Both Two Egg books now available as Kindle downloads!

I'm pleased to announce that both of my books about Two Egg, Florida are now available for download for your Amazon Kindle!

Kindle is the e-reader from Amazon.com, but if you don't have one you can download the software for free for use on your computer, Ipad, smart phone, etc., at Amazon.com.  I was given one for Christmas two years ago and have found it to be a great way to read books at discounted prices. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find they have huge collection of historical works available for 99 cents each and under.

The most recent book is my first attempt at fiction, A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida: A Short Novel of Redemption. Published late last year, it is set at Christmas time in Two Egg, but is more a novel of redemption than it is anything else. With a definite Christian theme, I think you would find it to be interesting reading at any time of the year. It is available in print form for $9.95 by either clicking the ad on the upper right of this page or visiting Chipola River Book & Tea in Downtown Marianna (across the street from the Battle of Marianna Monument). You can download the Kindle version instantly for only 99 cents by clicking the ad above at left.

The earlier book, Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts, is a unique collection of the "stories behind the stories" of how Two Egg got its name and some of Northwest Florida's favorite other legends. In addition to the true story of the naming of Two Egg, the book delves into the stories of the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge, the Washington County Volcano, Two-Toe Tom (alligator monster), the West Florida Swamp Booger (Bigfoot), the Fiddling Ghost of Boynton Island, the Garden of Eden and more.  The print version can be ordered at the upper right of this page or purchased at Chipola River Book & Tea in Marianna. You can download the brand new Kindle version instantly for only $5.99 by clicking the ad at left.

To learn more about the unique community of Two Egg, Florida, be sure to visit our webpage at www.twoeggfla.com.

"A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida" - New Book is Now Available locally and online!

My new short novel about our special little community - A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida - is now available through Amazon.com for $9.95.

A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida is the story of a man who finds himself alone and forgotten in Two Egg on a Christmas Eve night back during the days of the Great Depression. He is in need of redemption and finds it in the words of a mysterious man that has been hiding in the dark around his barn for days.

The book is my first attempt at nonfiction writing, so I hope you enjoy it. It began as a script for a church drama and grew into a small book. The book can be ordered through Amazon by using the link at the top left and is also now available at Chipola River Book & Tea on Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna. They are located on the same block as the Gazebo Restaurant and have entrances on both Lafayette and Market Streets.

I will be signing books there on Saturday, December 18th from 10am. to 1 p.m. If you order through Amazon, just bring your book by and I'll be glad to sign it for you. They will also have books on hand until they sell out. Book & Tea is located on Lafayette Street in Downtown Marianna, right across from the Battle of Marianna Monument (on the same block as the Gazebo restaurant).

You can also order in the Books section at http://www.twoeggfla.com/.

Best,
Dale Cox

A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida - Hardcover Collector's Edition is Now Available!

A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida, my new short novel, is now available in a hardcover collector's edition. The book can also now be downloaded.

The hardcover edition will be available online only, with the paperback set for release at a special signing event at Chipola River Book & Tea in Marianna from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on December 18th. If you order hardcover copies online, I will be glad to sign them for you then and the shop will also have a full supply of the paperback edition on hand.

Here is the link for ordering: http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/a-christmas-in-two-egg-florida/14007061

Please note, however, that the paperbacks will not be available until December 18th. You can call Book & Tea at (850) 526-5040 to reserve a copy if you like, but there should be plenty on hand. The shop will not have the hardback edition, as they are custom printed for each customer.

If you want one of the hardcovers for a Christmas gift, be sure to order in plenty of time as the company needs 5-7 business days to print and bind them.

A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida is a fictional account of the life of a man named Ben, who lives in the quaint community of Two Egg. His life has been a troubled one and he faces his own past and future in a unique confrontation with a mysterious stranger. It is my first venture into fiction, so I hope you enjoy it!

Dale Cox

Two Egg makes list of "Funniest Place Names"

Our charming little community of Two Egg, Florida, is once again receiving national attention!

Two Egg was prominently featured on Bing.com's list of Funny Place Names today. Please click here to see the brief article for yourself!

In addition to Two Egg, the Bing article featured Double Trouble, New Jersey; Why, Arizona; Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; Toad Soak, Arkansas; Cuckoo, Virginia; Boring, Oregon, and a few others. All, however, seem to be quite a bit a bit larger than Two Egg.

This is the second time this year that Two Egg received major attention. On Easter morning we were featured on the morning news in Sacramento, California, that state's capital city. Attention, of course, is nothing new for us. Over the years Two Egg has been featured on television, radio and in magazines. From National Geographic to Life Magazine, the name has definitely been out there.

You can always read more about Two Egg online at www.twoeggfla.com.

Two Egg T-shirts and other Souvenirs now Available!!

I've had so many requests for Two Egg t-shirts and other souvenirs that I've made arrangements to make them available online for you!

You can now order t-shirts, other items of clothing, coasters, coffee cups and many other items featuring a variety of images and logos of Two Egg, Florida! Among the images available are the Two Egg, Florida highway sign, the "I'm a Kickin' Chicken from Two Egg, Florida" logo and the "Two Egg, Florida: Capital of the New South!" logo.

Prices range from around $10 and up depending on the item.

To learn more and check out the collection of items available, please go to http://www.twoeggfla.com/ and just follow the link you'll see in the yellow box just below the heading.

New Greenwood Page online at TwoEggFla.com

One of the most picturesque and fascinating communities in the Two Egg area is Greenwood, a unique antebellum town that traces its roots back to 1824.

Located just 5 miles west of the main Two Egg crossroads, Greenwood boasts one of the finest collections of historic homes and structures in the interior counties of Florida. These include the Erwin House, which dates from the 1830s; the Hayes Long Mansion, built in 1840 and Great Oaks, completed in 1860 and one of the last Greek Revival homes built in the South prior to the Civil War.

While these and other historic homes in Greenwood are private residences that are not open to the public, they have been beautifully restored and several feature historical markers on their front lawns that outline their significance and history. Also of interest are the town's historic Pender Store, which dates to the years after the Civil War and is one of the oldest continually operating mercantile businesses in Florida and the Baptist and Methodist Cemeteries. The two burial grounds contain the remains of scores of individuals who were significant to area, state and Southern history, including many Confederate soldiers and local volunteers who fought at the Battle of Marianna as members of the Greenwood Club Cavalry.

To learn more, please visit www.twoeggfla.com/greenwood.

Oil Spill Info for Northwest Florida now online at TwoEggFla.com

To assist local residents as well as our friends and neighbors across the Florida Panhandle and the many tourists and business people who visit our region each year, we have now added daily updates on how the oil spill is affecting Northwest Florida.

In addition to the complete daily update being released by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, we are also posting updates on tourism, fishing, wildlife, beach conditions and more.

The first impacts of the massive leak off the coast of Louisiana hit the beaches of Northwest Florida today, leading to fishing advisories for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties, including Pensacola Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre and Destin. Conditions are expected to worsen and spread over coming days.

For more information on a daily basis, please visit http://www.twoeggfla.com/ and look for the link at the top of the news section on our home page or visit the oil spill section direct by going to www.twoeggfla.com/oilspill.

Spring Blooming Season in Two Egg, Florida

The dogwood trees are now moving into full bloom, the annual notice that the spring blooming season is now reaching its height in Two Egg, Florida!

Across the Two Egg area, azaleas and dogwoods are coming out in full force. The unusually cold winter seems to have a good effect on most of the blooms, adding to their quality and numbers. The azaleas in particular are beginning to really explode with color.

Also out are peach trees, wildflowers, other blooming plants and even a few late peach blossoms. The grass has greened up nicely and most of the trees are now leafed out. Wth the temperatures already approaching 90, it won't be long before the hot days of summer are upon us, but for now conditions are just delightful.

To see photos of the spring blooms in Two Egg, read the popular local Easter legend about the Dogwood tree and check the Two Egg area weather forecast for the Easter weekend, please visit http://www.twoeggfla.com/

Local Weather now online at TwoEggFla.com!

You can now check local weather information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at http://www.twoeggfla.com/!

Our new weather page is online at www.twoeggfla.com/weather. In addition to current temperatures and winds, you can view the extended forecast for the Two Egg area as well as the current Doppler weather radar and regional temperatures.

We will also add hurricane tracking maps and other useful links and data as we move closer to the beginning of hurricane season in June.

The addition of our new weather page is part of a major expansion of the website that is now taking place. We will soon be adding a Two Egg Recipes page, cemetery and church information and a new store with a variety of Two Egg souvenirs including t-shirts, caps, coffee cups and more!

The Pirate of Two Egg story now online at TwoEggFla.com

The story of William Augustus Bowles is one of the most fascinating aspects of the history of the Two Egg area.

A pirate and adventurer, he operated for a time from a site just 7 miles east of downtown Two Egg and one of his treasures is rumored to be hidden at the "Money Pond" about 12 miles northeast of the crossroads at Two Egg.

Bowles came to the area when it was still a vast wilderness after being kicked out of the British army at Pensacola. He was still just a young teenage boy and was wandering aimlessly in the woods and near starving when he was rescued by a party of Indians from the Lower Creek village of Tellmochesses, one of the Perryman towns that stood 7 miles east of Two Egg near today's Parramore community.

Adopted into the Perryman family, which was descended from the English trader Theophilus Perryman and his Creek wife, Bowles married one of the Perryman daughters and rose to a position of prominence. He led Perryman warriors at the Battle of Pensacola, an important engagement of the American Revolution, and eventually went on to commission a flotilla of pirate ships that operated from the lower Apalachicola River.

Bowles' ships prowled the Gulf of Mexico where they raided Spanish and merchant ships carrying cargoes of goods and slaves. The seized property (and slaves) went upriver to the settlements of the pirate's allies, including the Perryman family, where it was either sold to Indian and white buyers or smuggled into Georgia. It was a lucrative enterprise and resulted in Bowles being celebrated today at Fort Walton Beach's Billy Bowlegs Festival.

To learn more about the Pirate of Two Egg, please visit the latest new page at the Two Egg website by clicking www.twoeggfla.com/billybowlegs.

Battle of Ekanachattee page now online at TwoEggFla.com

I have a new page online at TwoEggFla.com that might be of interest.

The little known Battle of Ekanachatte was found just 12 miles northeast of Two Egg on March 13, 1818. The battlefield is now part of Neal's Landing Park where State Highway 2 intersects with the Chattahoochee River and the Georgia line. Unfortunately, there are no markers or monuments to remind visitors of the fighting that once took place there.

The battle was part of the First Seminole War of 1817-1818. Neal's Landing was then the site of the village of Ekanachatte ("Red Ground"), an important Lower Creek town. When U.S. troops attacked the Creek village of Fowltown in what is now Decatur County, Georgia, the chief and warriors of Ekanachatte joined those from other Creek and Seminole villages in the Florida/Georgia/Alabama borderlands in a war against the United States.

On March 13, 1818, Ekanachatte was attacked by 900 Creek warriors that had allied with the United States against the Seminole and Lower Creeks alliance. Led by Brigadier General William McIntosh, the war chief of Coweta, they had traveled down the west side of the Chattahoochee River through snow and ice in order to attack the town.

To learn more about the Battle of Ekanachatte, please visit www.twoeggfla.com/ekanachattebattle. You can also read a full account in The History of Jackson County, Florida: The Early Years.

Econchattimico's Reserve page now online at www.twoeggfla.com

I have another new page up at on the main Two Egg, Florida website. This one deals with the little known Indian reservation that was located about 9 miles southeast of Two Egg during the 1820s and 1830s.

You can check it out at www.twoeggfla.com/econchattimico.

The reservation was established under the terms of the Treaty of Moultrie Creek in 1823. Econchattimico, a title which translates roughly to "Red Ground King," was the leader of a band of several hundred Lower Creeks who lived on the west side of the Chattahoochee River. The reservation, which covered 4 square miles, ran along the river from about the point where today's Butler Road intersects with River Road and then north for four miles. Much of the original site is now covered by Lake Seminole, but perhaps 25% of the actual land remains above water. The site of Econchattimico's town, Tocktoethla, however, is now beneath the lake.

The chief and his people lived on the reservation until 1838, when they were removed at gunpoint by U.S. troops led by Colonel (and later President) Zachary Taylor. They were forced west to new homes in the Indian Nations of what is now Oklahoma, despite the fact that they had been promised "permanent" possession of the lands near Two Egg.

To learn more about this unique historic site, please visit www.twoeggfla.com/econchattimico. You can also read the complete story of Econchattimico and his people in The History of Jackson County, Florida: The Early Years.

Jackson County books available for Christmas

If you are looking for unique gifts this holiday season, don't forget the books Two Egg, Florida and The History of Jackson County, Florida: The Early Years.

Both are available online for immediate purchase at http://www.amazon.com/ and autographed copies are available in Marianna at Chipola River Book & Tea (on Lafayette Street, directly across from the Battle of Marianna monument).

I also expect to have news next week on the release of the second volume of the Jackson County set, which will be titled The History of Jackson County, Florida: The Civil War Years. If you would like to receive an email as soon as it is available, just drop me a note by visiting www.twoeggfla.com/contactus and I'll be glad to keep you informed.

And, if you are looking for something to do now that the cool weather of winter is spreading across the South, be sure to visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com. A sister site to this blog and to www.twoeggfla.com, it features photographs and details information on a wide array of historic sites and natural wonders in Florida and across the South!

New History of Jackson County now available at Amazon.com

The History of Jackson County, Florida: Volume One is now available for online purchase at Amazon.com. The book went into national release this weekend and is now stocked by Amazon and is available for immediate delivery.

Please click here for ordering information.

This book is volume one of what will eventually be a three volume set on the history of the county. It covers events from the years from before the Civil War and covers topics such as early Spanish missions, the American Revolution in Jackson County, the First and Second Seminole Wars, the Battle of Ekanachatte, Scott's Massacre, the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge, Marianna vs. Webbville, crime and punishment, the Calhoun County War, the Trail of Tears, the early steamboat era and more.

Another recent book -The Early History of Gadsden County - is also now available at Amazon.com.

Annual Christmas Lights this weekend at Three Rivers

The annual Christmas Lights Show will begin this weekend at Three Rivers State Park. Located on Highway 271 (River Road) just north of Sneads, the beautiful park borders Lake Seminole and has been part of the state park system since 1955.

If some in state government have their way, this could be the last year for Three Rivers. The state is proposing that the land on which the park is located be given back to the federal government. The move would save Florida less than $200,000 out of a state budget of more than $70 BILLION. (a budget, by the way, that has more than doubled in the last ten years). Apparently our state leaders can double their budget but no longer have the money they need to maintain Three Rivers and a number of other state parks. I encourage you to voice your opposition to this plan by writing to Gov. Crist at Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com or by contacting your local senators and representatives. You can obtain their emails and mailing addresses at http://www.myflorida.com/.

In the meantime, take the time to head out to Three Rivers this weekend to enjoy the lights. The display opens at 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday night and continues until 7 p.m. If the state goes through with its plans, this will be your last year to enjoy the display.

Three Rivers State Park Facing Closure - Please Speak UP!

Jackson County is on the verge of losing one of its real treasures.

Three Rivers State Park has been identified by officials in Tallahassee for closure. This park, located near Sneads, brought nearly 23,000 people to our county last year and has been part of our landscape for decades.

While I certainly appreciate the fact that the state needs to reduce its spending, I am inclined to believe that enough overhead could be cut in a few departments in Tallahassee to save every state park in Florida. It seems unfortunate to me that our leaders are looking at closing facilities that have been enjoyed by generations of Floridians and were preserved by our forefathers for the enjoyment of our generation and the generations to come.

I hope you will join me in voicing your objections to any moves to close Three Rivers and a number of other state parks in Florida. Please write to Governor Crist at Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com, Sen. Lawson at lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov and Rep. Marti Coley through her website by clicking here and encourage them all to stop this plan in its tracks before it is too late.

Thank you.

Two Egg, Florida - Order Now for Christmas

If you would like to order a copy of the book Two Egg, Florida for Christmas, the printers tell me they can guarantee delivery in time as long as you order before December 10th.

The book can be ordered online by clicking here.

It is also available at Chipola River Book & Tea at 4402 Lafayette Street in Downtown Marianna (across the street from the Battle of Marianna monument). They carry a selection of my books as well as offerings from other authors.

If you would like a book autographed for someone as a gift, I will do a brief signing event at Chipola Book and Tea on Saturday, December 13th, beginning at 10 a.m. Since the books sold out quickly last year, you might want to go ahead and purchase your copy and then I'll be glad to sign it for you at the event.

Due to health concerns, this is the only signing I have planned this year.

New Blog: History of Gadsden County, Florida

I have started a new blog (web log) on the history of Gadsden County that might be of interest.

Visit it at http://gadsdencountyhistory.blogspot.com.

The new page focuses on the history, historic sites, folklore, culture and people of Gadsden County, Florida.

I have launched the site with excerpts from the chapter about the McLane Massacre from my new book, The Early History of Gadsden County.

I hope you will take time to visit and feel free to let me hear from you with thoughts, questions or suggestions!

The Two Egg Vote - Last Word on the 2008 Election!

Well, about everything has been said about Election 2008 that can be said...except for how Two Egg voted!

Here are the results from Precinct 23 as tabulated by the Jackson County Supervisor of Elections Office:

President of the United States

John McCain/Sarah Palin - 311

Barack Obama/Joe Biden - 285

Bob Barr/Wayne Root - 1

Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzales - 5

Representative in Congress, District 2

Mark Mulligan - 152

Allen Boyd - 431

State Attorney, 14th Judicial Circuit

Steve Meadows - 272

Glenn Hess - 317

State House, District 5

Brad Drake - 194

Johnny McDaniel - 391

Sheriff

Jim Peacock - 175

Lou Roberts - 338

William Nelson - 7

Zanie Williams - 69

Superintendent of Schools

Steve Benton - 295

Lee Miller - 292

County Commission, District 5

Ben Howard Odom - 225

Kenneth Stephens - 357

Amendment Two - Defining Marriage as Between a Man and a Woman

Yes - 507

No - 64

New Book is now Available in Hardcover and Paperback

I am pleased to let you know that my latest book - The History of Jackson County, Florida: Volume One - has officially been released.

If you pre-ordered a copy, your book should arrive no later than the end of next week. If you are expecting a copy and it hasn't arrived by then, please let me know so I can check on it for you.

If you are interested in ordering a copy, I recommend you order directly from the printer for fastest service. I'll include details at the bottom of this post.

This book is the first in a three volume series on the history of Jackson County, Florida. Although the book is technically a county history, Jackson County was so closely tied to major events in the early history of Florida and the Deep South that I think you will find it of interest far beyond the borders of the county.

Volume One covers the years from 1674-1860 and covers the Spanish mission era, American Revolution, War of 1812, First Seminole War, early settlements, Second Seminole War, Trail of Tears and even includes an in-depth study of Jackson County's favorite ghost story as well as the truth behind the legend of the county's lost pirate treasure.

The book is large (well over 300 pages) and features maps, photographs and a detailed appendices that includes the county's 19th century Native American census. Paperback copies are $24.95 and hardcover copies are $29.95. Profits from the book are being donated to the Daughters of the American Revolution to assist in developing a new historic marker program for Jackson County.

Please click here for information on ordering a paperback copy of the book for $24.95.

Please click here for information on ordering a hardcover copy of the book for $29.95.