8-15-10

Bagdad's Bubba Watson shines again at the PGA Championship with a second place finish in a championship playoff..  Tied with Martin Kaymer after regulation play, Watson went on to birdie the first hole of the 3 hole playoff, bogeyed the second and double bogeyed the third and lost the tournament by only one stroke.  It was a tremendous showing by the longest driver on the tour after his win two weeks ago at the Travelers Tour Tournament.  This puts Bubba in a class by himself.  This shows his stamina and his determination to overcome adversity with his dad's and wife's health problems to focus on his golf game.  Known to be a very sensitive man, he has persevered.  Thanks Bubba Bubba Watson's gamble on the third playoff hole didn't work out the way he wanted, but the big lefty had no regrets. He was playing to win and, he said, his aggressiveness had propelled himself into the playoff in the first place.   Read PGA article here  His playoff gamble fails, but Watson has no regrets -

8-11-10

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Bagdad Fire Department is sponsoring it renown Political Rally, Saturday, August 27 at 4 pm at the fire station in Bagdad which is located at the end of Forsyth Street.  You can meet and greet Santa Rosa County candidates and listen to speeches for political office.

8-7-10

LONG TIME RESIDENTS AND HISTORIANS OF BAGDAD, Elaine Willis & Gloria Cook presented "History of Schools and Churches in Bagdad"  They spoke to a crowd of 50 people using pictures and videos of  places of worship and education that played a vital role in the social and cultural development of Bagdad.  They revealed church and school histories gathered from old records, letters, newspapers, photographs, as well as recorded personally. A most interesting and entertaining presentation.  Interesting was the realization of the value of schools and churches in Bagdad over 100 years ago. The Bagdad community reflected the massive size of the Mill Industry which created relativity large churches and congregations which created the value of schools. Jerry Terrell entertained the crowd with performances on fiddle and harmonica of old gospel songs.  A rendition of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was quite fitting for the affair.  Mr. Terrell is a talented musician and his CD is on sale at the museum.  Special guest attending was Mrs.Carol Hobbs of Gospel Projects and T-Ball fame. Her husband, Rev. Dayton Hobbs, was minister of Gospel Tabernacle which was located in the Odd Fellows Hall on Forsyth Street in Bagdad where he also invented T-Ball on that sight.  The first ball games were played to the rear of the building.  Today the game is international and has been played around the world by millions of children.

8-2-10

BAGDAD MILL SITE STRUCTURE PLANNING continues to move forward with the aid of Sheila Harris the Santa Rosa County's grant coordinator and chair person for the committee of Bagdad residents, county employees and members of the BVPA.  There second meeting was very constructive and informative.  The consensus of the committee is making the structures on the Mill Site representative of the original buildings which existed over 100 years ago.  The committee's mission is to find a suitable architectural firm to design the structures.  This Mill Site could be a first for Santa Rosa County in that it's entire theme is the history of a community, county and state.

8-2-10

7-26-10

BUBBA VISITS HOMETOWN and made a stop in front of Village Homes and Land.  His dad, Gerry Watson, delivered this picture to the real estate company taken which was taken in front of the office the week of July 26th.   The sandwich sign beside him says, "THANKS BUBBA".  Realtor, Theresa Johnson, met Mr. Gerry Watson and he spoke briefly of  how the company had supported Bubba throughout the years. His visit reminds us of the value and richness of small town America.  Thanks Bubba and Gerry for remembering your hometown village.

7-10-10

HISTORIAN AND MARINE CAPTAIN DAVID KUMMER presented the "History of the 2nd Maine Cavalry's action in the Bagdad area during the Civil War. With 35 people attending Capt. Kummer spoke on the Medal of Honor winner Lt. Col. Andrew Barkley Spurling, the 2nd Maine which was responsible for much of the Union success in the Panhandle area, and fought in many important Civil War battles.  Captain Kummer is currently posted in Pensacola and will soon assume a position at Quantico, Va. in the Marine Corps Historical Division helping to document Marine Corps history.  He has been active in many community projects for Bagdad during his tenure in Santa Rosa County.

6-28-10

BAGDAD'S BUBBA WATSON CAPTURES FIRST PGA TOUR WIN -  Bubba Watson sank a 30 inch putt in a play off to capture the 2010 Travelers Tour, his first tour win.  PGA tour website.  Congratulations to Bubba & Angie and their family.  What a glorious time for his dad, Gerry Watson who lives in Bagdad who Bubba credits for starting him in golf hitting wiffle balls in Bagdad at the ripe ole age of 6.  Bubba joins Heath Slocum and Bo Weekley, all Milton High School graduates, to complete the unheard of, triple crown where all 3 have won tournaments on the PGA.  Since Bagdad and Milton is on the same water system, maybe a business should start bottling and marketing the water to golfers.   Aside from being the longest driver on the PGA tour for many years, Bubba has sponsored the Pensacola Divot Derby for many years and has been an outstanding example for his family, friends and community.  Seems Bubba may leave an outstanding heritage in Bagdad like Historic Bagdad left his family.

6-8-10 

5-10-10

DREW REID, a will loved and talented musician who entertained at the beginning and the ending of the Lecture Series plus at the Christmas Furlough re-enactment has moved on to Nashville and possibly out west for more performances.  Drew is a very talented musician, song writer and performer and will be missed by Bagdad and the area. His CD's are available at the museum for sale.  Let's hope he returns soon to our dear Village to again mystify us with his music.

5-8-10

SHIPBUILDING IN BAGDAD - Over 60 people attended the May Lecture Series which was presented by Bud Allen and Trish Johnson.  Both long time residence of Bagdad with very well represented families extending back to the beginning of Bagdad.   Bud Allen a long time friend of Bagdad spoke on the ship building and other related material while Trish Johnson, a descendent of the Bruce family of Bruce Ollinger Shipbuilding.  Both were very insightful and detailed description of ship building days in Bagdad.  From pictures to artifacts Trish Johnson's family (Ollinger) was very involved in shipbuilding in Bagdad as well as later in Mobile, Alabama.

4-3-10

THE LECTURE ON HISTORY OF RACE RELATIONS IN BAGDAD continued the series on the history of Bagdad, with Dr. J. Richard Lewis, co-author, with his daughter Dr. Catherine Lewis, of Race, Politics, and Memory, Jim Crow America, and Women and Slavery (in press). Dr. Lewis spoke on the topic "Slavery and Jim Crow in Bagdad."   A very interesting and detailed talk on slavery before the Civil War and later race relations during the Jim Crow laws.

3-6-10

THE BAGDAD GOES TO WAR LECTURE on Saturday March 6th by Major James Michael McNair was an informative and entertaining time indeed.  Major McNair took us through all the wars in which Bagdad has sent men to fight.  From the Mexican War to Aphganistan, he named names and quoted important people of the time.  He also paid homage to those serving today and those veterans who have since gone on and been buried in the Bagdad Cemetery which holds 145 military veterans from the Mexican War to Viet Nam. Major McNair expressed his desire that maybe someday wars will not be needed but today the ultimate leadership of the military is civilian so men and women will serve honorably and will do so until American citizens direct them otherwise.

3-6-10

MUSICIAN DREW REID HIGHLIGHTS THE LECTURE with Music and song.  If you have never heard Drew Reid play and sing you have missed a real treat.  He moved from Nashville where he sang and played with many top music people like Little Jimmy Dickens.   Drew is a true talent.  Not only does he sing and play guitar but he writes 90% of his material and good material it is. He knows the Allman Brothers personally and looks forward to the day when some of his songs are picked up by them and other popular groups. His CD "The American War", a collection of 18 Civil War songs written and performed by Drew is currently on sale in the museum for $10.00.   Dried will be playing 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after each of the Lecture Series events this year.

2-22-10

ANTIQUE DEALERS SHOW AT MILTON AUDITORIUM MARCH 5, 6, & 7

Antique dealers from all over the Southeast will gather their wares for you to browse over.  This is a fine show that will have collectables and affordable furniture, books, lamps, and much more under one roof with refreshments served by the BVPA

2-21-10

NEXT EVENT 170TH BAGDAD ANNIVERSARY LECTURE

Make your plans now to attend the next lecture in the series by Major Michael McNair, USA retired on March 6th at 10 am in the Bagdad Village Museum at the corner of Bushnell Street and Church St.  The series is celebrating the 170th anniversary of our dear Village.

2-6-10

DR. CHARLES D'ASARO LECTURE ON GEN. ANDREW SPURLING

The celebration of the 170th Anniversary of Bagdad was hosted the BVPA on Saturday with a encompassing lecture by Dr. Charles D'Asaro on Civil War Lt. Col. Andrew Spurling USA on the Unions occupation of Bagdad in 1864.  A detail account of Spurling was conveyed by Dr. D'Asaro from his birth in Maine to his commanding of Union troops in Bagdad to his occupation as sheriff of Chicago. After the war then ranking General Spurling was awarded the metal of honor for his capture of Pollard, Alabama north of Pensacola and Bagdad which destroyed the railroad from Pensacola to Mobile.

1-22-10

BVPA'S 170TH BAGDAD ANNIVERSARY LECTURE SERIES

The Bagdad Village Preservation Association's Museum will be conducting monthly lectures at the museum on Saturdays at 10am.  Scheduled for February 6 at the Museum, the first of the series will feature Dr. Charles D’Asaro of the University of West Florida, discussing Medal of Honor winner Major General Andrew Barkley Spurling, who saw Civil War action in and around Bagdad. Dr. D’Asaro’s interest in Spurling was stimulated by the fact that Spurling and his troops occupied the famous Thompson House in Bagdad, now owned by the D’Asaro family. Spurling went on to a distinguished career in public service and business.

1-20-10

BAGDAD SEWER APPLICATION SENT TO TALLAHASSEE

The application for the extension of the Bagdad Sewer has been sent to Tallahassee for approval of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).  The low income quota was met for the designated area which will cover the balance of the Bagdad Historic District and possibly some of the Bagdad Conservation District of the Land Development Code.

1-14-10

BAGDAD SEWER APPROVAL MOVING FORWARD

Santa Rosa County Board of County Commission has approved the application for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for extension of the Bagdad Sewer System to be sent to Tallahassee for approval of the Department of Community Affairs.  The approval could come sometime in the next few months.  This sewer extension would extend sewer service to Simpson, Thompson, Ella, Cross, Overman, Water, Bushnell, & Dorr Streets on the East side of Forsyth Street and West of Garcon Point Road in the area of Ventura and School Streets.  Sheila Harris, the SRC grant coordinator has worked hard to carry the process through the proper channels.

12-18-09

SEWER SURVEY TO BEGIN

Santa Rosa County Grant Coordination, Sheila Harris, has authorized a survey to be done in the area of the proposed sewer system in Bagdad.  The survey will be conducted after the first of the year by BVPA members and other concerned citizens of Bagdad.   Ms. Harris told BVPA president Michael Johnson the county may do a mail out first as notification of the survey but plans were moving forward.

12-10-09

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

12-10-09

Santa Rosa County Commission and Milton City Council have approved the low income Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) sewer grant for the rest of Bagdad.  They await the response from the Department of Community Affairs but feel confident everything will be approved as planned.  If approved by DCA this will include all of Bagdad with one exception, Oak Street, where there are no low income residences.  The area will cover the area East of Forsyth Street to Blackwater River from Thompson Street South to, but not including, Oak Street.

This State grant project will complete the sewer system for Bagdad including School & Limit Streets West of Garcon Point Road, making it possible for redevelopment in areas previously considered unacceptable because of the new Historic Land Development Code regulations.   Additionally it will greatly reduce subsoil contamination from old and antiquated septic tank systems and allow development of flood plain areas where previous building land use made building unacceptable because of septic tank/drain field regulations.  Building in these areas have been disallowed or greatly limited by Santa Rosa County Health Department because of property size requirements and setbacks.  Most importantly the system will be gravity feed only so there will be no forced systems and no grinder pumps will be required.

Lastly, the completion of the Bagdad sewer system will allow for the preservation of existing historic structures by allowing sewer connections which will greatly decrease the land area needed for the current septic tank/drain field system.  And since this is a low income project, most homes in the area will be allowed to connect to the sewer at a low cost. 

Special thanks to Commissioner Bob Cole, SRC Grants Coordinator Sheila Harris and Robyn Phillips and Mayor Guy Thompson for meeting with City Manager Bryan Watkins, Public Works Engineer Jerald Ward and BVPA president Michael Johnson.

12-5-09

BAGDAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHORUS DAZZLES PACKED CROWD

Ms.Graves Heidi, chorus teacher for the Bagdad Elementary as was very pleased with the turnout for the Blackwater Heritage Tour event featuring her pupils.  The Bagdad United Methodist Church was packed with standing room only as the children's chorus sang songs of Christmas.  Rev. Gary Jones spoke of what a wonderful occasion as the children entertained the crowded historic Methodist church which was first organized in 1830 and whose building was built, cir. 1880.  "It seemed the children brought their mothers, fathers, grandparents and great-grandparents.", Rev. Jones said.  The event was a tribute to a bygone era when public and live performances were the norm and a time when parents went out of their way to be a part of their children's performances.