in the races. We usually would have at least 6 or 7 races in an afternoon. I was very lucky as Roy Ceilon and J.D. Rimes asked me to races their horses. I never lost a race on either of their horses. J.D. paid me $5.00 and Roy paid me $10.00 each time I raced for them so I thought I was rich! ! Once George Duke brought a race horse and jockey with a jockey saddle in to race against Roy's horse. We were very lucky to win that race and did so only because the jockey couldn't control the horse at the start. He aknost won even after we got about a thirty yard head start. The crowd started asking for a race between Roy's horse and J.D.'s horse. Finally it was decided that since Roy paid me more I should ride his horse. The jockey J.D. chose must have never ridden a horse in a race before because we beat him by twenty yards!
As the weather got colder attendance dropped off and the Bland Horse Races died forever. About fifty years after the races had stopped I asked Roy how much he thought was bet on those races and he said probably about twenty five hundred dollars.
Also about fifty years later I was introduced to an old lawyer in Gainesville who asked me if I had ever ridden horses in the Bland Races. He said Mr. Richard had told him to bet on the rider, not the horse. Makes me feel good, even now.
Aiachua High School Memories Charles Beverly (Beb) Waters Class of 1930
The Alachua Indians played football on a field that was right next to the school rather than down the hill from the grammar school. The offense was the Notre Dame Box, The quarterback lined up about four feet behind the center and had a fullback lined up a few feet behind him. The other two halfbacks were lined up on their left (or right), stacked one behind the other to form a square box. The QB would take a direct snap and then hand off to one of the backs or drop back to pass. It was mainly a running offense. Pete Sfrlngfellow was the quarterback. Hal Rivers was the fullback. Troy Fowler and Jesse Shaw were halfbacks. I played left end. Other players included Marion Pearson and Charles Boston. If you left the game, you couldn't return to the field in the same quarter. And yes, we wore leather helmets and had drab brown canvas pants; and the jerseys were whatever you could find and had no numbers. The coach was named Rockwell. Alachua didn't have a good punter, so Marion Pearson would try to throw a long Interception rather than try a weak punt.
The Big Rival was the High Springs Sandspurs, at least until around 1929 when we had "the Big Fight" playing in High Springs, The referee that night was a prominent High Springs doctor (Whitlock?), maybe even the mayor. Emotions were running high, and an intense argument between players, coaches and the referee ended in a Big Fight when Jessie Shaw knocked the referee out cold and the townspeople charged the field. I prudently ran for the car. As a result of the fight, the teams didn't play each other again for a number of years (20?).
The trip to a game in Cedar key was hard to forget. The field was covered In sandspurs, and after the game, the shower was salt water. School buses couldn't be used for game trips, so townspeople would drive the players, Barney Cato was a rural mail carrier and had a son on the squad. He would drive players to games, and Bill Ennis' dad a carload of players. The school buses back then were Model A trucks with a row of seats down each side and a bench down the middle. The back was open, and that was where you would enter the 'bus.' The back end of the bench down the middle wasn't bolted down, and ft rode like a bucking horse.
Alachua High School Memories 1944 Henry Jackson Waters, aka: H. J. or Jack
My school career began in 1932 in an old, old two story building in Alachua. It was just east of the beloved two story, beige, bell tower. High School building. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Morrow, wife of the Principal. She was a lovely, caring, thoughtful person. We brought our lunch to school in a bag in the good ole days. One day my lunch was lost, stolen, or eaten by a dog or a hog. Yes, in 1932 Florida had an open range law. Animals could wander where ever they pleased. You had to fence your yard and fields. Mrs. Morrow shared her or her son's lunch with me.
I don't remember much about the academics of that first year but reading. Baby Rae and I took to reading hke a duck to water. I had no problems with reading or any other subjects.
The next two years, second and third grades, were spent in Brooker, Fl. Bradford, County.
I returned to Alachua in the fall of 1934. The old two story building had been demolished. A long one story building was in its' place containing eight classrooms and a big auditorium. The auditorium was big enough to hold community events.
My fourth grade teacher was Mrs. Caswell. Nothing eventful happened that year.
My fifth grade teacher was Miss Lucile Ellis. She was single and never married. She was a very creative and innovative instructor. The class was always involved in some kind of activity.
One big event of that year was a class play about the Pilgrims Thanksgiving and with the Indians. The play was essentially written by Bobby HitchcoSc. We performed the play as a chapel program for the entire school.
One of our favorite class activities was story time. Miss Ellis would read a chapter from a novel. She, at times, would balance the chair she was sitting in, on its' front legs. One day a student walked behind her, on the way to the restroom, and kicked the chair out from under Miss. Ellis. She fell and there was a deathly silence in the room. Fortunately she was not hurt.
The next two years, sixth and seventh grades, were uneventful. My teacher in the sixth grade was Mrs. Caroline Butler. My seventh grade homeroom teacher was Mrs. Aiiiiie Baldwin.
Upon entering the eight grade, boys and girls were segregated. The boys took Agriculture and shop. The girls took Home Ec. classes. Some of our other teachers were: Ivlr. George (Uncle George) Dansby, Miss. Dorothy Herlong, Miss Bemice Dew, Mrs. Jessie Johnson, Mr. C.H.J Johnston, Coach C. Aubrey Smith, Mr. John Davis, Mr. Sidney Padgett and Miss. Rita Garris.
I had to wear glasses beginning in the seventh gi'ade, so did not participate in sports much. I also had a newspaper route and couldn't stay after school for practices.
Perhaps the biggest event in our High School lives was the Junior and Senior theatrical productions. Mrs. Johinson wa-s usually the Junior class play sponsor and Miss. Dew was the Senior class sponsor. The Junior class play was usually produced in the fall and the Senior class play in the spring.
The next biggest activities were football and basket ball. I don't remember AHS being involved with baseball. Being a small high school we seldom came out with the winning score. High Springs was the perennial rival. I have no idea v/ho won the most games. We didn't have too m-uch coaching due to the war years 41-44.
In 1942, we had a scrape iron drive for the war effort. The entire school grounds, from the Home Ec. building to Rivere's fence (east- west) and from the H.S. building to the tennis court (north-south), was piled high with scrape h'on. Wq were excused from classes to climb into a ton and a half truck to go load scrape iron from some garage or farm. This continued for about two weeks. I don't remember whose truck we used or who drove the truck. A. big time was had by all
I'm sure there were a lot of funny incidents that happened in class but the memories have faded.
I do recall the time Miss. Devis, a very prim, elegant and popular English teacher, had called the roll one moraing. She was the senior class homeroom teacher. Som.eone asked her a question and she answered, "just a minute, I have the answer right here in my drawers". She blushed and the class snickered. Of course she meant her desk drawers. No one said a word.
Any story about AHS would not be complete without mentioning the bell tower. I have heard that it was a beg deal to ring the bell on Halloween. However, it took a look of careful planning to do this trick. The store room below the tower v/as the school's science supply store room. Therefore the key to that room was hard to get. So, if you could manage to leave the Supply room unlocked, you then had to find a classroom window unlocked. Then you could get access to the bell tower. In my years at A H S, I never heard the bell ring after school hours. In closing I have always told anyone who asked, my years at A H S was comparable to the Tom Sawyer story. A wonderful life and an experience that not everybody is fortunate enough to have lived.
My school career began in 1932 in an old, old two story building in Alachua. It was just east of the beloved two story, beige, bell tower. High School building. My first grade teacher was Mrs. Morrow, wife of the Principal. She was a lovely, caring, thoughtful person. We brought our lunch to school in a bag in the good ole days. One day my lunch was lost, stolen, or eaten by a dog or a hog. Yes, in 1932 Florida had an open range law. Animals could wander where ever they pleased. You had to fence your yard and fields. Mrs. Morrow shared her or her son's lunch with me.
I don't remember much about the academics of that first year but reading. Baby Rae and I took to reading hke a duck to water. I had no problems with reading or any other subjects.
The next two years, second and third grades, were spent in Brooker, Fl. Bradford, County.
I returned to Alachua in the fall of 1934. The old two story building had been demolished. A long one story building was in its' place containing eight classrooms and a big auditorium. The auditorium was big enough to hold community events.
My fourth grade teacher was Mrs. Caswell. Nothing eventful happened that year.
My fifth grade teacher was Miss Lucile Ellis. She was single and never married. She was a very creative and innovative instructor. The class was always involved in some kind of activity.
One big event of that year was a class play about the Pilgrims Thanksgiving and with the Indians. The play was essentially written by Bobby HitchcoSc. We performed the play as a chapel program for the entire school.
One of our favorite class activities was story time. Miss Ellis would read a chapter from a novel. She, at times, would balance the chair she was sitting in, on its' front legs. One day a student walked behind her, on the way to the restroom, and kicked the chair out from under Miss. Ellis. She fell and there was a deathly silence in the room. Fortunately she was not hurt.
The next two years, sixth and seventh grades, were uneventful. My teacher in the sixth grade was Mrs. Caroline Butler. My seventh grade homeroom teacher was Mrs. Aiiiiie Baldwin.
Upon entering the eight grade, boys and girls were segregated. The boys took Agriculture and shop. The girls took Home Ec. classes. Some of our other teachers were: Ivlr. George (Uncle George) Dansby, Miss. Dorothy Herlong, Miss Bemice Dew, Mrs. Jessie Johnson, Mr. C.H.J Johnston, Coach C. Aubrey Smith, Mr. John Davis, Mr. Sidney Padgett and Miss. Rita Garris.
I had to wear glasses beginning in the seventh gi'ade, so did not participate in sports much. I also had a newspaper route and couldn't stay after school for practices.
Perhaps the biggest event in our High School lives was the Junior and Senior theatrical productions. Mrs. Johinson wa-s usually the Junior class play sponsor and Miss. Dew was the Senior class sponsor. The Junior class play was usually produced in the fall and the Senior class play in the spring.
The next biggest activities were football and basket ball. I don't remember AHS being involved with baseball. Being a small high school we seldom came out with the winning score. High Springs was the perennial rival. I have no idea v/ho won the most games. We didn't have too m-uch coaching due to the war years 41-44.
In 1942, we had a scrape iron drive for the war effort. The entire school grounds, from the Home Ec. building to Rivere's fence (east- west) and from the H.S. building to the tennis court (north-south), was piled high with scrape h'on. Wq were excused from classes to climb into a ton and a half truck to go load scrape iron from some garage or farm. This continued for about two weeks. I don't remember whose truck we used or who drove the truck. A. big time was had by all
I'm sure there were a lot of funny incidents that happened in class but the memories have faded.
I do recall the time Miss. Devis, a very prim, elegant and popular English teacher, had called the roll one moraing. She was the senior class homeroom teacher. Som.eone asked her a question and she answered, "just a minute, I have the answer right here in my drawers". She blushed and the class snickered. Of course she meant her desk drawers. No one said a word.
Any story about AHS would not be complete without mentioning the bell tower. I have heard that it was a beg deal to ring the bell on Halloween. However, it took a look of careful planning to do this trick. The store room below the tower v/as the school's science supply store room. Therefore the key to that room was hard to get. So, if you could manage to leave the Supply room unlocked, you then had to find a classroom window unlocked. Then you could get access to the bell tower. In my years at A H S, I never heard the bell ring after school hours. In closing I have always told anyone who asked, my years at A H S was comparable to the Tom Sawyer story. A wonderful life and an experience that not everybody is fortunate enough to have lived.
Alachua Forum Series:
Alachua ~ Thomas Littleton Brown's tobacco farm
2014 Alachua Cattlemen of the Year
Dr. Ashby Green presented Jim Strickland with the 2014 Cattlemen of the Year award. Green said, “From his early days as a ‘cow hunter’ or ‘day worker’ on central and south Florida ranches, to today’s leadership roles in the state and national cattle industry, Jim Strickland epitomizes service.”
Strickland currently serves as Director of the Agriculture Department for the Manatee County property appraiser. He is a former president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and has served on a number of statewide and national boards and committees.
Strickland currently serves as Director of the Agriculture Department for the Manatee County property appraiser. He is a former president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and has served on a number of statewide and national boards and committees.
L-R: Long-time Alachua Lions Club member Ralph Cellon, Alachua County Director for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Dr. Ashby Green and Jim Strickland. Strickland was the 2014 Lions Club Cattlemen of the Year award recipient.
Burnetts Lake Depot
Eva Shaw/mother, was a cheerleader for four years. During her Junior & Senior years, she was the head cheerleader. The graduating Class of 1947.
Alachua Depot 1975
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
ChazzCreations
PO BOX 1909
POST FALLS, ID 83877