All Titles

Preserved in these pages are the rich and storied history of the scenic waterfront town of Panama City Beach.

In a collection of nostalgic and lighthearted vignettes, local author Jeannie Weller Cooper recounts the history of Panama City Beach, the barrier islands and beach for old Panama City. First inhabited by Native Americans in the years before the Spanish arrived in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Panama City Beach has always proved a good hideout for fugitives, from Native Americans fleeing from European invaders to runaway slaves, Civil War soldiers, outlaws and rumrunners. In 1929, the first Hathaway Bridge was completed; connecting Greater Panama City to the beach, but the lagoon and the beach remained a sleepy curiosity until the bombing of Pearl Harbor mobilized the United States to war. Now Panama City Beach is home to thousands of residents, as well as being a renowned tourist destination.

With its warm sunshine and warm people, Winter Park is truly a city for all seasons. Yet this Florida gem isn't just defined by its wonderful weather, it is also defined by its rich history. Join
husband and wife team Gayle and Steve Rajtar as they remember the people, places and organizations that shaped Winter Park into the storied city it is today. Culled from their popular historical column published in Winter Park Magazine, each chapter adds a colorful piece of history to the Winter Park mosaic. From the founding of celebrated institutions like Rollins College to the formation of beloved parks like the Kraft Azalea Garden, this collection captures the essence of Winter Park

In the nearly 500 years since the Florida Keys were discovered by Christopher Columbus in his search for the Fountain of Youth, Key West has been the home of a dazzling array of inhabitants. The picturesque island has been populated with native Indians, European settlers, pirates and other various scallywags, pineapple farmers and an endless stream of sailors from far-flung ports of call. Each faction brought with it to the island a unique past and culture, and no where can this variety of influences be more readily observed than in Key West's historic architecture.

The intriguing history of Key West can be deciphered through the architecture of its buildings--each façade and portico offers another subtle detail in the island-city's larger story. Preserving Paradise, by author and executive director of the Historic Florida Keys Foundation George Born, reveals the nuances of Key West's architecture and uses it to illuminate many aspects of Conch Republic history.

With a warm, readable style, Born explores a range of topics, including Key West's prevalent architectural styles, the preservation of historic structures, the history of building materials, and the effect of hurricanes on the city's architectural heritage. Committed to preserving Key West's architecture and the past it represents, Born explains in detail just why Key West is so architecturally unique, and why the city's buildings, streets and neighborhoods are a repository of history that can be discovered by experts and weekend visitors alike.

This much-anticipated second volume of oral histories by local author Karen Harvey continues to uncover the multilayered history of St. Augustine, Florida. These historical vignettes, which were originally published in the St. Augustine Record, will delight and entertain residents and visitors alike.

Written in a conversational style that is accessible and easy-going, Harvey brings the reader face to face with some of St. Augustine's most interesting characters. The resulting narrative allows the storytellers to paint a picture of the "oldest city" that is rarely found in other written histories.

Including sections about the history of the African American community in St. Augustine and accounts from the city's legendary "Mr. St. Johns County" Dan Mickler, Legends and Tales, Volume II continues to open doors to St. Augustine's vast history.

About halfway down the gulf coast of the Florida peninsula, along the old Tamiami Trail, lies the beautiful city of Sarasota. With crystal blue waters, fabulous beaches and the warmth of its citizens and sun, Sarasota has always been a popular destination for an array of colorful characters. As with many cities along the Florida's gulf coast, Sarasota has experienced growth and change that has left few reminders of the once easy-going lifestyle that made Sarasota such a special place. Although the Sarasota of the early twentieth century, through the mid-1950s, was small in size, it was community large in spirit and had an identity that was shared and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Gulf Coast Chronicles: Remembering Sarasota's Past is a warm and vibrant stroll through the often forgotten and innocent days when Sarasota was home to the Ringling Circus, splendid hotels and baseball spring training. Longtime resident, historian and columnist Jeff LaHurd revisits the "good old days" of Sarasota's past, and brings to life a time that is now only a nostalgic memory.

In this charming retrospective, Lee County native Prudy Taylor Board writes with love, respect, and wry humor as she reveals the true history of Lee County, its communities and some of its most intriguing and prominent pioneers. For example: In 1884, Fort Myers comprised 139 acres at the original site of the town that was platted into a working community. But the burgeoning town that had grown to include about 50 families did not have a newspaper. So when the opportunity to ?kidnap? an editor and his press presented itself, Henry L. Roan, captain of the schooner Lily White, wasted no time. Although a paradise for tourists today, Sanibel was originally noted for its prolific agriculture. By 1896, farmers were shipping a thousand crates of tomatoes a week during their growing season. A few years later, crops included eggplant, beets, squash, green peppers, cucumbers and beans. Unfortunately, the torrential tides of salt water accompanying a disastrous hurricane in 1921 destroyed the groves and arid farms that marked the finish to Sanibel's agricultural prominence. With these delightful historical vignettes, Board presents an interesting and fascinating history of the three cities that presently make up Lee County, Florida. Locals, visitors and newcomers alike are sure to enjoy Board's witty and causal style, and will view the area with a renewed appreciation for its rich past.

In addition to the beautiful palmetto lined beaches and the rhythm of the rising and falling tides, one of the major attractions of Melbourne Beach is that, unlike the "space age" communities of concrete block in the surrounding area, the town "had a history." Thomas introduces readers to an array of unique characters, describes the changes that Melbourne Beach has undergone since the turn of the 20th century, and relates his concern about the effects of "progress" on the natural beauty of his adopted home. Learn about the town's excitement over its first stop sign, and how a woman makes a second one for weekends after she becomes the victim of Melbourne's first automobile accident. Meet Orval Gardenour, the town's first real policeman, who finally gained respect by rescuing a loggerhead turtle from the trunk of a poacher's car, and experience the Great Cat Hunt of 1930, in which seventy-four strays met their demise.

During the forty-five years that Frank Thomas has lived in this small community on Florida's eastern coast, he has taken it upon himself to dig into old records and document the oral histories of the "old timers" who made the town what it is today. The result is a witty, poignant account of Melbourne Beach residents' adventures, victories, tragedies, and comedies,

The city of St. Augustine, Florida has the special designation as one of the oldest cities in North America, dating back well over four hundred years. Throughout St. Augustine's history, it has been home and host to an array of colorful and exceptional individuals, who have all helped to make the city what it is today. Legends and Tales: Anecdotal Histories of St. Augustine, Florida is a collection of oral histories by writer and St. Augustine resident Karen Harvey. As the reader will discover, these memories reveal that the history of St. Augustine is not always found in recorded facts, but rather in the hearts and minds of the local citizens who have made their home in this fascinating city. From stories about the early days of baseball and St. Augustine's strongest man, to the history of the area's African American population and the Civil Rights Movement, Legends and Tales offers insight from a unique, often-overlooked perspective.