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 headlines from the Florida-Times Union printed 50 years ago this week. These items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives.
• Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins held a meeting at the George Washington Hotel to discuss the possibility of constructing a barge canal that would cut across the state and connect the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean via a trench through central Florida. He said the state’s share of the cost would be $1.6 million, and the project would require in addition more than $5 million which could come from the federal government or private investment.
• Attorney Fred H. Kent was elected president of the Community Chest-United Fund for 1958-59. Vice presidents elected were Hugh Abernathy, Ira M. Koger, Harry R. Gonzalez and William B. Mills. The 1957-58 campaign set a new record, raising $1,318,836 for Jacksonville’s charities.
• Additional staff hours required to extend by 15 days the deadline for motorists to renew their automobile registration cost the City $1,980 in overtime.
• Duval County Judge McKenney J. Davis asked the County Budget Commission to approve spending $3,919 for an additional 28 feet of counter space in the drivers license office. The commissioners informed him they thought the price was too high and instructed Judge Davis to solicit new bids for the work.
• An antique silver communion service was stolen from a car parked at the Episcopal Diocese of Florida at 325 Market St. Duke’s barber shop on Lakeshore Boulevard was also burglarized. The perpetrators made off with four bottles of hair tonic, a pair of electric clippers and a scalp vibrator.
• Local gas stations were conducting a price war. A gallon was going for 26.9 cents at stations owned by the major oil companies, while independent dealers were offering fuel for 22.9 cents per gallon.
• Circuit Court Judge Edwin L. Jones dismissed a lawsuit seeking to padlock the Dutch Mill nightclub on Philips Highway. He ruled the suit filed by County Solicitor Lacy Mahon Jr. was flawed and gave him five days to file an amended complaint. Mahon said he would appeal the ruling to the Florida Supreme Court.
• After negotiations between the city and the driver’s union had gone on since Feb. 7 with no progress made, bus drivers who worked for the Jacksonville Coach Company went on strike. Mayor Haydon Burns encouraged people to car pool.
• Hugh Abernethy was selected to lead the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s fund-raising campaign for 1958-59. The organization’s goal was to raise the $62,000 needed to cover the next season’s budget.
• Southgate Plaza on Beach Boulevard celebrated its one-year anniversary. It was home to W. T. Grant, Lerner Shops, National Shirt Shops, Thom McAn Shoes, Western Auto and Winn Dixie. Wolfie’s Restaurant, “from a bite to a banquet,” offered a “broiled boneless New York Cut Club Steak” with potato and vegetable plus beverage and dessert for $2.99. That was in the suburbs. Downtown, at Dodson’s at 120 W. Forsyth St., you could get a “large, thick, tender steak” with French fries, chef’s salad and rolls with “real butter” for $1.59.