THE GOVERNOR STONE: Once in Eden Gardens State Park, Pt. Washington, Florida -- by Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida

Governor Stone Update November 13, 2009

I was thinking about the Governor Stone, built in 1877 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the other day and wondered how she was doing. The Governor Stone is currently in Ft. Walton Beach under the care of The Friends of Governor Stone. The Governor Stone had passed from The Friends of Eden of Pt. Washington, Walton County, Florida, to this new group.


Copy of Bob Swinford's painting of the Governor Stone. Brenda Rees copy from Bob Swinford. Bob Swinford married Mickey Wesley, the youngest of the nine children of William and Katie Wesley. They were married for 67 years. The historic "Wesley House" is located at Eden Gardens State Park in Pt. Washington, Walton County, Florida. Bob and Mickey spent part of their 1938 honeymoon there.


What prompted this fresh look at the Governor Stone was a recent visit with Bob Swinford, formerly of Eastern Lake in South Walton. You’ve perhaps read about him on some of my other history blogs about the Wesley House, Eastern Lake or Moon-dreaming. Bob prepared several plaques of the Governor Stone from photo copies of his original oil pastel painting. He recently donated several...

Walton County is one of the oldest counties in Florida and was created December 29, 1824. The first two counties created in Florida on July 21, 1821 were Escambia and St. Johns with the Suwannee River as the dividing line. Then, in 1822, Jackson was created from Escambia and Duval from St. Johns. Gadsden and Monroe were formed in 1823. Walton County was formed in 1824 along with Leon, Alachua, Nassau and Mosquito. The impact this county development had is discussed in some of my other blogs.


This 1836 Florida Map by Tanner shows Alaqua in Walton County. Also, South Walton is in Washington County at this time. South Walton was within the original borders of Walton County in 1824. Few counties exist in south Florida. Our current neighboring counties of Bay and Okaloosa don't exist. Counties were developed for political control of the legislature. Since this legislative configuration changed with the Voting Rights Act of 1964, perhaps we'll consolidate one day to save money.


There are 67 counties in Florida. Here is a listing of the year they were created. (Source: Florida Statutes 1941)

1. Escambia July 21, 1821
2. St. Johns July 21, 1821
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San Miguel and SoWal – San Miguel Day, Tuesday, September 29, 2009 – Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida (c)

Let’s celebrate San Miguel Day – September 29!!


A typical street parade in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We probably won't dress like this Tuesday in SoWal, but some of us will wear our San Miguel shoes to Cafe Thirty-A Martini Night. 2005 Photograph by Brenda Rees. All photos by BR.

There are current and historical reasons to highlight this day in SoWal.

Around September 29, 1528, on what became the failed expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez, Spanish boats probably sailed past the shores of South Walton, Florida. Many of the doomed explorers likely came ashore seeking food, water and other needed supplies. We know about this account as one of the few survivors, Cabeza de Vaca, wrote of this disastrous early Florida expedition. His account of this trip would lead the way for future explorers to South Walton and Northwest Florida’s coast. Tristan de Luna would come in 1559 to settle Pensacola, Florida. (It wasn't until later in 1565 that St. Augustine was established. However, Ayllon's San Miguel de Gualdape 1526 and Ft. Caroline 1564 figure into this interesting mix -- another story, another time.)

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Anna’s Stories – Back to School -- Palmer College, TII – Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida

Florida’s First Junior College
Early Florida Higher Education Institutions
From the Papers of Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon and her son, Ernest L. Hollingsworth, Jr. (Sonny and my mother recently retrieved these notes and papers from their attic.)
Presented by Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida
© All Rights Reserved 2009

Walton County was an early educational and cultural center for Florida. The Florida Chautauqua of New York started a winter program in DeFuniak Springs, Florida in 1885. Thousands traveled here to relax at this winter resort and to improve their education and religious training. The programs were a perfect blend of education, culture, recreation and religion. Formal education programs and institutions were also notable in Walton County. Among them was Palmer College. Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon attended Palmer College and Academy, and was a Senior in 1922. Enjoy another installment of Anna Smith’s stories as you read about her personal school experiences and view pictures from her scrapbook of Palmer College. Her son, Ernest L. (Sonny) Hollingsworth and his wife, Gloria, recently retrieved these pictures and notes from their attic. Gloria is my mother. Anna's family owned Grayton Beach and Camp Walton homes and resorts. – Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida

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As one of the earliest land grant holders in Walton County, an early judge for West Florida which included Walton County, and perhaps one of the earliest environmentalists in the State of Florida as well as Florida’s first federal forester, it is important you know Henry Marie Brackenridge.


Here are some pictures I've taken and documents I've collected that relate to his time here in Walton County and West Florida. Be sure to Log In to see all pictures and illustrations.


Henry M. Brackenridge’s 1829 grant in Walton County, Florida. This influential judge had one of the earliest land grants in Walton County. He was friends with George Walton, Jr., Walton County, Florida’s namesake. Brackenridge tutored Octavia Walton and would also know her as Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert. Their correspondence reveals a deep and enduring friendship. Octavia wrote many letters. One to Ellen Call Long may be accessed at http://www.floridamemory.com/Collect...pers/index.cfm Octavia is responding to Ellen about Pensacola...