The Destin History and Fishing Museum is grow-
ing to become a local landmark. Herbert Muschamp,
was an architecture critic for major magazines and
newspapers, but he had an additional insight into
historic preservation. He said, “A building does not
have to be an important work of architecture to be-
come a first-rate landmark. Landmarks are not creat-
ed by architects. They are fashioned by those who
encounter them after they are built. The essential
feature of a landmark is not its design, but the place
it holds in a City’s memory.” Historic places give us
roots, enhance community pride, teach and inspire
us, make our communities more attractive, encour-
age travel and tourism, are assets for revitalization
and economics and good for the environment. The
museum’s summer attendance is growing and we see
an increase in multi-generational family groups visit-
ing the museum. The grandparents seek the Destin
of their youth while vacationing with their parents
and enjoy sharing those memoires with their children
and grandchildren. Come make your own family
memories.
Kathy
From the Staff
April to June 2014 Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 4
Destin History & Fishing Museum
Here’s What’s Been
Happening At
YOUR Museum!
BOARD MEET-
I N G S F o r
2014 :January 8,
February 12, March
12, April 9, May 14,
June 11, July 9, Au-
gust 13 September
10, October 8, No-
vember 12, and De-
cember 10
Museum Visitors
2006: 2,095
2007: 3,527
2008: 4,561
2009: 5,804
2010: 6,368
2011: 7,131
2012: 8,396
2013: 8,036
January to June 2014
4,217 visitors
Calendar of Events
May 3
Founder’s Day
Museum Free Admission
October 1
Museum 9th Anniversary
October 3,4 & 5
Destin Seafood Festival
Museum Fundraising Concessions
Harry T’s Dave’s Dogs Booth &
AJ’s Parking Concession
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-SIGN UP EARLY TO HELP
December 14
28th Annual Holiday on the Harbor
Boat Parade
January 31, 2015
Gumbo Contest & Silent Auction
Destin Community Center
11 AM to 2 PM
We are looking for items for our Silent Auction.
Please contact us if you have an item or gift certificate
to donate.
Snapper fishing
was featured
on our June “Fisherman’s Logbook”
Exhibit.
New
Fundraising
Opportunity
Businesses along the Harbor District are becoming mem-
bers of the “Preserve Destin’s History”, a support group of the
Museum. The goal is to raise needed funds for the growth & ex-
pansion of this community’s museum and historical archives.
Destin is much more than a beach resort. We enjoy a long, rich
heritage of quality fishing, boat building and one of the world’s
richest varieties of fish. Alan Laird, the brainchild of this “point
of sale” fundraiser, is working with the Museum and local busi-
nesses. When paying for your meal or purchase, you are given the
opportunity to make a donation of a $1 or more. All donations go
directly to the Museum. Funds will be used for expanding its pro-
gram to include: restoration of the Primrose, historical lecture
series, educational classes, demonstrations, facilities for meetings,
parties and group functions and addition of area artifacts & exhib-
its and facilities expansion. AJ’s Seafood Restaurant & Harry T’s
are the first on board and others will be added during the summer.
As you visit businesses in the Harbor District, watch for post-
ers with this new logo and information about the fundraiser!
There is no cost to the business. If you have a business and would
like to participate contact the Museum for more information.
Page 2 Destin History & Fishing Museum
New Landscaping
& Signage
Brings an Inviting
Curb Appeal
to the
Museum !
Laura Hall
helped coordinate
a plan
for the
new landscaping.
Preserving the Heritage of the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village ! Page 3
James G. Stahlman was publisher of the Nashville Banner from 1930 until 1972, when he sold the newspaper to the Gan-
nett Corporation. He began working for the Banner on June 1, 1912, following his graduation from high school. He continued to
work for the Banner as a campus correspondent for the next four years, until his graduation from Vanderbilt University in 1916.
He did graduate work at the University of Chicago for a year and then served in World War I as an infantry private. Stahlman
returned to Nashville in 1918 to become city editor of the Banner. In 1925, his grandfather named him vice-president and execu-
tive director. On August 12, 1930, Major Stahlman died, and thirty-seven year old James Stahlman became president and publish-
er of the Banner. In 1932, he was elected president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association (SNPA). He worked with
SNPA and the American Newspaper Publishers Association in the joint fight to defeat President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s efforts to
force newspapers to accept federal license under the National Recovery Act. This battle culminated in victory for the newspapers
and brought Stahlman into national prominence in the newspaper field. He was director, vice-president, and at forty-four, presi-
dent of the ANPA, one of its youngest ever. James married Mildred Porter Thornton in 1917 and they had two daughters, Mildred
and Ann. They were later divorced. In 1939, he married Effye Chumley, who was killed in a 1952 automobile accident. They
had no children. In 1953, he married Gladys Breckenridge, to whom he was married at the time of his death in 1976. On January
14, 1972, he announced the sale of the Banner to the Gannett Corporation. Six months later, on June 1, 1972, he retired. That
ended Stahlman’s sixty years of service to the Nashville Banner, forty-two of them as publisher. He died on May 1, 1976, follow-
ing a stroke, which he suffered while attending a Vanderbilt board meeting.
He first arrived at Destin in the 1930s. Mr. Tyler Calhoun paid a visit to Mr. Stahlman in Tennessee and convinced him
to visit and buy a piece of “Paradise”. Mr. Stahlman’s remark to Mr. Calhoun was he couldn’t afford to buy any land anywhere
but he accepted the invitation and fell in love with the area. He found Destin to be affordable, purchased land, and built a home.
He later built another home in the Joe’s Bayou area. Mr. Stahlman and his two girls returned every year and he retired to Destin
in the 1970s. Mr. Calhoun named Stahlman Avenue in Destin after his friend James Stahlman.
Excerpts from: The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture and From the Shoulder, by James G. Stahlman
Snapshots from the Past James G. Stahlman
Stahlman sent postcards and
letters to his friends in Destin from his
“Wings to the Orient” trip. He loved
Destin and brought many of his
friends from Nashville and the pub-
lishing world to see this paradise.
Documenting and sharing the complete history of Destin ! Page 4
A Portal in Time New to the Museum collections are photographs from the Captain Howard and Bruce Marler Estate. These photos were taken by family with their personal cameras. Interesting to note is the background showing a Destin Harbor of “yesteryear”!
Page 5 Volume 8, Issue 4
Helpful Donation
While visiting Destin in June with his wife and fami-
ly, Fred McLane fell at their resort and injured his leg. They
purchased a wheelchair to enable him to get around Destin
and see the sites. Part of their visit was touring the museum.
While he was here he explained what had happened and how
they came to get the wheelchair. It was mentioned that a
wheelchair would be a nice asset to have in case someone vis-
iting the museum was not able to stand for the time period it
would take to really enjoy the museum exhibits. Later in the
week, on their way to go home to Ohio, the McLane family
came by the museum and donated the wheelchair so others in
need might be able to use it to make their visit more enjoya-
ble. Many thanks to these generous and thoughtful visitors to
Destin.
1966
Destin
Aerial
Photograph.
Howard’s Studio
Donated
By
Max Hosfelt
Preserving the Heritage of the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village
SUMMER
HOURS
OPEN SUNDAYS
1 TO 5 PM
Tuesday - Saturday
10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday
1 PM to 5 PM
Destin History & Fishing Museum
Museum Board of Directors
Executive Board President: Dave Steele Vice President: Dan Martin
Secretary: Kathy Marler Blue Treasurer: John Lefler
General Board: Richard Derek, Dan Empson, Jim Green, Norm Hall, Tina Harbuck, Mike
Long, Don Rogers, Lloyd Taylor, Russell Wamble
Executive Director Jean Melvin Associate Director Kathy Marler Blue
Museum Docent: Dave Fraser Museum Volunteers: Carole Marler, Nancy Johnson
Newsletter Writer and Editor Kathy Marler Blue
DHFM
P.O. Box 548
Destin, FL 32540-0548
Destin History and Fishing Museum is a non profit organization whose members are dedicated to
preserving, documenting, and sharing the complete history of Destin. There are limitless ways you, your friends, and associates can be part of realizing these efforts. Now more than ever we can use your support. Your donation or membership is tax deductible.
Please fill out the form below and mail it to the museum.
Yes, I Give My Support! Name___________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________ Phone________________________________________ E-Mail ______________________________________
Membership/Amount $20_______ $ 50________ $ 100 ________ $250 _________ $ Other ___________ Check # ______________ If you would like to pay by credit card please call the Museum and have
your credit card ready.
Mail to: Destin History and Fishing Museum P.O. Box 548 Destin, Florida 32540-0548
Thank you. Without your faithful and generous donations and efforts, the museum would not exist today.
Join or Renew Your Membership Today
Phone: 850-837-6611 Staff E-mails
Jean Melvin: [email protected]
Kathy Marler Blue
Website:
destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org
PLEASE MAIL YOUR
DONATION TO:
DESTIN HISTORY &
FISHING MUSEUM
108 STAHLMAN AVE.
DESTIN, FL 32541
Admission: Adults: $5
Seniors & Military: $4
Students: $3
Kids 6 & Under
and Members : Free