Reflections

Never made any money on Alligator Point to speak of, but used to really enjoy going out there in the good prime days. First there was "Borders" Café, had food, picnic supplies, etc. They had a daughter back then and a lot of Carrabelle High School parties and dances there. Later on they would have bands on the weekends.

After they phased out, the infamous "Crews Quarters" opened up down the street, in care of Vern and Jo Grace. Liquor and beer were served with pool tables, etc. Bands were there on occasion. Now Vern was a "character you wouldn't forget." Wild as a buck, full of laughs, but ran a "tight ship," really.  Remember he had a deer's posterior mounted over the bar. There was a ‘Nam vet who hung out there, and when he ran out of money, he would let Vern hold his glass eye. While Vern held the eye, he would place it in "you guessed it," in the deer's rear end looking at you.

His wife Jo was much more subdued. They lived next door with her mother, whom everyone called "Granny." Now Granny fixed a ton of food every Sunday afternoon for any and everybody. Did a wedding out there, and the groom's uncle gave me a $50 tip for getting them out of his house.

Further down the beach, Clayton Taff built the beautiful Point Lounge. The fantastic wood interior was something to see. Large L-shaped bar, with an exit out onto the big deck for sun and a fantastic view of the Gulf. Had a big dance floor with weekend bands, and a Sunday afternoon matinee that the wife and I used to love to go to. Dance, party a bit, and get home before the "Do Right Boys" popped out. Hurricanes finally did it in.

Longest lasting of course was "Pride of the Point" as it was called once, marina, lounge and restaurant. Used to go out to watch the big yachts come and go, the fish catches, good drinks and food. My mentor and good friend, Buddy Teague, of Capital City Bank, was a regular there and gave me a lot of good advice and counsel back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. It's been a while since I have been there so I don't know what the lay of the land is.

Everything else is gone, like so may other good establishments in the county. Until the law changed, the eastern boundary of Franklin County went to mean high tide of Ochlockonee River. Wakulla County was dry, so was Angelo's, which was formerly "George's at the Bridge," and Faiver's, which was built on a pier so they could have a Franklin County liquor license. There also used to be a bar out on a pier on the left side of the bridge.

Well I still miss the "Oaks" restaurant, motel, and store. Seems like such a waste. Lots more people now than then. Kinda like "Gone With The Wind."

Mr. Bill

 Mr. Bill is the pen name of Bill Miller.