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 1963. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
• Mayor Haydon Burns said he was “appalled” at the elimination of $75,000 from the proposed 1964 city budget for aid to Jacksonville University and Edward Waters College.
The proposed budget did not include the customary $50,000 for JU and $25,000 for EWC. Other cuts included allocations for cultural and service groups that had received city and county funds for many years.
Burns said when the City Commission sent the proposed 1964 budget to the City Council, it contained $100,000 for JU and $50,000 for EWC, the limits allowed by law for city contributions, which were authorized to be matched in the county budget.
“I am most shocked and appalled at the failure in the proposed budget to provide city support to various nonprofit community organizations which have rendered such fine service in the field of education and culture,” said Burns.
Some of the items in the miscellaneous appropriations section of the budget were increased, including money for the Child Guidance Clinic, the Children’s Museum of Jacksonville, Duval County Civil Defense Council and the North Florida Association for Retarded Children.
The nine-member council unanimously approved Jacksonville’s $91.8 million budget for 1964 without the appropriations for the colleges despite a protest outside City Hall by more than 500 students.
An indication the council would adopt the budget regardless of outside pressure was given before the vote by W.O. Mattox, chairman of the council Budget Committee.
“While there are many other worthy projects that the committee would like to have included and have done by the city, in order to hold the line on taxation, they were of necessity omitted.
“There has been some criticism because in the miscellaneous appropriations, an appropriation for Jacksonville University and Edward Waters College and some others have been eliminated. Some two years ago, the council budget committee requested these parties to take their case to the Florida Legislature and have the county’s participation increased so that the city contribution could be eliminated,” Mattox said.
• The Gators turned three first-half mistakes by the Bulldogs into touchdowns, then spent the second half defending against a strong Georgia passing game to win the Florida-Georgia football classic 21-14 before 48,235 spectators in the Gator Bowl.
Among those in the crowd were Florida Gov. Farris Bryant and Georgia Gov. Carl Sanders and their wives, along with U.S. Sen. Spessard Holland, U.S. Rep. Charles E. Bennett and Florida Agricultural Commissioner Doyle Connor.
• A total of 172 new members were enrolled in the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and its regional councils during a four-day drive.
The trade group gained 90 additional members and the councils 82, volunteer workers reported at a wrap-up meeting at the Mayflower Hotel.
Bill Bailey won a three-day vacation for two in the Bahamas by signing up 19 new members, more than any other individual.
The President’s Trophy was awarded to the North Council for achieving the greatest percentage increase. Council workers obtained 43 new members – 11 for the chamber and 32 for the council – for a 45 percent increase.
• Criminal Court Judge Hans Tanzler said somebody in Jacksonville didn’t believe in the adage about there being honor among thieves.
He made the observation when he heard the case of two burglars whose loot was stolen from them by unidentified parties.
James Lee Sarvis and Eddie Lawrence Watts were in Tanzler’s court charged with breaking into B.F. Goodrich Co. at 1001 W. Adams St. on July 2 and grand larceny of $1,313 worth of merchandise including 33 radios, four television sets and two phonographs.
Both pleaded guilty to entering without breaking with intent to commit a felony. Each was sentenced to serve two years.
Assistant County Solicitor Major B. Harding, the prosecutor, said the two defendants and a juvenile took the merchandise from the store to a vacant house. Most of the loot was then spirited away by someone, Harding said.
In another case, Tanzler sentenced Arthur Lewis McIntyre to two years in the state prison after he was found guilty of possessing four gallons of moonshine whiskey on Dec. 29. McIntyre waived a jury trial and was found guilty by the judge.
• Supervisor Louis Damato retired at age 70 after 52 years of service with the Post Office Department in Jacksonville. After serving under eight postmasters since 1911, Damato ended his service as tour superintendent of the West Bay Street Annex.
According to Assistant Postmaster Arthur F. Whittier, another employee had retired in 1963 with 50 years of service. “But Mr. Damato holds the distinction of having worked longer than any other person employed and retired by the postal department in Jacksonville,” he said.
When Damato was hired in 1911, there was only one post office in Jacksonville, at the corner of Forsyth and Hogan streets. He became foreman of mails in 1927 and was named assistant superintendent of the West Bay Station in 1943. He was reclassified as foreman of mails in 1955 and promoted to tour superintendent in 1960.
• Frank Lloyd, operator of Lloyd’s Bar-B-Q at 6351 Philips Highway, was held up by a lone bandit and robbed of about $8.
The bandit ordered a beer and then said, “This is a stickup.”
Lloyd said, “You’re kidding.”
When the robber made it clear he meant business, Lloyd handed over the few bills in the cash register and the bandit fled in a waiting automobile.
Lloyd saw neither the bandit nor the gun used in the robbery. He had been totally blind since an industrial accident in 1940.
“But I knew he meant what he was saying. When I told him I was blind, he tapped the back of my hand with the cold steel of a pistol,” said Lloyd.
• George R. Olsen was sworn in as mayor-commissioner of Atlantic Beach. He succeeded Henry Isaacs, who did not seek re-election.
Also sworn in as new city commissioners by City Clerk Adele Grage were Don L. Goodling and Walter J. Parks Jr.
Goodling succeeded Preben Johansen as Seat 2 commissioner and Parks replaced J.B. Claiborne in Seat 3.
• The opening of the “Parade of Homes” in Pickwick Park attracted what was described as “one of the largest weekend crowds in recent history.”
Joseph D. Weed Jr., president of the Homebuilders Association of Greater Jacksonville, said Duval County Patrol officers made an unofficial estimate of 35,000 new home shoppers at the event.
“We know that it was the most successful home show opening ever held in Jacksonville,” said Weed.
Jack Demetree, a developer of Pickwick Park in San Jose, had three model homes on display, including one that was built on six levels.
“The homeowning public in Jacksonville is looking for new ideas and improved materials and is interested in what the industry is doing,” he said.
“We hope that more than 100,000 will attend before the show closes next Sunday evening. The turnout for the first two days is far more than we expected and indicates that there is a strong demand for new homes in the area,” Weed said.