A History of Levy County, Florida ★ ★ ★ Chapter Twenty-four ★ ★ ★ Published By The Levy County Archives Committee Sponsored by the Levy County Board of Commissioners May 2003 Bronson, Florida A Bicentennial Publication Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from University of Florida, George A. Smathers Libraries https://archive.org/details/searchforyesterd2420levy A History of Levy County, Florida ★ ★ ★ Chapter Twenty-four ★ ★ ★ Published By The Levy County Archives Committee Sponsored by the Levy County Board of Commissioners May 2003 Bronson, Florida A Bicentennial Publication Copyright © 2003 Levy County Archives Committee The Kiln at the Gulf Hammock Sawmill This article was written by Russel P. Comeaux with information furnished by Mrs. Eliza Holmes of Otter Creek, her son, Glen Holmes of Chiefland, and Mr. Lindon Lindsey. Russel and Mr. Lindsey are members of the Levy County Archives Committee. Why The Lumber Dry Kilns At Gulf Hammock Became Bomb Shelters The lumber companies, possibly Grove-Dowling and later Pat-Mac, had 10 buildings used as kilns to dry lumber. These buildings were constructed of concrete, brick and tile. Prom 1956-59, Pidel Castro led a revolution in the country of Cuba which resulted in the overthrow of the Pulgencio Batista Regime and sent him into exile. Shortly after, Cuba, under Castro, became friendly with Russia and the country turned communist. In 1962, the Russians decided to arm Cuba with missiles and/or rockets. Parts of the United States, especially Plorida, would be well within the range of these mis¬ siles and rockets. Due to this threat, the United States started patrolling the high seas around Cuba to inter¬ cept any shipment of such cargo. Lor a while this was quite a tense situation and the scare that this may have resulted in further military action caused many people living near these abandoned kilns to start plan¬ ning their use as bomb shelters. The following pages describe the civil defense rules and regulations for planning, restoration, and the description of the buildings. They also include survey of the houses and people of Gulf Hammock, Otter Creek, and Ellzey. Rules and Regulations of Fallout Shelters of Gulf Hammock and Otter Creek area The rules and regulations committee met December 11, 1962. This special committee was appointed to set the rules and regulations by which the fallout shelter program can be started. Both Gulf Hammock and Ot¬ ter Creek were represented on this committee. It was agreed by the committee that: 1. Three men with building knowledge be appointed to supervise the building of the shelters. Those ap¬ pointed were: Building Chairman, Clyde Williams, Emil Boettcher and John Meeks. 2. Space in the fallout shelter will be $7.00 per person. Since this cost covers only materials and not the cost of labor, each male adult will be required to work a certain amount of hours, which will be deter¬ mined later. If a person in unable to work, he may pay someone selected by the building committee to work in his place. 3. Any family needing to pay in installments will be given up to six months to pay with a minimum of $15.00 per month. 4. Receipts will be issued for all money collected. Each receipt shall show number in family, shelter as¬ signment, space number, and balance owed on account (if any). 5. Automatic assignment to the shelter will be made in the order in which a family pays for their place. 6. Any ill, aged (that is unable to care for themselves), physically disabled or injured persons will be placed in a separate medical unit near bathroom facilities. This will insure better and more adequate med¬ ical and nursing care. 7. Each family will be responsible for their own food, clothing, medical supplies, bedding, and other per¬ sonal articles. No unnecessary space consuming articles will be permitted. 8. Alcoholic beverages will be for medicinal purposes only and administered under the supervision of the social-welfare committee. 9. Each shelter will elect their own individual committee by majority vote of its members. These commit¬ tees will consist of: Chief Warden, Wardens, and social-welfare. All shelters will still function as a whole unit under the committee already established by the Zone 1 General Chairman and Zone Director. 10. All members will be required to respect the authority of their committee officers and have proper re¬ spect for those housed within the shelter. Survey of Dry Kilns in Gulf Hammock, Florida December 2, 1962. There are ten such dry kilns as diagramed above, five of which will take very much work and money to secure against radioactive fallout. Only the top half of the 16-foot ends will have to be secured. The re¬ maining five kilns will have to be repaired substantially, especially the walls, before they could be used for shelters. The tops of the kilns are covered by four inches of reinforced concrete and two inches of tile. There is a one foot siding around the top of the kilns, which would allow a foot of dirt to be put on top of the kilns. This would safely take care of any fallout that landed on the roof of the kilns. There is 1360 square feet of room inside each kiln, allowing 15 square feet per person; this space would take care of ninety (90) people. View of the kiln in 1996 More views of the kiln in 1996 A view of the water tank at the Pat & Mac Sawmill There are 146 white and 92 colored residents in and around the city of Gulf Hammock, Florida. Mr. John Swilley has a fallout shelter and a house that can be made into a temporary shelter. In summary, there are 140 white and 92 colored residents whose houses offer, and have no potential to offer, protection against radioactive fallout. The hotel at Gulf Hammock was surveyed as to its possibilities for radioactive fallout protection. The lower hallway of the hotel can be secured with approximately 3,000 sand bags. There are 690 square feet in this hallway, which will protect approximately 46 people. SURVEY OF THE HOUSES OF GULF HAMMOCK, FLORIDA AS TO THEIR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT WHITE COLORED OWNER NO. IN HOUSE OWNER NO. IN HOUSE John Swilley 6 Clyde Myers 2 George Bird 5 Dan Carney 2 Paul Casey 3 Roosevelt Hopkins 3 Brad Williams 2 Albert Harrel 2 Mrs. Colson 2 Frank Brooks 1 Lewis Baldree 2 Geichie Holmes 6 Bugs Watkins 7 Jamem Padgett 2 Fleet Williams 4 Mrs. Ellen Smith 1 Clyde Williams Sr. 2 Steve Gore, Jr. 4 Rufus Smith 5 Clarence Maxwell 2 Terry Matthews 4 Mrs. Evie Maxwell 1 Mrs. Mandy Perryman 1 Mrs. Dicie Peterson 1 Willie Berryhill 4 Ed Tucker 1 Mrs. Alice Gordan 5 Jimmy Davis 4 Carl Cullpepper 4 Steve Gore, Sr. 3 Sam Standridge 4 Mrs. Fanny Meeks 3 Atlanta Clyatt 1 Miss Julie Lowe 1 Fred Hamilton 1 Mrs. Betty Tompkins 7 Little Boy Williams 8 Mrs. Essie Yearty 1 Junior Williams 4 Mrs. Lula Yearty 2 Lewis Renfore 2 Mrs. Missouri Cobb 2 Haygood Ellzey 3 Lloyd Albutton 4 Bufford Holmes 4 John White 4 John Moody 2 Andy Sandlin 2 Goerge Birdsey 2 Wafford Ellzey 2 John Atkerson 4 Murriel Watson 4 Slim Crawly 2 Irene Williams 2 Ben Morris 4 James Nichols 3 Bill Booker 5 James Standridge 4 Mrs. Maybell Standridge 1 James B. Congers 1 Willard Williams 8 Frank Debs 2 J.C. Hudson 12 Tony Gore 2 Mrs. Ruth Harp 1 John Smith 2 Ralph Harrison 4 Nick West 2 Mrs. Ruby West 1 Mrs. Carabell Smith 1 Miss Edna Collin 1 Howard Williams Sr. 3 Jay Ellzey 8 Ed Penner 1 J.L. McCall 3 Rice Watson 2 Sonny Crews 3 Mrs. Ruth Revells 1 Monroe Killcrease 1 Mudric Meeks 4 Earnest (Red John) Davis 5 L.C. Williams 7 Mrs. Izetta Ellzey 2 Johnny Crew 8 Willis Crews 3 D.L. Duncan 6 Richard Hudson 3 Brox Deas 1 Gordon Faircloth 1 H.O. Faircloth 1 Lawrence Curry 4 POPULATION OF WILLIAMS FISH CAMP James Goodbread 3 Mr. Anderson 2 Mr. McMullen 1 Arthur Green 7 TOTAL WHITE POPULATION OF ELLZEY, OTTER CREEK AND WILLIAMS FISH CAMP 290 A view of the kiln in 1996 A CIVIL DEFENSE REPORT ON THE COMMUNITIES OF ELLZEY AND OTTER CREEK, FLORIDA DECEMBER 13,1962 WHITE POPULA TION OF ELLZEY AND OTTER CREEK, FLORIDA OWNER NO. IN HOUSE OWNER NO. IN HOUSE John Meeks 7 Lawrence Lee 6 Jack Meeks 7 Harry McElveen 3 Rufus Meeks 2 Dale Atkerson 4 Emil Boettcher 5 George Cooper 2 Claude Rogers 2 Calvin Hill 3 Grandma Watkins 3 Henretta Anderson 2 Williams 2 Jack Brannon 6 Thad Barber 10 Josie Banks 1 Lewis Keith 3 Oliver Long 2 Oliver Gore 5 George Anna Davis 2 Newton Fralix 2 Hardy Richardson 2 Carl Hinson 2 G.D. Jefferson 2 Wash Hinson 2 Rose Romock 4 Ray Burnett 4 Lafayette Richardson 4 Elmer Dykes 4 Benny Goldwire 4 Bob Pollard 5 Jimmy Sheeler 4 James Hilton 2 Bessie Channey 1 Warren Owens 3 Apples Veal 12 Bill Gavins 2 Jim Graham 7 Haste Pendarvis 6 Murrell Hodge 8 Auther Berryhill 2 Will Dunn 2 John Yearty 6 Neb 10 Bill Olgle 2 Hamp Beckett 2 Dewitt Watson 4 Will Watson 7 Maie Osteen 4 Bill Dingham 4 Martin Quick 2 Harry Woods 1 Devere Mills 3 Mack Hodges 2 Larry Geiger 2 Virgil Cox 2 Willis Roberts 2 Robert Hodge 3 L.V. Smith 8 Dicey Smith 2 Estelle Clater 4 J.T. Pennington 2 *Houses that can be secured COLORED POPULATION OF ELLZEY, AND OTTER CREEK, FLORIDA OWNER NO.