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...

Anna Smith's son, Ernest L. (Sonny) Hollingsworth, and her sister-in-law, Alline (Tuff's wife) Smith, wrote an account in 1990 of the P.W. Smith Dairy in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. They noted it as "The Oldest Continuous Run Dairy in the State of Florida." P.W. Smith was Anna's father and Sonny's grandfather. Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon is quoted and referenced in a number of history books as "Anna Reardon."

It was these dairy farmers and entrepreneurs who were among the early visitors and beach home owners in South Walton's Grayton Beach and Camp Walton (once part of Walton County). The Florida Chautauqua was most important in attracting an affluent and educated population. Read Anna's story about P.W. Smith's trip to Grayton Beach in 1899 in "Anna's Stories -- Grayton Beach ... " blog by Brenda Rees -- Shaping Florida.

Here is their story saved among the papers and pictures of Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon. Historic pictures as well as a picture of Sonny visiting his former home on Friday, May 5, 2009 will be included in this report. Brenda Rees -- Shaping Florida (c) pictures by Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved


Sonny Hollingsworth kept a dairy bottle lid...

Anna’s Stories – Camp Walton – Mary Esther --Smith's Resorts -- Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida
© Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved
Transcript from handwritten paper by Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon (33 pages)

Anna's story reveals details about Ft. Walton Beach that many don't know or have forgotten. What a wonderful beach camp on the sound. Many of these pictures and notes are not included in other publications.
The Smiths were certainly early resort pioneers in this resort driven beach community.

As a historic and well known resort area on the Emerald Coast, more exposure to Ft. Walton Beach's past is important. Its beautiful and strategic location attracted early natives, explorers, the best entrepreneurs and daring individuals. The high elevation of this area protected early native peoples and provided strategic harbors and sites for the military over many years. The beautiful dunes and sand satisfied a sophisticated and demanding beach crowd. Boating and fishing were long part of Ft. Walton Beach's legacy and livelihood.


Picture, the "Sewing Circle" from Anna Smith's Album. Friends and Family in the Gulf in 1913. They had a resort home at Camp Walton and traveled there by their boat "The Anna." All historic photographs from the Anna Smith...

"Anna's Stories" will take years to tell. We'll start easy. I'll tell you about a boat named for Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon and built in DeFuniak Springs around 1910. Pictures scanned from originals from the Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon/Sonny Hollingsworth collection will also be included. Brenda Rees, Shaping Florida (c) All Rights Reserved (LOG ON TO SEE ALL PICTURES!)


The "Anna" was named for Anna Durinda Brown Smith and Anna Smith, the wife and great-niece of L.I. Smith. Connections to Grayton Beach, Camp Walton, DeFuniak Springs, etc. The back of this picture says "WINNER OF FIRST HANDICAP July 4, 1920 Equipped with 20 h.p. 11 STANDARD MOTION Length 32'6" Breadth 8'8" DRT. 3' Speed 22 KAH. signed by
Anna Reardon

Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon's papers are vast and many were given by her only son Ernest L. (Sonny) Hollingsworth of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, to the John C. Pace Library at University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida. Anna Reardon wrote for the DeFuniak Springs Herald - Beach Breeze. Sonny spent many childhood days on the beach at Grayton at the "Smith" house. His father had died in a tragic dairy accident when he was a young child.

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Many people have enjoyed my blog "Moon-dreaming" about Bob Swinford's story of his first South Walton date with Mickey Wesley in 1938. Here's some of my pictures from 2003, 2004 and 2005 of the Wesley House and Eden State Gardens in Pt. Washington, Florida. The Wesley House has changed somewhat since Bob and Mickey spent the last part of their honeymoon on its enchanting grounds . However, Eden State Gardens and the Wesley House personify the beauty and historical significance of South Walton and Walton County. The Wesley's also have significant historical ties to the beaches in South Walton. I remember my dad, with family in Alaqua and DeFuniak, telling me how he spent many nights as a boy at the Wesley House and the beach.

The pictures include a Christmas portrait of the Wesley House in 2003, the Christmas Open House 2004, the Friends of Eden reception for the new pavilion in 2004, and the Friends of Eden reception for the Walton County Chamber of Commerce in 2005. Read more about the Wesley House and South Walton in my other blogs. All pictures (c) by Brenda Rees





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