The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-14
MORE HISTORY OF
OLDER PENSACOLA
Names of Old Families and Business
Houses RecaIled-First Annual
Methodist Conference.

One of Pensacola's older residents,
j. N. Andrews, OF the city of some
years ago says: When I came here
there were about FIVE dozen Jewish
citizens heree Forcheimers, Dannheis-
sers, Kahns, Goldstuckers, Bears,
Kleins. Meyers, Levys, Cohens, Lewis,
Myersons and P. Stone.
The largest grocery business was
done by James 1rcHugh, corner Ro-
mana and Tarragona-sts. and John
Sunday did a fine business Just across
the street The little old store is stin
standing.
w. L. Witch took the agency for
Chess Carbey and Company for kero-
sene oil and had about one tank a
month which we thought at that time
was big business. He had an oil
shed about where the L. & n. yard
house is, on LaRua-st.
James McHugh had a letter from
ireland while keeping store on that
corner and all the address on it was
his picture pasted on one corner of
the envelope and Pensacola, Fla.
Gonzalez and Company have been
running business at the same old stand
more than 40 years. The business was
started by "Golay", M. f. Gonzalez
was often called by the same name
have-a Crank, but he ran a depend
able business and when he put up the
products of. his mill so many pounds
TO the sack you did not have to weigh
the packages You knew it was there.
We had three small confectioneries.
Giovanni Damiani and Joe Wyer. He
had q store and half house about
where Woolworths is now, store below,
dwelling about with stairway outside.
In those days people did not shut up
their doors or windows at night.
In December, 1880, the Methodist
people held their first annual confer
ence at the church on the Railroad
started at the corner where Meyer
Shoe Store is and burned south on
both sides of the street down to Main
st. There was a family by the name
of Baldwin on the west side of Pala-
fox who had some of the delegates to
the conference and while the tremend-
GUS fire was burning, Mrs. Baldwin
was going about the house with a
lighted kerosene lamp in her hand.
In 1881 the southeast corner of
Wright and Tarragona- sts. owned now
I believe, by F. NJ Williams and wife
was offered for a considerable time at
$175 with a. small house and store on
it. Then the union depot was built up
there and things began to change. Now
If you won't tell on me will tell you
a secret. Away back in '68 to ~ the
Methodists were not strong here like
they are now. This was known then
as Pensacola Mission of Mobile dis
trict, Alabama Conference and the
little church at Milton, which was a
station paid in for the support of Pen
sacola Mission.
While the old police station was
down at the corner Palafox and Main
SITS, there was o. sailor on Captain F.
r. Saunders schooner, "Fanny Fern"
lie was a good seaman and fine navi-
gator when not full of liquor Hel
was known as "Old Red" He was
frequently arrested for being drunk so
he would come ashore. tank up and
go to the station and call for his room
The Y. M. G. A. was organized. in
1880 and had rooms for awhile up
stairs on f.. Government-st. Then we
moved round on w. Tntendencia up
stairs in the building where J. C. Car
ter is now. We began raising q build
ing fund which formed the nucleus
from which the present building grew
About this time we had some small
street cars, pulled by Texas ponies
with bells on The cars ran a short
way out on East Hill. The ponies
were unhitched and taken to the<other
end of the car and run back. Little
Billie. one of the first drivers is work
ing for the street car company now.
This brings us up to where the most
of our citizens know about things as
they have taken place.