Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-17
A DESERTED VILLAGE.
The Former Capital of Wakulla
Dead and Gone to Decay.

Dead and Gone to Decay.
Cro'ctord0tIle Cor. Jacksonville Times Union.
Newport, many years ago as we we'll
know, was place or considerable impor-
lance. AT that time all the surrounding
counties contributed to increase its trade.
In the palmy daysM cNaught and Or
mond, Ladd, Denham, these were all
names well known all over the state. Mr..
Ladd was known perhaps more widely
than any other citizen OF the place. lie
was extremely eccentric, yet wlthal be
was tirst-class business man. Mr.. Ladd.
in addition to being great merchant,Was
man OF many charities, and poor pao-
pie in all the surrounding country knew
that they had no better friend than "old
Dan Ladd."
Upon the completion of the railway
eastward from Tallahassee, so as to nave
more direct communication With SaVan-
nab and New York, Newport declined,and
IL is probable that the commercial great
ness Of the place will never again equal
the bright days of $50, '57 and '6S. When
Newport was at its best 1t had two good
hotels, u newspaper (the Wakulla Tines
and many nice stores, and the springs,
two in mum Der. were source oil great
pleasure to hundreds of visitors who came
from great distances every year to gain
health and strength by bathing in them.
MIR. Ladd, who, as | have already men
toned, was the soul OF Newport, did all
he could TO advance the place. OF course.
in his efforts to advance the place. he re-
| ceived rewards himself in the shape of
business and praise, each of which was
lavishly bestowed upon him, but must
say that l think Mr.. Laid took as much
pride in Newport as city as ne did in his
own private business. If l am correct,
then MIR. Ladd was public spirlted man
of the highest order.
Newport in 1856, '57 aud '5S was pref
| tY place; in the centre was a large square.
| A church adorned this square, and on
every hand pretty houses, peeplng from
| clusters of green, and in the distance a
| heavy border of pine woods standing like
| sentinels just beyond the limits of the
town, go to form picture which i'm
| pressed upon the mind at that time, will
| never be effaced.
The city was divided into two parts by
the river; less though than third was on
| the eastern side. However, there were
some pretty homes on that side, and MIR.
Ladd's mill and foundry made things
| have d lively appearance over there.
| Just north of Mr.. Ladd's mill q substan-
| tial bridge spanned the river, and south
| Of the bridge, on the western bank, was
| the main river front OF the city, along
| which were built a number OF great
| warehouses, in which many heavy arti-
Giles imported, and others TO be exported,
| were slowed. To the south of the city, on
| the western side, was a turpentine dis
| tillery, which think was owned, as was
most Of the other property, in and about
| Newport, by Mr.. Laid, and the writer re-
| members that one OF the most tragic
| scenes that he ever witnessed was the
burning of this distillery. Mr.. Holbrook
| lost his life on that occasion. And the
fierceness of the flames, added to the fact
| that man was being burned alive, made
/ an impression on the writer which it will
be impossible to ever forget.
| North of Newport was Tallahassee, a
splendid plank road connecting the
| places. Southwest was old ST. Marks.
10 the east the land was poor, and it was
| only few miles to the now famous
"Florida Volcano" Westward, after
crossing the W akulla river, good land
| extended almost TO within sight of the
present village OF Crawfordville, now, as
| Newport was in 1856, the capital OF the
| county.
No life is there now in the old town,
| where was once so much merriment. All
| dead. Where beautiful forms once
moved, and loved, now only scorpions
| sun themselves on rotting fences and in
the porches of half-fallen houses. New
port, Newport, thou art sad commenta-
! ny upon mans greatness, and his little
ness. Yesterday, a thing OF beauty and
| joy; to-day, forgotten by all except the
few who yet remain of those who lived
and loved there thirty years ago.
WAKULLA.