Spring Is Coming

Then

You can’t tell it from the nasty sky today but Spring is Coming. Soon we will be wearing our shorts, walking in flip flops and sandals, visiting the springs, and maybe even going to the beach. The Blanche was always busy during its first 50 years of service almost all year long until the hot summer months. Then everyone, even as they do now, started traveling to the cooler mountain regions, going to the beaches, or even hanging out in White Springs every weekend to “Take the Waters”. That is until that too was closed down. There were train specials to Jacksonville and Fernandina for anyone able to spend the week or even just the day. The newspaper was filled with the comings and goings of the locals and the kids coming home from college. It would tell who they were visiting and where and announce again when they returned to town.

Now

There are no announcements of people going to visit friends, relatives or just have a summer vacation these days. Too many thieves take advantage and there are, of course, the ever-important privacy laws. And in the ‘Here and now’ the springs and state parks with swimming facilities of any kind are always filled every day once school lets out for the summer. This year, like last, we all still have to wear our face masks and keep our social distance but that doesn’t mean we cannot get out there and take a break from the every day. The old folks would surely appreciate an outing once or twice a month as well. And visiting the merchants and food establishments in our downtown area should be put on your list of doings.

When you come downtown you can enjoy the specialty shops, pick up some great food from the Bistro and other restaurants or just come in for a quiet drink. For instance, Prohibition on the first floor of the Blanche on Veterans Street has nice seating outside. The Soto Supreme Parlor is also opened next door, by appointment only, to get yourself a new hairdo or just a much needed cut. There is a counseling office called Evolve Counseling and Consulting that just opened up if you need to get stuff off your chest after the really strange and stressful year we have had. Finally, there is a family photographer, Captured Memories by Esta Eberhardt, who has set up her studio right next to the counselor. She also only takes appointments but her shop is so cute she redecorates it every month with the new holidays. You gotta come by and check them out. The Blanche has ample parking in the back of the building and on weekends you can use the parking lot behind City Hall.

My Progress Update

Of course, my favorite place right now is the Co-Working area on the second floor in the south part of the block. They have modern facilities and a nicely decorated comfortable space with a full breakroom. The internet is really fast and the laser printer extremely helpful while I’m working on my research and writing of the book(s) about the Blanche. I am working on a fiction story set at the Blanche Hotel in its first year of service as well as trying to finish up the research and writing of the history book. I think it has the potential for a series. We will tell you more about that in a later posting. I already have about 100 pages typed on that story already and it features local people and events as background characters and story filler.

I do like sitting in the main open area with all the big leather chairs. I can turn on the big-screen TVs to keep track of what’s going on outside or I can reserve a room to hide away and concentrate on my research and writing. Yeah, I know it has and still is taking me quite some time already to gather all my research and actually start writing the dang book. There have just been too many distractions last year and continuing into this one. I haven’t given up yet. I will find the newspaper article about Al Capone staying here and I will find pictures of each of the managers somehow. AND, if you would like to share your stories and pictures of the Blanche Hotel please get in touch with me so we can set up a time to visit together. USE MY CONTACT FORM to get started.