Old Molino Jail: There’s A Lesson In There Somewhere (With Photo Galleries)
November 16, 2009
Molino was once a bustling little town complete with a mayor, a car dealership, a dentist, a bank, three doctors, a canning factory, a couple of mills, a railroad station — and criminals, mostly men with a little too much booze in them following a good payday.
The time was 1913, and Molino was incorporated as a town. A town hall and jail were constructed. But less than two dozen years later, a devastating fire and the Great Depression put an end to Molino’s roaring times. The town was dissolved in April, 1933, and the town hall and jail were given to Escambia County. Escambia County was charged by the Florida Legislature to maintain the fair grounds as a public park and the jail and city hall were to be maintained by the county “for use of peace officers of the said county”.
The town hall is long since gone; it was believed to have stood in front of the jail. But the jail still stands with one iron cell inside a small brick building. For years, it was hidden away yards from Brickyard Road, near Molino Road. Schoolchildren had an opportunity to visit the jail about 10 or 15 years ago. Since that time, it was almost forgotten behind thick brush.
For early 2008 photos from the inside and outside of the jail. click here.
Almost forgotten, but not by Lil King, Tom Helms and other members of the Molino Historical Society. King spent hours in Tallahassee looking for evidence that the jail belonged to Escambia County. It was a dollars and cents move. The historical society did not have the funds to restore the jail, but Escambia County would.
King uncovered the document she was hoping to find, known as House Bill 322. The jail did in fact belong to Escambia County.
The ownership revelation allowed the county to use county crews and prisoners from the Escambia County Road prison to clean the property. When NorthEscambia.com first visited the jail in February, 2008, reaching it was a trip down a little path through very thick brush. The kind of brush that only a machete and manpower would allow a human to pass. The trip was a near crawl. The photographer that was there from the city was nervously uncomfortable.
Over the course of that February day, road prison crews chomped away at the woods and the vines. clearing the lot for the first time in at least over a decade. The jail, once held prisoner by the growth of time, was once again free.
The small brick building was in remarkably good shape after all these years. The tongue and groove wood ceiling looked virtually undamaged. The roof needed some minor repair; and there was some water damage to wood around the bar-covered windows. The front door was missing.
There is just a single room in the old jail. It contains a single cell in the room, with a small area to walk around three sides of the cell. The door of old cell still swings freely, and does not even squeak. There is no obvious sign that the building was ever heated in winter and no bathroom. A February night in the Molino jail would bring cruel and unusual to mind.
The faint outline of the 1927 date written in the concrete doorway (pictured left) at the time of the repair is still visible today. The jail was repaired after an explosion took off the door, possibly in an escape attempt, King said.
The road prison inmates dubbed the old jail as their “Camp One”, a play on words because the road department’s north end facility in Bratt is called Camp Five.
The inmate cleanup and restoration work at the jail were supervised by Jeff Bohannon, superintendent of the Escambia Road Prison. He said he was proud to be able to help clean up the lot for the historical society. And the prisoners on the work crew were equally proud to take part.
“You are contributing to a part of history,” Bohannon told the prisoners as they prepared for a lunch break during one cleanup effort. “I know you get out and do this kind of cleanup thing everyday, but this is special. When you get out, you can come back where with your kids or grandkids and show them what you helped do.”
“I really appreciate each one of you. What you did today, and what you do everyday,” he said.
Several prisoners responded with a “thank you, sir”.
Inmates started their restoration with the front door — after all, a jail just isn’t a jail without a door. “It was built by the prisoners,” King said in March of 2008. “They are quite accomplished young men and some are already experienced carpenters and masons. I was happy to see the brick over the door put in; it gives a ‘finished’ look.”
For inmate Troy Cutts, 37, the Molino jail project has been a release from the road prison. Cutts was a carpenter before landing himself in the road prison. Part of his work on the jail included staining the new wood to look old. When gets out of jail, he wants to show his daughter the work he did on the old Molino jail.
There’s a good life lesson in there somewhere.
For early 2008 photos from the inside and outside of the jail. click here.
For photos of the jail restoration (courtesy Tom Helms) and a current day look at the jail, click here. Pitctured top: The single iron cell inside the 1913 Molino Jail. Pictured top inset: The faint outline of “1927″ in a repaired area of the door. Pictured bottom inset: The new sign at the old jail. Pictured below: The restored Molino Jail. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
H1N1 Vaccine Offered Wednesday At Bratt, Byrneville Elementaries; Print Permission Form
November 16, 2009
Voluntary H1N1 vaccination clinics will be held for students at Bratt and Byrneville elementary schools on Wednesday; permission forms must be returned by Tuesday.
Vaccination is voluntary, free and offered only to students; these are not vaccination clinics for the general public, according to Molly Payne-Hardin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Health Department.
Bratt and Byrneville will be the third and fourth North Escambia schools where the vaccine has been offered to students. Voluntary H1N1 vaccinations were given on October 28 at Jim Allen Elementary and November 12 at Molino Park Elementary.
“We will get to every school but right now are only able to forecast out one week in advance because of vaccine supply,” Payne-Hardin said.
Vaccine information sheets and permission forms were sent home with students on Thursday. Parents that did not receive a permission form can click here to print a permission form and information sheet. Alternatively, parents can call Bratt at 327-6137 or Byrneville at 256-6350 to request another form.
For more information on the priority groups that can receive the vaccine and where vaccine is offered to the general public, visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.
Download Northview Vs. West Florida
November 15, 2009
To download the MP3 audio from the November 13 Northview High School game against West Florida, click here.
Note that this is a large MP3 file. The file will take up to one hour to download on a dialup internet connection. On cable, satellite, DSL and high speed wireless connections, the file will download in just minutes. This file is for personal use only. Any commercial use is strictly prohibited. © 2009 NorthEscambia.com
Northwest Escambia Midgets Fall To A&G In Playoff Game
November 15, 2009
The Northwest Escambia Midgets are lost to the Albritton & Gant (A&G) Rattlers 25-14 in Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance playoff action Saturday afternoon in Cantonment.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
The Rattlers took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
NWE’s Dalton Daniels put the Eagles on the board with 25 yard touchdown run with just under four minutes in the half. A missed extra point and the Eagles narrowed the Rattlers’ lead to 7-6.
The Rattlers were in for another touchdown at the buzzer. The point after was no good, and A&G held a 13-6 lead at the half.
With less than 30 seconds to go in the third, A&G expanded their lead to 19-6.
A&G struck again with 2:32 in the game.
NWE answered with 2:02 to go with a Daulton Tullis TD. A good point after, and it was 25-14.
A&G gets a spot in the championship game next Saturday against Brent Blue.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
A total of 7,000 children ages 5 to 14 in 16 cities take part in youth tackle football and cheerleading in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance.
Picture above and below: Action from Northwest Escambia versus A&G Saturday in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Perdido School Honors Veterans, Presents $3,600 To Honor Flight
November 15, 2009
Students at Perdido School honored veterans Friday, and they presented $3,600 to South Alabama Honor Flight in memory of Marines from Walnut Hill and Perdido.
Perdido School hosted over 75 veterans during their Friday morning program. “Veteran of the Year Dr. Barry Booth” was the guest speaker. He shared a video of the September 16 Honor Flight with students and guests, explaining the importance of honoring “the greatest generation”.
Escambia County High School’s JROTC Color Guard and Rifle Drill Teams from Atmore performed, student’s presented their essay’s for the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, the middle school band performed, and the elementary students sang the five military hymns. Tap was played at the close of the program.
Dr. Booth and Margaret Coley, who head up the fund raising efforts for the Honor Flight, were presented $1,200 in memory former Perdido student Marine Lance Corporal Bruce Ferrell who was killed in Afghanistan in August. Additional donations of $2,400 were presented in memory of PFC Russell W. Stewart USMC, Walnut Hill native.
Submitted story for NorthEscambia.com.
Northview, Ernest Ward Cheerleaders Headed To National Championships
November 15, 2009
Both the Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders will have the chance to compete for a national title early next year in Orlando.
Both teams received national championship invitations following the Universal Cheerleaders Association West Florida Regional Saturday at Tate High School.
Last year, the Ernest Ward Middle cheerleaders took second best in the nation. The Northview cheerleaders did not take part in last year’s competition.
Pictured above: The Northview High School cheerleaders Friday night in Pensacola. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders perform at an EWMS football game earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Juniors Advance To League Football Finals
November 15, 2009
The Cantonment Juniors beat Pensacola 24-6 Saturday to advance to the championship game in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance.
The Cantonment Cowboys will play Ensley for the league championship next Saturday. Ensley defeated Navarre 24-14 on Saturday in semi-final action.
A total of 7,000 children ages 5 to 14 in 16 cities take part in youth tackle football and cheerleading in the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance.
Commissioner Plans District 5 Town Hall Meeting
November 15, 2009
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Community Center at 7850 Highway 97.
The District 5 meeting will begin with comments from the commissioner and proceed into an open forum. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions and share comments.
For more information about this meeting, contact White’s office at 595-4950.
Skaggs Named To Navy-Marine Corp All-Time Football Team
November 15, 2009
A former North Escambia resident has been named to the All-Stadium Team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium.
John Skaggs, a 2000 graduate of Tate High School, was named to the specials teams of the All-Time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Team Saturday in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Naval Academy is holding a season-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, including honoring the 1959 Navy team that defeated William & Mary in the first game played at the stadium. Additionally, an all-time Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium team is being selected with fans having an opportunity to nominate and vote for their favorite Navy players who have played at the stadium.
The all-time team will be revealed at halftime throughout the 2009 season.
Skaggs earned three varsity letters (2001, ‘02, ‘03) and was the punter on the 2003 Navy team that won the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy and played in the Houston Bowl. Skaggs is the school record holder for single-season and career punting average. He averaged a school-record 44.8 yards per punt as a sophomore and his 41.4 average as a senior, ranking him fifth in school history. Skaggs’ career average of 42.5 yards per punt is almost two yards better than any other punter in school history. As a senior, Skaggs was selected to pay in the East-West Shrine Game and the Gridiron Classic All-Star Game. In 2001, Skaggs had 48 punts for 2,151 yards.
“It was an honor to just be considered for the stadium team,” Skaggs told NorthEscambia.com, “and it was definitely an honor to be chosen out of out of the people nominated.”
Skaggs was selected by fan balloting that was conducted on navysports.com (50 percent of the vote) and by a committee (50 percent of the vote) made up of Navy Sports Information Director Scott Strasemeier, Navy football historian Jack Clary, former Annapolis Capital Sports Editor and Navy beat writer Joe Gross, current Navy beat writer for the Annapolis Capital Bill Wagner, Navy broadcasters Bob Socci and Pete Medhurst and Navy football historian and former beat writer for the Washington Post Christian Swezey.
Skaggs and his wife Emily (Fillingim) Skaggs now reside in Panama City. They both have numerous relatives in the North Escambia area. Skaggs was honored during halftime of Saturday’s Navy win over Delaware.
International Paper To Award $40,000 In Grants
November 15, 2009
The International Paper (IP) Pensacola Mill will award $40,000 in Foundation Grants in 2010 and is hosting a free workshop to review the application process with interested non-profit organizations, qualifying state and federal entities, and municipalities.
The workshop is scheduled for next Thursday, November 19 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the mill’s Employee Development Center in Cantonment; the presentation will focus on eligibility, criteria and restrictions.
Reservations to attend the workshop are required as space is limited. Attendance is not mandatory for eligibility. The deadline for all 2010 grant applications is January 13.
Grants are awarded by the IP Foundation out of Memphis, Tenn., which primarily focuses on environmental education, literacy, employee involvement, and new critical community needs. Applicants must be a registered 501c3 non-profit organization or qualifying municipality to apply.
For more information about the Foundation, visit www.ipgiving.com.
To reserve your seat at the workshop, contact Jessica Morris at (850) 968-4203 or via email at jessica.morris@ipaper.com.