Have you ever wondered what life was like in Jacksonville half a century ago? It was a different era of history, culture and politics but there are often parallels between the kind of stories that made headlines then and today. As interesting as the differences may be, so are the similarities. These are some of the top stories from this week in 1962. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library's periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• Four acquisitions for the permanent collection of the Cummer Gallery of Art were unveiled at a reception for museum members.
The objects included a tapestry, a painting, a sculpture and a piece of furniture.
The preview and reception were in observance of the gallery's first anniversary. It was opened Nov. 11, 1961, as the result of a bequest by the late Mrs. Ninah M.H. Cummer.
The most significant of the new works was a 17th century Gobelins tapestry, said Edward F. Weeks, gallery assistant director.
The 14-foot-long woolen tapestry was believed to have been woven in Paris. It was titled, "Armida Carries Rinaldo to her Magic Chariot."
The sculpture was a French terra cotta bust titled "Bacchante" and dated 1776. Weeks said the signature had not been deciphered but might be in the near future.
Added to the furniture collection was a late 16th-century Italian table of carved walnut.
The new painting was a 17th century still life by the Dutch artists Jacques de Claeuw. Entitled "Vanitas," it was an "allegory of the artist and the arts," said Weeks.
Gallery Director Joseph J. Dodge said the acquisitions represented a gallery policy of using all membership contributions to purchase additions to the permanent collection.
"This is the only way that the permanent collection can expand to keep pace with the growth of the community and the times," said Dodge.
• The impending demolition of a building that opened in 1905 caused three tenants to pause and reflect on the structure's history and how it had affected their lives.
The Masonic Building on Main Street had been condemned and was ordered to be vacated by Dec. 31 to make way for a new headquarters building for the state's Masons.
"It's just like losing my home," said Dr. Frank A. Broome, an optometrist who had worked in the building since 1934.
"I was married in the building. I even married a girl I met who also worked in the building," he said.
"Why he (Broome) was in short pants when he first came to the building," said H.J. Flack, who had operated a traffic rate and claims bureau in the building since 1922.
"I have spent 40 years of my life in that building. There have been a lot of happy moments there," he said.
"I extracted my granddaughter's first tooth in there," said Dr. Vincent Altee, who opened a dental office in the building in 1935.
As the trio stood reminiscing on the sidewalk while workmen were inside the building preparing for the demolition, the former tenants discussed their plans for the future.
"I'm going into semiretirement in my home in Avondale," said Flack.
Altee said he was moving across the street to the Clark Building.
"I'm staying Downtown, too, in the Professional Building," said Broome.
• U.S Rep. Charles Bennett told members of The Jacksonville Bar Association the United States had to commit to the invasion of Cuba following the recent Cuban Missile Crisis, unless a free government was installed on the island.
"Until we come to the firm conclusion that we will invade unless clear progress is established to bring about free government in the area, I do not feel that we can anticipate success," he said.
"This is not to say that we should act immediately, but we should make a firm and clear decision that we will act unless prompt steps are taken," Bennett said.
Bennett emphasized the U.S. government's actions on Cuba were aimed not at establishing U.S. control of the island nation, but at giving the Cuban people the right to determine their own leaders and policies.
• Two fires made the news this week in 1962.
Several volunteer fire departments responded to a blaze of unknown origin at Dutton's Government Surplus at 7840 Philips Highway.
Almost 5 acres of surplus equipment formerly owned by the government were destroyed, including oxygen tanks, airplane engines, trucks and kitchen appliances.
Firefighters from six departments battled the blaze for more than six hours before it was brought under control.
At one point, cylinders of oxygen, used for breathing at high altitude on military airplanes, began exploding, throwing chunks of hot metal high into the air. Police roped off the area to prevent injury to hundreds of spectators.
One firefighter, 32-year-old Robert Watkins from the Arlington volunteer brigade, received emergency treatment at Baptist Memorial Hospital for fractures of both wrists suffered when a fire hose came loose and was slammed against him by the water pressure.
Walter E. Dutton, owner of the surplus yard, estimated the loss at more than $100,000.
The Golden Earring Lounge at 963 Dunn Ave. sustained $15,000 in structural damage and an additional $85,000 in damage to the contents when it caught fire.
E.E. Geiger, assistant chief of the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department, said the blaze was smoldering in the central part of the building when his team answered the alarm about 90 minutes after the lounge closed.
Geiger said due to intense heat and smoke, firefighters were not able to immediately reach the fire. He said lack of openings in the building seemed to cause the smoke and heat to build up quickly.
• The Jacksonville Naval Air Station Band led the annual parade along Downtown streets in observance of Veterans Day.
Twenty-four high school bands marched in the parade, joined by military units and groups including Civil Defense, the Red Cross, volunteer hospital workers and civic and patriotic groups.
Military units included an M-48 Patton tank from the 48th National Guard Armored Division and a U.S. Army observation helicopter mounted on a trailer.
The parade proceeded for 56 minutes past the reviewing stand where the area's military and civic leaders returned the salutes of the parade participants.
Nathan Mallison, parade grand marshal and chairman of the Veterans Patriotic Observance Committee, estimated there were 10,000 marchers in the parade.
• Prime F. Osborn III, vice president and general counsel of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, was re-elected president of the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America.
The youth of America, through the Boy Scouts of America, served as a "bulwark of our present democracy and our future way of life," he said.
"We are in a period of history in our country when it is incumbent on each one of us to spare no effort in bringing better Scouting to more boys. For indeed, the Scouting program is the finest tool we have in helping preserve America," Osborn said.
Fifteen counties and nearly 12,500 Cubs, Scouts and Explorers were represented by the North Florida Council.
• Three local automobile dealers submitted bids for supplying 40 patrol cars for the Duval County Patrol in 1963.
The existing contract was held by Gordon Thompson Industries Inc. at $125 monthly per vehicle plus 7.9 cents per mile.
Thompson submitted a 1963 bid of $120 per month and 7.2 cents per mile. Thompson's bid did not specify what model it would provide but the bid call specified a two-door passenger sedan with no less than a V-8 engine with one four-barrel carburetor developing 300 horsepower or equal.
Platt Pontiac Inc. specified a two-door Catalina and bid $120 per month per car, plus 7.7 cents per mile.
Lynch-Davidson Motors bid $122.50 per car (Ford) plus 7.79 cents per mile.
The bids were referred by the Board of County Commissioners to a committee for study and recommendation.