By the summer of 1901, leaders of the community of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, had decided that it would be advantageous to incorporate the community into a town. Accordingly, due notices to the electors were printed in The Breeze, calling for a public meeting on July 30th, 1901, to decide whether… Continue reading
The “Old Murray Home” was built on land purchased from the DeFuniak Land Company. (3) It was built in 1889 and was first located next to the Episcopal Parish House. It was moved sometime before 1907 to its current lot and was repositioned on the lot in 1986. (1) The… Continue reading
This home was built by Charles E. Murray in 1895. Mr. Murray owned the merry-go-round on Baldwin Avenue, which was near the current Chautauqua Theater. [Photo by Mary Lancaster. Source: Walking Tour brochure by the Walton County Heritage Association.]
This masonry vernacular style house is the only stucco house in DeFuniak Springs that meets the requirements for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. (1) The home was built in 1929 for Donald Stuart Gillis, a well-known Circuit Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Florida. He lived… Continue reading
This house was built in 1912 as a model house for the sale of pre-cut houses to be sold by the One Price Cash Store in DeFuniak Springs. The house has triple hardwood floors and double wooden walls that give it extra strength and durability. (1) The original owner, A…. Continue reading
Fennie Allison (seated) of Allison’s Grocery received an award from Margaret Wooten in this undated photograph. This article from the Crestview News in 1975 is one of many that told the story of Fennie Allison. “Her Store Carries Everything” by Charlie Webb CRESTVIEW — The wonderful courage and goodness of… Continue reading
DeFuniak Fla. Aug 8, [19]11. Dear Ella:- I will ans. your sweet [word omitted] which I was no doubt glad to get. Kid I sure had a grand time last Smr., but wish you could of been there to enjoyed the sights!! Ethel took [illegible] with me Wed. night, and… Continue reading
Rubye Irene Holland was born in Georgia on January 12, 1900. She first married a man named John H. Littlefield. That union ended at some point, and Rubye then married Talmer Marion Walden. Rubye and Talmer Walden moved to DeFuniak Springs in the early 1930s to open an automobile dealership… Continue reading
There are several James McLeans in the early history of Walton County. This one is discussed in John Love McKinnon’s book, History of Walton County. A gentleman named Anthony Brownell built a large hotel near what we now know as Ponce de Leon State Park. The hotel did well for… Continue reading
John Love McKinnon (1840-1913) was the author of History of Walton County, which was first published in 1911. Every known generation of the family has a son named John Love McKinnon. Father: John Love McKinnon. 1790–1871 Mother: Catharine L. Douglass McKinnon, 1803–1868 Spouse: Mary Gillis McKinnon, 1849–1924 Siblings: Catharine L…. Continue reading
