Farmdale was one of several early communities located on the tract of land along East Bay that became part of the Tyndall reservation and Tyndall Air Force Base. Located about 18 miles east of Panama City, it was platted and settled by a Civil War veteran from Ohio, W.F. Woodward, in the late 1800s. He named the community Farmdale for his vision of a prosperous farming community.
A school was built in 1895, and the post office was established in 1899. A dock was constructed out into the bay, and an oyster house was built on the dock. Soon, a turpentine still was built by J.B. Taylor and Fred Shermer, residents of the community. In later years, both the still and oyster house were purchased by Harry Allan.
Pensacola News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK
A 25-year-old Springfield, Missouri, man was killed Thursday night in a head-on crash on State Road 281 in Santa Rosa County.
The man was traveling southbound on State Road 281 just south of Redfish Point Road in a sedan at 8:34 p.m., according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. A 45-year-old Atlanta, Georgia, woman was traveling north on State Road 281 in an SUV approaching Redfish Point Road.