A Place Called Chumuckla - Recently Updated Pages

This is THE PLACE

DHOLT66 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:12:46 CST

Annual Christmas Parade (Redneck Parade) .. News and Schedule HERE

(At first we thought the teacher was Bobbie Whitley - one of the Wasden girls from Jay that were nieces of Juanita (Campbell Salter) Salter. But - Janis (Campbell) Engert tells us that Bobbie and Mrs. Fuqua swapped schools (Fidelis) the following year so each could be closer to home.) But now some of the actual students say the teacher is a Mrs. Vicks. Here is the latest input! Janis Harris Simmons .. Back row left to right Martha McBride, Raymond Smith, Bonnie Kimbrough, Phil Harris, Eddie Savent, Ms. Vicks, David Campbell, Harry Harris, Buck Roberts, Penny Richarme, Bobby Waymaire, Seaborn Retherford, bottom row left to right, Rita Castleberry, Janice Cotton, Dorothy Diamond, Betty Spicer, Helen Hopkins, Helen Wise, Ann Howell, Helen Castleberry, Bobby Simmons, Travis Barlow and William Carnley. (photo repaired by Lena Langham - class of '58)	Chumuckla High School, 2nd grade class of 1955 with teacher Mrs. Vicks and Smokey the Bear. Can anyone name the little people in this photo? Add your own notes to the conversation here in the discussion forum. Picture - Posted by Penny Richarme Hathaway

(At first we thought the teacher was Bobbie Whitley - one of the Wasden girls from Jay that were nieces of Juanita (Campbell Salter) Salter. But - Janis (Campbell) Engert tells us that Bobbie and Mrs. Fuqua swapped schools (Fidelis) the following year so each could be closer to home.) But now some of the actual students say the teacher is a Mrs. Vicks.

Here is the latest input! Janis Harris Simmons ..
Back row left to right
Martha McBride, Raymond Smith, Bonnie Kimbrough, Phil Harris, Eddie Savent, Ms. Vicks, David Campbell, Harry Harris, Buck Roberts, Penny Richarme, Bobby Waymaire, Seaborn Retherford, bottom row left to right, Rita Castleberry, Janice Cotton, Dorothy Diamond, Betty Spicer, Helen Hopkins, Helen Wise, Ann Howell, Helen Castleberry, Bobby Simmons, Travis Barlow and William Carnley.

(photo repaired by Lena Langham - class of '58)

Chumuckla High School, 2nd grade class of 1955 with teacher Mrs. Vicks and Smokey the Bear. Can anyone name the little people in this photo? Add your own notes to the conversation here in the discussion forum.
Picture - Posted by Penny Richarme Hathaway

Here is a music video required of ALL Chumuckla folks .. it is a song about JAY! You will love it. More HERE - Our Videos.

NEW JAY HISTORICAL WEBSITE
New facebook group for Chumuckla. (a good informal news network among friends).
Check the COMMUNITY CENTER PAGE! (new under menu at left - under 'who we are" )

Obituaries: Cynthia Campbell Mitchell, Marty Vann, Larry Green, Dovie Stewart, T.D. Salter, jr. (see News )
Jerry Kilcrease Class of 1961 Chumuckla High School, John A. Cook - Grace Walther -- Chester Hawthorne -- D.C. Allen --- Lamar and Dottie Ward --- More at the News Link.

2008 Misc News:
All those cemetery vandalisms have encouraged a community organization to address the issue. Learn how you can help.
The SANTA ROSA COUNTY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION - A new website to help with family histories and historic preservation. See that site for more about meetings.

Membership in the association is not required in order to attend the General Meetings, but is certainly encouraged if you do have this as a continuing interest, so you can keep up with activities of the association and become asinvolved as you may wish.

Here is a link to a PNJ article about the Redneck Parade. MORE PICS HERE.

This photo is a copy of one on the wall at Marion Tidwell's home. His father-in-law, Joe Jernigan was the gin manager. A similar photo is at the Farmer's Opry, on the wall there. The photo above was taken looking "BACK" this way from the point in this photo near hte black truck by the cotton bales. The Pace Company commisary store is on the left side of the photo.

Enjoy the news pages and the photos - Contact one of the contributors in the left side column. Learn a little about how to use a wiki (see below). It is pretty easy. You can add stories and news too!

Who We Are

AREA INFORMATION

County Calendar
Stuff We Like

New facebook group for Chumuckla. If you use facebook, it can be a fast way to get word out among other users.
Our News Blog

CHUMUCKLA UMC

Our Photos

Our Videos

Chumuckla Web

Chumuckla School-Memories By: MPL38

MPL38 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:41:41 CST

Fifth Grade, Class, 1951, sweet memories. I loved going to school.
In this photo, I am on the top row, third person from the right.
Our teacher, Mr Winoker is standing to the far right on the top row.

"My Chumuckla School"

This was the only school I attended from 1946 to 1956 and then
I moved away. I have so many happy memories that I can't explain the
meaning of how much those memories have meant to me on this
page for lack of space. Perhaps later on I can share a lot more.
"This photo was made in 1972"

Copyright © 2009 Myrtlene P. Langham. All rights reserved

HELLO CHUMUCKLA!
"I'm back"

"Our 50th Class Reunion for 1958"
This is for the memories of all my classmates, celebrated-4-26-08

"My Personalized Indian Mandella"

I was honored to receive this oil painting made for me some years ago. With the History of Native Americans living in and around Chumuckla, I can't think of a better place to show it off than right here on
"A Place Called Chumuckla".
Also look for my writings on:
"My Chumuckla Cotton Gin"
http://chumuckla.wetpaint.com/page/My+Chumuckla+Cotton+gin

My Chumuckla Cotton Gin

MPL38 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:41:55 CST

Memories
By: MPL38

"In Remembrance"

This was the last photo I made of the Old Gin, in Feb. 1972
"Once full of life, now sat in silence"

The Era of the Cotton Gin was over. The spirit once felt by everyone was no longer there. Like a burning candle that no longer lights the darkness. It was now over and done.

Old Gin,You are remembered. Old Gin, You are missed.
Nothing can ever take the rightful place you held in the heart of the Chumuckla Community.

Copyright © 2009 Myrtlene P. Langham. All rights reserved

*
Quote of the Day:
The purpose of life is a life of purpose
By: Robert Byrne

The Good Ole days
"Part I"

The Chumuckla Cotton Gin was a "highlight" in it's early years.

People would acutally travel a great distance to the area just to see it in
operation.

There was always a hustle and bustle when it was time to "gin cotton.

During the day it was a very busy place. At night it was all lit up and noisy but with all that brought the
curiosity and excitement, especially for me. I was very young when I first saw the cotton gin and I think because I was a child the lights and the noise attracted me. After a while the sound was a comfort to me and I enjoyed it.

With the process of bailing cotton late at night, sometimes very late, you would think the noise would keep you awake but this was something that became second nature somehow.

At night while listening to the sound of the cotton gin, it became my lullaby and I would drift off into a peaceful sleep.

In Memory Of: My Parents
Joseph & Blanchie Pendleton
"Residents of Chumuckla"

Our Videos

me3tv — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:24:49 CDT

Our Favorite Videos!

See also: Our Photos | Stuff We Like | Who We Are

Skeeter and The Stump
	Skeeter Howell talks about a stump -- but for the philosophicle among us there is a whole lot more. This - amazingly is a very very popular video in the youtube world.

Farmer's Opry - Not Woman Enough

It is just a lot of fun to go to the Opry. Relax and enjoy some fun and good food and music. All this for a very modest cost.

I this clip - the little girls are singing around a Marine student pilot from NAS Pensacola.

A lot of Navy / Marine vets live around the area. Some are natives and have lived in Chumuckla their whole lives except for their period of service.

Skeeter (see above video) is a navy veteran and worked a lifelong career at NAS Pensacola in the Navy Air Rework Facility (no longer at Pensacola).

Ruthabell's Store in Munson

This was a fun shoot from just stopping by the store to enjoy the day once. The people at Ruthabell's store are like a fine wine - aged to a classic perfection.
Yes, technology and real people can find each other and the world still turns.
I could not help but notice at the time that this could also be a Stock Picker's Paradise so in the spring of 2007 - on close examination of the video - I suggested these stocks: Pepsi, Visa, and Yahoo. If you had invested then - it would have paid off. I think they are still good stocks but buy when they are down and people are worried for some reason. These are the kind of stocks you buy for five or ten years - not just for a few months and then sell.

The Town of Jay by Robbie McCurdy

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Robbie8491
September 29, 2009

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I wrote this song because it is where my fathers side of the family is from, and where I spent a lot of time as a young boy.

I wrote this song because it is where my fathers side of the family is from, and where I spent a lot of time as a young boy.(Robbie)

..............................

All the things you remember about "down home" are distilled into this video. What was once a bustling little town with the livestock barn, the several cotton gins and feed stores and barbershops and cafe's is now a quiet place to visit and reflect. So typical of hundreds of small rural towns across America. (vic)

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SEE MORE OF VIC'S FEATURES AT www.me3tv.org.

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Save The Collards

me3tv — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:37:28 CDT

The official SAVE THE COLLARDS ASSOCIATION HQ.
Look for official looking stuff very soon.

The official SAVE THE OKRA ASSOCIATION HQ.
Look for official looking stuff very soon.

Here is a shot of the Chumuckla School Road from the gin area. The mill house is the only one left of many that used to line the road under the pecan trees. It has been restored and updated nicely.

Jim Campbell - (Grandfather of James E. Campbell II) planted a whole grove of pecan trees in this area about 1895 when he was a teenager. The large grove that used to exist to the right of the picture was this planting. The trees shown here are probably not from that era. They look a good deal "younger".

If you have a good shot from our community, sent it along by email to be uploaded. Or if you are in writer status on the site

FUTURE EVENTS

Bamcubz — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:05:48 CDT

Post anything here that is coming up ... thanks.

events gallery news discounts

Visit us in October during our 6th Annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour to experience the perfect Northwest Florida getaway! October is a great time to visit Santa Rosa: mild temperatures, discounted fall rates, beautiful sunsets, and countless festivals, events, and shows!
Enjoy family-fun during Beaches to Woodlands . . . from our scenic beach communities to small historic towns to state forests.
You're invited to explore local hot spots, enjoy natural treasures, and celebrate Santa Rosa Style with the locals! If your organization is interested in participating in the 6th annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour 2009, please fill out this information form.
Read the latest news.

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Scheduled Local Events

me3tv — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:59:18 CDT

County Calendar

Events - Press Gazette

Events - PNJ

Web Search "Chumuckla"

Chumuckla

Athletic Association

Gardening In: "The Land Of The Sun"

me3tv — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:32:06 CDT

By: MPL38

"Great Time For Planting"

The earth is now warm and I can imagine a lot of people already have their gardens growing. For me, I'm limited on what I can plant as my yard is fairly small but for those of you who live in the country or who have enough space for a garden, I wish you Gods speed with getting your gardens ready and planted for this year if you haven't already done so.

If you plant a garden every year you no doubt have already harvested and enjoyed your Turnips, Collards, Broccoli and Lettuce.

Now it's time for the warm season crops.

Beans-Bush or Pole:
I Love the Blue Lake Beans whither it's the Bush beans or the Pole....they always turn out good with either one. However, I have planted the Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean and found it provides a good harvest also.

Southern Peas:
The Blackeye is a good variety but I remember my parents growing the Purple Hull and they were always plump and shelled easily.

Squash:
The Early Prolific Straightneck is a good one but there are others to choose from, the Zucchini, Summer Crookneck and Scallopini are just a few.

Tomatoes:
Big Boy, Better Boy, Beef Steak and Early Girl always produce ....
The two that I have shown today are two of my favorites.

Oh! to live in the country. I would have a lot of fun with planting watermelons.

Drop me a line or two and let me know what you've planted for this year.

I would love to hear from you.

I'm just a Chumuckla grown country girl living in the city......city of Milton that is..... :)

Thanks for viewing "The land Of The Sun"
"Happy Gardening"....

Note: The photo's on this page are the tomatoes from my garden last year.

The tomato plants this year have not ripened as yet. They were bought at Walmart-same variety as shown-good yield, great taste.

I have ordered seed from www.parkseed.com and I have also ordered seed from www.gurneys.com
The Clemson Spineless Okra and the Annie Oakley Hybrid seems to be very competitive, both are spineless which makes it easier to pick.

I am interested in your "reviews" on these varieties as well as other vegetable varieties to see what you rated as the best for your area.

It's Garden Time By: MPL38

The Early Girl Tomato Plant

The Better Boy Tomato Plant

"It's Garden Time"

me3tv — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:26:45 CDT

By: MPL38

"For All You Gardener's Out There"

"A Touch Of Humor"

Today I got a feeling, there's something missing here. I racked my brain, I searched my soul time and time again. Oh! can't be nothing to it. Why do I fret it still? If it was real or important, my mind would make it clear.

So, for a time I forgot it. Just put it outta my mind. I walked a lot and shopped a lot and then finally, I could see. Right there in front of me sitting on the shelves were many packages of seeds waiting for me to take to my house. There were seeds of many colors to beautify my yard and there were seeds of favorite vegetables that some would say were too large. Broccoli and Cauliflower, Spinach and Green Beans, Turnips and Watermelon, Oh! yes, don't forget the Collard greens. Soooo, hold the Collards! Can't forget the Collards.

As soon as I check out all the seeds that beautify my yard, the Daisy's, Marigold's and Petunia's and a lot more, oh my lord. I have a lot to do today, just look here at my cart but one thing that makes this special is,
planting was a part of me from the start.

First, I will plant the Brocolli, Cauliflower, Spinach and Green Beans, Turnips and Watermelons and then Oh! yes, can't forget the Collard Greens!

You might like to view this page.

Gardening In: "The Land Of The Sun"

Who We Are

me3tv — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:23:00 CDT

We are Chumuckla -- What did you think?

Chumuckla is located in Northern Santa Rosa County, North of Pace, Florida, and 20 miles South of Alabama.

The history begins with Native Americans making their homes in the watershed areas and bays of the region. By 1500 a well developed agrarian and hunting village had developed along the Escambia River. The village and tribe developed near the fresh water spring now called "Mineral Springs" or "Chumuckla Springs" were known as the Chumuckla. These were a part of the Creek Nation. The main trading route of the Creek Nation ran generally between the Mobile/Pensacola Area and Montgomery Alabama, much of it along the ridge West of the River and along the current Highway 29. Chumuckla Springs and the village were on the East side of the River. A Spanish outpost was established on Mulat Bayou at the South end of the County by the fleet navigator for the famous Explorer, DeSoto. this was Diego de Maldonado. The 'base camp' was well hidden up the Bayou and out of sight of any accidental encounters with other Europeans. This was the FIRST North American European colony! It remained there for three years. DeSoto's exploration inland commenced from Appalachicola, to the North and then West. Once DeSoto's exploration party returned to the Gulf Coast (DeSoto was killed by hostile Indians on the Mississippi River), the outpost at Mulat was recalled to join up with the main force and return home to Spain. It is thought some of this garrison had mingled with the friendly Indians and that some of them as well as some cattle and pigs remained in the Garcon Point Area. A good observer of cattle genetics will note some of the "Spanish" cattle genes appearing in the occasional herd in the area, even in Chumuckla, where a good deal of 'cow/calf' operations flourish to this day.

As Spanish, British and French incursions and claims made their mark on the area, the next few hundred years were relatively peaceful. Trading with tribes like the Chumuckla, America made its first Millionaire of a man named Panton who ran a fur trade at Pensacola. European traders combed the Southeast and many of them became permanent residents. They intermarried with the indigenous people and sometimes received land grants to begin small frontier farms. Timber was plentiful for their farm buildings and forts. But, as yet, timber was not a major commercial enterprise for the residents. The French and Indian War of the 1730's created more alliances between Indians and Europeans. The American Revolution created others… sometimes opposite of the prior alliances. At one point, one of the great Creek Chiefs held a rank of General in as many as three different Armies, including the American Army. Florida remained a Spanish territory in the early 1800's but by 1810 it was largely under protection of the British. British, Spanish and French intrigue wrestled with the American expansion over just who would control the Gulf Coast and the gateway to the recent Louisiana Purchase. Meanwhile, as if there were not enough people creating problems for the Gulf Coast Peoples, An Indian leader from Ohio, named Tecumseh came up with a new concept of purity and religion for his fellow Native Americans. His brother "the Prophet" traveled south to the Creek Nation and convinced many to forego the contact with the Europeans and to cleanse their blood by removing the pure Indians from the 'mixed bloods' among them ... Or at least from that point to choose sides. Things were growing tense for quiet farming and hunting villages like Chumuckla. Most of the people there, by that time, were of mixed blood.

Red Eagle, who was a mixed blood Chief, would have rather not pushed the issue, but his more intense brothers, kidnapped his family and threatened to kill them all if he did not lead a raid on Ft. Mims, which was a thriving farm/fortress in Alabama on the Tensaw River. There was a skirmish over a deal with rifles at Burnt Corn and a few days later, Ft. Mims was attacked. Over 500 men, women and children were killed. Some say over 800. This was essentially a civil war issue among the Creek, because most of the people at Ft. Mims, like most of the people at Chumuckla and other villages in the area were of mixed blood. This opened up the Creek War. Andrew Jackson came down and forced a battle at Horseshoe Bend in Alabama. It crushed the Indian uprising ... but a few braves escaped. Jackson's troops hunted down escaping braves and ... with sirens flashing ... crossed over into Spanish Territory to chase them right to the Chumuckla Village. The 8 or 9 braves in question got away, but the Chumuckla Village was burned to the ground. The people were gathered up and sent to Pensacola. Meanwhile the escaped Braves were eventually captured in Pensacola, hiding in Panton's fur warehouse. The villagers of Chumuckla were shipped off to Texas, where their descendents can still be found. However ... some of the villagers were able to hide from the troops, finding refuge in homes of their cousins, aunts and uncles who were not of 'mixed blood'. The names of many of these people from that period are still prominent in the population.

When the American Civil War came to pass, there were now many people of European decent in the area and a great migration of Scots and Irish had moved in from the American East Coast. Also, after the incorporation of Florida into the United States, the institution of Slavery opened the doors to larger number of African immigrants, generally entering the state as slaves, but many coming as free men or having already come into the area as escapees from Alabama and Georgia plantations and mixed with Creek and later the more Southern, Seminole population.

Timber became a primary industry and the previously small lumber mills were now becoming large mills. Cattle herds flourished among the pines. From the many small cattle operations came many accomplished horsemen and many of these found service in the Confederate cavalry units. There were even Creek Indian cavalry units. But, there were also people in the area who were not fond of the concept of slavery, or of the concept of disbanding the Union, or who just failed to grasp the whole idea of fighting another group of Americans when there seemed to be past issues with every other nation in Europe or elsewhere who wanted a piece of the action on the Gulf Coast.

While most of the people in any given area (like Chumuckla) joined with their state and the Confederacy, some did join the Union. After the war, the South in general was in a depression that lasted nearly 100 years. However, there was one bright spot in the economy … it was timber. It had not yet been exploited for commercial use to any great extent. A man named SKINNER came to the area from Illinois. He was a carpetbagger. He was looking for land. He took advantage of an offer of land from the government that stipulated a cheap price for any land you could cross over in a boat. In his land application, he did not mention he rode over the land in a boat that was on a wagon. He gained 10's of thousands of acres for a fraction of the value. But, it was this purchase that set the timber industry on a roll. Rails ran all through Chumuckla to haul timber out. One of the main timber settlements of the Area was at Coon Hill, not far from the original Chumuckla Indian Village. Creek beds were channeled into flumes to send logs to the Escambia River. Remnants of the turpentine industry are still found in the woods, and finding a 'catface' on a tree was common until the late 1960's. Once the native forests were felled, crops of all kinds began to fill the spaces. Much of the Skinner land eventually became a part of the Pace empire and the Pace Empire eventually became St Regis' Paper company land where the native trees were replaced by several growths of pulpwood pine trees. Much of this land is now a part of Champion Corp.

As the land became available for other crops, Cotton flourished. A cotton Mill was established in the community of Chumuckla (now centered about three miles south of the Springs, on higher ground). The Pace company ran a company store there. Eventually a little schoolhouse was built. The community grew. The hard times from post civil war days slowly faded. By 1950, peanuts, cotton, and corn were abundant. Truck crops that looked very similar to the garden varieties grown by the original Chumuckla people were now common again. A few superb vegetable transplants thrive in Chumuckla, like okra, a superb food the slaves refused to leave behind in Africa. The soybean became popular and became a major crop by the 1960's and 70's. Cattle continue to thrive in fertile pastures. The current school was built in 1937, first serving all 12 grades. Efficiencies led to its becoming an Elementary School in the late 1970's. Many of the people who attended this school knew the name meant "Good Water" or "Healing Waters", but few had a clue what happened to the original Chumucklans. Most of them could look into their own heritage and find out to their surprise that indeed... THEY really WERE ...THE Chumuckla Indians !! The main business area moved up to the crossroads at Highway 197 as the cotton gin and the Pace company store fell into ruin and eventually burned down. Chumuckla has become an outpost now for generations of farmers and mill workers and teachers and mechanics and military families and business owners of all types.

Special Thanks to Vic Campbell of www.chumuckla.com for contributing the above history. Much or the color of this narrative is influenced by the lectures and writings of Warren Weekes, whose books are still available (see Chumuckla.com) and from conversations with Lavern Howell of Chumuckla and Cary Ellis, Jr., of Bogia.

Chumuckla FFA ca 1960. Mr. Walther is near the right side with a jacket and tie.

See also: Our Videos | Our Photos | Stuff We Like

Poetry

FLScarlet — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:58:21 CDT

CHUMUCKLA

Farmland filled with peanuts and cotton
Machines harvesting on time
It’s so great to visit Chumuckla
When the crops are in their prime!

To walk through the old cemetery
Seeing familiar names there
Wishing I could talk to so many
Hearing stories they might share

Inside Elizabeth Chapel’s walls
I still hear that organ play
Sweet Aunt Mary in her stocking feet
Played hymns while I sat and prayed.

So many memories of Chumuckla
Fill my heart and fill my mind
Made yesterday and all other days
I can feel them intertwine.

I never lived in this special place
How strange it might seem to you
That I write of my private feelings
From a distant point of view.

The commissary’s big candy case
The noise of that cotton gin
Catching a catfish at Aunt Clara’s
I can still see her sweet grin.

Growing up there must have been special
But, I still feel lucky too
I’m part of the Chumuckla “family”
Forever saying Thank You!

Author - Mary Jo Kimbrough Trenkler
@Copyright 2009

Our Stories

me3tv — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:40:45 CDT

Stories from Tom Reynolds	Writings from Joyce Joiner Schultz - Growing up in Chumuckla HERE	News From BAM ... Barbara from Jay
Memories From Lena The Cotton Gin MY Chumuckla Memories -- photos

http://bampage.spaces.live.com/

Bampage

me3tv — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:48:38 CDT

		JAY HIGH SCHOOL ROYAL PRIDE BAND 2007 - 08
Brianna Band pic 2006 - 07 Flute	The 3 Amigos Blake - John - Aaron	Alex on Cymbals

Joyce Joiner Schultz

me3tv — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:48:16 CDT

CHILD's PLAY (The fifties and sixties) MORE by Joyce HERE.
by Joyce Joiner Schultz ... July 2004
It looks like it's time to write another story for all of you goodfolks. As time passes, it seems like you have more time to slow down and think about your childhood. To begin with, growing up with six sisters and five brothers was quite an accomplishment. I remember ten of us being home at different times, because I'm the middle of the eleven. I guess I was around two years old when the oldest sister and the oldest of the family married and left home. I do not remember much about her, except they did visit us often. Later, she had a daughter who was about four years younger than me. We played together. It was just like having another sister in the family.
We would play house a lot. We would play church often because the Castleberrys had brush arbor church services in their yard. The arbor had small tree poles at each corner and piled up brush on top and hand made plank benches. It had a pulpit to preach from and plenty of room between the seats so you could bring pallets for the kids to sleep on. So we played church and read from the Bible and took turns being the preacher. We sang and put the baby dolls on the pallets. Sometimes these blessings went on till after hours. It all depended on if you got saved that night … or if someone wanted to shout and sing. We must have been the most blessed and saved children in the community, unless they did the same as we did. I guess that wasn't a bad thing to do. We took turns playing moms and dads, but of course the boys would never play house with us. We made up things to do because we never had toys. But my niece had a few toys. So, when she visited we played our hearts out with her toys.
Growing up was hard for us. There was not much time to play unless you were too small to do field work. But then, there was nobody to play with the youngest because one was just an infant and the other one was just about two years old .The oldest child watched the two youngest. It was just fascinating to watch mom come out from the field, just in time to feed the baby when he or she cried. She took a clean washcloth, wet it down, washed offher breast and cooled off for a bit. Of course, by then the baby was really yelling. While the baby ate, we all stopped to get a drink of water and have a little snack. Most of all we knew that went on in the world was eating, working or attending school (depending on the time of year), going to church and of course, sleeping. We did not know any better so, I guess it did not matter. So, when we got to play we played; not much fighting. Sometimes we were a little mean to each other.
We worked for almost all the farmers in Chumuckla, Fla. To begin with, we only picked cotton for the summer; then, we got into picking produce. That seemed to be a never-ending job. No matter if it rained … you worked. At times, we fussed about always having to work but in the end we all came back to our old working selves again. We raced each other to the ends of the rows and that way we could sit longer. Then we started feeling guilty and helped each other finish there rows out. For being good to each other, mom and dad let us all sit for a little while.
When we picked cotton, we worked alongside the Hatfields; Mr. Roy Hatfield’s wife and girls. Sometimes their boys picked cotton along with us. We had some very nice conversations. Christina and I were the same age so we talked about school and the boys.
Some very nice “colored folks” worked alongside us. Mom always called them “colored folks”. She did not do it from disrespect or anything. It was just how she approached the subject. But, in turn they would call her the “nice white lady”. The term “colored” was never a problem with our family or the black families that we associated with. We just accepted each other as human beings, which is the way it should be.
Another game we played was catching the lightning bugs. It was on awarm summer’s night as the story unfolds into the evening. We ran around the yard with our empty mason jars. We ran toward the flashing lights that came from all around us. It was such a joy for us. Late at night – on a quiet evening - I can still hear the laughter. Oh! What memories we have. Lightning bugs were as much of a part of summer as fresh tomatoes and ice-cold watermelon. Watermelon was just as good straight from the field where you just ate it with your hands dirty, never thinking about it. Peas, beans corn, tomatoes and squash were available all summer long so we ate as much as we wanted.
Most of our games were either made up from things around us, plus a big dose of make believe. We let our minds run free to catch all those dreams that drifted our way. Sometimes our dreams were unrealistic and could never come true. Nevertheless, what is a dream if you cannot dream big? Why dream little!
We ran up and down the dirt road, climbed trees. Sometimes we got hurt but we never ran home complaining about our scratches. We knew if we did, we would have to do chores and nobody wanted to do that. We just kept on playing until time for supper. We cleaned up and mom put something on the cuts and scratches. Most of the time we did not find out we were hurt until we took our baths. Then we knew! The burning came in full force when we jumped into the washing tub for our bath.
We were thrilled to be able to just loaf around and play, so we never would say, “I'm bored”. If we did, our parents put us to work cleaning or some other needed chore. We made up games to play. Most of the time we were the only ones who knew the rules, which were sometimes crazy. We used the mail-order catalogs to cut out paper dolls and licked them or used water to attach the cutouts to the board. We had a good collection of paper dolls that we made. All of the kids in the family played with them. Grandma Nelson got us a jump rope for Christmas one time. It was the greatest thing. One year she gave us some jacks. However, the jump rope was best. The rope was more fun than the jacks because you had something that was all yours. You did not have to play with anyone else if you did not want too. I guess that sounds a little self-centered but these are my thoughts. Sometimes you just wanted to be by yourself and not have to share.
As summer came to and end things started slowing down a bit. Mom would get as many watermelons as she could and store them under our beds or wherever we could. Every jar was filled with all our winter vegetables. We packed them away for the winter months ahead of us. It seemed like an eternity until it all revolved back around to summertime again.
By Joyce Joiner Schultz 2004

Lou Reynolds

me3tv — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:47:45 CDT

OLD TRUTHFUL - 1911-1989 RIP

Anyone whos been around Chumuckla any amount of time knew Lou Reynolds,my Dad. He was quite a character with the ability to pull off great jokes. This is just one story of more to come.
My dad could pull a joke on you so good. He was a milwright(mechanic) at St Regis paper company at Cantonment,fl. Being a mechanic he always tried to fix anything at home that broke. Mom's washing machine transmission broke so dad tackled it. He finally got it fixed and he told his friends at work, P R York and Scott, that he would never touch a washing machine again!! Well people were always coming to maint for help with repairs so when a fellow came in wanting help with washing machine transmission Scott told him that Lou Reynolds was the best there was. Told him he would have trouble getting dad to do it but he was good. Well the guy kept bugging dad about it. Finally told dad that Scott had told him that dad was the best if he could talk him into doing it. Well dad said OK if you will bring over to my place I'll do it and he gave him directions to Scott's place and told him to put by back door !!!!!!!! (see the thread of comments below).

Put Up or Shut Up

In 1968 I was living in Colorado. My dad, Lou(Old Truthful) Reynolds came up to hunt deer and elk with me. The night before season opened we were in Montrose, Co. We decided to check out a local sporting goods store in the basement under a drug store. While there the owner made a statement that he would sale a Savage Model 99C lever action rifle with scope and strap, Winchester .284 Caliber for a $100 dollar bill. Well dad looked the rifle over and took out a $100 dollar bill and put it on the counter. Well the owner stammered and stuttered said with taxes and this and that it would cost such and such. well dad told him you said a $100 doolar bill would buy the gun. Theres my $100 dollar bill I want my gun. Well the owner had to put up because to many had heard what he said. Dad did not need the gun but just made him put up. I still have the rifle and it always reminds that if you can't back up what you say, you better not say it. I miss my Dad still after all these years.

LOU REYNOLDS and THE TORNADO

My Dad was a shift worker at St. Regis Paper co in Cantonment , Fl for years. In 1969 he was coming home from work about 11:30 PM when about 5 miles from home he got caught up in a tornado. It picked his pickup up and put him in a gully approx 150 yards away. Well he managed to get out and back up the road when people started showing up. He ask Marty Griswold if he would go back to pickup and get the bottle of whiskey out from under the seat. Marty told him the law was coming and they might try to get Dad for drunk driving. Dad said they could do what they damn well wanted, but he wasn't driving the last 100 yards, he was just a passenger and he needed a drink cause the tornado drove worst then he did.That was my Dad , never caught without a comeback. May he rest in peace 1911-1989

Lou (Old Truthful) And the clams in Colorado True Story

This is another true story from the life of my Dad, Lou( Old Truthful ) Reynolds.
I was living in Colorado still in 1972 when Dad and a friend of mine, Roger Harris, planned ahunting trip with me. Dad being older came up a week ahead of time to get aclimatized to the high altitude and Roger drove up later.
Roger brought 2 huge coolers full of oysters iced down. Well we made camp in Montrose National Forest . we had oyster stew one night, fried oysters the next , and some raw to. By Wed there was a big pile of oyster shells at our camp.
Well Dad didn't feel good Wed so he stayed in camp and was shucking oysters to have for supper that night. well some yankees came by and saw Dad and stopped. they ask if we had done any good on the hunt. well Dad ever the jokester told them no but we had found these clams in the creek and they ate pretty good.
Well when the week ended and we started home we stopped for gas about 80 miles from our camp. while there we overheard some guys talking the fools from Florida eating clams from a creek. dad got more fun from that than he did the Deer he got.

Community Center

me3tv — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:29:16 CDT

The Chumuckla Community Center
2355 Hwy 182
Jay Florida 32565 (850) 994-8811 Almost across from the Chumuckla Elementary School ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Schedule of daily events:
Bingo - Monday - Wednesday - Friday / 10am till 11am / Simply prizes awarded to winners Dominoes - Tuesday & Thursday / 9am till 11am

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This center is used for sporting event concessions also. (during the season)

Local News

me3tv — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:28:34 CDT

CHUMUCKLA NOW

TOTAL CHUMUCKLA

Chumuckla Methodist Chumuckla UMC Blog

Our Photos

me3tv — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:05:18 CDT

Our photo scrapbook!

There are several albums at the chumuckla flickr photo site. Several of our webmasters have access to the flickr site to add and edit photos. ANYONE can add a comment to photos you see there. They can also be viewed as a slide show. If you'd like to have access to the flickr albums to add more photos from your own camera - just let Vic know at vic@buzzcreek.com.

See also: Our Videos | Stuff We Like

	The first Chumuckla School was near Bell Creek on Chumuckla Springs Road. On a rise to the right of the road near the creek you'll see the old "Spicer Home" . THAT is the old school !! Dessie Howell Campbell (1890-1981), told of getting her teacher's certificate from the Florida State School for Women (Florida State) and then teaching for a year or so at a school that existed somewhere in a large area behind what is the Willard Davis home off Allentown Highway. It may have been somewhere closer to the branch that becomes Pond Creek. Or it may have been closer to the 40 acre Pond. The name of that school is not known by this writer. Anybody got any clues?

The first Chumuckla School was near Bell Creek on Chumuckla Springs Road. On a rise to the right of the road near the creek you'll see the old "Spicer Home" . THAT is the old school !!

Dessie Howell Campbell (1890-1981), told of getting her teacher's certificate from the Florida State School for Women (Florida State) and then teaching for a year or so at a school that existed somewhere in a large area behind what is the Willard Davis home off Allentown Highway. It may have been somewhere closer to the branch that becomes Pond Creek. Or it may have been closer to the 40 acre Pond. The name of that school is not known by this writer. Anybody got any clues?

Stuff We Like

me3tv — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:08:48 CST

Videos you might enjoy on the web.

1. Ruthabell's Store in Munson
2. Videos from The Farmer's Opry
3. A collection of VIc's Videos
4. ME3TV

Web sites we love:

1. Farmers Opry
2. In Country With Uncle Vic
3. Link to MILTON information
4. Santa Rosa Cemetery Assn.

What we're reading:

1. The Hour of the Gate - Alan Dean Foster, 2nd book in the Spellsinger series.
2. Six Frigates (The Founding of The US Navy) Ian W. Toll - (insightful)
3. Junction: County Road 197 - (free to read on the web HERE)
4. Writings from Joyce Joiner Schultz - Growing up in Chumuckla HERE

LINKS ...

Chumuckla History		Alma Mater
Chumuckla Fire Station ( 911 )		Chumuckla Elementary Home Page
Santa Rosa Sheriffs Office ( 850-983-1100 )		School Staff History
*Chumuckla Now Blog		Photos, Past & Present ( More needed )
Past & Present Obituary News		Santa Rosa School District
News Worthy Articles		* Interesting Internet Sites
Local Churches		Coon Hill Cemetery
Calendar of Local Events		Chumuckla Businesses
*Chumuckla Athletics Website (New!)		Chumuckla Goat Farm ( More Pictures to come )
Farmer’s Opry		Fort Mimms
Chumuckla Community Center		Old Old Photos
In Country with Uncle Vic		Chumuckla, Florida ( Wikipedia Encyclopedia)
Google Videos
CLASS OF '67 Yahoo Group Site (news pictures more)		Chumuckla's Redneck Parade links 1. Like Billy Joel Music? 2. Like to Invent things and see other Inventions? 3. Welcome to The Florida Crime Information Center Public Access System 4. Did you tell everyone you could? 5. Pensacola News Journal 6. Job Search Made Simple (your area)

See also: Our Photos | Our Videos

Wiki Tip:

Create playlists of your favorite songs! Click EasyEdit, then Widget, then select imeem to get started.

Lou (Old Truthful) And the clams in Colorado True Story

chumucklatom@aol.com — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:51:30 CDT

This is another true story from the life of my Dad, Lou( Old Truthful ) Reynolds.
I was living in Colorado still in 1972 when Dad and a friend of mine, Roger Harris, planned ahunting trip with me. Dad being older came up a week ahead of time to get aclimatized to the high altitude and Roger drove up later.
Roger brought 2 huge coolers full of oysters iced down. Well we made camp in Montrose National Forest . we had oyster stew one night, fried oysters the next , and some raw to. By Wed there was a big pile of oyster shells at our camp.
Well Dad didn't feel good Wed so he stayed in camp and was shucking oysters to have for supper that night. well some yankees came by and saw Dad and stopped. they ask if we had done any good on the hunt. well Dad ever the jokester told them no but we had found these clams in the creek and they ate pretty good.
Well when the week ended and we started home we stopped for gas about 80 miles from our camp. while there we overheard some guys talking the fools from Florida eating clams from a creek. dad got more fun from that than he did the Deer he got.
To this day I wonder what people think of that pile of oyster shells in Montrose National forest

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