Pine Castle Historical Markers - part 6

CORRECT CRAFT

In 1925, Walter C. Meloon moved his family from New Hampshire to Pine Castle and started the Florida Variety Boat Company with two other partners. The building, located on the southeast corner of Randolph and Hoffner Avenues, was constructed with blocks that once housed the old theater and later the water works plant. In 1930, Meloon became the sole owner and changed the name of the company to Pine Castle Boat and Construction Company. Eight years later, the company became known as Correct Craft. When the company needed more space, it moved to Orange Avenue.

During World War II, the army asked the Meloons to build storm boats capable of crossing the treacherous Rhine River, Germany’s last natural line of defense in the West. For a company that normally built forty-eight boats a month, the government’s request for 300 boats in three weeks seemed impossible. Yet, the boat builders not only fulfilled the contract, but also made 100 boats to spare. The family-owned business, operated from the same location until June 2006, when its need for expansion forced the company to move to East Orange County.

Pine Castle in WWII - part 6

Local servicemen enumerated in the 1945 Florida state census (name, address, age, place of birth, branch of service):

Singletary, Ralph
Box 172
33
SC
HS
Air Corps

Slusher, Matt
Pinecastle
23
KY
HS
Air

Snow, Julius
Box 1012
23
IL
HS
Army

Spotswood, Lt. Henry
Box 334
28
VA
College
Air Corps

Stiber, Edmund
Rte 1, Orlando
30
WI
HS
Army

Streechon, George P.
Belle Isle
25
NJ
College
Army

Strout, William
Pinecastle
24
MA
HS
Air Corps

Sunday, Bryan
Box 140
22
FL
HS
Army

Sunday, Joseph
Box 140
24
FL
10th
Navy

Taylor, Ellis G.
PC Hotel
23
VA
HS
Army

Taylor, Orvis
Box 565
28
FL
8th
Navy

Taylor, Vernon
Rte 1, Orlando
19
MO
College
Navy

Taylor, William R.
216 Jackson
26
NJ
8th
Army

Teagarden, Jack
Box 504
45
WV
HS
Army

Todd, Jean
Box 614
23
FL
7th
Army

Todd, Walter
Box 614
19
FL
10th
Army

Tyner, Herbert
Box 562
34
FL
HS
Navy

Vise, Harley J.
Rte 1, Orlando
23
OK
HS
Air

Vise, Lee P.
Rte 1, Orlando
17
OK
HS
Navy

Wallezer, William
Box 572
23
KY
10th
Air Corps

Wilder, John C.
Box 46
28
FL
HS
Navy

Williams, Edward
Box 133
22
FL
8th
Army

Willis, William
Box 142
22
NY
College
Army

Wills, Clinton E.
Pinecastle
21
FL
College
Army

Wilson, Leroy
Rte 1, Orlando
29
FL
11th
Paratrooper

Woodward, P.L.
Rte 1, Orlando
37
GA
HS
Navy

Yaeger, Emory, Jr.
Pinecastle
29
WV
College
Air

Pine Castle in WWII - part 5

Local servicemen enumerated in the 1945 Florida state census (name, address, age, place of birth, branch of service):

Milcer, Karel
Box 1106
46
NE
College
Army

Millard, Thomas
Rte 1, Orlando
38
WI
HS
Air

Milton, James A.
Box 1018
32
IN
12th
Army

Milward, Thomas J.
Rte 1, Orlando
38
WI
HS
Air Corps

Moore, Edgar
Box 616
18
GA
8th
Navy

Morgret, Melvin
Box 1004
23
MI
HS
Army

Neff, Harold H.
Pinecastle
25
DE
College
Army

Nelson, H.J.
5 Main St
25
AR
6th
Army

Patterson, H.F.
Rte 1, Orlando
31
TX
HS
Air

Perna, Anthony
Rte 2
24
Italy
8th
Army

Pound, Wayne
Box 515
18
NC
11th
Navy

Prescott, Gordon E.
Rte 1, Orlando
29
NH
HS
Army

Price, Lester
Pinecastle
24
OK
College
Army

Profit, Robert
Box 2101
35
AL
HS
Army

Rand, Sumner G., Jr.
Box 142
21
FL
College
Army

Ratigan, Joe A.
Rte 1, Orlando
27
IL
College
Army

Ray, Frank H.
Box 647
30
AL
HS
Air Corps

Reed, James R.
Rte 1, Orlando
39
AL
College
Army

Remington, Gerald
Box 542
32
MI
9th
Air

Robb, William
Box 177
30
PA
10th
Air Corps

Robinson, Durance
Rte 1, Orlando
38
FL
Grammar
Aircraft

Roop, Albert P.
Dixie Hwy
28
PA
12th
Army

Scarboro, Hudson, Jr.
Box 1004
19
FL
8th
Navy

Schmelzer, William
Rte 1, Orlando
37
CT
College
Army

Schmidt, Howard
115 Gatlin Ave
28
OH
College
Air Force

Schwartz, Lt. Jack B.
Pinecastle
23
__
College
Air

Shanibarger, John E.
Pinecastle
29
FL
HS
Navy

Pine Castle in WWII - part 4

Local servicemen enumerated in the 1945 Florida state census (name, address, age, place of birth, branch of service):

Heim, Col. Charles
19 PC
37
NY
College
Army

Hibbs, Edgar
Pinecastle
24
NC
HS
Air Corps

Hunt, Paul
Box 234
30
TX
HS
Air Corps

Innscone, Salvatore
Box 14
20
NY
10th
Army

Ives, Edward
Pinecastle
22
CO
HS
Air Corps

Jeunck, George M.
Box 613
20
OR
HS
Navy

Jeunck, Stanley W.
Box 613
18
OR
HS
Navy

Jones, George
Box 503
31
NJ
8th
Air

Jones, James
Box 611
22
FL
College
Navy

Jones, Thomas C.
31 Gatlin Ave
34
Mexico
College
Army

Kegley, Carl N.
Pinecastle
29
MN
8th
Army

King, Clarence E.
Box 196
34
TX
HS
Air Force

Knutson, Raymond
Box 1105
26
WI
8th
Army

Kuhn, TSgt. Milton
Box 1749
29
PA
College
Air

Lagenstein, Simm
Lakeside Pk
36
IL
8th
Army

Lain, Wilbur
Rte 1, Orlando
22
NY
HS
Air

Lamb, Leroy
Rte 1, Orlando
25
FL
HS
Army

Latty, Raymond W.
Box 162
27
GA
7th
Army

Lawson, Hamp
Box 1004
22
GA
9th
Army

Lesser, Robert T.
Pinecastle
25
PA
HS
Air

Mallory, L.B.
Box 1081
25
NC
HS
Army

Mayotte, Robert A.
Box 1004
23
NY
HS
Army

McChesney, Donald
Rte 1, Orlando
49
NY
University
Army

McKorle, Robert
Box 234
21
AL
College
Air Force

McKorle, William
Box 234
23
AL
College
Merchant Marine

McMurray, Paul T.
Box 1111
26
OH
College
Army

Meloon, Donald
Box 546
25
NH
HS
Navy

Pine Castle in WWII - part 3

Local servicemen enumerated in the 1945 Florida state census (name, address, age, place of birth, branch of service):

Dean, Lt. Herbert
Rte 1, Orlando
25
AL
HS
Army


Derrick, Frank J.
Pinecastle
25
SC
University
Army


Derrick, John W.
Pinecastle
26
SC
HS
Army


Deware, Robert
Box100
22
RI
HS
Army


Dibble, Robert
Box 1124
25
WI
College
Army


Dysart, Blaine
Box 1001
23
TX
College
Air Force


Farish, Francis R.
Rte 1, Orlando
30
AL
HS
Army


Faulkner, O.G.
Box 162
22
TN
8th
Army


Fields, William
Pinecastle
30
NJ
HS
Air Corps


Ford, Robert E.
Box 541
38
VA
JH
Army


Gabel, Capt. Norman
ATTAC
38
MI
11th
Army


Garvin, William
Pinecastle
21
FL
HS
Army


Gates, Denver L.
21 PC
36
WV
HS
Army


Gelm, John R.
RFD 112
27
PA
HS
Army


Gelm, John W.
RFD 112
29
PA
HS
Army


Glancy, J.D.
Pinecastle
28
PA
HS
Army


Gould, Robert
Box 1036
18
FL
HS
Navy


Graham, John B.
Rte 1, Orlando
24
IA
College
Navy


Graves, Corp. William A.
Pinecastle
32
OH
College
Air Corps


Gurnayke, Lt. Richard
115 Gatlin Ave
32
NJ
College
Army


Hall, Raymond
Rte 1, Orlando
27
MO
8th
Army


Hall, Robert C., Jr.
Rte 1, Orlando
17
MO
9th
Navy


Hansel, Robert J.
Pinecastle
23
FL
10th
Navy


Hansen, Harvey
Rte 1, Orlando
38
IL
HS
Army


Hayes, Charles
Box 515
19
FL
9th
Navy


Hayes, Perry
Box 515
22
SC
9th
Air


Head, A. Jack
Rte 1, Orlando
27
IN
College
Air Corps

Pine Castle in WWII - part 2

Local servicemen enumerated in the 1945 Florida state census (name, address, age, place of birth, branch of service):


Allen, Peg
Box 565
23
MN
HS
Army

Alrich, Hartley W.
Box 603
18
FL
Grammar
Navy

Alrich, William H.
Box 603
23
FL
Grammar
Navy

Anderson, Charles
Rte 1, Orlando
27
KY
HS
Air

Baker, Fred F.
Rte 1, Orlando
25
IL
HS
Air

Barcus, Warren
Pinecastle
24
IA
HS
Army

Bardenbier, Arthur R.
Rte 1, Orlando
23
MO
College
Army

Barksdale, Marvin
Box 1023
30
GA
9th
Sea Bees

Batthelia, Frank
Pinecastle
28
PA
HS
Air

Beezley, John
Box 1095
31
NE
9th
Air

Berdanier, John
Pinecastle
24
NY
HS
Air Corps

Biles, Robert B.
Conway Rd
36
NC
College
Army

Black, Fred H.
Rte 1, Orlando
32
FL
HS
Air

Bowen, John H.
Rte 1, Orlando
30
IN
College
Anti-aircraft

Bratcher, Andrew
Pinecastle
24
FL
College
Army

Butt, Thomas
Rte 1, Orlando
26
FL
College
Navy

Cannon, William D.
Oak Island
28
FL
College
Army

Cannon, Cklyde C.
Box 162
26
TX
College
Army

Carter, Fred
Box 522
31
FL
9th
Army

Clements, Lt. R.E.
Box 334
29
WI
College
Air

Cobb, Ovie E.
Conway Rd
24
AL
12th
Army

Cochrane, Donald
Box 1114
27
FL
College
Air

Collan, Robert
Box 1126
23
KY
HS
Army

Crawford, Gerald B.
Box 155
18
FL
HS
Army

Crosley, Wayne D.
Rte 1, Orlando
18
FL
College
Army

Curry, James
Rte 1, Orlando
20
FL
HS
Air

Dale, Johnny E.
Rte 1, Orlando
22
FL
10th
Army

Pine Castle in WWII - Part 1

In preparing for the next Pine Castle Pioneer Days festival, we are seeking information, photos, memorabilia, and interviews from folks who lived in this little corner of heaven during the Second World War.

Everything we collect will be considered for publication in the festival magazine.

The next few days' posts here will list the names of the servicemen who were enumerated as residents of Pine Castle in the Florida state census of 1945.

If any of ye socks have anything to share about them or any others who weren't enumerated, shoot an email to pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com.

Into the Storm

The latest DVD selection from our friends at Netflix was this WWII biopic of British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

Not necessarily one I would have chosen myself, but I gave it a shot since the leading role won Brendan Gleeson an Emmy Award.

And, with a Gleeson in the film, how bad could it be, right?!

Basically, every American's favorite Brit is in France in the days immediately after the war . . . waiting in dread for the 1945 election results that would throw him out of office.

Through a series of flashbacks, the audience learns what brought him to that point . . . and, on a more personal level, what brought his marriage to the brink of failure.

The great thing about Churchill's story is that both his marriage and his political career survived the calamity of 1945. Indeed they both rebounded rather nicely.

But, this film doesn't let the audience know that.

It does, however, quite accurately portray FDR as a socialist suck-up to Stalin. For that reason alone, it should be shown to every high school student in America.

Bottom line: If you're a history buff, you'll probably like it.

Katyn

How quickly we forget.

There were many reasons why Ronald Reagan was correct in labeling the former Soviet Union as "The Evil Empire."

Recent events in Poland have brought one particularly heinous incident back to light.

Somewhat eerily, yours truly found a DVD waiting in the snail mail box this weekend that dramatized the Katyn massacre. (I hadn't added it to my queue, yet it just happened to arrive on its own?!)

Heads-up. This film was shot in Poland. In Polish. So, you have to get used to the subtitles.

But, it's worth the effort.

If, like yours truly, ye were completely ignorant of this sad chapter in WWII history, this film by Andrzeja Wajdy brings it (more than somewhat disturbingly) back to life.

Educated atop a former toxic gas depot . . .

I learned this disturbing little piece of information today about Chickasaw Elementary School east of Orlando, where yours truly (and his favorite sibling) attended classes from 1979 to 1981.

The Army Corps of Engineer's office up in Jacksonville announced today that the campus was once used by the nearby Orlando Army Airfield as a "toxic gas and decontamination yard." And, they are going to spend some $1.4 million of our bitterly-forfeited tax dollars to screen the site for any residual contamination and debris.

It seems back during the Second World War "the greatest generation" was running hither and yon in what was then inhospitable swampland, learning how to combat mustard gas and other chemicals the dastardly fascists might send their way in the midst of battle.

Don't ask me why the corps is only getting around to checking the site out for public safety some sixty plus years after the war's end . . .

The real question is whether I (and the aforementioned favorite sibling) may now blame our years at Chickasaw for all foibles past, present and future . . .

Til it's over "over there"

Tom Brokaw and his ilk are constantly harping on us to recall the bravery and sacrifices of the WWII generation, but almost everybody nowadays overlooks the lessons of their predecessors who fought in WWI.

Not me, not today. Those who fought in the "Great War" that was supposed to "end all wars" showed the courage and conviction that (sadly) is not found in large amounts anymore. I mean, how many people outside of the dryer do you hear making the vow they made: "And, we won't come back til it's over over there"?!?

In memory of those steadfast heroes of the First World War and in hopes it may strengthen the resolve of modern Americans , I am proud to include in this post a copy of the poem that has become so closely identified with their generation's struggle:

In Flanders Fields

by Lt. Col John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.