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 the news in 1958 and today. As interesting as the similarities may be, so are the differences. These are some of the top stories published in the Florida Times-Union 50 years ago this week. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• First, some national news to give some perspective to the week of Feb. 9-15, 1959: President Dwight Eisenhower proposed a $5 billion federal funding program to build more schools in America. The next day, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Arthur Fleming disputed claims coming from Capitol Hill that the plan was intended more to help the nation’s bankers than to help students and teachers. It was also reported that in January the number of unemployed people in America was 4.7 million, the highest number since 1941.
• Locally, the YMCA began a 10-day campaign to register 1,250 new and renewal memberships. The effort was kicked off with a dinner for all members who were asked to attend in Western costumes. At the event, Sheriff Dale Carson pinned a badge on Jasper Jones and presented him with a pair of six-guns and holsters for Jones’ use as “high sheriff” during the membership drive. The Gulf Life Insurance Company sponsored the dinner.
• It was noted that of the 11,133 scales, weights and measures inspected in 1958, a total of 1,051 were found to be in error, reported Howard Crawford, the City’s inspector of weights and measures. His office check-weighed 23,995 packages of foodstuffs and found 3,917 were incorrectly weighed. One inspection found 4,923 scales owned by various merchants weighed items accurately while 654 did not. Crawford said when the weights and measures department was established in 1930 a majority of merchants were doing business honestly, “But there was a considerable minority operating with fraudulent intent.” He pointed out equipment found to be in error from wear through use or age was immediately taken out of service at the time of inspection. If it could not be repaired to weigh accurately, the equipment was seized and destroyed.
• Jacksonville Beach Mayor Justin Montgomery, City Clerk Jack Callahan, City Manager Buford McRae and City Attorney Stephen Stratford left for New York City where they would sign $1.4 million in bonds. The instruments were issued to pay for improvements and expansion of the electric, water and sewer systems.
• Matthew Gambuzza, a former resident of New York City and Caracas, Venezuela, was named director of Jacksonville’s newly-established “International Trade Mart.” He was a management consultant who specialized in foreign trade and international manufacturing operations. Winn-Dixie Vice President Harry Evans was also named to the mart’s board of directors.
• Arnold M. Diamond, Inc. of New York City was awarded a contract to build a second aircraft carrier berthing area at Mayport Auxiliary Air Station (now Mayport Naval Station). The firm was the low bidder at $1,066,790 for the construction, which was expected to take about a year to complete.
• Low bidder Parker Construction Company of Jacksonville was awarded a contract for $168,012 to build a 12,000 square-foot expansion at the Imeson Airport terminal building. It was also reported the Auchter Company’s contract to construct the new City Hall on Bay Street would be increased by $53,000 in order to add a fourth elevator.
• The Selva Marina Country Club petitioned the Atlantic Beach City Commission to have its property included in the City’s annexation plans. Club officials requested the land which included the 18-hole golf course be part of the proposal for annexation that was going to the 1959 Florida Legislature.
• The Atlantic Realty Company of New York announced plans to build 7,500 new homes two miles from Jacksonville Beach on the corner of Beach Boulevard and San Pablo Road. The company also announced the houses would sell in the $8,000-$9,000 bracket.
• A new industry for Jacksonville was welcomed by the Committee of 100 of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. Pioneer Plastics would occupy a one-story building on Atlantic Boulevard leased from the Allweather Tire Company. Pioneer manufactured parts for lawn mowers, parts for dial telephones and had its own line of laboratory ware for sales to universities. “We are the largest molder of laboratory ware in the country,” said William Strom, owner and president.
• Mark Hulsey Jr., the attorney for the Duval County Welfare Board, said that meals given at the Duval Medical Center to workers were “at the convenience of the hospital” and not considered part of their compensation. He made the statement at a Civil Service Board hearing regarding complaints by some hospital workers that a new system was depriving them of just compensation through curtailment of meals served at the hospital. Hulsey introduced into evidence an opinion of the State Attorney General’s office regarding computation of state pension benefits that such items as meals and lodging are not to be considered as compensation. Walter G. Arnold, attorney for two hospital employees who called for the meal hearings, read a section of the state workmen’s compensation law which stated those fringe benefits had to be figured into all computations for compensation benefits. After a full day of testimony, only five of 19 subpoenaed witnesses had been heard, so the hearing was continued until Feb. 26 at which time the remaining witnesses were instructed to return by merit board Chairman Carl Taylor.
• The formal opening of the 20-story Hotel Robert Meyer was five weeks away, but eight floors of the hotel would be in use by the end of February, said Roland Mumford, executive vice president of the Meyer Hotel chain when he visited the new Jacksonville property. He also said the hotel cost $7 million including furniture and fixtures and with 563 rooms, it would be the largest commercial hotel in Florida. The hotel featured the Marlin Bar with nautical decor at street level and on the mezzanine, the larger Bali Hi Lounge offered a dance floor. It was also noted that 60 of the rooms would be furnished with extra-long beds for tall persons.
• The United Cerebral Palsy Telethon was broadcast live on Ch. 4 from the George Washington Hotel and starred three special guests from Hollywood. Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake and Dennis Weaver, who played Doc Adams, Miss Kitty and Chester respectively, on the television series “Gunsmoke” were welcomed to Jacksonville by John Lanahan, president of United Cerebral Palsy of Jacksonville and First Vice President and chair of the telethon committee C. Lamar Dean.
• It wasn’t known at the time, but when Roy Rogers, “The King of the Cowboys,” came to Jacksonville two weeks earlier to ride in the March of Dimes benefit parade, he was looking for a replacement for his aging horse “Trigger.” Rogers was so impressed by a palomino he saw ridden by a Baldwin man in the parade, he made the man an offer for his horse. It took a few days, but Elmer Rudd, owner of the Rocking R Ranch, finally agreed to sell his 8 year-old palomino “Golden Spur” in exchange for $1,500 and a 5 year-old palomino from Rogers’ stable.