The Messenger was published by the State Normal School, a teachers’ college that operated in DeFuniak Springs from 1887 until 1905. After it closed, the male students were transferred to the University of Florida in Gainesville, and the female students to the Florida College for Women (now Florida State University)… Continue reading
This brick from the original Walton High School building commemorates the Class of 1953. [Accession No. 2002-11-13: Donated by James E. Moore]
The girls’ dormitory at Palmer College was very distinctive. Unfortunately, it was totally ruined by a fire that consumed much of the college in 1915. The Post Card was published by W. K. Jennings of DeFuniak Springs. It was addressed to Mr. T. E. Hubbard of Opp, Alabama, but the… Continue reading
This photograph of Walton High School’s first football team was taken on the grounds of Palmer College in 1921. The linemen were (from left) Walter Donnelley, Theo Griffith, Fuller Warren, Ralph “Bud” McBroom, Cletus Fuqua, Clyde McKenzie, and Earnest Walker. The backs were Ralph Spiers, Buell Ogburn, Bert McCall, and… Continue reading
This American Classical design house was built about 1901 for Stuart Knox Gillis, a teacher and prominent attorney. Mrs. Gillis stenciled the walls of the first floor rooms, which was unusual as was the French red tile roof. Mr. and Mrs. Gillis died within a week of each other, and… Continue reading
Two baseball gloves used by the Bludworth boys. [Donated by David Bludworth] [Accession Nos. 2017.4.1-2]
This Colonial Home was built in 1887 for Edward D. Holton. During the years 1894 to 1908, it was owned by four different families. The Thomas Industrial Institution, an early educational facility, purchased the house for its president in 1915. In 1919, Mr. and Mrs. M. E Savage purchased the… Continue reading
Little is known of this undated G. W. Shear photograph. It states on the cardboard backing that it was taken in DeFuniak Springs. Reversing the photo shows the ink notation: “State insane Asylum Chattahoochee Head quarters”. [Accession No. 2002-1-1: Donor Unknown; reversal contributed by Michael Strickland]
CITY OF SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES- The people of DeFuniak Springs are certainly to be commended for the spirit they are manifesting in matters religious and educational. The last number of the Signal bears weighty evidence to the public spirit of DeFuniak’s citizens in the following article: DeFuniak may now be… Continue reading
G. Willard Shear took this studio photograph of the 1896 DeFuniak Springs Football Team. Unfortunately, the history of this team and the names of its players remain a mystery, but it may have been the Florida State Normal School team. The team played Pensacola on February 22, 1896, and won… Continue reading
