Book signing on Saturday

This is just a reminder that if you are in the Northwest Florida area and would like autographed copies of my books either for yourself or to give as a gifts this holiday season, I plan to attend only one book signing in December.

It will be this Saturday (December 1st) at Chipola River Book and Tea on Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna (right across the street from the Battle of Marianna monument).

They will have copies of The Battle of Marianna, Florida and The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida on hand, as well as copies of my third book, Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts.

The event gets underway at around 10 a.m. and will continue until either 2 p.m. or the books sell out. The Two Egg book has already sold out three times and it looks like it probably will again before Christmas, so if you would like a copy before then, this may be your best chance.

I'll be glad to do special inscriptions during that time and I hope to see you there. If you can't make it, all three books are in stock through http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and there is still time for them to arrive by Christmas.

Annual cane grinding scheduled for Saturday

The annual Long cane grinding will take place this Saturday (December 1st) in Two Egg. Just drive in on State Road 69 from either direction and you can't miss it.

The event has been going for about a decade and a half now and features authentic grinding of sugar cane, once an annual ritual in the South. The cane juice is cooked down to make syrup.

The event also includes arts and crafts and will be underway all through Saturday morning and lunchtime, so make a point of stopping by!

Childhood home of Faye Dunaway

She might not recognize it today, but this slowly deteriorating frame house near Two Egg was the childhood home of actress Faye Dunaway. She was born in Jackson County on January 14, 1941.

The Academy Award winning actress spent her childhood years in the area and many of her close relatives still live in Jackson County. Her breakthrough role was in the 1967 gangster classic, "Bonnie and Clyde." She also starred in "Chinatown" and, my personal favorite, "Little Big Man" with Dustin Hoffman.

Special thanks to my friend Ashley Pollette, a true son of the South, for passing this along.

Book Signing scheduled for December 1st

If you would like to obtain autographed copies of my book Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts, I will be at Chipola River Book and Tea for a book signing on Saturday, December 1st. They are located on Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna (in the same block as the Gazebo restaurant) and directly across the street from the Battle of Marianna monument.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and will continue until 2 p.m. or until the books sell out. Copies of my other books, The Battle of Marianna, Florida and The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida will also be available.

If you would like to have copies specially inscribed as Christmas gifts, I'll be glad to do so.

The book includes, of course, a history of Two Egg, as well as the stories behind the stories of a number of other popular Northwest Florida legends. Included are:

• Two Egg, Florida
• The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge
• The Legend of Two Toed Tom (Northwest Florida's famed alligator monster)
• The Garden of Eden
• The Washington County Volcano
• The Fiddling Ghost of Boynton Island
• Jackson County's Pirate Treasure
• The Bible of St. Luke's Episcopal Church
• The Battle of Vernon
• The West Florida Swamp Booger (Bigfoot)
• The Story of Milly Francis
• Florida's Underground Wonderland
• Andrew Jackson and the Natural Bridge

Due to my health, this is the only signing I have scheduled for December. If you can't make it, but would like to have an autographed copy, they can be ordered at http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/. As long as you order by December 15th, they will make it in time for Christmas. After the 15th, I can't promise.

Non-autographed copies are in stock and available for pre-Christmas delivery at http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.target.com/.

River Wars will impact Two Egg

I usually stay away from political issues here, but I want to weigh in on the current debate that is swirling about the use of water from the Chattahoochee River. The outcome will affect our area and I encourage you to educate yourself and voice your opinion at well.

The low water conditions that prevail throughout the South right now are putting a major strain on Lake Lanier, the upper most of the lakes on the Chattahoochee River. Lanier is a major source of water for the city of Atlanta, but also is the primary source for water coming down the Chattahoochee to Lake Seminole.

At issue is whether more water should be held back at Lanier for the use of Atlanta. This, of course, would mean lower water levels for the entire rest of the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola system. In other words, the rest of us.

Since many lakes and ponds in east Jackson County rise and fall with the water level of Lake Seminole, a lowering of water levels in the lake will translate to even more dry conditions in an already dry area. In addition, low water levels in Lake Seminole and on the Apalachicola River will mean reduced and more dangerous recreational opportunities. The lake is a major economic engine for the Sneads area. Lowering the Apalachicola River, another obvious effect of holding back water at Lanier, would mean reduced flow going into Apalachicola Bay, home of one of the finest oyster fisheries in the world.

It now looks as if the U.S. government is leaning in favor of holding back the water. I strongly oppose doing so. The wants and economic needs of Atlanta should not outweigh those of the entire rest of the river system. The river water has been maintained according to its current formula for many years. There should be no changes unless all three states impacted (Florida, Alabama and Georgia) agree.

Two Egg, Florida book now in national release

I'm pleased to announce that my book Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts is now available in full national release. It can now be ordered through your favorite bookstore anywhere in the world, as well as through http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, http://www.bamm.com/, http://www.target.com/, http://www.borders.com/, etc.

If you prefer to order by mail, you can obtain the address at http://www.twoeggfla.com/.

If you live in Jackson County, you can buy the book at Chipola River Book & Tea on Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna (directly across Lafayette Street from the gazebo and park). One note, though, they often sell out so you may want to have them reserve a copy for you.

I finished the book last year and have been amazed by its success so far. Two Egg definitely seems to attract attention!

Passing the torch...

My oldest son William has decided to follow in his dad's footsteps, so to speak, and is starting a publishing firm. He will specialize in books on little known aspects of Florida and Southern history.

To help get him started, I'm in the process of handing over a number of manuscripts that I finished over the last ten years. He has begun working on editing them and will begin putting them into print over the next few years. He is also looking for additional works by nonfiction writers, with a special emphasis on lesser known yet significant historical events. For more information, you can email me at dalecox@twoeggfla.com with your inquiry and I'll be glad to pass it along.

I'm really proud to see him giving this a chance. As my last three books (The Battle of Marianna, Florida, Two Egg, Florida and The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida) have demonstrated, there is definitely a market for well-researched books on Florida and Southern history. Those of you who know me are aware of my health situation. I'm no longer able to do the research and writing I would like to do, so it is great to see him take interest in my unpublished work.

The first of the new books, The Battle of Massard Prairie: The 1864 Confederate Attack on Fort Smith, Arkansas, should be out in December.

He'll have a website up soon, and I'll pass that along as soon as it is ready to go.

The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge

I've updated the pages on the Bellamy Bridge ghost story at www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Bellamy Bridge is located just a few miles west of Two Egg on the Chipola River and is the site of one of Jackson County's most popular legends.

The truth behind the story might surprise you, so take a look!

Update on Blog

I've been a little off schedule with my postings lately, but be sure to check in tomorrow and I'll get things going again!

Central School Reunion update

Let me do a slight update/correction on the Central School Reunion. I reported a few days ago that the annual reunion at the old school ruins will take place on Saturday at noon. Actually, the reunion will get started at around 10:30 a.m., with lunch being served somewhere between 11:30 a.m. and noon.

So, don't be late on my account!

Two Egg needs a historical marker

This has been on my mind for some time. Two Egg needs a historical marker. Can you think of a better place for one?

I have been asked so many times how the community got its name, and so has anyone else with any association with Two Egg, that a marker telling the story of the town would probably be one of the most read plaques in Jackson County (if not in all of Florida).

I worry that the heart of the little community is going to entirely disappear if something isn't done soon to preserve it. Both of the stores have been closed for a couple of years now and the condition of one is really starting to diminish. It would be a horrible shame to lose a community that has been such a point of curiosity for generations of visitors to Florida.

Perhaps the erection of a suitable marker in the "downtown" district would be a good start towards launching a preservation effort in Two Egg.

Central School Reunion scheduled for next Saturday

Yesterday I mentioned Central School, which was located a few miles northeast of Two Egg. I've since learned that the annual reunion of students from the school will be held next Saturday at 12 noon.

The reunions were started a few years ago by area residents who attended Central. They gather each October at the ruins of the old school for a "dinner on the grounds" and conversation.

This year's event will feature a fish fry and covered dish dinner (in other words, bring fixins'). All former students of Central and their families are invited.

The reunion gets started at around 12 noon.

A Two Egg Ghost?

Notice the unusual white spot near the center of the photograph at right? This showed up in several different photographs taken at the ruins of the old Central School a few miles northeast of Two Egg.

"Ghost hunters" call these "orbs" and suggest they may indicate something supernatural. Others believe in more earthly explanations for them, suggesting they are simply unusual light effects that sometimes show up in photographs or possibly even the camera capturing light reflecting off dust or an insect. Personally I favor the latter explanation, but I do find them interesting and would love to figure them out.

This one is unique because it shows clear movement (notice the white streak leading from the bottom). This suggests to me that the flash of the camera created a reflection off something that was moving, possibly dust, a leaf or an insect. I'd love to hear any thoughts you might have.

Two Egg, Florida - The Book

I receive constant inquiries about a location where my book Two Egg, Florida can be purchased. I'm pleased to announce that it is now available through Chipola River Book & Tea in Marianna. This is an excellent book shop located on Lafayette Street downtown (directly across the street from the monument and gazebo downtown).

The printers have had a little trouble keeping up with the demand, but a new shipment of books is now in and they have a good supply.

You can also order them online through www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and at www.twoeggfla.com.

Historic Preservation near Two Egg

This beautiful structure is the old Dellwood Methodist Church. Founded in 1910 on land donated by Dr. Charles Howell Ryals, the church was constructed of locally milled timber. For many years it was a center of life in the community, which is located only a few miles south of Two Egg on State Highway 69. Over time, however, the church fell into a state of disrepair. A few years ago, however, members of the McMullian family repaired and restored the beautiful old church. Today it stands as a landmark that is well worth seeing.

Dr Ryals, the founder of the church, is buried on the grounds. He is remembered by generations of area residents as one of the last true "country doctors" of Jackson County. He delivered over 5,000 babies during his 50+ year career and traveled the countryside around Two Egg and Dellwood, treating those in need of his assistance without regard to their status in life or ability to pay. He is remembered today as a humanitarian of the rarest type and many Jackson County men were named Charles or Howell or C.H. in his honor.

How Two Egg got its name.

Ok, here goes. More than anything else, I'm asked this question about my home town..."How did Two Egg get its name?" Here's the condensed version:

There are many different versions of the story, but they all revolve around the practice of bartering farm products for needed supplies at a general store during the Great Depression. Money was in short supply and the only way for citizens of the area to buy necessities was by trading for them using items they produced themselves.

According to Mr. John Henry Pittman, who for many years ran one of the stores in Two Egg, the name originated when two small boys came into the store day after day to trade two eggs for a small amount of sugar. The owner of the store was having a bad week and, in frustration, made a remark that included the line, "This is nothing but a "two egg" town." A traveling salesman (or "drummer") was in the store at the time and began to spread the story. The name caught on and before long the community, previously called Allison, became known as Two Egg. The name first appeared on State Highway maps during the 1940s and remains there to this day.

Other versions differ slightly, but that's the story in a nutshell. For a much more detailed history of Two Egg, please consider my new book Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends & Unusual Facts. It is available for order from your favorite bookstore, online through www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com or through my website at www.twoeggfla.com. If you live in or near Jackson County, they are available at Chipola River Book & Tea on Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna.

Ruins of Central School

One of my favorite landmarks in the Two Egg area is the site of old Central School. Located on Circle Hill Road a few miles northeast of Two Egg crossroads, the site preserves the ruins of the old school where several generations of area residents were educated.

The school was closed years ago and eventually destroyed by a lightning sparked fire, but the site still holds a place in the hearts of former students. A group of them erected a monument on the site several years ago and now help to maintain the grounds. A reunion is held each fall.

Central was one of a number of brick schools constructed in Jackson County during the Great Depression. A similar facility dating from the same era still stands nearby in Bascom. These schools eventually were closed and consolidated, but at the time of their construction they represented a major step forward in the quality of educational facilities in the county.

Central holds an additional unique distinction. Country music legend Hank Williams, Sr., once performed here. Former students still have autographs given them by Williams following the performance.

News from Two Egg, Florida

One of the most popular annual events in the Two Egg area took place today. The Annual Homecoming at Oak Grove Church celebrates the history and families of the Jackson County "ghost town" of Parramore.

Located a few miles east of Two Egg at the intersection of Oak Grove and Parramore Roads, the community of Parramore was once a thriving commercial center with five stores, several churches, a cotton gin, blacksmith shop, sawmill, gristmill and more. The town, which was never actually incorporated, owed its existence to the vast forests of longleaf pine that once grew in the region. Large turpentine operations collected the sap from these trees and cooked the rosin, which was then poured into barrels and carried by truck to riverboat landings near Parramore on the Chattahoochee River. Paddlewheel riverboats then carried the barrels either upriver to Columbus, Georgia, or downriver to Apalachicola, Florida.

Parramore thrived from the late 19th into the early 20th centuries. By 1919, the primary riverboat landing was one of the few in Jackson County listed as a "warehouse landing," with storage facilities for products awaiting transport.

The arrival of modern highways and railroads, however, spelled an end for the riverboats and Parramore as well. The community gradually faded away as the businesses closed and people moved elsewhere. As Parramore faded, nearby Two Egg grew.

For more than 45 years, however, former residents and their families have returned to Parramore on the first Sunday in October for their annual homecoming. They gather at Oak Grove Church to share old stories and make new memories. This year's event featured a sermon by Rev. Cap Pooser, special music from the Bryan Brothers and, as always, dinner on the grounds.