Swampy and Rob were at the first day of the Farewell Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders in Fort Walton Beach today, April 14th. The first photo is Swampy and the manager if the Raiders, Tom Casey. Then a photo adding Rob.
Below that are photo of young people with their “signed” Swampy Doolittle Raider books.
Storm Haven by Frank G. Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The research author Frank Slaughter did to accomplish the ability to put the reader in the very throes of each scene must have been exhausting. This book is amazing in its narrative. Knowing quite a bit about Florida history, Slaughter went beyond even extensive knowledge of Florida in the 1860s. Today writers would be pulling internet sites to get the details he does. I’m guessing Slaughter got as close to the source of the time period. Writing this in the early 1950s, he likely went beyond books to people, grandchildren and the like, to get as close as he could to accuracy. It’s a truly amazing accomplishment.
One scene well describes the Devils Millhopper near Gainesville. The name is never mentioned, but if you know the area, you know the spot by his writing. You also know the crossing of South Florida to the Withlacoochee, the setting around the living areas in the Panhandle (Being cagey here so I don’t spoil the story) and the scenes along the Ocklawaha. His descriptions of the peripheral events around the battle at Olustee are enlightening for those of us who have read of the battle. This book puts you there in the surgery area and the effects of the battle on both sides. I could go on.
Now, I must write this is my first Slaughter book. I’m guessing he does this in all his books. I look forward to wading into more.
I also need to add that the actual story was a bit predictable by today’s standards .
I highly recommend this book
Here’s an orange! Rather one of the structures found along the busy roadways in our state where one could purchase oranges and orange juice.
This one is along U.S. 1 north of Eau Galle at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #32 property.
This is a postcard post marked March 1907 of one of the structures on the Santa Lucia Plantation built in the 1880s. ‘Choco Chulee’ is the name of this building on the property that still exists today on State Road 40 and the Halifax River. The owners of the property saw tourism opportunities early on and constructed the Ormond Hotel on the property. !n 1891 Henry Flagler bought the hotel, expanded it and brought in the height of American aristocracy into Volusia County.
The poscard was mailed from Clarcona, which is in northern Orange County.
This postcard, as with much all found on this website, is part of the Swampy’s Florida collection.
