history | Greene Publishing, Inc.

Tag Archive for history

Way Back When

February 7, 2013 Staff History Comments Off

February 12, 1943
Prof. Carl E. Rude, principal of Madison High School, and the High School Athletic Association, generously donated to the Library Association $5.00, with the request that it be used for the purchase of new books or any other way that the Library Association sees fit.
Mrs. J.H. Sale of Cherry Lake brought to the newspaper last week a half dime minted in 1842.
Dr. E.D. Tharp spent the past 10 days as a business visitor to Defuniak Springs.
Col. C.B. Marshall was a visitor to the city last week, visiting his brother-in-law and sister, Dr. and Mrs. J.E. Ellis.

February 6. 1953
Prof. A.J. Hargrove is confined to his bed with illness this week.
The dental trailer from the State Board of Health stopped at the elementary school in Greenville. According to Dr. A.W. Peterson, dentist, 152 children had their teeth examined. This included in the first three grades.
Jimbo Bell is at home on a 35-day furlough. He has been stationed in Pensacola.
The District Seminar of the Methodist WSCS will be held in Monticello on Feb. 12.

February 8, 1963
The Florida Power Corporation in Madison County will have an outage of electricity Sunday, Feb. 10, between 2 and 4 p.m. for repairs to the sub-station.
Service will be interrupted to those Tri-County Electric Co-op members east of Madison, including the area around Pinetta, Lee and south of Lee, from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 10.
Miss Toni Jean Wells of FSU was a visitor at her home here Sunday.
Alex H. Smith and sons, Jimmy and Zet, spent the weekend at their Fernandina Beach home.

February 9, 1973
Henry Fead is in the jailhouse on a murder charge and Emma Tucker, 19, is dead of a bullet to her brain as the result of a family squabble in Greenville Sunday.
Bob and Beanie Searcy spent an all-expenses paid weekend in Freeport in the Bahamas, guests of United Farm Agency. Mr. and Mrs. Searcy are members of the President’s Round Table, one of the top classifications of company salesmen.
Gay Swift, son of Mr. and Mrs. Red Swift, is being treated in the Key West Naval Hospital for a serious eye injury, caused when an electric drill struck him in the eye. He has lost virtually the entire sight of the eye, Mr. Swift reported. Young Swift will be given a medical discharge from the Coast Guard.
Two men, ages 20 and 22, were jailed and charged with murder in the shooting of Highway Patrol Trooper C.W. Parks, husband of the former Carolyn Davis of Madison. Parks was shot as he attempted to arrest the men in connection with the robbery of a Woodbine, Ga., loan office. He was left dead in the ditch alongside I-95. A passing motorist who witnessed the killing gave the alarm over the trooper’s radio and the two men were picked up shortly thereafter.

Way Back When

January 28, 2013 Jacob History Comments Off

January 29, 1943
Pvt. William F. Brooks of Lovett received his diploma and silver wings at the Aerial Gunnery School at Tyndall Field Jan. 12, 1943. He was given the rating of a sergeant.
Col. J.B. McClure, prominent young attorney of this city, and member of the law firm of Davis, Davis and McClure, was notified on Monday by Gov. Spessard Holland of his appointment as county prosecuting attorney.
Joe Hughey, of the US Naval Training School, Memphis, Tenn,, arrived home Wednesday morning on a seven-day leave.
Mr. C.J. English of our Navy was visiting his little daughter, Margaret, over the weekend.

January 23, 1953
Mrs. E.L. Flowers, chairman of the Mothers’ March for Polio for Lee, announces plans for the Mothers’ March on Jan. 29, from 7-8 p.m. The workers will meet at Whitty’s Store at 6:30 p.m. to receive instructions. At 7 p.m., people will “Turn on their porch lights.”
Mrs. Stanton Pepera and daughter, Connie, spent last weekend in Marianna visiting relatives and friends.
The Green Bay Food Company of Live Oak will again contract cucumbers in Madison County, along with Suwannee and adjoining counties.
Warrant Officer Junior Grade Howell E. Drawdy, Jr. is returning from Korea to the United States under the Army’s rotation program.

January 25, 1963
Beverage department officers and members of the Madison and Brooks County sheriff’s departments last Friday night destroyed a huge still system about a half mile south of Lovett.
William Rocky Leggett, who recently broke out of jail here and was caught Jan. 11 in Defuniak Springs broke out again last Friday about 9:15. Leggett twisted up a blanket and used it to stand on while he manipulated an opening in the top of his cell and crawled through to freedom. His liberty was short-lived, however, as officers caught him about an hour and a half later within two blocks of the jail and put him back in.
The Band Booster Club met Monday night in the band room with a good attendance of members.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Williams of Jacksonville came Thursday for a visit with his mother, Mrs. Ruby Williams.

January 26, 1973
Imported fire ants have been in Madison County for only three years but they are becoming more numerous and bothersome. They were first found near Greenville and that vicinity now has the worst infestation.
The North Florida Junior College Sentinels upset the University of Florida Baby Gators 108-90 in basketball action.
A total of 150 people employed at Scottish Inns plant in Greenville build motel room units.
The villagers in the suburbs spoke loudly and clearly Tuesday as they rejected overwhelmingly an invitation to be a part of the City of Madison. Those on the outside voted 346-62 in favor of staying on the outside. Those on the inside agreed grudgingly to let in the outsiders if they wanted to come, 292-256.

Bill Bunting Writing Book About Madison Confederacy

August 23, 2011 Lynette Around Madison, History Comments Off

Bill Bunting scrolls through page after page of records concerning Madison and the surrounding area during the Civil War years.

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.

In the Treasures of Madison County Museum on Range Street, next to the RATT Pact Theatre, Bill Bunting sits amid tangible pieces of Madison’s history, greeting museum visitors as he pores over volumes of reference books, history books, letters, diaries, and countless other materials. His goal is to compile as complete a history as possible on the Confederate Units that formed in Madison County. How many men were there in these units? Who were they? Where did they come from? And what eventually happened to them at the end of the Civil War?

It is a huge undertaking, and Bunting estimates he is about 35 to 40 percent finished. In the end, he hopes to have a day-by-day account of each and every man who came to Madison for the Confederate Army; what day he joined up, what company he was assigned to, what battles he was in, when he got sick, what day he died, where he died, and where he was buried – or, if he survived the war, what day he came back to Madison to be paroled, take the oath of allegiance back to the United States and reapply for the right to vote.

There were perhaps 10, or maybe even 11 Confederate Army companies formed in the Madison area, each comprised of roughly 120 men. Armed with rosters for each company, Bunting can determine which battles the men fought in, and by cross-comparing the dates of those battles with lists of men who were sick and wounded in area field hospitals, he can also determine which battles they were not in, how many people were actually present at a battle, and which companies were not able to fight at full force that day. In any given battle on any given day, a company could be down by as many as 30 or 40 sick and wounded. From various other records, it is possible to determine which companies fought to the left and right of each other, how many men they were able to muster, how many were wounded and how many died.

Through this intricate matching of lists of names and dates, it is possible to trace the path of one soldier (he enlisted in Madison on this day, was wounded on this day, was in the hospital on this day) from day one to the end of the war; or to the date of his death, if he did not survive until the end of the war.

In addition to army records and countless reference books such as the six-volume Biographical Roster of Florida’s Confederate and Union Soldiers, by David W. Hartman and David Coles, Bunting also finds much information in other history books such as Wiregrass to Appomattox, by James Parrish, and Florida Cowman, A History of Cattle Ranching in Florida, by one of Madison’s own, the late Joe A. Akerman, Jr.

There are papers from the archives of the University of Florida, Florida State University and the State of Florida Library – old records as well as more recent theses and dissertations on the Civil War years in Florida.

There are letters from soldiers to their families which prove to be a rich source of detail and information, such as the collection of letters the three Livingston brothers, Archie, Albert and Theodore, wrote back and forth to each other (present day Livingston Street in Madison is named for them). Bunting has an entire binder filed with copies of other soldiers’ letters from the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia. From these letters, it seems most of the young men who enlisted in the Confederate Army, did so for three basic reasons: for the honor, glory and adventure of war; for Southern Independence; or for the right to keep their slaves.

Diaries and journals, from the soldiers and from the townspeople, are another window into the daily happenings of the Civil War years and what the people of Madison saw. There are details of meals and sometimes even banquets that were prepared for groups of soldiers coming through by train, as well as stories of days when there was no time for meals and the soldiers had to grab what they could and eat on the way. There are accounts of units that smuggled in guns up through Smyrna (Daytona). There are anecdotes of the young woman who took off the shoes she was wearing that day and gave them to a young recruit, the company drummer, who was barefoot. There is the story of the sleeping soldier who woke up to find flowers on his chest, and wondered if someone thought he had died. It was only a gift from a local girl who did not have the heart to awaken him, and simply left the flowers with him while he slept.

There will be parts of the book that will deal with what happened on “this date in history.” For example, on May 15, 1865, there is a list of all the activities that took place that day in Madison, including a complete list of men who were paroled, with names, ages and descriptions.

With another five or so units to go through, laboriously checking and cross-checking hundreds of names against endless lists, Bunting still has an enormous amount of work ahead of him. As of yet, he has no idea when his book might be finished and ready for publication, but he keeps steadily working on it.

“It’s a hobby, a thing I enjoy doing,” he said. “It’s really interesting to find out what happened to all these people.”

Way Back When

August 18, 2011 Staff History Comments Off

August 29, 1941

Mr. and Mrs. T.C. Wilson have returned to their home in Clearwater after a visit with Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Wilson.

Mr. Hunter Browning of this city and Rev. W.D. Keis of Greenville attended the American Legion district meeting held in Branford on Sunday.

We are having plenty of rain nowadays.

Mr. Curl Rude is attending summer school at the University of Florida.

August 24, 1951

Charles Gaskins, age six, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bullock Gaskins of Madison, was painfully and probably seriously injured when he exploded a dynamite cap in his hands about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Ed Howard, age 77, is still picking cotton in Cherry Lake. Ed made $6 in two days.

Benjamin and Waring Wyche, Jr., sons of Mr. and Mrs. Waring Wyche, were among the 534 students who received degrees from the University of Florida on Saturday, Aug. 18.

Dan Walker, Jr. is visiting his aunt, Mrs. McKenzie, in Lurinburg, N.C.

August 25, 1961

Members of the Hanson Methodist Sunday School class were on the Circle 6 TV program on Monday, Aug. 26. Mrs. Carl Smith and Mrs. W.J. Bennett accompanied the following children to WCTV: Carlene Smith, Faye Young, Gayle and Dale Cason, Linda and Brenda Pickles, Carl Rushing, Barbara Jean Townsend, Evelyn and Jerry Harris, Pat Taylor, Rusty Newsome and Peggy Newsome.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Moore returned Monday from Alabama, where he has been attending summer school.

Teachers at Lee Junior High for the 1961-62 school term are: 1st grade – Mrs. Mary Kent; 2nd grade, Mrs. Carolyn Rowe; 3rd grade – Mrs. Edith Stokes; 4th grade – Mrs. Cleo Hamrick; 5th grade – Mrs. Rita Phillips; 6th grade – Mrs. Ollie Kinsey. Junior high teachers are Mrs. Corine Henderson (English and Library); Mrs. Sue Quick (Social Studies and Physical Education); Mrs. Cordie Welch (Math); Mrs. Eda Bouland (Home Economics); Mr. Thomas L. Moore (Science and Physical Education); and Mr. Henry W. Reams (Vocational Agriculture).

Freddy Howard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Howard, has enlisted in the Navy in the Nuclear Electronics program.

August 27, 1971

Mr. and Mrs. George Townsend of Pinetta announce the engagement of their daughter, Barbara Jean Townsend, to Thomas Frederick Greiner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Greiner of Cherry Lake and Kissimmee.

John M. Wynn, an instructor in English at Alexander City Junior College, has been named an outstanding Educator of America for 1971.

Airman Ronnie L. Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Moore of Greenville, has completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Sgt. Wilbur A. Pulliam, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur A. Pulliam, has received the U.S. Air Force commendation medal for meritorious service in Vietnam.

Remembrance Of Things Past: Evelyn Chancy

August 11, 2011 Kristin History Comments Off

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Evelyn Chancy holds more experience working at the high school than almost any other teacher. She has dedicated nearly three-quarters of her life to Madison High Schools and has seen many changes occur over the years.

In total Chancy has worked for the Madison County School system for 42 years. She was there when the high school was located across town and named Madison High School, and she made the move with them 32 years ago to the current Madison County High School.

Chancy explained how she became a staff member at the high school, “When I graduated high school and went to college, I got offered to be a work study with the guidance counselor at the time, Lucille Cherry. After my work-study was done, they offered me a job. And I have been here ever since.”

When she first began working at the Madison High School, Chancy was the school secretary. Her job included being the bookkeeper and receptionist. She explained that she basically did a little of everything. Now her title is Principal’s Secretary, a title given to her by Lou Miller when she was principal. Her job now includes doing payroll and a little bit of everything else.

When she first started at the High School, the principal was Mac Primm. She has since seen eight principals come through. She recalls when they first made the move to the new high school thinking, “Wow! It’s so big.” Madison County High School is now 32 years old.

Big changes have occurred since she first began. The biggest, she would explain, is probably technology. “When I first started, we did everything by hand, “ she said. As for the students, Chancy believes that they have changed a lot since then. “They are a lot more outspoken now.”

Evelyn Chancy is married to Marion Chancy and they have two children; Jim Chancy and Cathy Brown. They also have seven grandchildren.

Remembrance Of Things Past: Margie Medley

August 4, 2011 Kristin History Comments Off

Margie Medley grew up in Madison. She has spent the entirety of her life here, learned about hard work and has raised a family here.

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Margie Medley has spent her entire life in the little town of Madison. Though, when she was growing up, Madison was even smaller than it is today. While she loved being in Madison, her dreams fueled her desire to travel and see the rest of the state.

Medley spent her childhood working on Chase Tobacco farm, her first job. She worked in the fields and learned a lot about the meaning of a hard day’s work. She and her family also spent a lot of time together at their home. Whether it was she and her siblings cleaning up their house, or playing ball in the yard.

While most girls in that time would have preferred to be indoors, protected from the heat of the sun, Medley prided herself in being a “tomboy.” She preferred climbing trees, playing softball and playing football. “I didn’t do what most of the other girls did. I was a tomboy,” said Medley.

She attended school at Madison Training School. One of her favorite things to do at school was to play ball. “I liked softball a lot,” she explained.

When she wasn’t working outside or playing outside, she spent her time shopping at Kromers or Lucille’s. Kromers was a department store. Lucille’s was a dress shop. “There are a lot more stores here now than there was back then.”

Her dreams were simple. She didn’t wish to become famous or make millions of dollars, Medley simply wanted to travel. Her desire to travel didn’t lead her to China or California. She wanted simply to travel to places like Tallahassee, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. “Back then we couldn’t travel like I wanted to. Now there are a lot more ways to travel and it is easier to get to other places. That was the worst part about growing up here, not being able to go places.”

Medley is now married and has three grown children. Her husband is Ronald Medley.

Remembrance Of Things Past: Jenythel W. Woods

July 28, 2011 Kristin History 2 comments

Jenythel W. Woods is 78 years old. She has spent her entire life in Madison, and though things weren’t always easy, she says that her life was, “real good.”

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Jenythel W. Woods did not grow up surrounded by fortune or fame. Her family didn’t spend their evenings around the TV or going out to eat. But, when asked about her life, she would say, “It was really good.” Woods is 78 years old and spent her entire life in Madison.

Woods attended Midway school until the fourth grade. After the fourth grade she had to go work. While she was in school, she didn’t participate in sports or anything like that. One thing she did spend a lot of time doing during school, was reading. “I liked it all. I loved to read,” said Woods.

After school got out, Woods didn’t go home and play video games or check her Facebook like many kids do now. She and her siblings spent their evenings working out in the field at the farm. They were responsible for picking cotton, tobacco, sweet potatoes and corn. “We did it all. But it was good,” said Woods of working out in the fields.

When they weren’t working in the fields, Woods and her siblings helped their mom around the house. “We helped her with everything she had to do. We helped with the wash and cleaning. We helped her cook supper, too.” When she thinks about children now, and how much work they have to do, she said, “Things have changed a lot. I loved doing all of that. I loved it all.”

Woods’ family did not have a lot of money. They couldn’t go out to eat. They did all of their eating at home. “But it was OK, I liked being at home,” she said. For fun they would listen to the news on the radio. Their home did not have a TV. They would also go to church EVERY Sunday. “We had to go to church,” she said.

One of her fondest memories of her childhood was going to the grocery store with her mom on the weekends. “We rode a mule and wagon up town to the grocery store. But, they weren’t like the grocery stores we have now. These are all new grocery stores. Then, on Wednesday, the rollin’ store would come by, and Mama would buy us Silver Bells, Johnny Crackers and cheese.”

After the fourth grade, Woods began her first job. She worked in the homes of people in Madison, and continued to do that for a long time during her life. She also worked as a homemaker at the Madison Senior Citizen’s Center for 14 years.

At the age of 15 she married the love of her life, Artis Woods, Sr., who passed away four years ago. The two were married for 60 years, “I was married my whole life,” explained Woods.

They had seven beautiful children together.

Way Back When

July 15, 2011 Staff History Comments Off

July 18, 1941
James Morris was shot and killed by Tiny Hinton near Hickory Grove.

Harris Sercy met his death on Friday, after falling out of a moving automobile and breaking his neck.

G.E. Griffin dies of heart attack at Remerton.

Tokyo and Washington D.C. exchange dogwood trees, for cherry-trees.

July 20, 1951
Mrs. Raymond Brothers died in Nigeria, Africa, last Friday and was buried there Saturday.

Tobacco selling season promises to break all records, both in amount received and amount sold.

A man was caught cutting wires of abandoned Panama City houses.

A box was found in Valdosta, Ga., with the middle-aged woman’s bones in it.

July 14, 1961
North Florida Junior College receives grant by the Sperry and Hutchinson Company.

Luther Hutto was killed in a car accident in Tampa.

The William McChesney house at Cherry Lake was destroyed by fire.

Dannitte Mays lost a barn full of the best tobacco, middle leaves, by a fire.

July 23, 1971
Leslie Shawn Brookins, who is now 5 months old, is Baby of the Week.

Stephen T. McMahon, president of NFJC, receives a check for $23,000 from James Hardee, nephew of the late Clare Hardee Parramore, who left this sum in her will.

Keyes – Montoya Engagement

Reams – Mitchell Engagement

Learning At The Tree Of Knowledge

July 12, 2011 Jacob Around Madison Comments Off

Sitting under a shade tree, commonly called “The Tree of Knowledge” by Greenville citizens are, front row, left to right: Leroy Scott, Jesse Hunter and Thomas Lane. Back row, left to right: Frank Howard, Jimmy Scott and Frank Hampton.

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.

“I knew Ray Charles before he knew himself,” said Thomas Lane, who predates the famous former Greenville resident by five years. Pointing to the west, he said, “His house is right down the road there.”

“Do you want some real news?” one of his friends pipes in. “They put his house in the wrong place.”

The men who gathered each day under a tree next to the S&J Deli in Greenville all agree on it. They tell this writer that Charles’ childhood home had been on the other side of the street, and when it was refurbished, they put it in the wrong place.

Lane and friends, Leroy Scott, Jesse Hunter, Fred Hampton, Frank Howard and Jimmy Scott were all gathered beneath the tree on a Thursday afternoon. Greenville residents commonly refer to the oak as the “Tree of Knowledge.” Some days, a few others join them.

All of the men sitting under the tree worked in tobacco at one time or another in their lives. When the question was asked to them, the answer came back “What you talking about? We all did.”

Leroy Scott said, “I’m the youngest one here and I worked in tobacco, too.”

Scott served eight years in the Army, joining in 1988. When asked if he had been in any wars, he responded that he had been to Bosnia, “If you can call that a war.”

The other men said, “Yeah, because they were fighting over there.”

Jesse Hunter is a veteran of World War II. He served in the Seventh Army in England, France and Germany. Commanders of that component included General Dwight Eisenhower and General George S. Patton. Patton, then a lieutenant general, took command of the Seventh Army aboard the USS Monrovia. This led to the Seventh Army’s motto: “Born at Sea, Baptized in Blood.” It later became “Born at Sea, Baptized in Blood, Crowned in Glory.”

Frank Hampton went into the Army right after the Vietnam War. Most of his time was spent in Europe.

Jimmy Scott was born and raised in Greenville. He joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1974, but never made it to Vietnam. He was on the football team for the Greenville High School Pirates.

Unlike the others, Frank Howard was not born and raised in Greenville.

“I’m from Jefferson County,” he said. He said that he lives on Highway 221 North.

Howard was one of the first students to attend Howard Academy in Monticello.

“I went there when they first opened it,” he said. He said that he was no relation to the people who the school was named after.
When asked if they had any advice they would like to share with the younger generation, a phrase comes out that youngsters should heed: “They need to show respect to their elders.”

Remembrance Of Things Past… Walter Corbin

July 7, 2011 Kristin History Comments Off

Walter Corbin was not born in Madison, but spent much of his adult life here.

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Though he has not always been in Madison, Walter Corbin has spent many years in this small town. He and his wife originally hailed from Alabama, but work brought them to Madison. Corbin got an offer to work at Marcus Weever’s ranch as a Manager.

When he first moved to Madison he remembered the easy going attitude and the calmness that filled the city. “There wasn’t much of anything here. It was kind of a poor town,” Corbin stated.

He and his wife did not have the money to go out on dates or things like that, but they did enjoy going out to eat at Hillcrest Dairy Bar. “There weren’t many places to eat in town,” he explained.

They attended church at St. Johns Church, just west of Madison. They raised their children here and all five of their children graduated from Madison High School.

Corbin and his wife spent a lot of time grocery shopping. One of the best stores in town was the Quick Check, which is now Winn Dixie. They also shopped at Setzer and Pick-n-Save, when those stores were still in town.

He recalls of Pick-n-Save, “They had everything that you could want. Whatever you wanted, they had it.”

Though he wasn’t here for his entire life, Corbin remembers a Madison far different than what it currently is. He remembers a place that was laid back and calm, very different from his hometown in Alabama.

“Madison’s changed quite a bit since them days,” he told this reporter.

Remembrance Of Things Past… Guy Hall

June 30, 2011 Kristin History Comments Off

Guy Hall spent his childhood running through the swamps of Madison.

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Guy Hall was born in Madison, and although he left for a while, he has found his way back to his roots.

He did not go to school, much of his childhood was spent working or doing things for his family. His grandmother died when Hall was only eight years old, and that took a major toll on his childhood.

Hall recalls a Madison quite different from present day. There was very little to do other than play with friends, work or hunt. But he made the best of the situation.

During his childhood he spent his days working and running through the swamps. “I spent a lot of time in the swamps. I was almost always there when I wasn’t working,” he stated. “I liked being alone and not being around other people.”
He enjoyed hunting for rabbits and squirrels. He even recalled hunting a “swamp rat.” He ate everything that he killed, including the “swamp rat.” He recalled, “It tasted real good, like squirrel.”

Though he didn’t spend his afternoons hanging out with friends or playing ball, Hall had plenty to keep him busy. “I worked since I was six years old,” he explained. He worked in the fields and on farms of some local farmers.

Hall served in the Army during World War II and following the war moved to New York for a while. His time in New York did not dampen his desire for the small town though, because he returned home to Madison after a few years.
Later in life, after returning from New York, he worked as a junk man. He and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Madison. While his daily diet now doesn’t consist of much squirrel or “swamp rat,” he hasn’t forgotten his roots or his youth in Madison.

Remembrance Of Things Past… Eartha Barfield

June 23, 2011 Kristin History Comments Off

Eartha Barfield

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

To say that Madison has changed over the years would be an extreme understatement. The older generation once knew a Madison with movie theaters, dime stores and many other amenities that no longer grace this small town.

Eartha Barfield has lived in Madison for the majority of her life. She attended high school in Greenville and spent many of her afternoons at Suwannee River Junior College’s (now North Florida Community College) ball field.

Barfield played basketball for her high school and, after school, almost every day she and the team would practice at the college’s ball fields. “I also used to jump rope and play hop-scotch. There were a whole bunch of us who used to go out there,” explained Barfield.

Growing up, Barfield stayed busy helping around the house also. She helped to cook dinners for her and her family. She also cleaned around her house by dusting and mopping the floors every week.

Some of her hobbies included sewing, a hobby that she still holds today. “I want to learn to crotchet, too,” said Barfield. She enjoys sewing all sorts of things, so many in fact that she can’t list just one favorite. Sewing allowed her a chance growing up to have something to do when she wasn’t playing ball.

Another activity that Barfield enjoyed doing, and she even described it as her job, was planting flowers. She enjoyed working in the garden and planting all kinds of flowers.

Being outside was one of Barfield’s favorite things. Whether she was outside playing ball or working in the garden, a large portion of her time was spent outdoors.

Being outdoors played a large part in Madison’s past. Unlike present day, there was not much to do inside. There were no video games or computers to entertain children, so instead, they went outside to play with other children.

Way Back When

June 2, 2011 Submitted History Comments Off

June 6, 1941
Born to Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Miller Friday, May 30th, a fine 8 lb. baby girl. The little lady has been named Mary Virginia.
Mrs. Dock Hall surprised Mr. Hall Saturday night by inviting a few friends to have supper with them in honor of his birthday.
In our own country, Chief Justine Hughes of the Supreme Court has announced his retirement, effective July 1st.
Mrs. B. G. Waring entertained with an enjoyable picnic lunch Friday at her suburban home honoring Miss Vivian Lanier, popular bride-elect.
June 1, 1951
On Sunday, the six children of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Tomlinson were christened in St. Mary’s Episcopal church.
Governor Warren today signed into law a bill creating eight Congressional districts in Florida. The State gained two congressional districts on the basis of the 1950 Federal census.
Two Madison County bills were passed in the Legislature last week. One establishes a small claims court with jurisdiction up to $100 under the County Judge. The other relieves the Game and Fish Commission and the Board of County Commissioners of liability for any damage from increased water levels in Hickstown Marsh in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Blanton of Greenville announce the birth of a son, May 27.

June 2, 1961
John Edward Fraleigh, BS, bus; Frances Stewart Copeland, BS ed; Edward Bailey Browning Jr. and William Langford Welch, BS, arts and science, are graduating from FSU Saturday, June 3rd.
Lynette Bishop of Greenville and Jackie Pepera of Madison have been selected to attend Girls’ State.
Lois Morgan, member of the Junior class of Greenville High School, has been awarded the Crisco trophy for outstanding work in home economics.
The Senate passed 34-1 bill to cut intangible tax on stock and bond holdings from 22 to 1.5 mills; bill returned to House to concur in amendment.

June 4, 1971
Pharmacist Wayne Williamson, Jesse Hutchinson and Steve Ryals caught about 35 pounds of bass in Lake Talquin a few days ago.
Mr. Luther Sullivan was Man of Honor for the 9th Annual Ebenezer Homecoming.
The Becky Robinson School of Dance presented “Showtime,” Thursday, May 27, 1971 in the Madison High School Auditorium at 8:30 p.m. L. D. Robinson, master ceremonies, and also Becky’s father, began by welcoming everyone to the show and introducing Becky.
Dannitte Mays, the fourth, was born last Thursday, May 27 at 5:19 in the Madison Hospital.

Way Back When

April 14, 2011 Submitted History Comments Off

April 18, 1941
John W. Johnson last week bought the interest of Joe H. Williams’ Sinclair station on the corner of Base and Brookwood Streets and took control Monday morning.
One of the outstanding movies of the current season is Sis Hopkins, starring Judy Canova. The film is to be at the Swan Theatre next Wednesday and Thursday.
Madison High School musicians again brought home many honors when they returned from the northwest state music festival in Defuniak Springs on April 10, 11 and 12.
Miss Eddie Ragans, who is connected with the REA office, is a new resident at the Stroud Hotel.

April 13, 1951
An event not on the schedule for the recent Madison County Field Day, but, obviously of much interest, was the Fat Man’s Race. Places were accorded as follows: W.H. Wood, E.E. Bradley, A. Livingston, Frank Webb and S.P. Griffin. G.R. Pettis also entered, but fell down, according to the Enterprise-Recorder account.
Calvin Buchanan and Billy Littleton, Pinetta and Madison High School seniors, have joined the Army Air Force.
Mr. Cary Phillips was in the city Monday morning, making the necessary arrangements to enter his daughter, Annie Laura, age 10, at Hope Haven for treatment of burns which she received several weeks ago when her clothing caught fire when she was standing near an open fire in the fireplace, at the Phillips’ home. Skin grafting will be necessary to complete her recovery.
Thomas Davison Tadlock, age 73, of the State Forestry Service, died last Friday night in his motor boat on the St. Marks River, apparently of a heart attack.

April 14, 1961
Wiley Selman, playing quarterback for Phi Delta Theta against Sigma Nu at the University of Florida on April 8, threw a 26-yard touchdown pass in the last two minutes of play. Phi Delt won 12-0.
Bob Searcy of United Farm Agency has sold the 310-acre John Tooke farm to Huey F. Baker of Jacksonville.
Gibson Pasture is now open for fishing during daytime hours until further notice.
Carroll Blalock, Jr. was a visitor in Atlanta, Ga., for several days this week.

April 16, 1971
Rip Prine of Ft. Bragg, N.C., is expected April 20 for a visit with his mother, Mrs. R.L. Prine, of Cherry Lake.
Miss Becky Davis of Auburn University is expected home for the Easter holidays.
Miss Peggy Clark of Wesleyan College is spending Easter holidays here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William B. Clark.
Attorney Bill Daniel has written a legal analysis of the trial of Vietnam solider, Lt. William Calley, a Gainesville resident, tried and convicted of murder for his role in the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam on March 16, 1968.

Way Back When

March 24, 2011 Submitted History Comments Off

March 28, 1941
Mr. and Mrs. M.M. Cherry and family are moving this week into their new home that has just been completed.
Roy W. Bush, of Shellman, Ga., in renewing his Enterprise-Recorder, writes, “To get the county paper is like getting a letter from home.”
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tibbals are the proud parents of a fine son, born March 20.
Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Waring had as guests from Thursday to Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Waring and three children of Pahokee.

March 23, 1951
A telephone message from Congressman Bennett’s office in Washington Wednesday stated that the preliminary part of the application for the new Madison County Memorial Hospital has just been approved in Atlanta, Ga.
Edwina’s Beauty Shop interior was recently repainted a lovely shade of surf-green with pink-tinted ivory trim. Also, a new floor covering of linoleum tile adds to the beauty of the shop.
A small storm in the Hanson section Monday afternoon took the roof off the porch and living room of the Emory Gibson home.
The Lee Men’s Club will meet next Tuesday night at 8 o’clock. Coach Paul Martin will talk. The boys and girls who were on the basketball teams and the local coaches, Mr. Canon and Mrs. Evelyn Hall, will be the special guests. Very appropriate emblems in maroon and silver will be awarded to the selected students.
March 24, 1961
The W.B. Kinsey & Son Nursery, located in Pinetta, reported good business resulting from advertising in the Enterprise-Recorder. Mr. Kinsey said he is very pleased and plans to continue his ads.
Price support for the 1961 crop of peanuts will average at least $221 per ton, according to John Cone, chairman, Madison County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee.
The flagpole in front of the Courthouse is being repainted.
Jimmy Scanlan entered Massey’s in Jacksonville Tuesday to take a course for a Broadcast Engineering License.

March 26, 1971
Mrs. Fred Mickler and Mrs. Susanne Sanders of Madison were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mickler of Athens, Ga.
Winn-Dixie price check: W-D brand cubed beef steakettes, 88 cents a pound; whole slab bacon, 39 cents a pound; onions, five-pound bag, 39 cents; baking hens, 45 cents a pound.
Marine Lance Corporal Vernon L. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. John V. Miller and husband of Mrs. Iona Miller, all of Madison, was promoted to his present rank while serving with the Third Marine division in Okinawa.
Mrs. George Hendry, affectionately known to her many friends as “Miss Alma” will retire on March 31 after serving 25 years as finance officer for the Madison County School Board.

Way Back When

February 24, 2011 Jacob History Comments Off

February 28, 1941
James Ross died last Friday night from injuries received about 7:45 o’clock that night when a lumber truck belonging to Zack Wincey, and being driven by Lott Hutto, collided with a Ford automobile driven by J.D. Hughes, of Hartford, Ala., near the Davis place some three or four miles west of town. The lumber truck was coming from Greenville to Madison, and four men were riding on the lumber and one in the cab, when the collision occurred. The truck was turned over and the lumber fell on the unfortunate men. Besides the one who died, the men were Charlie James, Joe Ross, Joe Barfield and Mose “Son” Simmons.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Williams of Madison spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Daniel G. McMullen of Lee.
The Pine Grove Sunbeam Band met last Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Jim Douglas with 17 members and 10 visitors present.
Miss Lucile Downing was among others from Pinetta seeing the Twilight Play Boys in Clyattville Monday night.

February 23, 1951
The Hon. R.A. Gray, Secretary of State, has accepted an invitation to be guest of honor on the first Madison County Literary Achievement Day, Tuesday, March 6.
State Librarian W.T. Cash was guest speaker at the Rotary Club luncheon Wednesday, and gave an interesting account of life along San Pedro Bay in days gone by. He told of Madison County’s first courthouse at Hickstown and then at San Pedro before the final location at Madison, and many incidents relative to Madison, Mosely Hall, Perry and other parts of Madison, Taylor and Dixie counties.
A.G. Flowers had the misfortune to get one bone in his right forearm broken last Thursday afternoon while he was dressing a press belt in the Enterprise-Recorder plant, with the motor running.
The old Archer Smith home at Champaign was burned by fire last week. In its day it was one of the fine old homes of the county, and its destruction causes a feeling of sadness that landmarks of other days, and an era that is now history, have passed away.

February 24, 1961
Miss Teena Bunker, student at FSU, has been pledged to Delta Delta Delta sorority. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.V. Bunker.
Miss Laverne Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Brown, is on the Dean’s List for the first semester at FSU. Miss Brown is a freshman.
Miss Florida Davis, of Florida State University, will arrive home today to spend the week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Davis, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Brannon were visitors in Perry Monday, guests of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brannon and children.

February 26, 1971
J.B Davis, Sr. is pleased to announce the employment of Mr. Eugene Davis, who is beginning managerial training in different departments of J.B. Davis, Inc.
Greenville High School has won its third straight Suwannee Valley Championship, defeating Lafayette County Saturday night, 84-67.
Gary Robinson received mainly first degree burns about his face last week while he and Roscoe Rye were working on a bathroom heater at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Arnold.
The historic marker was dedicated at the site of the Florida Manufacturing Company on Sunday, Feb. 21.