Destin History & Fishing Museumdestinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org/newsletters/... · newspapers, but he had an additional insight into historic preservation. He said, “A building

The Destin History and Fishing Museum is grow-

ing to become a local landmark. Herbert Muschamp,

was an architecture critic for major magazines and

newspapers, but he had an additional insight into

historic preservation. He said, “A building does not

have to be an important work of architecture to be-

come a first-rate landmark. Landmarks are not creat-

ed by architects. They are fashioned by those who

encounter them after they are built. The essential

feature of a landmark is not its design, but the place

it holds in a City’s memory.” Historic places give us

roots, enhance community pride, teach and inspire

us, make our communities more attractive, encour-

age travel and tourism, are assets for revitalization

and economics and good for the environment. The

museum’s summer attendance is growing and we see

an increase in multi-generational family groups visit-

ing the museum. The grandparents seek the Destin

of their youth while vacationing with their parents

and enjoy sharing those memoires with their children

and grandchildren. Come make your own family

memories.

Kathy

From the Staff

April to June 2014 Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 4

Destin History & Fishing Museum

Here’s What’s Been

Happening At

YOUR Museum!

BOARD MEET-

I N G S F o r

2014 :January 8,

February 12, March

12, April 9, May 14,

June 11, July 9, Au-

gust 13 September

10, October 8, No-

vember 12, and De-

cember 10

Museum Visitors

2006: 2,095

2007: 3,527

2008: 4,561

2009: 5,804

2010: 6,368

2011: 7,131

2012: 8,396

2013: 8,036

January to June 2014

4,217 visitors

Calendar of Events

May 3

Founder’s Day

Museum Free Admission

October 1

Museum 9th Anniversary

October 3,4 & 5

Destin Seafood Festival

Museum Fundraising Concessions

Harry T’s Dave’s Dogs Booth &

AJ’s Parking Concession

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-SIGN UP EARLY TO HELP

December 14

28th Annual Holiday on the Harbor

Boat Parade

January 31, 2015

Gumbo Contest & Silent Auction

Destin Community Center

11 AM to 2 PM

We are looking for items for our Silent Auction.

Please contact us if you have an item or gift certificate

to donate.

Snapper fishing

was featured

on our June “Fisherman’s Logbook”

Exhibit.

New

Fundraising

Opportunity

Businesses along the Harbor District are becoming mem-

bers of the “Preserve Destin’s History”, a support group of the

Museum. The goal is to raise needed funds for the growth & ex-

pansion of this community’s museum and historical archives.

Destin is much more than a beach resort. We enjoy a long, rich

heritage of quality fishing, boat building and one of the world’s

richest varieties of fish. Alan Laird, the brainchild of this “point

of sale” fundraiser, is working with the Museum and local busi-

nesses. When paying for your meal or purchase, you are given the

opportunity to make a donation of a $1 or more. All donations go

directly to the Museum. Funds will be used for expanding its pro-

gram to include: restoration of the Primrose, historical lecture

series, educational classes, demonstrations, facilities for meetings,

parties and group functions and addition of area artifacts & exhib-

its and facilities expansion. AJ’s Seafood Restaurant & Harry T’s

are the first on board and others will be added during the summer.

As you visit businesses in the Harbor District, watch for post-

ers with this new logo and information about the fundraiser!

There is no cost to the business. If you have a business and would

like to participate contact the Museum for more information.

Page 2 Destin History & Fishing Museum

New Landscaping

& Signage

Brings an Inviting

Curb Appeal

to the

Museum !

Laura Hall

helped coordinate

a plan

for the

new landscaping.

Preserving the Heritage of the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village ! Page 3

James G. Stahlman was publisher of the Nashville Banner from 1930 until 1972, when he sold the newspaper to the Gan-

nett Corporation. He began working for the Banner on June 1, 1912, following his graduation from high school. He continued to

work for the Banner as a campus correspondent for the next four years, until his graduation from Vanderbilt University in 1916.

He did graduate work at the University of Chicago for a year and then served in World War I as an infantry private. Stahlman

returned to Nashville in 1918 to become city editor of the Banner. In 1925, his grandfather named him vice-president and execu-

tive director. On August 12, 1930, Major Stahlman died, and thirty-seven year old James Stahlman became president and publish-

er of the Banner. In 1932, he was elected president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association (SNPA). He worked with

SNPA and the American Newspaper Publishers Association in the joint fight to defeat President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s efforts to

force newspapers to accept federal license under the National Recovery Act. This battle culminated in victory for the newspapers

and brought Stahlman into national prominence in the newspaper field. He was director, vice-president, and at forty-four, presi-

dent of the ANPA, one of its youngest ever. James married Mildred Porter Thornton in 1917 and they had two daughters, Mildred

and Ann. They were later divorced. In 1939, he married Effye Chumley, who was killed in a 1952 automobile accident. They

had no children. In 1953, he married Gladys Breckenridge, to whom he was married at the time of his death in 1976. On January

14, 1972, he announced the sale of the Banner to the Gannett Corporation. Six months later, on June 1, 1972, he retired. That

ended Stahlman’s sixty years of service to the Nashville Banner, forty-two of them as publisher. He died on May 1, 1976, follow-

ing a stroke, which he suffered while attending a Vanderbilt board meeting.

He first arrived at Destin in the 1930s. Mr. Tyler Calhoun paid a visit to Mr. Stahlman in Tennessee and convinced him

to visit and buy a piece of “Paradise”. Mr. Stahlman’s remark to Mr. Calhoun was he couldn’t afford to buy any land anywhere

but he accepted the invitation and fell in love with the area. He found Destin to be affordable, purchased land, and built a home.

He later built another home in the Joe’s Bayou area. Mr. Stahlman and his two girls returned every year and he retired to Destin

in the 1970s. Mr. Calhoun named Stahlman Avenue in Destin after his friend James Stahlman.

Excerpts from: The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture and From the Shoulder, by James G. Stahlman

Snapshots from the Past James G. Stahlman

Stahlman sent postcards and

letters to his friends in Destin from his

“Wings to the Orient” trip. He loved

Destin and brought many of his

friends from Nashville and the pub-

lishing world to see this paradise.

Documenting and sharing the complete history of Destin ! Page 4

A Portal in Time New to the Museum collections are photographs from the Captain Howard and Bruce Marler Estate. These photos were taken by family with their personal cameras. Interesting to note is the background showing a Destin Harbor of “yesteryear”!

Page 5 Volume 8, Issue 4

Helpful Donation

While visiting Destin in June with his wife and fami-

ly, Fred McLane fell at their resort and injured his leg. They

purchased a wheelchair to enable him to get around Destin

and see the sites. Part of their visit was touring the museum.

While he was here he explained what had happened and how

they came to get the wheelchair. It was mentioned that a

wheelchair would be a nice asset to have in case someone vis-

iting the museum was not able to stand for the time period it

would take to really enjoy the museum exhibits. Later in the

week, on their way to go home to Ohio, the McLane family

came by the museum and donated the wheelchair so others in

need might be able to use it to make their visit more enjoya-

ble. Many thanks to these generous and thoughtful visitors to

Destin.

1966

Destin

Aerial

Photograph.

Howard’s Studio

Donated

By

Max Hosfelt

Preserving the Heritage of the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village

SUMMER

HOURS

OPEN SUNDAYS

1 TO 5 PM

Tuesday - Saturday

10 AM to 4 PM

Sunday

1 PM to 5 PM

Destin History & Fishing Museum

Museum Board of Directors

Executive Board President: Dave Steele Vice President: Dan Martin

Secretary: Kathy Marler Blue Treasurer: John Lefler

General Board: Richard Derek, Dan Empson, Jim Green, Norm Hall, Tina Harbuck, Mike

Long, Don Rogers, Lloyd Taylor, Russell Wamble

Executive Director Jean Melvin Associate Director Kathy Marler Blue

Museum Docent: Dave Fraser Museum Volunteers: Carole Marler, Nancy Johnson

Newsletter Writer and Editor Kathy Marler Blue

DHFM

P.O. Box 548

Destin, FL 32540-0548

Destin History and Fishing Museum is a non profit organization whose members are dedicated to

preserving, documenting, and sharing the complete history of Destin. There are limitless ways you, your friends, and associates can be part of realizing these efforts. Now more than ever we can use your support. Your donation or membership is tax deductible.

Please fill out the form below and mail it to the museum.

Yes, I Give My Support! Name___________________________________________________________________

Address__________________________________________________________________ Phone________________________________________ E-Mail ______________________________________

Membership/Amount $20_______ $ 50________ $ 100 ________ $250 _________ $ Other ___________ Check # ______________ If you would like to pay by credit card please call the Museum and have

your credit card ready.

Mail to: Destin History and Fishing Museum P.O. Box 548 Destin, Florida 32540-0548

Thank you. Without your faithful and generous donations and efforts, the museum would not exist today.

Join or Renew Your Membership Today

Phone: 850-837-6611 Staff E-mails

Jean Melvin: [email protected]

Kathy Marler Blue

[email protected]

Website:

destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org

PLEASE MAIL YOUR

DONATION TO:

DESTIN HISTORY &

FISHING MUSEUM

108 STAHLMAN AVE.

DESTIN, FL 32541

Admission: Adults: $5

Seniors & Military: $4

Students: $3

Kids 6 & Under

and Members : Free