Panama City Publishing Company Museum: A Peek Into History
Posted August 11, 2024
Newspapers have always played a vital part in shaping the history of a place. Often, the now-silent printing presses remain intertwined with their community’s present story. The Panama City Publishing Company Museum in the St Andrews Neighborhood of Panama City, Florida shares one of these stories.
The Former Office of George and Lillian Photo: Kathleen Walls
Panama City’s First Publishing Company
George West owned large tracts of land in the community and had been the one who suggested the name “Panama City” to promote growth, as he claimed the city was the closest developed port in the US to the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Before 1909, today’s Panama City was composed of several smaller towns: St. Andrews, Harrison, Mortimer, and Floriopolis. Considered one of the founding fathers of Panama City, in 1907, West organized the Panama City Pilot, the town’s first newspaper before he opened his publishing company.
In 1908, shortly after the death of George’s second wife, Louella, Lillian Carlisle was pushing for the city to build a canal connecting East Bay County to the Gulf. Her family held large landholdings in the eastern part of Bay County. Lillian, who managed the family lands, felt the canal would be beneficial. When Lillian met with George to promote the canal, she was 24 and he was 63. Her dynamic personality captivated him, and they married in 1909.
Lillian did not sit at home and become the “little wife.” She worked with her husband as the paper’s business manager. She also wrote editorials. Executive Director of the museum, Lisa Barnes-Tapscott shared, “The publishing company opened in 1920 in this building, the first brick building in Panama City, and published Panama City’s first newspapers, Panama City Pilot, the St. Andrews Bay News, and Lynn Haven Free Press.”
With the opening of the new building, Lillian owned seventy-five percent of the business. After George died in 1926, Lillian became sole owner, editor, and manager. Because of the expectations of the times that a business owner “had to be a man,” she used the business name L. C. West. Locals knew her as “Miss Lillian.”
A Local Legend
Lillian became a legend in the St. Andrews neighborhood – and the subject of countless stories. One story says she didn’t carry a purse but wore a housedress with ample pockets. She reportedly carried her money in one pocket, and her gun in the other. Supposedly, she didn’t believe in stop signs, so she didn’t obey them.
A remarkable woman for her time, Lillian was the first woman registered to vote in St. Andrews. But her editorials also influenced the community. During the 1928 presidential election, when Al Smith ran against Herbert Hoover, the strongly Protestant Panama City community opposed Smith because he was Catholic. Lillian wrote editorials telling people to vote for the candidate who represented their views, rather than base it on religion. She succeeded. Although Florida voted for Hoover, the Panama City area voted for Smith. Lillian often said she, “Was not afraid to take on the old gray wolves.”
Heidelberg Printing Press Photo: Kathleen Walls
Highlights of the Panama City Publishing Company Museum
In the Panama City Publishing Company Museum, George and Lillian’s office is set up as if they just stepped out for lunch. Life-sized cutouts of the couple depict her in the aforementioned housedress. The partner’s desk they shared remains along with the old-time typewriter on Lillian’s side of the desk. The upright-style desk phone sits on George’s side. Many of their papers remain, including ledgers scattered across the desks.
The museum features exhibits of actual printing presses and other equipment that remind us of how far technology has come. Imagine trying to send a text if you had to set it with an offset press. There are three old printing presses, a Heidelberg, and two Chandler Prices, which are maintained and still used for classes and exhibits at the museum. Think about having to place each letter by hand into a composing stick and then transfer them into what is called the chase. The chase was placed into the press, where it could be inked and printed.
A 1955 Heidelberg Platen Press is the largest in the collection. It was used by Mr. West’s great-great-grandson Charles (Buddy) West, who operated the publishing business until 2005.
Countless pieces of type, both letters and items used to print back in the day add to the display. The museum boasts over 70 items that remained in use when Panama City purchased the building in October 2005 and restored it to reopen as a museum in 2008.
Lillian’s Typewriter Photo: Kathleen Walls
Exploring St. Andrews Neighborhood Beyond the Museum
Since the museum is in the heart of the St Andrews neighborhood, you can step outside and walk to the many boutiques and interesting places in this unique part of Panama City. A walking tour of the historic area leaves from the museum at 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday. The area is filled with murals, many created by Floriopolis, a local art community. To learn about the native people living here long before the European settlers, visit the Native Spirit Museum and Gallery. Don’t miss Oaks by the Bay Park on St. Andrews Bay – home to the old Sentry, an oak tree believed to be over 350 years old.
Dining options abound from simple Luna Muna – ideal for breakfast – to Uncle Ernie’s where you can dine on the deck overlooking the bay and see a gorgeous sunset. Hunts Oyster Bar offers Panama City’s favorite shellfish and more. Finns at Little Village lets you mix pet-friendly waterfront dining with boutique shopping.
