My maternal grandparents, the late J. Boman and Annie Taylor lived outside Live Oak off of Nobles Ferry Road. I traveled with my parents to Live Oak many times during my childhood. Driving through Live Oak today, I see many wonderful things in the town and, at times, I think of what was once on the sites of these wonderful edifices or lots. Am I the only one who does that? Maybe, but I don't think so.
Let's begin with downtown. On the corner where my cousin, Rhett Bullard's, law offices are on Ohio Avenue was the site of the, then, First Commercial Bank. Across the street from it and a little west on US-90 was the First National Bank.
Later, the Commercial Bank moved to the site of the present TD Bank and First National moved to the site of a building, "Work Nest," I think it's called, next door on Ohio Avenue.
Downtown in Live Oak were three department stores, I recall: Gibbs, Fleets, Gilmores and there was also a Van H. Priest Store (dime store). East of that was the, then, famous Dixie Grill Restaurant with its famous Steer Room and next door to that was the Alimar Theater where I saw my first movie. I remember two drug stores downtown, Cheek and Scott and Rexall. Both had fountains where you could purchase a vanilla coke or cherry smash. About where Hardee's is at present, on Ohio Avenue, was the site of a popping place during my childhood and that was what we locals called "The A and W Root beer Stand." You drove up, waitresses came out to your car for curb service and they had great food.
I remember several grocery stores in Live Oak, Kent's, Wooley's and Howland's, which sold the best dip ice cream in the world. I also remember Mr. and Mrs. Kirby's Western Auto Store.
On White Avenue was the site of the major, then, North Florida Telephone Company, which later became Alltel and then Windstream. I can recall making calls to Live Oak, when one went through the operator.
Two historic edifices with which I associate Live Oak and always will, are the historic Suwannee County Courthouse, which, to me, is and shall always be beautiful and the historic First United Methodist Church of Live Oak. I also love the old post office building in Live Oak and I hope it will be preserved. It's beautiful.
Another iconic part of Live Oak, or, at least it was to me, was Suwannee Packing Company, famous for its sausage and so much more. We gave Suwannee Packing Company's sausage as gifts to many people.
I can also remember when the late J.L. McMullen had scores of ladies shelling acre peas at his business that sold those peas across the nation.
Memories, memories and more memories. It seems my life is made up of so many these days; long ago swims in Suwannee Springs, purchasing a gift for my maternal grandmother at the Gibbs Company in Live Oak, buying cones of dipped ice cream at the W. B. Howland Company and the excitement of the time when the tobacco markets opened in Live Oak. Live Oak also had a very active Livestock Market.
So many memories of a time and place that lives on in my mind even when I am viewing new buildings and new edifices. I hear familiar voices, see familiar faces, including my beloved maternal grandparents and taste great treats from long ago in a Live Oak that lives on in my memory. I shall always have a very special place in my heart for Suwannee County and Live Oak and its people. I spent five of the happiest years of my life there working with some of the finest educators in the world and some of the most wonderful students. I made history. I was the last principal of Suwannee Elementary East. After I left, the schools reconfigured and East School became Suwannee Primary.
It was a privilege to work with Wyman Harvard, Jr., the late Rick Norris, Nancy Roberts and, without a doubt, the most brilliant educator with whom I ever worked and shall always have tremendous respect, Shirley Allbritton. I worked with some incredible students, teachers and administrators, too.
White Springs is my home town, but north central Florida is my home and I love it very much, as I love its people and memories of it. Wishing you all a good week. God bless you.
From the Eight Mile Still on the Woodpecker Route north of White Springs, wishing you a day filled with joy, peace and, above all, lots of love and laughter.