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| Did the Nation's 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, have a hand in limiting the public's right to acces of Federally excessed public beach properties in Escambia County at Perdido Key? Really?? |
Once we found out that 64 parcels of beachfront properties in Escambia County that were "excessed" by the Federal Government in 1957 all contained language expressly mandating ongoing public easement(s) for beaches for public access in perpetuity-------we all were natually optimistic that most, if not all, of the other parcels (all of which at some time or another came to private parties, local governments, state agencies, states, or the park services from the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT) would contain similar language memorializing and protecting the public's right to use this wonderful natural resource forever.
Sadly--we are now finding it is not the case. Some parcels do not have this language. Others had it and lost it.
And the parcels on Perdido Key--west of the State Park and East of the state line--apparently had a direct grant to initial non-government owners that not only did NOT speak to public access--but that were actually granted directly by the President of the United States (at that time) himself, personally!
Wow!
Obviously I am not happy to see this--but facts are facts and I cannot and will not refuse to accept the reality of this situation and the documents I am reading. But it is both interesting and disappointing.
This family subsequently sold that property to one large developer--who in turn parceled out the properties in the 1958 timeframe without any language, whatsoever, mandating any public access at all to the beautiful sandy beaches of Escambia County at Perdido Key. Interesting, historic, borderline scandalous (given the prevaling language and disposition favoring public access at that time) and also disappointing....
All I can say is facts don't lie, and the documents are the documents. But if Coolidge was around today this WOULD BE A SCANDAL OF EPIC PROPORTIONS!(because Coolidge was a Republican)........
Talk about some sad trombones.
ReplyDeleteOur beaches were perceived to have almost no value in the 1940s and the 1950s.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that Escambia County purchased both Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach for $10,000. Then in 1956, Escambia County leased Navarre Beach to Santa Rosa County for $100 a year. Okaloosa Island was sold for $4,000.
Clearly our beaches were perceived to have little value 60 years ago.
Further, our beaches were segregated. Research the history of Rosamond Johnson Beach on Perdido Key.
There is a popular myth that our government officials of the past were prescient, omniscient grand designers. That doesn’t appear to be accurate.
The elected officials of the past were likely every bit as flawed as our government officials are today.
How is at least 60+ plats of 75 foot public easements sad trombones? There is still more to get to the bottom of, as well. For my part, I'm not taking anything at face value until ALL the documents are there. Most likely this particular portion isn't public, but I've been dealing with slow walk drib drabbing on county records for way to long to take 2 sections of a bigger doc at face value, just because the person who put them in front of me told me to.
ReplyDeleteThank you for continuing to put stuff out as quickly as you receive it, Commissioner Bergosh. Sorry, but any real estate attorney worth his salt should have been able to put his hands on this stuff a lot more quickly. There is some foot dragging at the County that is the stuff of legend. Hope that's not what we're seeing here, apart from the ridiculous context that no--NO?--County office has these deeds on record.
Anybody called Fulton County yet?