SPRING BREAK IN DESTIN Most asked questions by Muse-

um visitors this year. Is it always this

cold? The unusually cool weather has

the Spring Breakers totally confused.

Most say, “I came to get a tan!” The

Snow Birds are also questioning the

weather. Bad weather for vacation-

ers...good weather for the Museum to

have visitors. The Museum is growing

in attendance and revenue. Due in part

to these visitors finding the Museum as

a great way to be entertained on days

too cool to spend time on the beach.

The first three months of 2013 Museum

revenue was up by a total of $1,000.

Now it is time to enjoy Destin’s spring

weather and to welcome our Summer

visitors

Jean

From the Staff

January to March 2013 Volume 7 Issue 3

Destin History & Fishing Museum

Here’s What’s Been

Happening At

YOUR Museum!

BOARD MEET-

I N G S F o r

2013 :January 9,

February 13, March

13, April 10, May 8,

June 12, July 10,

August 14, Septem-

ber 11, October 9,

November 13, and

December 11

Museum Visitors

2006: 2,095

2007: 3,527

2008: 4,561

2009: 5,804

2010: 6,368

2011: 7,131

2012: 8,300

January to March 2013

1,924 visitors

Calendar of Events January 26

Annual Gumbo Contest & Silent Auction

Destin Community Center

February 13

Museum Annual General Membership Meeting

Museum

February 13

Athena Marler Creamer

Book signing, “The Help of Destin”

February 20, 27, & March 13

Panhandle Flytie Club

April 3

Miss Destin Contestant’s

“Soda Party”

April 12

TDC VIVA Florida

Museum Tour

June 15

Fish Fry Fundraiser

Harry T’s Restaurant

Celebrating our “Blue Marlin”Life Members Generously Donating $1,001-$2,500 to the Museum Mission.

World Record

Red Snapper

46 lbs. 8 oz.

Oct.1, 1985

SUNRISE

E.Lane Nichols

Cubera Snapper

87.5 lbs. 51 “

June 18, 1977

MONTH AFTER MAY

Mrs. John Gray

*1st National Bank

*Dotty Bingham

*Capt. “Salty” & Sarah

Brunson

*Destin Fishing Fleet, Inc.

*Muriel R. Destin

*Guy & Helen Donaldson

*Donald & Betty Hefner

*Carol Kelly

*Ladie Bea Lackey

*Pat McIlroy

*Ed & Joyce Modica

*Camille Morgan

*Sarah “Sam” Seevers

*Ida Calhoun Scott

*Billie & Lisa Wilson

Page 2 Destin History & Fishing Museum

Gumbo Contest & Silent Auction

The Destin History & Fishing Museum held their annual Gumbo Contest & Silent Auction

Saturday, January 26 at the Destin Community Center. Ticket holders enjoyed a Silent Auction of

eighty-one packages, live music by FLASHFLOOD, and gumbo from local contestants including res-

taurant and individual divisions. There were fifteen restaurants and eighteen individuals registered in

the event. The competition was very close and the winners were: Individual Category 1st Place: Tom

Ogle, and Individual 2nd Place: Mike & Richard Fitzerald. Judging was equally close in the restau-

rant division. Restaurant Category 1st Place: Harry T’s Restaurant and Restaurant Category 2nd

Place: Pompano Joe’s Restaurant. The People’s Choice Restaurant Award voted on by the day’s

gumbo samplers was Pompano Joe’s Seafood Restaurant. The People’s Choice Individual Award

voted on by the day’s gumbo samplers was Alvin Claybrone. The Museum is very thankful to our

business partners, The City of Destin and Pepsi, and most appreciative to all that supported this fund-

raising event by their donations or participation. Special thanks go to the celebrity judges: Drew &

Todd Cooper from Infinite Lasers, Greg Fisher from Trip Shock!, Tracey Marsh from Cox Business

Services, Dan O’Byrne the TDC Director, Brenda Schoffner from Northwest Florida Daily News,

Aimee Shaeffer from Aimee’s Animal Magnetism & MC for many local non-profits, and Tommy

Usry from Graphic Illustrator & Design from Sandestin. Proceeds from this event will help pay the

upkeep and expansion of museum programs and exhibits.

This fundraising event net

over $14,000.00 !!!!

Preserving the Heritage of the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village ! Page 3

Edgar Oden Walter was born in 1910 in Caney, Kansas. Edgar’s parents were Edward Allison and

Florence Anderson Walter. Edward was a glass blower by trade and followed his profession across the

country, as glass plants closed and opened in new locations. In 1927, the family was living in Shreveport,

Louisiana when Edgar met his future wife, Eventhia Vera Maltezo. Vera was in Shreveport visiting her sis-

ter Cleo, awaiting the birth of Cleo’s first child. For Edgar and Vera, it was love at first sight and the couple

were married in Destin in 1928. The couple had three children: Harold, Bobby Lee and Connie Virginia.

While living in Destin, Edgar learned the fishing and boat building business from Vera’s family, the Malte-

zo’s and Marler’s. After Edgar’s father died in 1936, following tradition, he was offered his father’s posi-

tion in the Glass Factory and he accepted. After the factory closed, Edgar brought his family back to live in

Destin, making a living fishing and building boats. In 1947, Edgar joined the war effort and enlisted in the

Coast Guard. After serving six years in the military, Edgar purchased the fishing boat “Sweetheart” from

his brother-in-law and began his fishing career. Edgar built many boats for the Destin fishermen including

the “Miss Diana” for his son Bobby Lee. Since their marriage at 18, Edgar had dreamed of building his

own boat and naming it the “Miss Eventhia” after his lovely wife Vera (whose given name is Eventhia). At

age 60, Edgar realized his dream after building a party boat in his backyard on Hwy. 98. She was launched

in 1975 and christened the “Lady Eventhia” after his wife of 54 years. The boat was 65 feet long with a 24

foot beam. Edgar’s son Harold captained the boat after his father’s death in 1982.

Pioneers of Paradise Written by Jean Melvin

The Walter Family

“Lady Eventhia”

Captain Ed Walter

Pictured in Center

Photo courtesy of Walter Family

The “Sweetheart”

comes into the Destin docks

after a successful day of fishing.

Photo by Grey’s Photography

Documenting and sharing the complete history of Destin ! Page 4

T O U R S

Community Outreach

January 3: Kathy Blue gave presentation

to Destin Kiwanis

February 14: Dave Steele represented the

Destin History & Fishing Museum at the

Okaloosa County Museum Co-Op table

set up at the Convention Center for the

Snowbird Expo.

February 14: Niceville

United Methodist Church Senior

Sunday School Group

DeNure Tours: January

11, February 1,8,22, March 1, 8,

& 15th from Pelican Beach Re-

sorts with our winter quests.

February 16: Destin Cub

Scout Troup

Dave Steele was inducted as the new president of the

Destin History and Fishing Museum Executive Board .

He presented outgoing president Mike Long an apprecia-

tion gift for his service to the museum.

2013-2014 Museum Executive Board

Dave Steele: President

Dan Martin: Vice President

John Lefler: Treasurer

Kathy Marler Blue: Secretary

2013-2014 Board Members

Rick Derek, Dan Empson, Jim Green, Norm Hall, Tina

Harbuck, Hollis Lathem, Mike Long, Don Rogers, Lloyd

Taylor, and Russell Wamble

At the Helm

** BOOKSIGNING **

February 13

with author

Athena Marler Creamer

Page 5 Volume 7, Issue 3

AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar

hosted a Volunteer Recognition

Luncheon at the restaurant on February

13. The Destin History and Fishing

Museum volunteers were treated to a

wonderful lunch overlooking the pic-

turesque Harbor. Mayor Sam Seevers

presented award certificates to volun-

teers in attendance. Diamond Volun-

teers with 1,000 + volunteer hours in-

cluded: Dave Fraser, Mike Long, and

Dave Steele. These volunteers received

the Museum Diamond Volunteer cer-

tificate and their names included on a

perpetual Diamond Volunteer plaque

displayed in the Museum. Carole

Marler received the Silver Presidential

Volunteer Service Award and Museum

Silver Volunteer Award for 300+ vol-

unteer hours. Patricia Hardiman, Kelly

Marcus, and Nancy Shoults received

the Bronze Presidential Volunteer Ser-

vice Award and Museum Bronze Cer-

tificate for 100+ volunteer hours. The

President’s Award included a certifi-

cate, a letter from the President and a

lapel pin. Additional awards were pre-

sented to: A.J.’s Seafood & Oyster

Bar, Darlene Fraser, Scottie Griffith,

Laura Hall, Denise Ingram, John &

Judy Lefler, Sam Lombardo, Terry

Long, Dan Martin, Sheri McDonald,

Tona Newland, Dawn Pack, Wendy

Parker, Don Rogers, Erin Shoults,

Russell Wamble, Mary Ann Windes,

Sam Seevers, and Connie Walter. The

Museum appreciates the many volun-

teers that make a difference in their

support and work.

We Are Better At What We Do ,Because of You !

Preserving the Heritage of the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village

Recycle Ink

cartridges

and cell

phones at the

Museum

Tuesday - Saturday

10am to 4pm

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, Hollis

Lathem, Don Rogers, Lloyd Taylor, Russell Wamble

Executive Director Jean Melvin Associate Director Kathy Marler Blue

Museum Docent: Dave Fraser Museum Volunteer: Carole Marler

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

Fax: 850-837-6609 E-mail: destinhistory@gmail.com

kathydestinhistory@gmail.com

Website: destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org

PLEASE MAIL YOUR

DONATION TO:

DESTIN HISTORY &

FISHING MUSEUM

108 STAHLMAN AVE.

DESTIN, FL 32541

Your recycled cell

phones earn $5-10 each

for the museum. Keep

them coming!!!

Admission: Adults: $5

Seniors & Military: $4

Students: $3

Kids 6 & Under

and Members : Free