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.
• County Solicitor Edward M. Booth said an investigation had revealed “definite shortages in funds” of the office of the Clerk of the Civil and Criminal Courts of Record. The shortages, he said, might exceed $20,000.
“There is no question about the shortages existing, but the extent won’t be known until we complete an audit,” said Booth.
An investigation was launched when bank officials notified Kathleen Hartley, the clerk, of apparent discrepancies in accounts of the clerk’s office. She conducted a quick investigation of her own and promptly turned the matter over to Booth, who was the chief prosecutor in the Criminal Court of Record.
Pending completion of Booth’s probe, Hartley suspended Woodrow W. (Woody) Wilson, veteran chief deputy clerk in the office and supervisor of the financial records.
Booth said subpoenas were issued for the records and accounts of the clerk’s office in the Barnett, Florida, American and Atlantic banks. Records of Richardson’s accounts in the Florida, Central and Barnett banks also were subpoenaed.
As soon as Booth started the investigation, he called in Bernard Palko, a certified public accountant, to supervise the audit. The state auditor’s office also was consulted.
• Jacksonville officially became a member of the International Baseball League and would operate in 1962 in the Class AAA circuit under a working agreement with the Cleveland Indians.
The announcement was made by Sam W. Wolfson, president of the Jacksonville Baseball Club, at the Roosevelt Hotel during an enthusiastic meeting of ticket drive leaders.
At the meeting, it was reported that 68,947 tickets already had been sold for the 1962 season. The goal of 100,000 ticket sales, set originally for Dec. 1, was expected to be reached by Oct. 12.
Wolfson said more than $32,000 of billboard fence advertising also had been sold and called it “one of the most amazing feats I have ever heard of in minor league baseball. Almost all of our fence advertising was sold before we even had a team.”
• The establishment of a new bank to serve the beaches area, to be known as the Ocean State Bank, was announced by Joseph Gill, president of the new institution.
The building and parking area would cover an entire block bounded by Third, Orange, Second and Cherry streets. The $165,000 construction project was scheduled to start in November and Gill said he expected the new bank would be open for business in the spring.
The capital structure for the new institution would be $100,000.
“The sound economic growth and future development potential of the Jacksonville Beaches warrant our confidence in the area. We look forward to the bank being a part of the entire community and of rendering a real banking service to its citizens,” said Gill, who was a former vice president of the American National Bank.
Jack W. Connell, who was at the time a bank examiner for the U.S. Treasury Department, would be vice president and cashier. Board members were Harcourt Bull Jr., David W. Foerster, B.E. Griffin, Richard Hamilton, J.B. Lumpkins, Robert A. Sey, Bonnie I. Smith and A.L. Waldo Stockton.
The building was being designed by the architectural firm of Saxelbye and Powell. It would be in a “modern motif” with terra cotta exterior and drive-in teller facilities.
• A loud explosion signaled the sudden end to a $29,500 drain of tax revenue.
That was the figure beverage agents estimated as the tax loss from production of a compact still near Hogan Road and Beach Boulevard. The calculation was based on the agents’ assumption that the still had been in operation for about a month before it was destroyed.
Agents Frank Jernigan and Billy Taylor and Sheriff’s Deputy Claude West uncovered the illegal whiskey operation by watching paths and roads and observing movements of people and vehicles, said B.K. Finley, district director of the State Beverage Department.
After the agents chopped holes in some empty barrels, Curtis Routzong, demolition man for the beverage department, attached 11 cans of liquid explosive to the still’s vats, drum and condenser. The explosive equaled about 33 sticks of dynamite.
The blast sent spots of yellow mash over the surrounding underbrush and it “rained moonshine” for several minutes.
It was the fourth still the agents had found and destroyed in a week.
• The first street markers in the history of Hilliard were installed, including near Mayor David Buchanan’s home at Second and Pine streets.
Growth in the town and an increase in the number of visitors since the new Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center opened there necessitated the new signage.
• The livestock show at the 1961 Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair was expected to be about 25 percent larger than ever before, said County Agent Jim Watson, president of the Fair Association.
He attributed the substantial increase, after a bad year in 1960, to a much-improved youth show and the removal of a livestock inspection requirement which reduced entries.
South Florida cattlemen didn’t participate in the 1960 fair as well as in previous years because an epidemic in cattle caused the State of Florida to require cattle moving north to be inspected at a station in Ocala, but by October, 1961, the epidemic had been declared under control.
The fair was to open Oct. 25 for an 11-day engagement in the Gator Bowl athletic complex.
Watson estimated there would be at least 150 head of cattle entered by 4-H and Future Farmers of America youngsters. He said up until 1961, there had been three cattle tents and a miscellaneous livestock tent at the fair. He said the 1961 edition would require three livestock tents, a horse and swine tent, a miscellaneous livestock tent and a hay storage tent.
Livestock competition, besides in dairy and beef cattle, would include rabbits, poultry and eggs and, for youth only, swine. The horses would only be on exhibition as would any swine shown by adults. All trophies would be furnished by the Agricultural Committee of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Henry Gobeil, Eastern Airlines manager of hotel and convention sales, came to Jacksonville and the Roosevelt Hotel to address the Women’s Traffic Association at their annual dinner.
He advised the group that he believed many people had lost the art of complimenting their neighbors.
“If you think it, say it,” he told the women and their guests, referring to the many kind words left unsaid by people who were too busy to make the effort to be gracious.
Mrs. Pat Vandiviere was toastmistress and entertainment was provided by C.A. Hinkley, baritone, accompanied by Dale Phifer and by Celeste Koger and members of her group, who performed impromptu dramatic skits.
• Funeral services were announced for attorney Ernest W. Mitchell, 85, with Rev. Homer G. Lindsay, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating.
Mitchell received his law degree from Boston University in 1898 and moved to Florida in 1911 to practice federal income and estate tax law.
He went into partnership with John W. Donahoo in 1942 and six years later a third partner, William T. Rogers, joined the firm.
On Sept. 15, 1961, Mitchell was presented a certificate from The Jacksonville Bar Association in recognition of 50 years or more of service to the public, the bench and the Bar of Florida. He and his wife, the former Effie Carlton Beecher, lived at 3033 St. Johns Ave.