Looking back

1932

On November 19, 1932 a fire distorted the old wooden former school house that served as the Gilchrist County Courthouse. Gilchrist County awarded a contract to build a new courthouse and construction began in the spring of 1933 and was completed on August 2, 1933 at a cost of $20,000. Workers earned 10 cent an hour but they had to take half that in groceries. Most of the labors were local and at the height of the depression this was much needed work for local men.

1955

The family of L. R. Thomas was picked as Gilchrist County Outstanding Farm Family of the year. Mr. Thomas and family received their award at the North Florida Fair. The Thomas family had five daughters and four sons and their 1,200 acre farm is located at Rt. 1, Bell. Thomas has farmed in Gilchrist County for 40 years and has followed in his father's footsteps.

Three sons Leilon, Loyd and Ray farm with their father. Their principal crops are tobacco, corn, peanuts and watermelons. They also raise hogs, cattle and chickens. In 1954 they produced 1,300 pounds of tobacco and 25 bushels of corn per acre.

Mr. Thomas Scott of Trenton traveled to Jacksonville to attend a two days training at the GMC training center. Scott has been a mechanic at Colson Chevrolet in Trenton for 3 years.

1990

Mrs. Edna Griffin of Bell caught a nice mess of fish. Mrs. Griffin at 99, and does not do much house work or go out to eat according to her daughter, but if someone ask her to fish she is the first one in the boat.

• By Cindy Jo Ayers