During the early 1900s a series of local newspapers did much to preserve the history and local news of the infant communities which dotted the landscape of Escambia County Alabama and Northwest Florida. R.W. Brooks, a reverend and a newspaper man, wrote many spirited accounts of history he witnessed first hand and, in doing so, provided a glimpse into the past for those of us reading his articles 90 plus years later.

R.W. Brooks was the template for other journalist in the area. Some were reporters, publishers or just weekly contributors. Many are lost to history today but one mysterious re...