Have you ever wondered what stories made headlines in Jacksonville 50 years ago? It may have been a different era of history, culture and politics, but there are often parallels between the kind of stories that made the news in 1958 and today. As interesting as the similarities may be, so are the differences. These are some of the top stories published in the Florida Times-Union 50 years ago this week. The items were compiled by Staff Writer Max Marbut from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives.
• State Sen. Verle Pope of St. Augustine dedicated the new bridge on State Road 13 that linked Duval and St. Johns counties. The concrete span replaced a wooden structure that was built in 1926. It was noted that while the 1926 project cost $86,000 to complete, the budget for the new bridge was $700,000.
• At its Tuesday night meeting, the City Council approved a resolution introduced by Council President Lemuel Sharp calling on the County Commission to grant City employees a Christmas holiday from noon Dec. 24 to the morning of Dec. 29. Also on the agenda at the meeting was a resolution (also approved) that would adjourn the Council until Jan. 13.
• In another bit of Council business, a petition from more than 80 people who worked in the Consolidated Building at 118 E. Bay St. was delivered asking the lawmakers to deny permission to reopen a tavern at 102 E. Bay St. The petition specifically asked the Council not to repeal a 1956 ordinance which prohibited issuance of a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages and any location within 400 feet of the City-owned waterfront parking lot. The defunct watering hole was described as, “an eyesore and disreputable infestation upon the City of Jacksonville.”
• A nursery that would supply plants to the 162 City-owned park areas opened at the corner of 8th and Haines streets. The site had previously been a dump and was expected to produce 100,000 shrubs and 100,000 flowering plants each year, said Paul Phillips, head City nurseryman. Parks Commissioner Dallas Thomas spearheaded the move to consolidate the City’s greenhouse operation at the new facility, closing the previous operations at the prison farm and the Municipal Zoo.
• Thirteen new members were added to the Retail Merchants Division of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce: Hugh McGeehan, D.H. Stynchcomb, W.C. Berry, William E. Law, Thomas Moon, Sheldon Rosenblum, George Utsey Jr.,Herb Selk, Emmanuel Rosenblum, Robert Wolf, Raymond Cohen, R.B. Bailey and L.A. Lankford.
• It was announced the Gator Bowl parade on Dec. 26 would include 18 bands and 23 floats. The parade would begin at 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Forsyth and Laura streets and after winding through Downtown, conclude at the Gator Bowl where there would be a fireworks display.
• The City Commission approved conveyance of land at Craig Airport to the National Guard for the construction of a $368,500 armory. “We feel it will be a great asset to the community adjacent to Craig Airport to have this armory building,” said E.E. Bentley, engineer-manager of City airports.
• The City Commission also approved a $25 reward for a person who gave information leading to the arrest of a teenager accused of turning in a false fire alarm. Fire Chief F.C. Kelley asked that the name of the recipient be withheld “to avoid a revenge attack.”
• Jacksonville Beach “would have a better chance at more tourist business if it didn’t ‘roll over and play dead’ after Labor Day each September,” said Florida Development Commission Executive Director B.R. Fuller Jr. “What Jacksonville Beach people seem to need most is a change in their state of minds,” he added. “They apparently have a psychological letdown after Labor Day and believe there will be no more business until the next spring.”
• A 25 square-mile area north of Heckscher Drive and east of New Berlin Road was rezoned for industrial use. The change was requested by the North Shore Company to make way for a planned oil refinery in the area.
• Holiday shopping was in full force and several appliance stores were offering what was described as an “outstanding gift value” and “the ideal personal gift.” The new Zenith Royal 200 all transistor pocket radio could be under the Christmas tree for a mere $44.95. That included a carrying case and four penlight batteries. Western Auto stores were offering a Wizard straight-stitch electric sewing machine for $39.95 including a 25-year factory warranty.
• Members of the Tourist and Convention Bureau heard some good news at their 22nd annual meeting which was held in the auditorium at the George Washington Hotel. Forty-seven conventions were held in Jacksonville in 1958, but projections for 1959 were that 81 groups booked including 16 regional and 10 national groups. The largest single convention on the schedule was a meeting of the Lions International, a group of 2,400 that would fill every Downtown hotel. Convention delegates were predicted to spend $3.5 million in Jacksonville in 1959.