The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-31
CITIZEN TELLS OF
OLDER PENSACOLA
Older Scenes and Associations Are Re-
called Of the Pensacola of Years
Ago.

Speaking of the Pensacola of earlier
ears, when the present flourishing
.ity was little more than a seaport
own, J. N. Andrews, an old resident
the city. says:
'sWhen l came to Pensacola Wright
,treet was practically the limit Of
own north. Where the transfer sta
ion is there was a swamp. Bay and
Jther trees 80 feet high were growing
nd a clear stream of water ran down
yhere the North Hill car track now
;. There was an open ditch on each
ida OF the street. I have seen fish
even inches long caught where the
tar laundry now stands. Coffee weeds
D feet high grew in the streets.
"The corner where the San Carlos
lotel now stands was a mud lot, held
1t $500, with no takers. The corner
where the Blount building stands was
mud lot owned by maiden lady,
Hiss Josephine Hutton. She held 1t at
1900, and people said she was crazy.
THE only business above Romano
treet was Wittick's grocery and Co
rs dry goods store. Below Romano
treet, on the east side DIR. Brosnaham,
Dr.. Frank Renshaws grandfather, had
drugstore and dwelling where the
central drugstore is. Below that, Pat
Ialoney had a dry goods store, which
10 sometimes closed for two or three
avs while he went off hunting or
ishing. He would come back and open
ip again and start just where he left
# and it did not seem to make any
Inference in his business. He made the
loney, anyway.
Then came Mrs. Spott's store, where
hey are talking OF building the new
heatre, thon the Moreno building,
vhere N. Weiland's store is now. On
he west side was the Yniestra build
ng and on the corner of Romano and
'alafox streets grocery. Next was
ierson Forcfeimers dry goods store,
hen small building where Morrison
}rothers kept a store for a while. On
he corner was A. L. Avery's hardware
tore.
From sIntendencia street down, the
locks were fairly we'll filled. The city
all and city market were at the corner
yhere Bears store is now and the
yater of the bay came up to that cor
ler.
ION the other side OF Main street
vere offices. of lumber dealers built UP
pilings, with boats under the Of
ices. Palafox wharf was built on pill
ag with 3x9 deal, ending about where
We Scandinavian church stands, and
has rowdy place, sailor runners and
Wher toughs on each side.
The bay was full of vessels from
october l. to June 1, putting lots of
money into circulation when they
anne. They all had ballast of some
sind. rock, sand, gravel or salt. Then
We had fruit vessels and guano
chooners. They had gangs for unload
ng as we'll as gangs for loading. There
vere no steam vessels then, all sailing,
nd as they were a long time on the
oyages they took on provisions on
ne other side for the trip over here
nd then stocked up here for the re-
urn trip.
Garden street east OF Palafox was
allied Shutdown, being built with
labs from Wright's mill. At the foot
Tenth avenue negro squatters lived
each side in little cabins. On the
ay front were Wright's mill. Pitts
all, the Pensacola Ice and Fish house,
) which ice was brought in schooners
rom lakes in the north. We only had
. then when someone was down with
ever. Then there were Bronum's mill,
nd Tharp's mill.
The railroads into Pensacola were
p. f. Sullivan's road from Flomaton
the bay with railroad shops at the
DOT OF Tarragona street and the p. K
, road from Pensacola to Millview.
here was big open ditch on w. Car
en- street that emptied into the bay.
he lower part was known as Wash
yomans bayou. We had one bank, Le-
iarons. The churches were: Methodist,
outh Tarragona street; Baptist, Gov
rnment street. fronting Seville
luaNe; Presbyterian, East Intenden-
Ia street; Episcopalian, on Adams
treet. west of Seville square, in the
rick building still standing, and the
s,tholic church on Government street,
sbut where Kugelman's store now is
he circuit court was held over some
tores on South Palafox street.
VI HANNNAAN Ups tAlS peODl6 uSIu
ide-tired drays and put chairs and
uilts on them and had a jolly time.
ometimes they chartered a train and
ometimes a steamer. In the carts
/ icy would go out to Malaga square. or
1T to where the waterworks are now.
hey called that way out in the coun-
" On the train they would go to
Iagnolia Bluff and on the steamers
/ Santa Rosa island or up the sound.
I'VE had then about two dozen kero-
enc street lamps. The board side
alks were about where the trolley
j 0les are now.
Pensacola then had negro post
j aster, zeb Elijah, a Creole city treas
rer and a negro marshall. All mem
! ars of the police force Were negroes.
THE largest railroad engine at that