• A three-day meeting of Florida’s county judges and juvenile court judges was held at the George Washington Hotel. The judges discussed youthful offenders, criminal law practice and mental health issues, among others. At a luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel sponsored by the Jacksonville Rotary Club, U.S. Sen. Spessard Holland, a former county judge, was the keynote speaker.
• A resolution appropriating $446 for cuspidors and insulated water pitchers for judges was defeated by the former Duval County Commission. The Commission did approve, however, an appropriation of $6,328 for law books, typewriters and desk blotters.
• The County Commission also approved adding 20 new voting precincts due to population growth, bringing the total number of precincts to 129. Areas with new precinct boundaries included Wesconnett, Ortega, Lake Forest, Moncrief Springs and Atlantic and Neptune Beaches.
• Voter registration in Atlantic Beach hit the 840 mark.
• The Duval County Budget Commission authorized Constable F.E. Brunson to increase his salary account by $4,000 to $10,000 after Brunson sent the commission a letter explaining the increased work load “makes it necessary to hire another deputy.”
• Many people had lunch at Louie’s Grill on Hogan Street where the daily special was a fried chicken meal for 75 cents.
• The Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce decided to go to New Orleans and Mexico instead of Brussels, Belgium or Venezuela for its annual trip. The cost was $360 per person and for the first time, wives would be allowed to accompany their husbands.
• The City Commission authorized the legal department to file condemnations on properties along Bay Street to acquire the site for the new City Hall (now the Courthouse Annex). Bonds had already been issued to cover the $6 million cost of the new facility.
• Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins gave an address at Jacksonville University’s second annual Founder’s Week observance. It was also announced that JU would merge with the Jacksonville College of Music, adding 50 students to the enrollment.
• Twenty high school students who were interested in a career in engineering met at the offices of Reynolds, Smith and Hills to begin a tour of Jacksonville’s new expressway system.
• The County Employees Association approved action to request a $12.50 biweekly wage increase.
• Duval County’s Savings Bond quota was set at $7,725 for the year.
• Nationally famous naturalist Roger Tory Peterson gave an Audubon Society lecture and slide show at the Prudential Auditorium.
• You could take Eastern Airlines non-stop from Imeson Airport to New York City for $31 one way — if you flew at night.
• At the “George Washington’s Birthday Sale” (now President’s Day) at Southgate Plaza, you could buy a $113 diamond ring for $4.99 or a “fine necktie” for 3 cents.
• The Florida Theatre was showing “Witness for the Prosecution” starring Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich.
Source: Jacksonville Public Library periodical archives