Have you ever wondered 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 then and today. As interesting as the similarities may be, so are the differences. These are some of the top stories from the week of April 20-26, 1959. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• A total of 36,960 voters turned out for the city first primary to decide six of 13 contested races for City offices. The big race for mayor-commissioner went to 47-year-old Haydon Burns, a veteran of 10 years in the office, with a count of 21,273 votes in the three-man field. The other commission race, for the parks and finance post, was won by incumbent Dallas Thomas over City Council member John King in a race that was called “close” in pre-election predictions. Other two-man races decided were for City treasurer with H.S. Albury winning by a slim margin: City tax assessor which was won by incumbent W.F. Wilson and two City Council posts with Lemuel Sharp and J. Marvin Sweat the victors.
• A revised presentation explaining what would best meet municipal needs for the new waterfront auditorium was prepared for the City Commission. Ralph Bunch of Kemp, Bunch and Jackson, architects for the project, said that would make it possible to draw up actual plans and specifications which would clear the way for an accurate estimate of the cost. The Duval County Legislative Delegation, after meeting with the Commission a week prior, had requested that an accurate cost estimate be made before setting up a referendum in which the people would vote on a bond issue to complete financing of the auditorium.
• Juvenile Court Judge Marion W. Gooding requested a chance to be heard in Tallahassee when a House of Representatives committee considered a bill that would restrict his power to issue search warrants. The bill, which had already been passed by the Senate and being introduced by Duval Sen. Wayne Ripley, would bar the judge of the Duval County Juvenile Court from issuing search warrants in cases concerning adults unless a juvenile was involved.
• It was announced at the monthly meeting of the Jacksonville Expressway Authority that the Southside portion of the new Expressway from Philips Highway to the Fuller Warren Bridge would open May 9 with a celebration. Gov. LeRoy Collins and other dignitaries were slated to participate in a parade and the public was invited to witness the event. In conjunction with putting the new section into use, the authority planned to inform the public through the press how to use it “so the people won’t get into the wrong lane and end up several blocks from their destination.”
Julian Fant from the Riverside Bank appeared before the body to point out the Expressway had closed Forbes Street, which patrons of the bank used coming off Roosevelt Boulevard. He asked if the authority could do something about developing some other off street for motorists to use to exit the busy thoroughfare.
• Jacksonville’s educational television station, Ch. 7, was linked to the University of Florida station, Ch. 5, in a special dedication ceremony in Gainesville. The dedication ws telecast simultaneously by both stations by way of a new microwave link established by the Florida Educational Television Commission. The link was the first in a system proposed to cover the entire state. With the new network, University of Florida courses for credit as well as other programs originating in Gainesville could bee seen on Jacksonville’s station and programs originating in Jacksonville could be broadcast in Gainesville.
• Two former City police officers and a co-defendant were given maximum six-month sentences for damaging an outdoor telephone at 26th and Grunthal streets on Dec. 28. In commenting on the case, Criminal Court Judge William T. Harvey told the defendants that, “It is a very sad plight when policemen have to protect the public from other policemen.” Harvey also stipulated that Fuller Warren Crews and Walton Massey, both former officers, were to pay the expenses of the three-day trial that ended in their conviction or else spend another 60 days in jail. It was noted the trial was one of the most expensive in recent years in a misdemeanor case. The third man, Alfred Padgett, also was given six months at hard labor but the judge did not require him to pay the cost of the trial. The trio was convicted April 1 by a six-man Criminal Court jury with Assistant County Solicitor Hudson Oliff representing the state. Defense attorneys Carl Swanson and Lloyd Bass said they would enter appeals in the case to Circuit Court (which they did two days later). Harvey set appeal bonds at $2,500 each.
• A private showing of the “priceless art collection” at Epping Forest, Florida home of Mrs. Alfred I. duPont, was arranged by Russell Hicken, director of the Jacksonville Art Museum. Members of the Art Appreciation Series, a museum sponsored activity, were invited to view the paintings.
• The Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of Florida met at the Masonic Temple to consider a proposal to construct a grand lodge building in Jacksonville. One thousand delegates were expected to attend the grand communication.
• Acting Postmaster Hubert Hurst told the County Commission something needed to be done about duplicate street names. He said it was a “real problem with the Post Office” and often delayed delivery of mail by 24 to 48 hours.
• George R. Register was named state vice president of District 3 of the Florida State Junior Chamber of Commerce. He was a past president of the Jacksonville Junior Chamber of Commerce and a vice president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Florida Engineering Society.
• Ann Gardiner was reelected president of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library. Also elected were Mrs. Thomas Christian, 1st vice president; John Ingalis, 2nd vice president; Minnie Schrieber, recording secretary; Mrs. Richard Everlon, recording secretary; and W.H. Shorts, treasurer.