I’m not sure of the date of this editorial by Deborah D. Taylor of Baltimore, MD.

It’s obviously 1955, but the date isn’t clear from the handwriting on this article. Most of the artifacts in the Halifax Historical Society are in folders and with handwriting on them that is not always clear. But I am very thankful that someone thought to mark these press clippings with dates and to save them at all.

Deborah D. Taylor wrote this editorial in the Daytona Beach News Journal suggesting that Brownie should be remembered with get a birdbath with some sort of plaque at it’s base instead of grave marker. I don’t know if anyone seriously considered her suggestion.

At the time, the park was kept up much better than today and I’m sure there would have always been water running in the birdbath. But I’m very happy they chose to go with a simple grave stone.

In the 1960s, most of the beautiful fountains, gazebos, and other grand features of Riverfront Park were removed. I am not clear why. If a birdbath was placed on Brownie’s grave, it surely would have been removed as well.

The only reason Brownie’s grave stone is still there, I believe, is that it was flat and easy to ignore. If it were upright, it would have surely have been removed along with all the other nice features of the park.

So, thank you, Deborah D. Taylor for your lovely suggestion (one I may bring up again as we work on Brownie Pointe Park), but it was very, very lucky that they chose a flat stone.

It saved Brownie’s story.

As some of you know, in the 1980s, Brownie’s grave disappears and is rediscovered in 1994. This period is fascinating and I will post those articles soon!