Page 53 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

Column November 21, 2010

A.K. BLACK AND LAKE DESOTO

When Lake City’s Arthur Keith Black (1904 -1999) died, he left an
outstanding record of public service: City Attorney, State Attorney,
and the first Florida elected public official to resign to volunteer for
World War II service.

He was also the editor of the first CHS yearbook, the founding
president of the local bar association, and a driving force in getting
Special Olympics athletes admitted to the Florida Sports Hall of
Fame.

He also knew a lot more local history than most people.
So, about one year before his death, I asked him to tell me some of
his memories of Lake Desoto. Here is what he said.

*Members of the Elks Club shot clay pigeons (skeet) on the west side

of the lake.
*Some Afro-American churches baptized their members on the north

side.
*Three nice boats were kept at the lake and each boat had its own

boathouse.

He personally saw the above things first hand and added some things

he had heard about the lake:

* There once was an all girls academy and a sawmill on the south

side of the lake.

*There was a lake (possibly Watertown Lake) just east of Lake
Desoto where ducks would gather and local duck hunters shot

hundreds of ducks every season as they flew back and forth between
the two lakes.

Indians would camp on the north side of the lake en route back to
Georgia Swamps. While there, they sold belts and fancy belt
buckles.

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