Palatka Waterfront Fun
How lucky can one young gal be. Here I sit on the St. John’s River
bank checking out the boats as they go by. Sailboats, motorboats,
tugboats pushin’ barges filled with oil headin’ to Sanford from
Jacksonville returning empty for another load.
The bridge tender is still necessary along this
stretch of river. He must raise and lower the bridge for the sailboats,
tugs and larger houseboats to pass through. Three blasts on a ships
horn will summon him to his post. He takes coffee breaks 2 blocks away
at Angel’s Diner, an old railcar stationed on Hwy 17 reported to be the
oldest diner in Florida.
On occasion, the bridge will stick and
not open as it should. This will require a trip from the county prison
with enough men to climb down under the bridge and use the hand crank
to open it up and close it again after the boat passes between the
raised portions of the highway.
Some days, the boy across the
street will trek to the fish house situated next door right on the St.
Johns and return with a catfish head for us. This he ties to a long
string and we lower it beside the dock into the dark water under the
boathouse. The hope is we will entice a nice size blue crab to attach
himself to the head and with dexterity we will slowly raise the head
enough to allow a net to be placed under the crab and catch him. It is
quite a feat of patience and cunning to keep him from letting go of the
smelly ole catfish head and go back to the bottom instead of in our net.
On
the other side of the fish house is a row of old buildings housing
stores. One block over from Hwy 17 is Main St. The train comes right
down the middle of the street and proceeds across the wooden train
tressle that spans the St. Johns. This also has a moveable section to
allow the boats to pass thru it.
The law of the land says, boats
have the right of way always. Next comes the train, then people and
cars. There is a need for ordering transportation methods, just like
our staying in our own lane on the highway.
Progress came at
last! A new four laned bridge replaced the old bridge and the bridge
tender could retire. The old stores along the shore are gone - replaced
by a motel. The train tracks that crossed the river to the north of the bridge were taken up and the
trains use an alternate route. Kind railroad men left some of the
pilings along the bank just a bit off shore. These made great fishing
places for people without boats. The kid across the street had a habit
of making his own doughball and takin it down when he went to fish.
Other folks were amazed that he caught fish when they couldn’t. Time
would come for lunch. He would be able to sell his doughball for $1 as
he left his spot. In the afternoon, he would return again with another
fresh doughball and proceed to fish, catchin his share and again upon
leaving he would sell that one too. The secret to his success was the
bacon grease he added to the doughball he had made.