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| A Gulf County Moment |
Area History
The area that modern day Gulf County encompasses has
been home to notable events in this states history. The City
of St. Joseph, itself, was home to the first state constitution
convention. Wewahitchka is one of few locales in the world
from which Tupelo Honey can be harvested. St. Joe itself
was known as a Tourist Town! Over a relatively short period
of time much of this area's history has, however, been
decimated due to the effects of saw mills, hurricanes,
plagues, massive wild fires, and other natural disasters. But
that's not the history of Gulf County... that's the history of
Calhoun County.
Gulf County Florida began when it was incorporated in 1925
from a portion of what was a gigantic Calhoun County... the
era many recall from history
as our nations "Great Depression" which followed a short
time later. It was during this time that an opportunist born to
a country lawyer in Virginia and a school drop out by the age
of 13, came to Florida in search of "Fortune and
Opportunity". To those of us in Gulf County we know this
iconic figure who still has a presence in our county today as
"Ed Ball".
been home to notable events in this states history. The City
of St. Joseph, itself, was home to the first state constitution
convention. Wewahitchka is one of few locales in the world
from which Tupelo Honey can be harvested. St. Joe itself
was known as a Tourist Town! Over a relatively short period
of time much of this area's history has, however, been
decimated due to the effects of saw mills, hurricanes,
plagues, massive wild fires, and other natural disasters. But
that's not the history of Gulf County... that's the history of
Calhoun County.
Gulf County Florida began when it was incorporated in 1925
from a portion of what was a gigantic Calhoun County... the
era many recall from history
as our nations "Great Depression" which followed a short
time later. It was during this time that an opportunist born to
a country lawyer in Virginia and a school drop out by the age
of 13, came to Florida in search of "Fortune and
Opportunity". To those of us in Gulf County we know this
iconic figure who still has a presence in our county today as
"Ed Ball".
Ed ball, along with his brother-in-law and employer, Alfred DuPont, came to Florida and began purchasing tracts of land, and bankrupt companies, including
a railroad and telephone company. To provide revenue for the floundering railroad, Ball on behalf of DuPont founded the St. Joe Paper Company in 1936.
"In 1933 well prior to the construction of the Paper Mill, a guest house was built (just for Mrs. DuPont) in Port st. Joe and was called "The Château"... a
directional compass was laid in the cement of the front yard. Later, during the construction of the mill, workers would use this fixed directional compass in
order to set true headings for their own compasses. That directional compass is still in place today! The building which was known only as "The Château"
for most of my life, is today, the home of Coastal Community Bank.
Mr. DuPont never actually lived to see the paper mill open it's doors. His widow, Jesse Ball DuPont would actually be the Company's first Chairman along
with the assistance of her Brother, Ed Ball. The Paper mill actually opened on St. Patrick's Day, March 16, 1938. From its opening, the Mead Corporation
came in to operate the mill for some time until the St. Joe employees could become acclimated with the paper making process.
Alfred DuPont, who had actually run the DuPont Company of Delaware for his family, initially came to Florida to start the Florida National Bank.
Years later, St. Joe paper Company would sell off its interest in Florida First National Bank to First Union Bank. Today, locally, you see that bank as the
Capital City Bank in Port St. Joe.
As much as Gulf County's Destiny is likely to be concentrated with tourism and development, it's legacy still has its hands in our modern day affairs, in the
Company that still closely bears its name.....
And now you know...
THE REST OF THE STORY.
a railroad and telephone company. To provide revenue for the floundering railroad, Ball on behalf of DuPont founded the St. Joe Paper Company in 1936.
"In 1933 well prior to the construction of the Paper Mill, a guest house was built (just for Mrs. DuPont) in Port st. Joe and was called "The Château"... a
directional compass was laid in the cement of the front yard. Later, during the construction of the mill, workers would use this fixed directional compass in
order to set true headings for their own compasses. That directional compass is still in place today! The building which was known only as "The Château"
for most of my life, is today, the home of Coastal Community Bank.
Mr. DuPont never actually lived to see the paper mill open it's doors. His widow, Jesse Ball DuPont would actually be the Company's first Chairman along
with the assistance of her Brother, Ed Ball. The Paper mill actually opened on St. Patrick's Day, March 16, 1938. From its opening, the Mead Corporation
came in to operate the mill for some time until the St. Joe employees could become acclimated with the paper making process.
Alfred DuPont, who had actually run the DuPont Company of Delaware for his family, initially came to Florida to start the Florida National Bank.
Years later, St. Joe paper Company would sell off its interest in Florida First National Bank to First Union Bank. Today, locally, you see that bank as the
Capital City Bank in Port St. Joe.
As much as Gulf County's Destiny is likely to be concentrated with tourism and development, it's legacy still has its hands in our modern day affairs, in the
Company that still closely bears its name.....
And now you know...
THE REST OF THE STORY.