Loveda and Children

Loveda R. is Tommy's mom. Here she is with her great-grandchildren. Christmas-06.

Tom Wishes All a Merry Christmas

Tom says this is the first picture Jeanette has made with her new digital camera! It looks just like Tom is saying "Merry Christmas".

To a brother I did not Know.

To a brother I did not Know.
On this day Dec. 09 60 years ago, Donald Eugene Davis was born with a hole in his heart. Doctors tried to fix it, but could not. Everyone who knew him liked and loved him. I did not not know him but it seems like I did . He died July 2, 1965. See I was born in 1966. Happy birthday Brother.

Redneck Parade

Bam's blog takes note of the parade.

ANOTHER MINERAL SPRINGS

by Cary Ellis, Jr. of Bogia, FL

Another hot day in the river swamp. Too bad the gnats aren't as visible as they are in real life. Some of the flavor of the river is lost without the swatting and eye infections. Don't recognize the waterman, but he looks as if his fingers are on fire, and he is trying to blow it out. I'll ask around if anyone knows of a poor fellow with
burned hands. That's sure to be the guy.

The other spring indicated on the map link on this website is Mystic Springs, about 1/4 mi. N. of Bogia and on the west side of the river. When the first crackers came to the 'Scamby River Basin' to claim their Spanish Land Grants (or as squatters), the Mystic Springs area was known as the "Hot Ponds". At one point near the turn of the century (that's the turn of the 19th C.), there was a hotel and an outpouring area where patrons (and locals) bathed in the pool of tepid water.

 My Grand Mother told me that water was a warm 84-86 degrees degrees before the quake (see below) and 74-75 aferward.

One of those frequent, and barely noticeable, shifts in the earth's crust that we experience on a semi-regular basis here, closed the source some in the mid 1950's, and the water began to surface in a colder state. Those living nearby told me only yesterday, that the temperature has begun to rise again in the pond itself, indicating that we could have a hot pond returning. Most folks now think this pond is simply another dead lake on the river, or a disappearing slough, but once it had been of great value.

There even was a special Spanish Land Grant for the 'Ponds' alone, dating from the 1700's.
After opening in early 1900, the 'Hotel Mystic Springs' closed in the mid 1920's. Thereafter an enterprising fellow rented and opened the first floor of the old hotel for Friday and Saturday night dances. This lasted for 6-8 years, but it eventually closed down, too. Prohibition was over (actually, prohibition never really affected us here. The "home fires" burned right on), the Depression was on, and the sawmills were starting to move to new timber.

There was little money for the dancing and fun of the roaring 20's. Jobs and food were hard to get here, even prior to the stock market crash.

The locals  to use the "cement pond" catch basin as a swimming hole until the W.W. II years. Mama drowned in that pool, in '27 or '28. She revived, thankfully, and went on to a life devoid of trips to the swimming hole, beach, or swimming pools. Years later, in the midst of the time in life when I knew more than my parents did, I sometimes wondered if that drowning had anything to do with Mama's obvious deficiencies. (I never had the nerve to even MENTALLY question why Dad was "slow").

Several years passed, I was a good deal older.  I was once again walking, and talking with them, and I noticed both had suddenly become more intelligent, and very wise. Obviously it was a "Miracle Recovery". What a relief it was to know I came from such resilient blood..

I have a picture of the Hotel in Chumuckla Springs. Have you seen it? If not, I will share it with you. Thanks for all you have shared with me and everyone else.
'till next time, Cary

CHUMUCKLA SPRINGS NEWSPAPER ...

CHUMUCKLA SPRINGS ADVERTISEMENT

MAP WITH MYSTIC SPRINGS --  Google

Shirley Jean Peaden Rutherford

1957-2006

Shirley Jean Peaden Rutherford, 49, of Pace, entered into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father, on Thursday, November 23, 2006. Shirley was born to Ann Martin and the late Rev. George Lee Peaden on March 25, 1957. She was a native and lifelong resident of Santa Rosa County. She had attended Pensacola Junior College and Troy State University where she received her Masters Degree in Criminal Law. She retired from the Santa Rosa County School System with over 22 years of service. Shirley was a loving Wife, devoted Mother, and an outstanding Grandmother!

Shirley was preceded in death by her father, Rev. G. L. Peaden; Stepfather, Doyce Martin: brother, Jody Peaden; sister, George Ann Russ, and a special father figure, Richard Jernigan.

Shirley leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 34 years, Earl Rutherford; son and daughter in law, Wesley and Kristal Rutherford; daughter and son in law, Tammy and Neil Passmore; four precious grandchildren, Zachary and Leah Rutherford, and Victoria and Mary Ruth Passmore; mother, Ann Martin; sister, Ann Lou Milam; brothers and sisters in law, Pat and Alice Peaden, and Ricky and Susan Peaden; father in law and mother in law, A.E. "Hackie" and Rolena Rutherford; a very special mother figure, Jeanette Jernigan, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 27, 2006 at the Lewis Funeral Home in Milton with Rev. Richard Bradley officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabeth Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery with LEWIS FUNERAL HOME directing.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Monday, prior to services. Active Pallbearers will be Bobby Burkett, Charlie English, John Barnes, John Price, Dale Peaden, Lee Peaden, and Matthew Peaden

Middle East Correspondent

Matt Settle reports again. Matt is originally from Jay. Here are some of the photos. The text of his email is in the "comments" link just under this post. He seems to be doin OK . His assignment is in Kuwait. I wish we could get a few reports from some of our other ex-patriates from the Chumuckla community.

Arthur Dennis " A.D. " Rutherford

Arthur Dennis "A.D." Rutherford, 57, went home to be with the Lord on October 18, 2006.

A.D. was a Vietnam veteran while serving in the U.S. Marines.

A.D. is survived by his parents, Arthur E. and Rolena Rutherford; two sons, Paul Rutherford and Kevin Rutherford; three daughters, Regina (John) Grayson, Crystal (Anthony) Wingate and Karrie (Jonathan) Peaden; four grandsons and two granddaughters; five brothers, Jimmie Rutherford, Seaborn (Sylvia) Rutherford, Earl (Shirley) Rutherford, Alton (Candy) Rutherford and Steve Rutherford; two sisters, Joyce (Frank) Kolb and Audrey (Lamar) Brown; and seven nephews and eight nieces.

Visitation was held at Lewis Funeral Home on Sunday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by a graveside service.

In loving memory from his brother, Jimmie.

Obituary- Idelle Nobles Bray - 1908-2006

Idelle Nobles Bray, born December 12, 1908, passed away October 22, 2006. She lived in the small West Willard Norris Road community most of her life. In May 1999, she became the second resident of the Forsyth House in Milton, living there for five years, then moving to the Heritage of Santa Rosa Nursing Home. She was a charter member of Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church and was an active member until she left the community. She was also the oldest member of the church.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, George L. (Roy) Bray, parents, Henry W. and Nancy Rebecca Nobles, brothers, Gillis and Clifford Nobles, sisters, Adelle Barry and Mabel Windham.
She is survived by a son, George (Gertrud) Bray, daughter, Rebecca (Earnest) Jernigan, four grandchildren, Julie Jernigan, Sandi (David) Coppedge, Greg (Kathy) Jernigan and Dale (Carolyn) Bray, seven great grandchildren, Amy and Amanda Allen, Ashton and Kandace Jernigan, Chris, Scott and Todd Bray, David Jr. and Selena Coppedge, one sister-in-law, Della Nobles, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at the Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church with Rev. Joe Mullins and Rev. LaDon Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with LEWIS FUNERAL HOME directing.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday evening in the Lewis Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church, Prayer Room Fund, 8000 Chumuckla Highway, Pace, Florida 32571.
Our special thanks go to the south hall nurses, CNA's and staff of the Heritage Nursing Home who were so good to care for our mother. You are truly called of God.
Active pallbearers will be Lamar Nobles, John Nobles, Carlton Ward, Joe Shofner, Eddie Tribble and Andy Elliott.
Honorary pallbearers are Colbert Campbell, Robert Conway, Marion Tidwell, Chuck Thames, T. L. Diamond, Byrd Mapoles, Ted Rhodes, Felton Smith, Charles Vanlandingham, Katherine James, Exie Stanley, Ethel Tribble, and Janet Greenblatt.

Remembering Charlie Hatfield

The 35th Infantry Regiment remembers its own at this site. Charlie Hatfield, from Chumuckla died in Vietnam, July 1966. Thanks to Tom Reynolds for finding this.

Middle East Correspondent

Matt Settle sends more information on his activities in Kuwait. Read about it in the "comment" link just below this post to the right.

End of The Line

A.D. Rutherford was executed this week for a murder committed twenty years ago. Some of us went to Chumukla School with A.D. and his brothers and sisters. We made some trips with the FFA to their home where their father showed us how to make cane syrup from our FFA sugar cane plot. What a lot of work! Most would agree, A.D. was prone to the "rough side of life" as a youth. The whole episode as described in the News Journal article is a sad one, for his family and for the victim who died years ago.