The Pensacola journal., 1905-03-12
THE HALIFAX IN
YE OLDEN DAYS
DATA cuLLEr
FROM DIARY OF PROMINENT
DAYToNA VISITOR.
(Daytona Gazette-News.)

NOdg LUNA OdLSllS-NcHS.J
A News reporter was shown yester-
day the diary kept by Geo. w. Dibble,
who owns homes in New York and
Nantucket, during the winter of 1871,
which ne spent at New Smrna. This
diary contains much important data
of events which occurred during Feb
ruary and March of that year.
This was, of course, long before the
day of railroads in this section the res
idents depending mainly upon schoon-
ers for their supplies, mail and in-
formation of the outside world. Mr..
Dibble seems to have noted at the time
with care the arrivals of all schooners,
the temperature of all weather condi-
tions, and the names of many old resi-
dents, long since dead.
In the party were Mr.. Dibble, Capt.
Anderson, owner of the famous Mary
Powell, steamer plying between New
York and Albany, and his son, Capt
A. E Anderson, now wintering in New
Smyrna. These gentlemen were
guests of Mr. Loud, brother-in-law
of Hon. Frank Sans, who owned and
ran hotel just north of the ocean
House, but spent most of the time
camping near Turtle Mound or further
south. Next door, directly over the
fortress recently unearthed, lived
Dolph Shelton, whom the party visited
frequently.
Change in Climate.
Speaking of the reported great
change in recent years in the climate
of Florida. Mr.. .Dibble called attention
to mis- temperature records, which
/ showed maximum temperature rang
ing from so degrees early in February
to Sc degrees on February 10th.
References are frequently made to
/ the arrival of schooners owned by
Capt. Haig, which plyed between St
! Augustine, or Jacksonville and New
Smyrna, bringing mails and supplies
| once a week. Mails were also brought
once a week by a negro from Enter
prise Captains Dummet and Pacet.
! ii, who also operated schooners, are
mentioned frequently, as is also Capt
Bennett, who commanded the schooner
Rover.
Great numbers of pellicans and
cranes we're killed for their plumage
by the party and fish were caught in
/ such numbers as indicate this section
to have been a fisherman's paradise
at that time.
A Sportman's Paradise.
Numerous instances are recorded oi
/ % to 36-pound bass having been land
| ed, one day 20 being caught which
averaged 25 pounds Deer, bear, wild
| turkey and quail were abundant where
/ Daytona now stands and where towns
have been built between here and the
ancient town of New Smyrna. Wild cat
tie roamed the swamps and we're shot
down when meat was needed.
The port was of such importance
| at that time that the government had
/ as collector of the port Maj. Alden
popular and pleasant gentleman, whc
had his boats and gang of negroes tC
/ row him out TO visit incoming vessels
This was before the day of a bridge
! for there were no residents yet on the
peninsula.
On March 9Th the party, in charge
of Capt. Anderson, visited what was
styled the colony, the people living il
palmetto huts, while they were prepar
ing to lay out a town and build where
Daytona now stands The land lying be
tween the river and where RidgewooC
avenue is now is described as mex
pressibly wild, the underbrush beins
almost impossible. Deer and beal
| roamed at viii where now are to bt
seen beautiful streets and fine homes
Swift Bros, of New Bedford, were
Il in this section at the time getting on
live oak timber, on contract with tht
government, for building war vessels
steel not having yet displaced wood.
i An amusing incident of the triI
home noted in the diary is that The
steamer City Point, which ran between
4 Palatka and Charleston, stopped a
Fernandina for about three hours t.
allow a couple of the passenger!
aboard TO be married, after which the
journey was resumed.