Wallace Bruce at the Chautauqua Hotel

In one of her “Bits and Pieces of Walton County History” columns, Anna Reardon wrote: “Wallace Bruce was born in Hillsdale, N.Y. on January 10, 1844. He was well-educated, graduating with honors from Yale University about 1868. . . . He married Anna Becker of Scodak Depot, N.Y. about 1870. . . . Wallace Bruce was a scholar, author, poet and lecturer. He was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to serve as U.S. Consul to Edinborough, Scotland, where the family lived from 1889 to 1893. . . . After Wallace Bruce returned to this country, he continued his career, lecturing throughout the country.” Wallace Bruce was president of the Florida Chautauqua from 1893 until his death in 1914. The photograph above shows him in his later years. It is believed it depicts his study at the Chautauqua Hotel where he lived while the Octagon House was being readied for him.