Search Results for: smallest police

We are trying to remain a quiet little fishing village while making room for tourists and  vacation visitors.  We still have our “Smallest Police Station in the World” (it’s a phone booth) on US 98 at the corner of CR67.

The original is now on display in the Chamber Office, located at 105 St. James Ave (U.S.98) in downtown Carrabelle, and can be seen Monday through Friday, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

History

The World’s Smallest Police Station” came into being on March 10, 1963.  The city had been having problems with tourists making unauthorized long distance phone calls on its police phone.  The phone was located in a call box that was bolted to a building at the corner of U.S. 98 and Tallahassee Street.  Johnnie Mirabella, St. Joe Telephone’s lone Carrabelle employee at the time, first tried moving the call box to another building, but the illegal calls continued.

Mirabella noticed that the policeman would get drenched while answering phone calls when it was raining.  So when the telephone company decided to replace its worn out phone booth in front of Burda’s Pharmacy with a new one, he decided to solve both problems at once by putting the police phone in the old booth.

With the help of Curly Messer, who was a deputy sheriff at the time, Mirabella moved the phone booth to its current site on U.S. 98 under the chinaberry tree.  The booth did protect the officers from the elements, but some people still snuck into it to make long distance calls.  Eventually the dial was removed from the phone, making it impossible for tourists to make calls.

It has been featured on television shows “Real People”, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, “The Today Show”, “Johnny Carson”.  It was featured in the movie “Tate’s Hell” which was produced at Florida State University.  Along with police station T-shirts – the design is copyrighted – there are police station hats, visors, postcards, and calendars.

But life has not always been easy for the retired St. Joseph Telephone and Telegraph Company phone booth.  Vandals have ripped phones out of the booth and shot holes through the glass.  It has been knocked over by a pickup truck, and a tourist once asked a gas station attendant to help him load it into his vehicle to take it back to Tennessee and it was knocked over and damaged by Hurricane Kate.

The area in and around Carrabelle has much to offer residents and visitors alike.  For more information, click the links below.

Parks and Beaches

• Alligator Point:  Secluded peninsula.  Fifteen minute drive east of Carrabelle.  Beautiful uncrowded beaches.
• Carrabelle Beach:  Is 1.5 miles west of town; beautiful uncrowded beach with public bathrooms and picnic areas. Great for sunbathing, swimming, and surf fishing.
• Ft. Gadsden Historic Site:  Is a historic battle site located approximately 20 miles north of East Point on SR65.  The fort was a British base in the War of 1812, and overlooks the Apalachicola River.  Exhibits and replicas of the fort are on display, public facilities available.
• St. George Island State Park: Is a 20 minute drive west of Carrabelle.  State Park, sugar sand beaches and dunes.  This park includes a series of trail boardwalks and observation platforms, allows the visitor to “see it all”.  Also bike trails available. Voted top #3 U.S. Beach in 2014 by “Dr. Beach”.
• Ochlockonee State Park:  A 392 acre park with public facilities, picnic areas, fishing and boat ramp.  Canoe rental available.  Approximately 15 minutes east of Carrabelle.

Museums

• Carrabelle History Museum: Operated by the Carrabelle Historical Society. Located at 106 SE Ave B in downtown Carrabelle. They have several special displays that highlight local heroes, the Steamship Tarpon which was key to building our community in the early 1900’s and Carrabelle’s “First People”, natives who lived here thousands of years ago.
• Camp Gordon Johnston Museum: Operated by the Camp Gordon Johnston Association and located at the Carrabelle City Complex at 1001 Gray Ave.  The museum houses memorabilia, photographs, records and related historical information on the WW II training facility. Information from the 4th, 28th and 38th Infantry Divisions, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Amphibious Brigades as well as all the related specialized units who trained at the camp is available for all to see.  The museum is dedicated to preserving the historical accuracy of the local area’s part in this crucial period of World history, as well as honoring its veterans.
• Crooked River Lighthouse:  Located 2 miles west of town on the right, just past the Carrabelle Beach RV Park.  The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association manages the Keeper’s House Museum and gift shop. The public is invited to climb the lighthouse (must be at least 44 inches tall to climb) for $5.00 per person every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00pm.

Other Points of Interest

• Big Bend Scenic Byway:  Transport yourself to a different time and place through 220 miles of wildlife, woods, waterways and way of life.
• World’s Smallest Police Station:  Carrabelle is home to the “Smallest Police Station in the World”. It’s a phone booth! View a replica on US 98 at the corner of CR67. The original is now on display in the Chamber Office, located at 105 St. James Ave (U.S.98) in downtown Carrabelle.
• Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve:  The ANERR Environmental Education and Training Center is nestled along Apalachicola Bay amidst scrub live oaks and saw palmetto in Eastpoint. It features 18,000 square feet of learning space, including two working wet and dry research laboratories. Representing the river, bay and gulf habitats found in Apalachicola, the center features three large walk-around tanks that each hold over 1,000 gallons and house a variety of native plant life and creatures. A mural stretching along the nearby walls demonstrates the connectivity among the river, bay and gulf habitats as one continuum instead of discreet, separate systems. Additional exhibits highlight the rich history of the area with descriptions and testimonials of life working on the bay and waterfront.
• Florida State University’s Coastal Marine Laboratory:  Located on St. James Island in northwest Florida, the laboratory offers unique opportunities for research, education, and outreach on the Gulf of Mexico in a biologically diverse, pristine environment. Habitats range from inshore oyster reefs to offshore patch reefs, from freshwater bogs to sea grass and salt marshes.
• Crooked River Lighthouse:  Located 2 miles west of town on the right, just past the Carrabelle Beach RV Park.  The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association manages the Keeper’s House Museum and gift shop, open Thursday – Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00pm.  The public is invited to climb the lighthouse (must be at least 44 inches tall to climb) for $5.00 per person every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00pm.
•  Dog Island:  A small remote island only accessible by boat or plane.  Spend a day with nature marshes and pine forests or on sugar sand beaches.
•  Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory:  Features unique variety of Florida marine life and “see & touch” tanks.  The organization is dedicated to scientific research, education and protection of our natural resources.  Located 20 minutes east of Carrabelle on US Hwy 98.
•  Wakulla Springs: Has jungle boat tours, glass bottom boats, nature trails, swimming and picnic area.  This is a 40 minute drive east of Carrabelle.

Shopping

• There are several antique stores to plunder.

Carrabelle, Florida, a historic working community, is located right on the Gulf of Mexico in the eastern Florida Panhandle. A true fishing village, its people have been harvesting from the sea for more than 100 years. Shrimping, oystering, commercial and recreational game fishing together with lumber, turpentine, flour mills, the railroad and tourism have been the mainstays of Carrabelle’s economic development over the years.

Although a hidden secret no longer, Carrabelle’s ideal location is surrounded by state and national forests, together with its beautiful, deep water seaport. The community of 1300 residents welcomes travelers who enter by boat, or arrive via scenic Highways 98 along the coast, and County Road 67 through the state and national forest lands.

Carrabelle is governed by five elected officials serving as Mayor and Commissioners. A city Administrator oversees the daily operations of the Public Works and Building departments, Code Enforcement and office personnel as well as police and volunteer fire services. City Hall is located in the heart of downtown Carrabelle and many residents take advantage of the convenient location to pay bills in person, or to give their opinions about “the state of the City.”

One of only a few small towns in historic Franklin County, Carrabelle is proud of its independence and home-grown residents. Visitors can mix easily with local folks in the coffee shop, neighborhood bars and restaurants, the grocery, pharmacy, service/convenience stores and at the post office too. Hardware stores plus a gift shop ensure that both male and female travelers can buy necessities or just browse for souvenirs during their visit. The Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center, the World’s Smallest Police Station, the WWII Camp Gordon Johnston Museum and local shrimp boats are special highlights not to be missed when enjoying a walk toward the scenic Riverfront Pavilion and the public fishing dock located on Marine Street. Travel east to find C30A along the Gulf waterfront and see birds, fish and even an occasional alligator.

Carrabelle is home to several featured parks which have been developed for public enjoyment. Veterans’ Park, where the City pays tribute to servicemen and women, is located in the center of town on Highway 98 Travel north on Highway 67, turn left on Avenue F to find Tillie Miller Park on your right. The newly refurbished park includes restrooms and a new tennis and basketball court as well as playground equipment for children and a covered gazebo and pavilion for community activities. Or, continue north on the same Highway 67 to find John David Patton wildlife park on the right. This new environmental park was built and named to honor Carrabelle’s only fallen police officer who was killed in the line of duty on July 9, 1977. Walking paths, plantings, a covered pavilion and restrooms are available at this site. The entrance sign commemorates Patton’s sacrifice with a Charles A. Lindbergh quote: “In wilderness, I sense the miracle of life.”

As the visitor travels just west of town on Highway 98, which has been newly designated as part of this 220 mile-long Florida Big Bend Scenic Byway, watch for the newly restored historic Crooked River Lighthouse in its wooded setting on the north side of Highway 98.

There are miles and miles of white sand beaches, open to the public for walking, shore fishing and just enjoying nature. A public wayside park with bathroom facilities is located less than a mile west of town, just across from a motor home park. Further west, the Tate’s Hell Forest walking trail sign will lure the visitor into that trailhead. Also watch for the directional sign to the unique stand of dwarf cypress north of Highway 98. The white heads and tails of soaring eagles, together with pelicans, herons, and osprey can be seen circling overhead along the beautifully scenic waterfront highway while occasionally a shark or dolphin fin will break the water’s surface quite close to shore!

Carrabelle welcomes you to come for a visit, or stay for a lifetime.

Carrabelle, Florida, a historic working community, is located right on the Gulf of Mexico in the eastern Florida Panhandle.  A true fishing village, its people have been harvesting the sea for more than 100 years. Shrimping, oystering, commercial and recreational game fishing together with tourism have been the mainstays of Carrabelle’s economic development over the years.

Although a hidden secret no longer, Carrabelle’s ideal location is surrounded by state and national forests, together with its beautiful, deep water seaport.  The community of 1300 residents welcomes travelers who enter by boat, or arrive via scenic Highways 98 along the coast, and 67 through the forests.

Community

One of only a few small towns in historic Franklin County, Carrabelle is proud of its independence and home-grown residents.  Visitors can mix easily with local folks in the coffee shop, neighborhood bars and restaurants, the grocery, pharmacy service/convenience stores and at the post office too.  Hardware stores plus a gift shop ensure that both male and female travelers can buy necessities or just browse for souvenirs during their visit.  The Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center, the World’s Smallest Police Station, the Carrabelle History Museum, the WWII Camp Gordon Johnston Museum and local shrimp boats are special highlights not to be missed when enjoying a walk toward the scenic Riverfront Pavilion located on Marine Street.

Attractions

As the visitor travels just west of town, watch for the historic Crooked River Lighthouse in its wooded setting on the north side of Highway 98.  And don’t miss the miles and miles of white sand beaches, open to the public for walking and enjoying.  A public wayside park with bathroom facilities is located less than a mile west of town, just across from a motor home park.  Further west, the Tate’s Hell Forest walking trail sign will lure the visitor into the trail-head.  All the while, the white heads and tails of soaring eagles, together with pelicans, herons, and osprey can be seen circling overhead along the beautifully scenic waterfront highway.

Carrabelle welcomes you to come for a visit, or stay for a lifetime.