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.
• Laurence K. Walrath, a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission, was the guest speaker at the Jacksonville Bar Association luncheon at the George Washington Hotel. He was a former member of the JBA and the first Floridian ever appointed to the ICC.
• Duval County Commission bookkeeping practices were being questioned by the state auditor, who issued a report criticizing the practice of “splitting purchase orders” to avoid the law that required purchases more than $1,000 to be open for bids. The report was also critical of the expense voucher procedure and the inventory of movable county property.
• Arlington Hills and Oak Hill manor were new housing developments. Bill Soforenko was offering three-bedroom homes for $12,600 and a $25 cash deposit would hold the home of your choice. People were moving in for $400 down and $78 a month including interest, principal, taxes and insurance.
• Seventeen members of the Chamber of Commerce departed for a week-long trade mission to Mexico. It was noted that six took their wives with them on the trip.
• The Garden Club of Jacksonville was raising money to complete their new $221,000 building on Riverside Avenue. The group held a luncheon at the George Washington Hotel where Mrs. Alfred I. duPont pledged to donate $3,000 providing it was matched at the meeting by other donations.
• Gordon Thompson, president of the Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association, hosted a dinner meeting at the Mayflower Hotel for 500 local car salesmen. They heard a speech by Chrysler Corporation Director of Sales Lawrence Nelson who urged them to “generate enthusiasm, aggressiveness and determination” to increase sales. The meeting kicked off the “You Auto Buy Now” advertising campaign.
• Duval County took delivery of 13 new fire trucks that were to be used by volunteer fire departments. They were put on display near the John T. Alsop Bridge (aka Main Street Bridge) where they pumped streams of water into the air.
• First Federal Savings & Loan at the corner of Adams and Julia Streets was paying 3.5 percent interest on savings accounts. The institution declared assets of $38 million with $2.5 million in reserves.
• At Fred Abood’s Steer Room at the foot of the West Beaver Street viaduct for $2.75 you could get a complete steak dinner including the “famous cheese spread,” a chef salad tossed at your table and a “charcoal-broiled prime Kansas City sirloin.”
• A more casual dining experience could be found at Rudy Greco’s on Beach Boulevard at St. Nicholas where 60 cents would get you a “Super Sub” sandwich.
• There was good news about taxes with no rise expected in the 46.12 millage rate for ad valorem taxes. The County Commission requested a 1958-59 budget of $5.1 million while the Welfare Board put in for $2.8 million and the School Board Operating Fund was set at a maximum of $7 million.