B.J. Nettles, Supervisor, Dist. # 4
Historical Records Survey
State Archives Survey
HOLMES COUNTY FLORIDA
"Homes for Holmes"
Holmes County is the smallest county in northwest Florida. It touches Alabama on the north, Washington County on the south and east, and Walton County on the west. Holmes County was formed from Calhoun and Walton counties in 1848. It received its name from an early resident.
The first court house in the county was a small wooden building at old Cerro Gordo on the banks of the Choctawhatchee river in the western part of the county. Eventually it was moved to Westville where it burned in 1902. Then a small brick building was put back, but after much controversy the county seat was moved to Bonifay where it now remains.
Though among the smaller counties of the state, Holmes boasts one of the best school systems. In the county there are five consolidated high schools, three junior high and seventeen elementary schools. All of the senior high schools are on the state's accredited list. Each of these school buildings are modern brick structures. All the elementary schools are newly completed buildings. The public school property is estimated at $457,375.00.
The county is served by one railroad, the L & N. It has 434 miles of improved county roads. State highway # 39, running north and south, and highway # 1, running east and west, intersecting at Bonifay. These roads have been an important factor in the development of the county.
The chief crops are corn, cotton, peanuts, potatoes, velvet beans, cucumbers, watermelons and sugar cane.
The total area of the county is 302,720 acres with 65,141 acres being in farms and the remaining acres being in pastures and woodlands. There are 1,811 farms in the county.
Four naval stores are in operation in the county, two of which are in the city limits of Bonifay. Two large sawmills operate at Ponce de Leon, and several smaller ones are located over the county.
Under the capable leadership of the Home Demonstration Agent, Mrs. Betty Caudle, and the County Agent, Mr. D. D. McCloud, more and better farm homes are being built with modern conveniences, and Holmes County moves to the front with the larger counties.
Beef and dairy cattle are produced and with importation of pure bred cattle of both types, a greater production is expected. Poultry raising also is rapidly increasing in volume and a ready market is found through a large wholesale company operation in Bonifay with branches in Miami and other cities in southern part of the state.
The population of the county is now 14,449. Five small towns, Esto, Noma, Westville, Ponce de Leon and Bonifay, make ideal trading points throughout the county. Bonifay, the county seat, is the largest.
DEC 4 - 1937
MAR 3 1937
THEODORE L. BELSER
COUNTY JUDGE HOLMES COUNTY
BONIFAY, FLORIDA
February 16, 1937
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I have this date examined the history of Holmes County written by Miss Bertha Williams and find that the data therein is correct and I am delighted to approve same.
Very truly yours,
[signed] Theodore L. Belser
Theodore L. Belser
DEC 4 - 1937
MAR 3 1937
WPA
MAY 15 1937
Holmes [?]
Page
HOLMES
Bonifay, Florida. May 15, 1937,
Mr. B.J. Nettles,
District Supvr. H.R.S. and S.A.S.
Pensacola, Florida.
Dear Sir:
Re; Yours of May 11, Calling upon me for a narrative sketch of the quasi changing of the county site of Holmes County.
In as much as I have insufficient data to state dates accurately, I have elected to temporarily handle this item by this letter.
Holmes County was created about 1845. Soon after a Wooden Frame building was [erected] as a court house at a point about 8 Miles N. of Westville, known as Cerro Gorda.
The Cerro Gorda sight served for several years. but [sic] no community other than two possible cross roads stores were developed there.
Westville, was a thriving little community and the home of most [county] officers. Along toward 1875, A mob gathered at Westville, and resolved to change the county site of [government] from Cerro Gorda to Westville. To accomplish this, an army of marchers with carpenters tools and a train of logging teams marched to Cerro Gorda about night fall, and began taking down the building.
This mob then removed the building material of the former Court House and all the records to Westville, where the building was hastily reconstructed by the light of barnfires.
No serious resentment of these acts ever became [known] and Westville continued as the county site until about 1904, when a duly legal election removed the site of county [government] to Bonifay where it stands to day [sic]. This change was severely resented by the citizens of Westville and some of the public officers. The books and papers of the [Superintendent] of Educations office, were found by searchers hidden in a hammock of a large cypress swamp. The records removed from Westville to Bonifay, are little historical value, as a fire in the Westville Court House had destroyed all earlier records, shortly before the County site was changed to Bonifay.
All the above information was derived by interviewing aged citizens. And all statements are at [their] best based on the [memory] of these old people.
DEC 4 - 1937
MAY 18 1937
MAY 15 1937
I have been advised that Mr. John Brownell, who has been a life long resident of the vicinity of old Cerro Gorda, may be able to give me many [authentic] facts concerning the first court house of Holmes, county [sic].
Mr. Brownell is said to have [attended] county and circuit court in the first court house for a number of years.
As soon as some provision for traveling is provided me, I shall visit Mr. Brownell and collect as many facts as possible on this subject.
Write for [?] statement
Yours very truly,
[signed] W R Miller
William R. Miller.
DEC 4 - 1937
MAY 18 1937
Listen: The Latin Program
