1941
Taylor County News
July 10, 1941
New Location for A & P Food Store
The local A&P store, located in the D. Mickelson building on the west side of the square for the past several years, will move Friday to their newly remodeled store in the R. D. Peacock building on the northeast corner of the square, using both large storerooms, which have been converted into one, and arranged as a self-service store, with a new meat market department.
All new fixtures and furnishings are in place for the opening on Friday morning. Manager Brunson will be assisted in the opening on Friday by A. W. Graessle, superintendent and S. I. Nix and D. G. Roach, assistant superintendents. D. G. Steffins, well known local market man, will manage the new meat department and will be assisted Friday and Saturday by J. E. Jackson, in charge of the A&P meat department, with headquarters in Jacksonville.
The new store would do credit to a town or city much larger than Perry and it attractive with its new furniture and fixtures. The walls are of white, while the low base shelving and many containers are of light green. The new place is the dark green. The new place is the last word in self-service even to the rubber tire wheel pushcarts for the convenience of the customers.
The entrance is in the north west corner of the building and one is guided to the sales floor by a railing and walk, from which one can view the whole store. The new market is located in the northeast corner of the big sales floor.
The remodeling of the building was in charge of W. A. Wright, the interior decoration was by F. L. Clark and the electrical work by Lee Preston, all local contractors. Manager Brunson is receiving the congratulations of his friends on the fine appearance of the new store and who wish for him continued success.
Two Schools To Open On Monday, August 4
The Shady Grove and Pleasant Grove schools will open on Monday the fourth day of August at 9 a.m. These are the only two schools in the county to open so early, but which has been the custom with them in recent years.
George A. Collins is again the principal at the Shady Grove school and will be assisted by Alton C. Witt, Mrs. Derotha Henderson, Mrs. Hattie E. Johnson and one more to be supplied at the next meeting of the School board.
Dalton Wilson will be principal of the Pleasant Grove school with Mrs. Wilson as his assistant. Partons and friends of the schools are invited by Messrs. Collins and Wilson to attend on opening day and at any other time.
Ben Lindsey Reports Success On His Trip
Ben Lindsey returned Saturday from Washington, where he had been in the interset of projects for Taylor County and came home well satisfied with his trip and highly pleased by the reception and co-operation given him while in Washington.
He was assisted in his work by Senator Claude Pepper, who he said, appeared to be popular with the people in the various branches of the Government in Washington, and every courtesy possible was shown the Senator and Mr. Lindsey with proffers of help in securing the completion of the gymnasium and also an airport for Taylor County.
The gymnasium had been approved some time ago and the date for beginning the work has been set as of August eighth.
Mr. Lindsey received a telegram Wednesday from Senator Pepper stating that engineers out of Atlanta would arrive here shortly for the preliminary survey of an airport field and buildings are to cost $250,000 to $300,000. Mr. Lindsey said a committee was appointed consisting of Ben Lindsey, L. B. Clark and Byron Butler to show the engineers the tracks of land which have been pledged the government for a site, the plots consisting of at least one square mile in each case.
"Reports in Washington showed," said Mr. Lindsey, "that the present airport is unsafe, unfit and not suitable for an airport, but that no request had ever been made the department for an airport before."
Mr. Lindsey and local residents are well pleased with the results of his trip to Washington and believe much good will come from it. That Senator Pepper is doing splendid work for Taylor County Mr. Lindsey is satisfied. Congressman Green was in Starke while Mr. Lindsey was in Washington, having been called there on account of the illness of his mother.
Mainaris Starts Construction of Sponge Warehouse at Jug Island
Building and Wharf to make it easier for the boatmen and dealers in this coast.
Work has been started on a sponge warehouse at Jug Island, F. H. Manaris, formerly of Tarpon Springs and now of Perry, where he has been operating for the past three years, being the leader in the plan. Piling is now being driven for the building.
The new building at Jug Island will be 33 feet wide by 66 feet in length, with drying racks on one side and across one end, the racks being ten feet wide. The other side of the building will be used for unloading and sorting. A wharf will be erected along side the building for the convenience of the boats. A suitable office will be located in the building.
The new sponge warehouse is being erected by a man of experience in the sponge business, F. H. Mainaris, known for years as having a reputation for fair and square dealing. Mr. Mainaris went to Tarpon Springs 36 years ago and was said to be the first Greek-American to buy a lot on the Anclote River.
Mr. Mainaris is one of twenty-five members of the Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange. Years ago he erected a building and started the Tarpon Spring Sponge Conge Company which is still in operation. Mr. Maniaris is also owner of the Marinaris Oil & Supply Company and furnishes supplies to diver and hooker boats.
The sponge business in Perry which Mr. Marinaris has operated for nearly three years does not have facilities for curing and caring for the sponge purchased here, and the new building at Jug Island will make up for the lack of space in Perry.
He expects to have the new building completed soon after which Mr. Marinaris plans the erection of a residence at Jug Island, where he and his family will make their home.