Augusta, Georgia residents can reconnect in a unique way with some of their most famous citizens with a trip to The Beaches of South Walton and Walton County, Florida.

George Walton of Georgia, signer of the Declaration of Independence, had his home in Augusta, Georgia. George Walton’s home, Meadow Garden, was also the home of his son George Walton, Jr., the namesake of Walton County, Florida.

Meadow Garden, Augusta, Georgia. Home of George Walton, the signer, and Walton County, Florida namesake, George Walton, Jr.

Walton’s granddaughter, Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, would return to Augusta after the Civil War and is buried there with several of her children in the historic Walker Family Cemetery.


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Today seemed like a good day to post this paper prepared in 2006 for an Urban History class at University of West Florida. The last three years have been brutal for the real estate business, and time has certainly moved on since this paper was written. Today may be the start of a new trend. The pages were limited for this special paper, so certainly I had to leave much out. I also had some fun with this paper as it was an extra class I was taking. I've included the edited version which left out one realtor's comments for confidentiality. Footnotes are included if anyone is interested in doing their own research. I am not a realtor and do not have any property for sale.

(I've since posted other blogs, such as Pensacola, Octavia and Edgar Allan Poe, Eastern Lake, Augusta, Ga., and Florida's Highest Point Britton Hill with pictures that illustrate topics briefly mentioned here. Check them out.) Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida








































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New Orleans, La. and South Walton, Walton County, Florida have more connections than you may know. The Ogden Gallery in WaterColor in SoWal was delightful while it was open and reflected the close ties to New Orleans. The history and connections for New Orleans and Walton County are most interesting. Enjoy these pictures and notes.

You probably don't know of Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert's connection to New Orleans. Octavia was the daughter of Walton County, Florida's namesake, George Walton, Jr. She not only met Lafayette when he traveled to Mobile before his 1825 New Orleans visit, but Octavia gave the tribute to Henry Clay when his monument was first placed in New Orleans in 1856. Henry Clay and Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert had been very good friends since her debut
trip to Washington D.C. in 1833. One of her children was even named after Clay.

Two streets in New Orleans are named for Clay and Octavia along St. Charles Street. They are in close proximity in space today as they were in times past. (Original research notes by Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida)

New Orleans is just a five hour drive from South Walton. You can enjoy your stay at the Beaches of South Walton and then still get away for a special weekend in New Orleans to pick up a special art exhibit or a New Orleans Saints game.
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All Photographs by Brenda Rees (c) All Rights Reserved
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Railroad historian and author Tom Moody presented his new book, "Fred de Funiak, Engineer" to the Walton County Heritage Museum on Sunday, March 15, 2009. The great grandson of de Funiak, Fox de Funiak, attended. Brenda Rees, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Walton County Heritage Museum, accepted the book. The first copy was then presented to DeFuniak Springs Mayor Harold Carpenter. Dennis Ray, board member, introduced Moody. DFS city council members Hoffman and Ennis attended. DeFuniak Springs Mayor Carpenter presented Moody a memento of appreciation and gave Fox de Funiak a key to the city. Ken Little, President of the Walton County Heritage Association, was also in attendance along with other board members and community members. (Both Rees and Little are DeFuniak Springs natives and now live in South Walton.) Guests purchased copies of the book and both Moody and de Funiak signed.

Additional books are available at the Walton County Heritage Museum, 1140 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 Hours for the museum are Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Phone: 850-951-2127
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All Photographs (c) Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved


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Ancient People: Ancient Middens

Shaping Florida by Brenda Rees
"Where Nature's Best Meets History"
All Rights Reserved (c) 2009
Photographs by Brenda Rees

Seaside Institute, Dr. Judith Bense, Ancient Middens
Dr. Judith Bense was the guest speaker at the Seaside Institute in May, 2005. Dr. Bense was head of the archaeology department at the University of West Florida. She is also acting President at UWF now. Seaside is of course in South Walton where the first part of the program occurred. Then, we took a field trip to Camp Helen on Lake Powell, a coastal dune lake that is still partially in Walton County. This entire area of Phillips Inlet was in the original borders of Walton County in 1824. Dr. Bense's talk on native peoples in this area and their ancient middens still in existence was particularly interesting. Dr. Bense also featured the 1559 Tristan de Luna anchor found by UWF research teams and currently on display at the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum. The anchor was found in the Pensacola area.


Tristan de Luna Anchor, 1559, and Dr. Judith Bense at Seaside Institute 2005.

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