{ Old Palatka 30 Yrs Ago }
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To Archives and History Files | Remembering Old Palatka, Thirty Years Ago Earthworks thrown up by the soldiery during civil war. Steamboat traffice before "iron horse." Leading general store was the Parkhurst Co." a dingy looking building standing about where Kennerly is or possible a trifle nearer the river. Joe Kennerly was one of the moving spirits in this General Emporium. The next leading store (general Store) was operated by Dick Adams, which was run in connection with the steamboat agency H. L. Hart of the present well known Hart's Ocklawaha River steamers, carrying every winter their hundreds of tourists to see the marvelous Silver Springs, on the Ocklawaha with the screaming limpkins and gators. Colonel Hart's horses "Buck"a black saddle horse, and "Morgan" one of his war horses. Dr. Moragne. Major Teasdale, steamboat owner who for years ran one of the largest grocery stores in town, another gentlemen and merchant, Mr. R. R. Reid, Capt of Marion, "H. A. GRAY. Dr. W. Miller late of Ocala formed partnership with brother
H. L. medicine and surgery. Offices on 4th opposite courthouse called Medical Surgical
& Electric Institute. "Fannie Louise" relic of the 1860's torpedo boat lying at the bottom of the river just south of Boyd's shipyard. "At the foot of Dodge Street lies imbedded in the sand and mud the steamer "Silver Springs". The Clyde Line steamers made regular twice a week trips from Charleston and Savannah direct to Palatka wharves. "Dictator" and "City Point", among the better known. "Darlington", "Hattie", "George M. Bird", "Starlight", "Rosa", "Gazelle", "Water Lily", "Pastime", and "David Clark". Later came "Chesapeake" one of the swiftest boats ever on the river, and the elegant "Florida". The Post Line-Baya Line "John Sylvester", "Eliza Hancock", Post Line, and H. P. Baya. Lively races between these boats were almost a daily occurance. The Ocklawaha River Steamers, "Marion,"
with Henry A. Gray, The "Tuskawilla", Captain Edwards,
"Okahumpa", with Captain Rice, and the "Osceola"
and the "Lollie Boy". The high school built of rough undressed 12" pine
planks, cracks battened with strips of wood, no cloak room. You hung your hat on a ten
penny nail in the wall, one water bucket to supply anywhere from 40-75 thirsty children.
It took 2 boys 15-45 minutes to go from 100 yards to a mile to get water. One professor
taught all grades. In the 1880's Palatka was known as quite a tourist haven. Many visitors enjoyed the warm climate, and the healthful atmosphere. During the heyday, there were anywhere from 25-30 steamboats at CAPTAIN RICHARD J. ADAMS' DOCK, especially on Thursday Nights, since this was the night that the steamers from CHARLESTON
& SAVANNAH arrived. Soon after the Civil War, invalids and tourists flocked by
steamers to Palatka during the winter months to benefit from the city's post-war
reputation as a healthy site. As early as 1868, her four hotels were full and visitors "had
to beg for a room." Palatka had many railroads in the latter part of the nineteenth century. It is said that when the JACKSONVILLE, TAMPA & KEY WEST RAILWAY was built from Jacksonville to Palatka in 1883, it utilized the old powder magazine from Fort Shannon (later used as the 1st Presbyterian Church) as its depot. The introduction of five major railroad lines into Palatka
in the 1880's improved the city's position in the transportation network. As railroads surpassed the steamers in freight trade during
the 1880's, the steamboat lines gradually shifted away from carrying freight to
transporting tourists on pleasure excursions up the river. The most popular trip ventured
up the OCKLAWAHA to SILVER SPRINGS. Some even claimed that "leaving
Florida without seeing the OCKLAWAHA is like leaving Rome without seeing the
Pope." Some of the major hotels of Palatka before the great fire
of 1884, were:THE ST. JOHNS HOTEL, THE WESTMORELAND (later known as THE SARATOGA), THE
PUTNAM HOUSE, THE LARKIN HOUSE, THE CARLETON (later known as THE ST. GEORGE, AND
THE ST. NICHOLAS (later known as the NORTH COTTAGE OF THE PUTNAM HOUSE). The fire swept over the lower part of the town, it burned
two of the major hotels, THE PUTNAM, and THE LARKIN, The PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
It was said that the fire raged for two or more hours. It was said that it burned three
city blocks, and much of the water front. Mr. Lucas, who owned a boathouse, bathhouse, and
some steamers, took some of this valuable papers in a boat and rowed out from shore, only
to have some sparks find him there, where they set the boat afire, and burned everything
that he had, he had to swim back to shore for safety. The famous resident photographer, J. G. MANGOLD,
lost his business to the fire, so the next day he was busy taking photographs of the
destruction and selling the views to both citizens and tourists. It is said that Palatka through the courtesy of PALATKA
GAS LIGHT & FUEL COMPANY had its first electric lights in 1895. The
Electric plant ran only from dark to midnight for years. Around 1897, Palatka received
their first electric street lights. In the late Nineteenth Century, and before the era of radio
or television, the citizens of Palatka were entertained in numerous ways, among them the
famous HAVERLY'S NEW ORLEANS MINSTRELS, SELLS BROTHERS'S CIRCUS, BUFFALO BILL's
WILD WEST SHOW, CHURCH SOCIALS, WHIST (a card game), TEAS, BALLS, HONORING
VISITING DIGNITARIES, PARADES, PLAYS, THEATRE, and OPERAS. The PALATKA NEWS supposedly started around 1901,
under the management of Russell & Vickers. It succeeded three other papers when
the consolidation occurred. In 1914, Palatka had several cigar factories established
here. One was located in the old Business College building on Lemon Street and was known
as Factory Number 308. Another was located at the Usina-Gray Building and employed 6
workmen. Cigars of the El Perfecto brand are now the only clear Havana cigars made in Palatka. The El Perfecto is the name of the factory owned and operated by John Flinn. Other cigar factories may come and go, but El Perfecto is a stayer. It makes cigars that can't be beaten for style and flavor from Havana to Hazardville, Connecticut, and it ought to be a matter of pride to Palatkans that their fame is increasing every month. John Richardson a former well-known Palatka now a cigar manufacturor in Chicago was guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Flinn. September 30, 1910-- Another Factory, F. Lazano & Sons
Company, located in the Canova Building, on the corner of Lemon and Second, will employ
200 workers. September 9, 1910--Another Cigar Factory Here. Jose
Escalante & Company leased the Athletic Club, and employs 300 men. September 16, 1910--Another Big Cigar Factory, Balbin
Brothers, employes 200 . The Gem City Guards, Palatka's Home Guards of the 1880's
& 1890's which was disbanded by orders of the State reorganized in May of 1914. The site of the old Federal Building which housed the
Palatka Post Office and then City Hall, cost $60,000. By 1914, many of the county's residents were depending on
the automobile for transportation, and business, Dr. George E. Welch, was driving his
fourth car by then, a new Cadilac roadster. Sheriff Kennerly was using a Ford touring car
to make his trips about the county. Capt. S. M. LaBree, of Crescent City hired out his
cars for the South Putnamites, and the Tilghmans and others were selling the cars faster
then they could acquire them. By the 1920's, there were numerous motor clubs in Putnam
County. They would get together and make trips to other parts of the state . The City of Palatka revised their charter in the spring of
1914 where the aldermen were replaced by a commission form of government. The "pools" at the Saratoga Hotel were a very
popular item in the summer, anyone who wished to use them could for a fee, the price which
included a towel and a swimsuit was twenty-five cents for an adult, and ten cents for a
child. An early South Putnam industry that didn't last very long
was that of the camphor plantations. March 6, 1914--Camphor Farm Output, 10,000 lbs of crude
gum. The James Cafe opened in September of 1914. It was awarded
the gold seal by the state restaurant inspector. The Palatka Police Force did not have regular uniforms,
until December of 1914, when they were furnished the uniforms which were "Bohemian
blue, cut on the bias, with gold yokes and buttons to match." They had to use
"plain store clothes", prior to this. Not until July of 1914, did the Putnam House have electric lights, prior to this the famous hotel was illuminated by its own acetylene gas plant. The Great Freeze of 1894-95, practically destroyed every
orange tree in the state. It took the people of Crescent City several days to realize the
extent of the damage. After the first freeze of December 1894, people planted gardens, and
feed crops, and then after the second freeze in February, the people began to discuss what
crops could be grown for markets, such as broom-corn, cassava, which was used for hog
food, and watermelons replaced many of the areas groves. Some decided to rebuild groves
and rebudded close to ground. It took three years before there was enough fruit to sell,
and by 1912, Crescent City had 260,000 boxes shipped. In 1914 it cost less than three quarters of a cent an hour,
to run an electric fan. Palatka was furnished all day power by Palatka Gas & Light
Company, (which was later sold to Southern Utilities, which later became Florida Power
& Light), whereas, Crescent City only had day service. During the early part of the twentieth century, Palatka had
three schools under the church auspices they were: Catholic, (St. Joseph's Academy),
Episcopal, and Presbyterian. Palatka also had a practical business college, a school of
music and "a free public library". Palatka school starts branch at Lakeland with 25 students
enrolled. Professor George W. Land, of Palatka Business College in charge. November 15, 1912--Palatka to have business school, will
open December 2, Professor G. W. Land in charge, two departments, Bookkeeping, single and
double entry, penmanship, commercial law, arthmetic rapid calculator, salemanship,
banking, auditing. Shorthand Department--Shorthand, three systems. touch, system, of
typing, spelling, penmanship, English, letter writing, court reporting and civil service. Professor Land, head of school, held ever office from
office stenographer, court reporter, is the fastest calculator in U. S. and writer of
seven systems of shorthand. The college will be located in the Old Fry's Opera House. According to the Palatka Newspapers of 1914, some of the
major employers in the area were: 3 novelty woodworking plants; 1 Utahmite safety powder
works, which was the only one in the state, a marmalade & jelly factory, a candy
factory, a large bottling works, 2 iron & brass foundries; 4 machine shops, a large
fertilizer plant; 3 marine railways; 2 boat building plants; an ice factory; an electric
light plant; a gas factory; a mineral water swimming pool (Saratoga) and a steam laundry
along with several hand laundries. There was also the largest saw mill in the state with a
capacity of 100,000 board feet per day, and a planing mill that could do 60,000 feet
perday. They had 15,000,000 feet of lumber on hand in 1914. There was also Selden's Door
& Sash company that was the largest cypress door manufacturer in the south, with the
capacity of 800 doors, and 400 sash & blinds manufactured daily. Also included was the largest cypress railway and windmill
water tank & silo factory in the south, and the only one in the state. The windmill
was used in the orange groves to help in irrigation and also help thwart the effects of
the hard freezes. We had the largest orange box handling firm in the state, with over a
million produced for the year 1914 which was 1/6th of all used in Florida in the 1913
season. Palatka had the largest bucket & cedar pail factory in
the state with 1,000 manufactured per day. There was also the largest mail order seed
house in the State,(Kennerly's) with a total of three in the county, and 2 exclusive.
There were 2 cypress shingle mills, 3 pine lumber saw mills, and 1 wood veneer crate &
box plants. In 1914 Palatka boasted of their vitrified brick paved streets, and a total of 12 miles of sidewalks, two bridges that span the St. Johns River, one being the only wagon bridge to cross that great stream. December 12, 1912--Palatka Phone service better, Southern
bell Company has made many improvments. Found in July only 250 stations, up to December 1,
installed 54 new and 10 more under contract giving Palatka 314 at present. Compelled to
put in a new toll board for handling long distance messages and new section for local
board. 10,000 feet of new cable bringing it up to 17,000 nearly 3 miles of up to date
equipment. Erection of 100 new poles. Each cable carries from 50-200 wires insulated in
soft metal. Almost perfect service to Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs, Orlando, Leesburg,
Gainesville, DeLand, and all immediate points. The Kalbfield's Grand Theatre, had the second largest stage
in the state in 1914, with a seating capacity of about 900. It was located in the first
block of Lemon next to Kennerly's Hardware Company. New Theatre For Palatka, the Orpheum Theatre Company of
Palatka. Louis Kalbfield, on lower Lemon street, next to Mooney's Undertaking. Has a
seating capacity of 1,000. Stage will be one of the largest in the state. February 21, 1913 Palatka's new fire engine, American LaFrance Chemical Fire
Engine, from Company at Elmira, New York. 2 tanks for chemicals a platform for carrying
firefighters, "PALATKA NO. 1", cost $6,316.00. "Four years ago, when I took office of County
Clerk,(Henry Hutchinson),we were recording between 90-125 deeds and mortgages per month,
at present time, number per month runs 150-225." New Theatre, the Kalbfield Orpheum or aerodome, now opened
to the public. The Palatka Coca Cola Bottling Plant produced 400 cases
daily, with 800 dozen bottles consumed by patrons, delivery was by rail, water &
automobile. The company had 2 trucks, and used filtered artesian water. The company also
produced Bludwine & all the various flavors of soda water. Ed Kummers new truck, Edward Kummer, president of PALATKA
COCA COLA Bottling Works has a new auto truck of the ALCO pattern, made by the American
Locomotion Company. It is a 2 ton truck with a carrying capacity of 4,000 lbs, 32.4
horsepower carries 27 1/2 gallons of gas, and has a high speed of nearly 18 m.p.h. The front wheels have single and back wheels have double
solid rubber tires, 36 x 4. They bought the truck from THE PALATKA AUTO & SUPPLY
COMPANY, and is already using it in the delivery of products of his bottling works. The
car cost upwards to $3,000. Wilson Cypress Company, which was established in 1891, under the name of Tilghman-Wilson Company, which was changed in 1894. According to the paper, it had thousands of acres, and for over 20 years extensive lumber operations have been carried on, however, there still remained enough lumber for a dozen or more years on their holdings. Wilson Cypress employed 200 men at the main plant and about
200 men in their logging operation about 9 miles from Palatka. The used the overhead
skidder system in the swamps to get the logs out, and then loaded them on a private tram
road. After they arrived at the river, rafts were formed. In a 10 hour working day, 80,000
feet of sawed lumber, 40,000 shingles, and 20,000 lath boards were turned out. Their
storage yard had a capacity of 20,000,000 feet of lumber, and it took 6 months or more for
the rough lumber to be transformed into a marketable lumber, so that it could be delivered
to the purchaser. One of the earliest records of a public hospital in
Palatka. Hospital Holds Reception Palatka Has Now Well Equipped Home
for Care of Sick & Wounded. formerly opened on Tuesday with 14 beds, 1 ward of 4 beds
for female & 1 ward of 4 beds for male, plus private wards. O.R. sanitary bathrooms -
well ventilated large kitchen, A. Room, laundry Trustees: Ds. G.E. Welch; L.C. Canova,
H.O. Hamm, J.H. Haughton, D.W. Ramsaur, H.M. de Montmollin & John N. Walton.
Management in hands of Mrs. Mary Kirby Pres., Mrs. F.C. Cochrane, treasurer, Mrs. W.G.
Tilghman secretary , Mrs. Williams & Miss Horton, sisters - both grad. nurses. $25.00
per wk. includes room board & nursing . Patients can have any physician they want. New Hospital, Neat and Clean. Palatka Hospital occupies the
"OLD DUNN HOME" corner of Emmett and Kirkland. The Management is represented by
a board of directors, chosen by physicians, members of the board of trade, and women from
area churches. Mr. Smith, the contractor for the new Putnam County
Courthouse came from Albany, Georgia, in 6 hours. January 1910--Pomona has a real telephone completed last
wk. February 1911--Bridge Tolls Established - Albert Browning, black barber and vestryman at St. Mary's
Episcopal interested in originating a Boys Club, 24 boys, Albert Browning, president, Joe
Rivers, vice-president. April, heaviest tangerine bloom seen in years. April 8, 1910, How Palatka Grows. May 27, 1910--Oak Hill Cemetery officially opened October
1898. First burial of a white citizen in December 18, 1898. First burial of black, October
17, 1898. Albert E. Lounds of Crescent City, has taken 10 months final course in Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Graduated with full honors, certification from one of the oldest and best colleges in the country. *OCALA NORTHERN IS BUILDING Organization of the B. P. O. E. Twenty-fifth anniversary of St. Johns Lodge Knights of
Pythias. Initiated June 25, 1885, 1st Chancellor Commander George W. Lansing. July 22, 1910--Charles H. Seig, of Chicago, a developer of
ST. JOHNS PARK, LAKE CRESCENT, OCALA, BURBANK, IN MARION COUNTY, wants to make Palatka a
colony center. Turner House enlarged to three times its normal capacity. a
ten year absence. August 12, 1910--County officials will move into the
courthouse next week, Monday. The old courthouse was purchased by Harry Gray, and Antonio
Usina for $75.00 the courthouse proper. Not the rear wing. Benches were purchased by Louis
Kalbfield. Henis Petermann to build the judges benches out of native wood. The officials
were moving out of the courthouse. The first to move was Tax Collector Hancock, he moved
on Wednesday, the 14th of August, County Clerk Hutchinson, moved on the 15th. ...In a few
days, all will be out of the old building that has served Putnam County since 1855 when it
was erected. Sheriff Kennerly is the only county officer in the old
courthosue who wants a front office near the Clerks. Did not like where he was originally
placed. Courthouse cost $35,000 to construct. August 26, 1910--Palatka Gets Cigar Factory as a result of
the strikes at Tampa. Fist to come were Corral. Wodiske & Company of Ybor City, they
leased the old Fry Operhouse on the corner of 4th and Lemon. September 2, 1910--A. C. L. Warehouse on the riverfront
collapsed, the rear of the old Florida Southern on River street. 180 Feet long on river,
40' deep. Storeroom for W. A. Merryday. The Water tower and pumping plant at the Crosby's place was
finished last week to the top of the tank it 50' from the ground. Buildings in Palatka can
be seen from its top. When filled it takes 5,000 gallons, and takes 2-3 hours. Sheriff Kennerly gets a front room next to Clerk's, instead back of new courthouse. Beach & Miller Lines have had 30 years of daily runs . Fine Storage Plant, west of G. S. & F. Railway Gulf
Refining Company. H. M. De Montmollin, in Charge, storege tanks of 20,000 gallon capacity,
holds kerosene, 2 napha, and 3 gasoline. Crescent City. Palatka claims that it now has 500 cigar makers, 4 Spanish,
the rest natives. October 28, 1910--New Enterprise for Palatka, Florida
Woodenware Company. February 24, 1911 Davis Cypress tank factory ships to all parts of the world
but has an especially good trade in Central and South America. Shipped 15 to Mexico last
week. March 3, 1911-Fire Destroys Rodman Mills $50,000. April 7, 1911-In New York, H. M. Flagler signed a contract
for the construction of a railroad for Palatka south for 150 miles. In all probabilty it
will pass thru Crescent City, Seville, Pierson, Barberville, DeLand, O'Steen to
Everglades. R. E. Neck, photographer, resigned from C. E. Rowton to
learn more about photography, before he plans to open up his own studio. April 28, 1911-Florida Press will hold their next meeting
at Palatka. May 12, 1911-Woodenware Plant in Full Swing. Edgar Plastic Kaolin installed a 500 hp engine
(Westinghouse dynamo). E. C. Jackson has a lot of photographs from 1874, Only
brick building was Reid Store on Water Street. Now the store room for W. A. Merryday and
Company. At the corner of Lemon and Second, where Frys Jewelry was a frame building
occupied by Dr. Moody as a drugstore. Diagonally across street, old frame shack, labeled,
Old Curosity Shop. Also picture of a gentlemen, in sack suit and derby, looks like A. G.
Phillips. Views of River Street, quite natural, shell walks big oak tree that grows in
front of J. N. Waltons. New brick block on Reid Street, built by John Dalton, for F. C. Cochrane, is now ready for occupancy. July 14, 1911-Ocala Northern information. Dan O'Driscoll brick mason of Palatka did work on Potter
House, which was erected in 1883, and occupied all of Block 31 in Crescent City. July 21, 1911-Work on Grading Ocala Northern Davis Tank building 3 immense cypress tanks of 100,000
gallons each. Noah J. Tilghman disposed of his interest of Ford Sales
Company to cousin Walter W. Noah J. Jr., is going back to manufacturing shingles. September 15, 1911-New Photo Gallery-Necks September 22, 1911-Ocala Northern Open to Kenwood. September 29, 1911 Dr. Hampton, a black physician located in upper Lemon
Street. October 27, 1911--Ocala Northern nears city. November 10, 1911--Equipment of Ocala Northern. November 24, 1911--Ocala Northern Railroad Celebration on December 11, 1911. New Brick block erected by Merrydays on Lemon Street, occ- upied by C. E. Rowton. Ocala Northern Reaches Palatka. December 8, 1911--Fire destroys Wilson Mills Monday, A. M. insured $ 60,000. will be rebuilt. Lounds Drug Store moving to new quarters in the brick
store, on the corner of Central Avenue and Prospect, in Crescent City. January 19, 1912--Ocala Nothern Railway
opening. January 26, 1912--First Train over Ocala Northern. Palatka-Ocala Celebration Completed on Ocala Northern,
shortening the distance by about 23 miles. March 1, 1912--H. G. Hastings, of Atlanta, head of Great
Southern Seed firm, H. G. Hastings & Co., here (Interlachen) looking up business
interest and interviewing old friends. Organization of Interlachen Telephone Company. April 19, 1912--Great Steamship Titanic Sinks After
Stricking an Iceberg. July 5, 1912--Wilson Mill Starts again. August 2, 1912--Clyde Line Steamer, "City of Palatka". There was a palalkahala where Jacksonville now stands and another at Tocoi, another at the end of Lake Monroe. When the Frenchmen on St. Johns Bluff or Ft. Caroline had
exhausted their hospitality of the sub chief in their vicinity they were exhorted to visit
the head chief and met him on the bluff at Palatka afterwards occupied by the Larkin House
and then by the Presbyterian Church. The meeting was most picturesque and the chief proved
himself every inch his name OUTINA. September 6, 1912--Ocala Northern Freight
Wreck. Putnam House History, work on razing the
Putnam House Lemon Street wing is practically completed. A fraction of the house
accomodations have been taken away it is still a most imposing edifice. But the symnetry
of the plan has been put out of balance. Built in 1885 by Putnam House Company, of which S. J.
Kennerly was president and general manager, it was completed in 89 working days, and at
the end of the 89th day, supper was served in the house. Palatka was quite a different city, there were only a few
merchants. The big fire the year before had destoryed our leading hotels, and the loss was
keenly felt. In those days we were recognized as a winter resort. But the railroads were
coming in and travel was being taken away from us to the newer towns south. Our growth has
been away from the tourist business but today Palatka is a thriving all the year round
business city. The latest edifice of the kind is the new Emanuel M. E.
Church at the corner of Main & 7th. The re-opening or rededication of this church will
take place next Sunday, and special seats have been reserved for white friends. The remodeled Emanuel Church is of brick with a basement
and was built at the cost of $8,000. Rev. T. E. DeBose is the pastor. November 22, 1912--Captain R. J. Adams,
resided since October 1856, not exceeded by anyone except Captain David A. Dunham, of East
Palatka. The Steamer, "William Howard" formerly the property of thedefunct Intercostal Navigation Company has been purchased at public sale in Jacksonville and is now here and in charge of Captain J. E. Lucas. W. Carl Davis has purchased an interest in undertaking
business of R. S. Mooney. San Mateo Item sold-published for 22 years by John A.
Crosby, purchased by Messrs. T. W. & G. S. Davis of Davisville, came from Saskatoon,
Sascatchewan, Canada. May 2, 1913--Corner stone laid for Mt. Tabor on Sunday,
laide by MWU Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Florida, Beauty Lodge No. 35 raised $1,200. May 23, 1913--Palatka it claims has more cement sidewalks
than any other city of its size in Florida. PALATKA AS IT WAS 12 YEARS AGO, January 6, 1902, Palatka
voted a bond issue of $175,000 for sewers, and pavement as well as other improvements. Palatka at one time was one of the more important towns of
the state, but when the south of the state became more accessible by means of railroad
facilities, Palatkas' steamboat trade fell off. It recovered from that in time to meet the
dreadful consequences of the "freeze" and the city remained almost dead until
six or eight years ago. Under the ministery of Mr. Richey, the interior of the church was
much improved. During the past year electric lighting installed, streets paved, and
sidewalked. City of Palatka has a horse power street sweeper and
sprinkler and will save money and time by getting the work done expeditiously. August 1, 1913--Important Business Change, Noah and John Tilghman, cousins, purchased hardward business of william Turnage on Lemon Street. Crude Camphor Shipments probably first shipment of camphor gum from Florida went from this city via CLYDE LINE STEAMER. Product of Satsuma Company at Satsuma Hights several
thousand acres of land which are to be developed already over 800 acres of camphor trees. October 10, 1911--The Bailey tennis courts in San Mateo is an attraction that draws to it a number of Palatka's young people daily. |