Have you ever wondered what life was like in Jacksonville half a century ago? It was a different era of history, culture and politics but there are often parallels between the kind of stories that made headlines then and today. As interesting as the differences may be, so are the similarities. These are some of the top stories from this week in 1961. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• The City Commission voiced its opposition to a proposal by Gov. Farris Bryant to double the state gross receipts utility tax.
The commission’s stand on the matter came at a special session of the group attended by Mayor-Commissioner Haydon Burns and Commissioners J. Dillon Kennedy, Lou Ritter and Claude Smith Jr., who approved a resolution outlining the reasons for their opposition.
The resolution read, in part: “The City Commission of the City of Jacksonville, Florida, does hereby go on record, on behalf of thousands of customers of its electric system and the citizens of this area purchasing such other utility services, that it is unalterably opposed to the proposed doubling of the state gross receipts utility tax and that it informed all of its customers that the responsibility for any such increase in taxation, if same should occur, is that of Governor Farris Bryant.”
Copies of the document were delivered to Bryant, House and Senate leaders and to members of the Duval County legislative delegation.
Statewide opposition to the tax increase was organized March 29 at a meeting in Orlando of the Florida Municipal Utilities Association, an organization of public and private utilities which he attended, Kennedy said.
Burns said the increase in tax, which would amount to 1.5 percent in Jacksonville, would be returned to counties and municipalities through the State Road Department for purchase of right of way under Bryant’s proposal.
“We appreciate the efforts of the governor to relieve municipalities of the burden of the cost of right of way, but we disagree with the method,” said Burns.
“Under the proposal there is no guarantee we would be returned any of the money. It could go to other counties,” said Kennedy.
Ritter said there were no current plans for right of way purchases in Jacksonville which would justify the amount the city would be taxed.
The resolution also stated that any additional taxes would be passed on to consumers and would have an adverse effect on attracting new business and industry to the state and city.
• A Duval County motorist would have the chance to be part of Florida’s history when arrested for speeding by use of a new “electronic patrolman.”
Sheriff Dale Carson inaugurated the use of the new “radar” device on County Road Patrol cars. It was the first use of the technology in the state and only 15 municipalities nationwide had the devices.
Patrol Chief W.F. Johnston said the recordings from the device were admissible in court and could accurately measure the speed of a car at a range of up to 600 feet. The device cost $1,297, but it was noted that fines for speeding could quickly pay back the investment.
• A last-ditch effort to head off passage of a bill to give misdemeanor trial jurisdiction to Duval County justices of the peace was mounted by The Jacksonville Bar Association.
The bill was passed under the heading of local legislation by Sen. Wayne Ripley and final say was up to the Duval House delegation.
Rep. John E. Mathews Jr. had expressed opposition to the bill, but Reps. George Stallings Jr. and Harry Westberry indicated they would approve it. The two House votes would be enough to make the bill law.
County Solicitor Edward M. Booth joined The JBA in calling for rejection of the legislation.
The Bar Association executive committee issued a statement that read: “This committee was unanimous in strongly condemning the passage of this bill. The committee is of the opinion that this bill should not be passed because it would permit laymen untrained in the law and lacking judicial qualifications and experience to exercise judicial control over a large segment of our population.
“This committee feels this to be undesirable and inconsistent with the bar’s continuing attempts to strengthen the qualifications of our judicial branch of government.”
The bill passed by Ripley would give limited jurisdiction to the JPs in handling misdemeanor cases where the fine was not more than $500 nor the jail penalty more than 90 days. It excluded numerous other misdemeanor violations, in particular cases involving driving while intoxicated.
• The 78-member Fletcher High School band left for Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival parade.
“It was a struggle, but we made it,” Bandmaster Otto Beckham said of the efforts of the musicians and their parents to raise the $6,000 needed to pay for the trip.
Beckham said a highlight of the excursion would be a tour of the White House, where the band members would leave a box of oranges for President John F. Kennedy and his family prior to the parade.
• County Juvenile Court Judge Lamar Winegeart Jr. defended young people against those who called them “horrible” and said they were “going to the dogs.”
Addressing the monthly meeting of The Civic Round Table, Winegeart said the juveniles brought before his court represented a “tiny minority.”
He noted that because the population was greater than ever, the number of children was larger. Because of the “rapid communication and mobility of population” in 1961, events that gained a lot of attention would have gone virtually unnoticed in earlier times.
“In the old days, if a boy took a neighbor’s horse, rode into town and was thrown from the horse and injured, the whole affair would have been a local community matter. Today, if a boy steals a car, drives it to Georgia and is hurt in a wreck, the incident is reported in all news media all over the area,” said Winegeart.
He placed primary blame for children becoming delinquent on parents.
“Every child is born with two God-given parents. When their children go to court, they have failed the children,” said Winegeart.
• Two men overcome by fumes while repairing a storage tank in the Maxwell House plant on East Bay Street were rescued by another employee.
John Mattison and Paul Jones were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition. Their rescuer, Ivey Elks, was treated for a back sprain and inhalation of fumes and released from Duval Medical Center.
Elks said he ran to the scene after seeing a crowd of workers gathering around the tank, which was used to store liquid coffee extract, and asked what was wrong.
Elks said when he found out two men were in the tank he told other workers, “I can’t just stand here. I’m going in,” even though he was warned not to enter the tank.
“I looked through the opening (two feet wide) at the top and saw them slumped on the floor. I dropped down and lifted one high enough for someone on top of the tank to grab hold,” said Elks.
“After getting the first one out, I yelled for a rope, but when that was dropped in, it wouldn’t do any good, so I lifted the other man up high where he could be reached,” he said.
Elks said he underestimated the potency of the fumes.
“I can’t remember if I pulled myself up the rope or they pulled me out with the rope,” said Elks.
The tank stored liquid coffee extract used to make instant coffee. It was so strong it would take only a drop or two to make a cup of coffee.
Police said they were informed no one was allowed to remain in the tank for more than three minutes at a time.
• Insurance executive Jacob F. Bryan III reigned as Jean Ribault at a ball honoring the French explorer. It was the first event in a four-year campaign marking the Florida Ribault Quadricentennial.
The affair at the George Washington Hotel auditorium was attended by several hundred people, including U.S. Rep. Charles E. Bennett.
Bryan was selected by the quadricentennial committee because of his “outstanding example as a community leader,” said Mrs. Elliott J. Roschuni, general chair of the ball.
Couples crowded the floor to dance to the music of Warren Covington and his Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The first couple on the floor was Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kent.
Kent was president of the nonprofit Ribault Corp., an organization formed to assume financial responsibility and formulate plans for the celebration of the landing of Ribault at the mouth of the St. Johns River in 1562.
Bryan was delayed and arrived behind schedule at the event. As he was getting into his costume, authentic in every detail, he said, “If the French had to get into get-ups like this, then I know why they lost Fort Caroline. They spent all their time getting dressed instead of fighting.”
• A robber who had carefully selected a jeweled wristwatch and rings worth $259 at an Adams Street jewelry shop returned a week later to pick them up and brought a gun.
Police said he also took a few other items of merchandise and stole $70 in cash from the jeweler.
Henry F. Lutins, manager of National Jewelers Exchange at 604 W. Adams St., said the man entered the store and asked to see the watch and rings he had previously selected.
Sgt. E.H. Perry of the robbery squad said Lutins reached into a display case and placed the watch, a jeweled cross set with rhinestones and white gold bands, and three wedding rings, two of them diamond-studded, on the counter.
Lutins said the man then asked to see some watch bands.
As Lutins rose after stooping behind the counter to get them, he said he found himself staring into the barrel of a .38 caliber, nickel-plated revolver.
“I want your money,” said the bandit.
“Are you kidding?” Lutins asked.
“No, I ain’t kidding. I don’t want to kill you,” said the man, according to Lutins.
Police said Lutins complied and handed the assailant about $70, all he had in his wallet and pockets. The thief took the money and jewelry, then put Lutins in a stockroom in the back of the store and locked him inside.
As soon as the bandit had gone, Lutins crashed his shoulder into the door, breaking the lock and freeing himself.
Lutins dashed from the store in pursuit, and two passersby attempted to grab the robber, who had begun to run, but the man wheeled around and pointed his gun at them so they let him go, said Lutins.
• Nine recruits were initiated into the American Red Cross Lifesaving Corps at Jacksonville Beach in preparation for the summer swimming season.
They were Pete Schiller, George Grandy, James Hunter, Bruce Ivey, David Moccia, Jack Overton, Bob Rozear, Bob Yeldell and Harvis York.
The initiation rituals included crawling on a greased pole over a pool of water and a contest of eating pie, slightly seasoned with sand.
• County Commissioner Bob Harris announced agreement had been reached among City, County and state officials for the installation of lights on the John Marshall Bridge over the Trout River at Main Street.
Harris said the lights would be on in a few weeks.
Complaints about the lack of lighting on the bridge had been made, but because of a jurisdictional issue, installation of the lights had been delayed.
Part of the bridge was in the city and had lights. Part of it was in the county and was unlighted. However, the part that was in the county was under the jurisdiction of the State Road Department and not the County Commission.
Harris said a cooperative agreement had been reached by all three agencies as to sharing the cost and responsibility for the lights.