Did you know that Washington County is home to one of the first commercial oil wells ever drilled in Florida? In 1919, a string of wells was dug in eastern Washington County by independent oil seekers following a rumor of oil beneath the hills. One such well was dug at what is now Falling Waters State Park. It was a remarkable achievement, reaching a depth of 3,900 feet – an astonishing feat given the technology of the time and the location of the hole. While there was a brief moment of hope when the drillers found a pocket of natural gas, the well ultimately failed to produce anything of use and was capped.
A few decades after drilling had ended, a cow fell into one of the sludge pits. The event was covered by multiple newspapers, leading to an outcry of public concerns about the “dangers” of the site. International Paper, then-owners of the land the well was on, ended up passing the deed to the land to Washington County. This land is at the center of the now-established Falling Waters State Park. While the well was unproductive for commercial oil quantities, it did eventually lead to a wonderful treasure for the people of Washington County and the wildlife of the area.
Visit Falling Waters today to see the old oil well along the park’s nature trail, just around the bend after Florida’s tallest waterfall!
Happy May, everyone! For today’s Monday Mention, let’s look at the wonderful Sweet Magnolia Bakery. Located on Central Ave in Blountstown, the bakery opened in 2019 and has grown to be a gem in the small town. Sweet Magnolia offers a plethora of baked goods day-to-day, custom orders, coffee, and more. They have a little something for every meal: muffins and coffee for breakfast, quiche or sandwiches for lunch, and desserts galore for dinner! Learn more by visiting their 
Come enjoy boiled, fried, and steamed crawfish in traditional Cajun fare like jambalaya, etouffee, boudin, gumbo, and po-boys. This year’s music lineup features all-day entertainment by the 9th Avenue Brass Band. Other live music acts include Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and Ils Sont Partis Band, Gregg Martinez and the Delta Kings, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, and Curley Taylor & the Bayou Swamp Band.
