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 published in the Florida Times-Union 50 years ago this week. These items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives.
• The congregation at Etz Chaim Synagogue heard plans for a $250,000 synagogue and Hebrew school on a 10-acre tract that had been purchased by the congregation on Love Grove Road near Beach Boulevard. Rabbi Solomon Poupko and Itz Greenburg, president of the congregation, also proposed a $2 million shrine in memory of the more than 6 million Jews who were killed by the Nazis during World War II.
• The third in a series of conferences on the American Competitive Enterprise Economy was announced for Sept. 23 by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Chairman Sidney F. Foster said the conferences were “designed for people who are concerned about the lack of public understanding of American business, the inability of businessmen to explain their own economy and the growing trend of government paternalism.”
• The City Council considered adopting an ordinance authorizing the expenditure of up to $150,000 to acquire additional land for a municipal park on the Southside waterfront. The land in question was the Strahan’s Laundry property on June Street between the Acosta and Alsop bridges. Council member John P. King promised to vote against the measure on the ground that City Commissioners “don’t know what they’ll do with the property.” Parks Commissioner Dallas L. Thomas said the property was the last strip of land needed for the park but also reported only $30,000 was available for developing the proposed park.
• Duval County held its first primary election and more than 50 percent of the county’s 133,001 registered voters went to the polls. Circuit Court Judges Albert Graessle Jr. and William Maness were victorious in their bids for election to the 4th Judicial Circuit posts they were appointed to the previous year by Gov. LeRoy Collins. County Solicitor Lacy Mahon Jr. led the Duval County Democratic State Senate race, but was facing a runoff in the Sept. 30 second primary against former State Sen. Wayne Ripley.
• What was described as “the biggest moonshine raid in Florida history” took place in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties. The raid, code-named “Operation Mop Up,” netted 41 arrests including W.R. Parmenter of 100 Andrews St. who was alleged to control an illegal liquor operation that stretched from New Orleans to West Palm Beach and throughout Georgia. By the end of the day, 6,445 pounds of sugar were confiscated, four vehicles seized, 186 empty five-gallon jugs were smashed and 45 gallons of moonshine were destroyed.
• It was announced construction would begin within three months on a $2 million plant for the Glidden Company. It was reported the new unit would “make Jacksonville the world center in the manufacture of synthetic aromatic compounds.” The plant would be located on 61st Street and would be large enough to supply 40 percent of the country’s requirements for menthol with additional production of a synthetic product, laveo-menthol, that was used in cigarettes, shaving creams, medicines and deodorants. The raw material used for the synthetic compound was turpentine.
• Postal Inspector W. Hansen urged the public to help reduce the number of mail thefts from household mailboxes. He said such thefts were at the top of the list of postal crimes primarily due to the recent increase in the number of federal and state checks going through the mail. Hansen asked people to notify postal authorities immediately if an expected check did not arrive. He also suggested that people should be home at the usual time of mail delivery if they were expecting a check.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture began “an all-out attack” against fire ants. It was estimated the mound-building insects had established colonies in 40,000 of the county’s acres, mostly on the Southside. Initial operations would be launched between Beach and Atlantic boulevards at San Pablo Road, then working west toward the Expressway.
• Four additional organizations were accepted for membership in the Jacksonville Council of the Arts. New members were the Garden Club of Jacksonville, the Starlight Symphonette, the Artists and Art Directors of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Branch of the National League of Pen Women. Cal Brumley, president of the Arts Council, was to welcome the new members at a meeting held in the Skyroom at the Independent Life Building.