Here’s a history lesson about the Local artifacts in front of you
The Ritz Theatre
This June 13, 1944 photo shows a War Bond Drive in front of the Ritz Theatre. The name was later changed to the Martin Theatre.
During WWII, events like this were held nationwide to encourage Americans to buy U.S. Treasury bonds to finance the war effort. Between November 1942 and December 1945, Americans invested approximately $150 billion in bonds to finance World War II.
The plane in the photo is most likely a North American T-6 Texan. These planes served as advanced trainers that taught pilots how to fly fighters with powerful engines and shoot while they were doing it.
Lake Caroline Gator
W.J. “Bill” Cook Jr. caught the Lake Caroline Gator in 1946. Lake Caroline is located at the corner of Beach Dr. & Caroline Blvd. and stretches over to 11th St.
This photo was taken in front of Cook Motor Company located in the 300 block of Harrison Ave. From left to right you can see H. P. Watson, Bill Cook, Sr., Bill Cook, Jr., and Ralph Bennett posing with an alligator hoisted high on a crane.
Originally this local car dealership was called the Panama Motor Co. which was located near the old Bay Line Station at the corner of 6th St and Beach Dr. In the late 20s, the building was declared a total loss after an explosion caused a fire that ruined the storefront.
In the early 30s, Bill Cook, Sr., and his wife Estelle built the new Cook Motor Co. seen in this photo. It was a large dealership complete with a showroom, offices, and a repair shop in the back.
Washington County
Before we were Bay, we were Washington. This map is a 1925 hand-drawn copy of an earlier one of unknown date platted by the Bay Improvement Company in Washington County. Bay County is Florida's 49th county, established on April 24, 1913, from a segment of Washington County. It’s named after Saint Andrews Bay, a body of water bordering the county.
The map includes Massalena Bayou (Massalina Bayou), Massalena Street (Massalina Street), Bayou Street (West to East), Sixth Street, and a bunch of handwritten marks.
Sweet Magnolia
These beautiful doors were once part of Sweet Magnolia’s Deli over in Millville. In November 2020, this beloved and absolutely excellent restaurant closed its doors for good but the memories live on here at History class. Just think about how many people walked through these doors over the years. We miss you, Magnolia.
Marie Motel
This sign was once a part of the Marie Motel which is still in operation at 6th St. and Magnolia Ave. The motel was built in 1957 by A.R. Rogers, who also built the Marie Hotel at the corner of Harrison Ave. and 5th St.
This circa 1950 postcard gives you an idea of how cool The Marie looked during the early days of the automobile travel boom.
Gym Floor
After Hurricane Michael clobbered us in 2018 we were determined to not only mend our broken town but preserve as many historical artifacts as we could. These tables for example are made from pieces of the Bay High gym floor.
Some of these tables look newer than others and they are. While we were dissecting the floor we discovered there were two layers of hardwood. The gym floor we were standing on had been installed directly on top of the original one. If you look closely at these tables and see nail holes in the wood you are looking at the original Bay High gym floor.
We Love Parades
Panama City loves parades and this circa 1940 photo gives us a glimpse into what must have been an awesome day. You’re looking north up a crowded Harrison Ave. from the 4th St. intersection. Behind the horsemen, you can see the Ritz (Later named Martin) theatre and the old Tennesee House which was not a hotel but you could rent an upstairs room for however long you needed it. It was also a business incubator helping several local businesses get up and going before moving out to their own locations.
Also, check out the traffic signal hanging above the intersection. If you look above the brew space in the front of History Class you will see a similar light hanging from our ceiling.
Mainstreet
In this photo, it’s 1926 and you’re looking north up Harrison Ave at the brand new City Hall and Police Department located at the intersection of 4th St and Harrison Ave.
You can see scaffolding surrounding the building and at this point in the construction phase workers were probably applying the beautiful crushed stained glass coating to the exterior.
In the foreground, you can see several of our town’s early businesses. Knickmeyers also known as Every Woman's Store, Gents Furnishings full of fine men’s wear, Chavers-Fowhand Furniture Co., and a Pool Room.
Breaking News
In 1930 the team at the Panama Printing Company located on Harrison Ave. took a well-deserved break and posed for this wonderful photo. The stack of newspapers on the sidewalk is actually the first edition of the Bay County Herald, which later became the Panama City News Herald.
Massalina Bayou
This postcard is from 1909 captures the stillness and beauty of Massalina Bayou. One of our town’s most beloved locations.
The bayou is named after Jose Massalina, a Spanish merchant marine who settled just across the bay at Redfish Point around 1836.
The Massalinas were master carpenters, boat builders, fishermen, and all-around great folks. Honoring their contributions to our community sometime around 1886, the bayou was officially named Massalina Bayou.
Dixie Sherman
The Hotel Dixie Sherman opened on June 29, 1927, at 502 5th Street. With 8 floors and 102 rooms, it was Panama City's tallest building and largest hotel for over 40 years.
It was purchased by John Christo, Jr. in 1969 to house the Bay National Bank. Turns out it was going to cost more to remodel the building than build a new one, so the decision was made to demolish the Dixie Sherman.
On April 19, 1970, The Dixie Sherman became the first building in Florida to be imploded. Boom!
Flag Week
To celebrate Flag Week on June 8, 1942, Tyndall Air Force Base, known then as Tyndall Field sent 200 men to march in the parade. They also sent their new 28-piece band which just transferred from Maxwell Field in Montgomery, AL.
Some of the businesses in the photo include Newberry Optical, Johnson’s Drugs, and Chavers-Fowhand Furniture. In the right foreground, you can also see Moon Jewelry Company which is now home to Bay Witch. A magical store full of witchy gifts.
The Marina
In the late 50s, the Panama City Marina was completed. Original plans had been in the works since 1945. According to old newspaper articles and early drawings, the marina was going to include an amphitheater, public fishing pier, aquarium, marine museum, two swimming pools, a dance pavilion on the water, and an auditorium.
As you can see, what was ultimately built was scaled back, but it still kept development moving forward in the area which was the ultimate goal.
The Old Courthouse
This photo from 1914 shows off our original courthouse. Constructed in a classical revival style, this yellow brick building featured a large central clock tower and an elaborate gabled roof.
Unfortunately in 1920, the entire building burned to the ground and a new, simpler Classical Revival design was constructed in its place, which exists today.
Even though the original building was gone our courthouse became well known in 1961 when it convicted Clarence Earl Gideon of felony theft and refused to provide him with legal representation, a decision famously overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Gideon v. Wainwright in 1963.