History of DeFuniak Springs, Florida

In the 1880's, a surveying party comprised of Colonel W.D. Chipley, Major W.J. VanKirk and W.T. Wright came to a tired halt near a round lake in the heart of a virgin forest. They explored and rested at the site of what is now Lake DeFuniak. Colonel W.D. Chipley, so overwhelmed by the beauty set forth before him, exclaimed, "here a town shall be built!" This was when they first envisioned DeFuniak Springs known as Lake DeFuniak, in honor of Fred R. DeFuniak, who had held many high offices in the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, including that of General Manager. Later, the park around the lake was named Chipley Park, in honor of William Dudley Chipley. Today, Lake DeFuniak is said to be one of two perfectly round lakes in the world.

Under an order from Colonel W.D. Chipley, the area known as Lake DeFuniak was preserved and a station was built there. With the establishment of the station at Lake DeFuniak, people moved up from Euchee Anna and Alaqua and built homes near the lake.

At the same time that the Chautauqua organization received its charter in 1855, the Legislature created the Lake DeFuniak Land Company with Chipley in charge and the real estate boom was on. Today a permanent carousel of homes can be found around the lake which would envision a walk into Victorian times when labor and materials were plentiful and elaborate architectural details were incorporated.

The Walton-DeFuniak Library was established in 1886. It is the second oldest in Florida, with only the library in St. Augustine considered as being older. However, some facts have come to light recently which prove that our library is the oldest in the state that was built as a library and still continues to be used as such.

On March 4, 1881, the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad was incorporated by an act of the Florida Legislature. The purpose of the act was to construct a 70-mile road from the northwest corner of Florida, near Flomaton, Alabama, where it would join the trackage of what started as the Pensacola and Selma Railroad. This was later in the control and ownership of the Louisville & Nashville, to a connection with the existing Seaboard. Colonel Chipley, in an address delivered in 1896, noted that he had been a member of the 1881 surveying party and that they had camped on the shore of a large pond in Walton County. Being enamored of the spot, Chipley ordered that the area be preserved and that a station be built there.

The City of DeFuniak Springs is the current owner of The Depot Station located on 1140 Circle Drive. Several ideas for the use of the depot are as follows: office for organizations, display of historic items, information distribution center, display of local art about DeFuniak Springs and possible office for the Chautauqua Festival.

The Historic Chautauqua Building is also owned by the City of DeFuniak Springs and is located at 96 Circle Drive. The Chautauqua Building (A.K.A. Hall of Brotherhood) was established in 1909 and served as an enclosed amphitheater. The building was fully equipped with foot lights and dissolving color effects for the presentation of many plays and grand concerts. This large portion of the auditorium was severely damaged during a hurricane in 1975 and was subsequently removed. Remaining portions of the building have been restored and continue to serve as a focal point of the community, being used for a wide variety of activities.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

In the 1700's and 1800's the Muscogee / Creek / Euchee Indians lived in and around the DeFuniak Springs area. Lake DeFuniak area was known as Big Pond. Some of these Native American families are still in the area today. Members of the Muscogee Nation of Florida live in and around DeFuniak Springs.

At the same time that the Chautauqua organization received its charter in 1855, the Legislature created the Lake DeFuniak Land Company with Chipley in charge and the real estate boom was on. Today a permanent carousel of homes can be found around the lake that would envision a walk into Victorian times when labor and materials were plentiful and elaborate architectural details were incorporated.

The Walton-DeFuniak Library was established in 1886. It is the second oldest in Florida, with only the library in St. Augustine considered as being older. However, some facts have come to light recently that prove that our library is the oldest in the state that was built as a library and still continues to be used as such.

The City of DeFuniak Springs is the current owner of The Depot Station located on 1140 Circle Drive. The Walton County Heritage Association has transformed it into a Museum with Historical items from Walton County to include DeFuniak Springs. Also The Walton County Heritage Association handles the Caboose and Information Center on Circle Drive. For their hours of operation or other information please contact them at 850-951-2127.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Florida Chautauqua program, in operation from 1885 to 1922, provided education to hundreds of thousands of people. The programs were held initially in tents and buildings near the lake. This continued to be true until 1909, when the Chautauqua Auditorium was built, at a cost of $28,000.

The program from 1910 refers to "The new Hall of Brotherhood, which has just been completed, containing the 'Yale Hall,' 'Washington Hall' and 'Hall of Scottish History and Literature,' fills a long felt need in the daily life of the Chautauqua. This will be the regular meeting-place for the morning devotional hour and for the regular afternoon lectures other deliberative bodies not desiring the use of the large auditorium. It will also be found very convenient for class work along various lines."

A 1926 program provides even more background on the landmark: "The Auditorium, the largest Chautauqua amphitheater in the Southland, is fitted with modern conveniences and fully equipped with electrical lights with dissolving color effects and foot lights for the presentation of plays and grand concerts. The seating capacity is near four thousand, the stage alone is capable of accommodating one hundred actors."

The late Hon. Wallace Bruce, for many years President of Florida Chautauqua, was instrumental in erecting the present auditorium knows as the Hall of Brotherhood."

"The Dome was dedicated to the Soldiers and Sailors of the Republic, the lantern above the Dome to the Light of Christian Truty and the columns on the outside of the building represent the Presidents of the United States."

At the dedication of this building the following eloquent words by the late General John B. Gordon, as he laid the corner stone, are most appropriate: "The Hall of Brotherhood tells the story. Every beam and timber, each brick and stone that shall complete its structure, from this supporting cornerstone now laid to its finished turret, will speak to coming generations of the sentiment that suggested it. American brotherhood, a reunited country, on which depends not only the life and perpetuity of the Republic, but the welfare of universal humanity, are the glorious realities that this Hall is to represent. In the name, therefore, of every state in this Union, and of our priceless freedom, invoking Heaven's blessing upon it, I dedicate this spot where the Hall of Brotherhood is to stand a holy invocation to the everlasting fraternity of the American People."

A large portion of the auditorium was severely damaged during a hurricane in 1975 and was subsequently removed. But remaining portions of the building have been restored and continue to serve as a focal point of the community, being used for a variety of activities.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

In 1986, Councilman John V. Lawson conferred w/ Representative Sam Mitchell in reference to building an open amphitheater in addition to the present stage erected in 1983. Mr. Mitchell agreed and requested that Mr. Lawson return if he was elected as Mayor.

John V. Lawson was elected as Mayor in July of 1987 and promptly returned to the office of Sam Mitchell. Engineers soon began to draw plans and the new Amphitheaters cost was estimated at $175,000. Several letters from local businessmen, community leaders, & civic organizations were collected. Mr. Mitchell presented all of the acquired information to numerous representatives and Senators. The Representatives and Senators felt that it would be beneficial for the City of DeFuniak Springs to have an amphitheater. The Senate and House of Representatives appropriated the funds for building and the governor signed off on the appropriation.

The Amphitheater was completed in 1988, with a seating capacity of 1,371. The lighting was also significantly improved during this time and the P/A system was replaced in the mid 1990's. Several events are hosted at the Amphitheater including: Fundraisers, weddings, plays, church services, concerts, political rallies, birthday parties, etc.

John V. Lawson passed away on November 22, 2004. On December 14, 2004, the city council voted to name this structure the John V. Lawson Amphitheater in recognition of his faithful service to the community.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The town was founded by the officers of the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad, a subsidiary of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. The P&A Railway was organized to connect the terminus of the L&N near Pensacola to the western terminus of the Seaboard Railroad at River Junction -- now Chattahoochee -- in the 1880s. It was named after Frederick R. DeFuniak, the president of the L&N. Like much of Northwest Florida, DeFuniak Springs was settled mainly by Scots from Virginia and the Carolinas.

DeFuniak Springs was established as a final-destination resort, and the developers enlisted the cooperation and aid of the Chautauqua Movement. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood, an auditorium seating 4,000, was constructed on Lake DeFuniak in the center of town. Seminars, classes, and the like were held in the Hall of Brotherhood building for people on vacation. The auditorium of the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Eloise in 1975 and razed, although a charitable foundation, The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood Foundation, Inc., has undertaken a capital campaign for the historic restoration of the building. The Westerly portion of the building facing Circle Drive is still in use.

As part of the intellectual atmosphere of the town, a college and a private high school (named Palmer College and Palmer Academy, respectively), as well as a technical school (Thomas Industrial Institute) and a teacher training school (Florida Normal College) were established in the 19th century. Florida Normal College was incorporated into Florida State University, while the other schools closed during the Great Depression. There remains a College Avenue that once led to Palmer College.

As demonstrated through the Chautauqua movement, many residents of DeFuniak Springs have always had an active hand in education. In 1886, De Funiak Springs held an important meeting that forever changed the course of public education in Florida. At this meeting, teachers around the state formed the Florida Education Association (FEA). This teacher's union remains the state's predominant voice for educators and is affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

The town also contains various other historically significant landmarks. Near the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood building is the Walton County Library on Circle Drive, the oldest existing, operating library in the state of Florida. The library contains an interesting assortment of antiquities, including an impressive medieval weapon collection and many first-edition books. First Presbyterian Church is the only private structure in the Lake Yard, the park surrounding the lake. Also situated on Circle Drive is St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, built in 1895-1896. Although Walton County was opposed to secession, the first monument to the Confederate war dead constructed in Florida is located on the lawn of the Walton County Court House.

Sidney Johnston Catts, 22nd governor of Florida from 1917 to 1921, first candidate to campaign the state by automobile, Prohibition Party affiliation. Catts was a lawyer and preacher, having served as the pastor of First Baptist Church prior to his run for governor.

Former professional baseball player and manager Buck Showalter was born in DeFuniak Springs on May 23, 1956.

American fashion model Amanda Moore graduated from Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs in 1997.

PGA golfer Sammy Rachels, native of DeFuniak Springs, was born in 1950.

Ina Thompson was appointed Commissioner of the Florida Motor Vehicle Commission by Leroy Collins, the 33rd Governor of Florida. At the time of her appointment she was the first woman ever named to an office of that rank in Florida Government.

History of Walton County

In the spring of 1820, Neil McLendon of Richmond County, North Carolina, his brother Lochlin, brother-in-law Daniel D. Campbell, John Folk and their families started out with their teams in the direction of Pensacola, Florida. After many days full of eventful happenings, the travelers reached Bluff Springs, Florida and camped for a while along the banks of the Escambia and Blackwater rivers. While in Pensacola on a trading trip, McClendon learned about a beautiful area up the Choctawhatchee Bay that was then inhabited by a friendly tribe of Indians known as the Euchres. Soon afterwards, Sam Story, the chief of the tribe, was introduced to McClendon and extended to him a very cordial invitation. Upon seeing the new country, McLendon was well pleased. He chose a new home for his entire company. This settlement was on Bruce Creek opposite what is now known as Eucheeanna.

News of the new country spread rapidly and soon emigrants from North and South Carolina began to roll into Florida. These emigrants settled in a fertile valley twenty-five miles wide where farming and the raising of sheep and cattle provided a good living for all. This valley was named Euchee Valley in honor of the friendly Euchee Indians who lived there for many generations.

Walton County was created in 1824; its present area is 1,028 square miles. Portions of territory were given in 1846 to help form Washington County. In 1848 a northeastern portion was given to Holmes County and in 1915, a western portion of Walton and an eastern portion of Santa Rosa counties were untitled to form Okaloosa County.

The Census of 1920 reported the county population as 12,119. The 1980 census was 23,000, and the census of 1990 was 27,759. There are three incorporated towns in Walton County. DeFuniak Springs, the county seat, was incorporated in 1901, Paxton in 1953 and Freeport in 1963.

The county was named for Colonel George Walton, secretary of West Floirda during the territorial governorship of Andrew Jackson. Walton was the son of George Walton, Governor of Georgia and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Since the early days, farming has been an important occupation of the majority of the citizens in Walton County. The soils of the county vary in character from the heavy river bottomlands to the lighter sandy loam of the hills, underlaid by clay subsoil. The latter type is especially adapted to the growing of wild Satsuma, grapes, pears, figs and peaches. The staple crops most produced are corn, soybeans, peanuts, wheat, sugar cane, sweet potatoes and forage crops.

One of the principal industrial developments of the county was poultry raising. The dairy and beef cattle businesses are established industries. Timber and related products (especially pine) are primary resources. Tourism is also one of the largest industries in the county. The sugar white beaches are reported to be the most beautiful anywhere.

In 1881, colonel W.D. Chipley, Major W.J. Vankirk and W.T. Wright, members of a surveying party seeking a route for the projected Louisville and Nashville Railroad, planned the town of DeFuniak Springs. As they roamed through the dense pine forest and rested on the grassy slopes near what is now known as Lake DeFuniak, they envisioned a prosperous settlement and named the location for Mr. DeFuniak, a then prominent official of the L&N Railroad.

A bond company was formed, a hotel built and soon recruits began to arrive. Among the first visitors was Dr. A.H. Gillet of the New York Chautauqua who was looking for a desireable location for the winter assembly. Dr. Gillet's visit resulted in the organization of the Florida Chautauqua Association in August 1884. Arrangements were made for the first assembly to be held February 10 to March 7, attracted much attention and soon families from near and far began to gather about the little town where they saw the realization of their desire for better educational advantages.

The success of the Florida Chautauqua programs, presented continuously from 1885 to 1922, may be attributed to the genius and unselfish devotion of the Honorable Wallace Bruce and his son, Mr. Kenneth Bruce, whose combined years of leadership nearly spanned the life of the original Florida Chautauqua era. In 1976 the citizens of Walton County expressed a great desire to preserve this great heritage and revived the Chautauqua spirit by way of an annual calendar of events.

The first institution for higher learning in Walton County was the Knox Hill Academy that was founded in 1884. For more than half a century, this school rendered a real service to the youth. The most outstanding recognition gained by the school was during the years when Professor John Newton, a pioneer schoolmaster of Pennsylvania, directed its activities.

The State Normal School for white students was authorized by the Constitution of 1885, and opened in DeFuniak Springs on Monday, October 3, 1887. It was devoted exclusively to preparation of teachers for the schools of Florida and was, at that time, the only school of its kind in the state. In 1904, the Normal School was purchased from the state by the Honorable Daniel Campbell and others of DeFuniak Springs in 1906. It was the purpose of the purchasers to give to the public an institution of learning where people of all denominations might send their children to be educated under distinctly Christian influences. The institution was named Palmer College in honor of the late Reverend B. M. Palmer, the first moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. The school opened on October 2, 1907 and, through 1916, offered four-year college degrees as well as preparatory courses. General elementary school and secondary school courses were offered through the spring term of 1936. Due to financial difficulties, the trustees decided not to open the school in the fall of that year.

The Thomas Industrial Institute was founded as a memorial to Dr. Hiram W. Thomas of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Thomas was a great believer in industrial education long before vocational features wee introduced in the schools of the country.

The county's first high school was established in DeFuniak Springs in 1903, just a year before the close of the Normal School. It was constructed in 1901 at a cost of $15,000 and was said to be second to none in the state. Many of the early teachers were also pastors of countryside churches. In numerous instances, the same building was a classroom on weekdays and place of worship on Sunday.

Tivoli Elementary and Junior High Schools were established in 1912 for black students. Grade 10 was added in the 1935-36 school year, grade 11 in 1936-37 and grad 12 in 1937-38. The schools were closed in 1969. Currently, the Tivoli Complex is used for district administrative offices.

The historic downtown area is home to Lake DeFuniak, a naturally round lake that is approximately one mile in circumference and perhaps fed by a small natural spring. The lake is surrounded by beautiful homes and three churches, along with the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood and the Walton-DeFuniak Library, which is the oldest continuously operating library in the state of Florida.

The lakeyard is home to Christmas Reflections from the day after Thanksgiving to December 31. Millions of lights illuminate the pines and oaks along with seasonal displays.

Beautiful historic DeFuniak Springs is located in the heart of Florida's panhandle at the crossroads of Highway 331 and Interstate 10 and has an estimated population of 5,200.