COLUMN: An 8-sided mystery: The undiscovered landmarks of Walton County

Located at the Coastal Branch Library is the Historical Heritage Archives display area. On one wall is a large map with small colored dots that denote various found and undiscovered historical sites that have been handed down to us by our forefathers of the county.

1. Billy Bowlegs Pirate vessel

A 1950’s book by treasure finder  E. Coffin, records the hunt for the vessel and its loot. Bowlegs’ brigands, after being chased by British squadron longboats,  ran the boat into shallow water, burned it, and escaped. Coffin relates the find. An old article in one of our local newspapers identifies the treasure hunt site in Hogtown Bayou due north of the Dune Allen area.

2. Lost Indian trader’s cabin

One account found in a book in the archives says that an unsavory character was found shot dead in his cabin by feuding neighbors who came into the area. Another account claims it was also an Indian trading site.

3. Small salt works hamlet

An old map, which is in the archive, pinpoints a location of a small salt works endeavor. May were in use during the Civil War period. It shows it on one of our coastal lakes, but the lake is unnamed. There was one at Port St. Joe, which the Federals burned, but whatever happened to this one is simply unknown.

4. Blockhouse on Alaqua Bayou

This one is really confusing. It was reported to be at the entrance to Alaqua Bayou during the Indian War of 1836-37 by local historian McKinnon in his book of the history of our county on page 118. A Col. George Hawkins was wounded defending the defenses when attacked by Indians.  One wonders if the historian was confused with the area of northern Walton County. Still, the site remains lost.

5. Knox Hill pottery

Circa 1859, this is the first “recorded “white man’s” pottery in south Walton County. It is listed in most of the early American pottery books and some pickling jars are in the Valpariso Museum. While searchers have tried to find the site, it still remains elusive. More information on this pottery is in the Coastal Branch Library in the Historical Archives display book section. The Smithsonian Institute also has data on it and reports it lost!  It would be nice to find and send them the historical location .

6. La Grange Indian massacre

Verifiable historical accounts from Pensacola offer reports of an Indian massacre around La Grange Creek or Bayou. Citizens from La Grange, now the area of Freeport, formed a militia and attacked a band of migrating Indians, killing all the women, children, and the old men while they were camped in the La Grange Creek vicinity. According to reports, only one warrior among the whole tribe was later found. But he was also killed. The town later disassociated itself from the attackers and declared the aggression an unnecessary murderous slaughter.

7. Blue Mountain ship wreck

This reported site from an 1800’s surveyor log pinpoints the remains of a large sailing ship, which lay scattered along the shore. The area is believed to be south of Goatfeather’s restaurant or in the location of the public beach access. The surveyor recorded that the ship’s remnants were spread over a long portion of the beach.

8. Choctawhatchee Bay fort

Noted on a U.S. Department of Interior Geological map is the marked site, “fort.”  Nothing else is known. Homes may be on the site now. The location is about one quarter mile west of Alligator Point in the old Town of Santa Rosa.

If you know anything about these mysteries of history or want to join the search for answers, e-mail me care of The Walton Sun at news@waltonsun.com. But you have to dig into the files and there are many.

The “Friends of the Library” were kind enough to purchase the Coastal Archives a secure cabinet for old documents and photos.

Someday a kind person will catalog the large amount of information. Right now we are just trying to preserve and store the information.

Fair winds to ye matey.

Chick Huettel is a long-time Walton County resident, writer and artist.