Ever wonder 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 vast differences. The following are some of the top stories from The Florida-Times Union printed 50 years ago this week. These items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives.
• An organization known as the “Downtown Council” was formed within the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce to promote the development of the central business area of the city. The specific area of interest was in the zone bounded by Second Street, Jefferson Street, Florida Avenue (Now A. Philip Randolph Boulevard) and the St. Johns River.
• Al Cahill, who had been suspended as Duval County Sheriff by Gov. LeRoy Collins in January, qualified to seek the State Senate seat held by Fletcher Morgan. Other candidates were W. Lacy Mahon Jr. and M. Larry Lewis. Collins suspended Cahill for “alleged neglect of duty in enforcing gambling laws and incompetence in office.” Collins then appointed FBI agent Dale Carson to replace Cahill as Duval County’s sheriff.
• The County Commission served notice to roadside vendors that any violation of the county zoning law or the state law prohibiting produce sales on road right of ways would be prosecuted. Violators could face a $100 fine or 60 days in jail. The law did not apply to persons selling produce directly in front of their own land.
• County Engineer John H. Crosby reported building permits issued in Duval County outside the city limits in June showed a total valuation on new buildings of $3,243,950. Most of the 451 permits issued were for single-family homes. Inside the city limits, the total for permits issued was $4,542,979 including $3,325,880 for the new Sears, Roebuck & Company retail center at 200 W. Bay St.
• By a five-vote margin, Atlantic Beach residents turned down a proposal to allow all bars in the city to open from 2 p.m. to midnight on Sundays. Some bars in hotels and restaurants would still be allowed to remain open, however. Of the 852 eligible voters in Atlantic Beach, 319 cast a ballot. It was the third time the Sunday opening question had been on a referendum in three years.
• After certifying the ballot in the Sunday bar issue, the Atlantic Beach City Commission voted to have Mayor William S. Howell meet with the mayors of Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach to try to set up a “mayors problem committee” to replace the existing Tri-City Advisory Planning Commission. Atlantic Beach commissioners withdrew June 23 from the planning group on the grounds it was too concerned with the problems of consolidating the three municipalities.
• Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Bayard B. Shields was elected presiding judge of the Duval-Nassau-Clay county circuit. On the bench for 23 years, Shields was named to the presiding judgeship by his seven colleagues in the circuit at a special meeting held in the chambers of Judge A.D. McNeill. (Until 1957 practice was that the senior judge in a circuit was presiding judge, but the Florida Supreme Court promulgated that where there was more than one judge in a circuit, the presiding judge would be elected by his colleagues.)
• Jacksonville Beach had quite a lineup for the Independence Day holiday. Thursday night the first of three performances by a “Wild West Rodeo” sponsored by the Beaches Kiwanis Club was held. Also part of the festivities was the three-day Miss Duval County Beauty Pageant and talent show. There was also an all-breed dog show at the Fletcher High gymnasium.
• The Starlight Symphonette, sponsored by City government and the Jacksonville Federation of Musicians, debuted with a concert on the riverfront terrace at the Peninsular Life Insurance Company on Riverside Avenue. Mayor Haydon Burns said it would be the first in a series of five concerts, all timed to coincide with “important conventions” being held in Jacksonville including the Southeastern Shrine Convention and a gathering of American Chamber of Commerce executives.