More local history at the library

LOVERS OF local history will find new books of interest — including a history of Esto — at the Holmes County Public Library in Bonifay.

Recent donations from a local collection honor Joe Bob Clark, an Esto native who was the moving force behind the creation of the modern library. Its building in central Bonifay is dedicated in his honor.

Now available at the library:

• In “Esto: This Is the Place,” published in 1993, E.W. Carswell captures the people and events that shaped the town of Esto — including its most famous resident, the legendary alligator known as Two-Toed Tom.

• “Heart and History of Holmes County,” by Anna Paget Wells. The second edition is a revised and reformatted version of the book, first published in 1982, with updates and corrections by Dan W. Padgett.

• “Holmes Valley,” by Esto native E.W. Carswell, first published in 1969. This revised and updated edition from 1983 tells the story of the great influence Moss Hill United Methodist Church had on the development of this region of the Florida Panhandle.

• “I Declare!” by Malcolm B. Johnson. This collection of columns from the longtime editor of the Tallahassee Democrat opens a window onto the political scene in Florida’s capital during the middle half of the 20th century. Johnson’s closely observed commentaries were published in newspapers around the state, including the Holmes County Advertiser.

Also available at the library: “Holmesteading,” E.W. Carswell’s definitive history of Holmes County, published in 1986. Thanks to an effort spearheaded by Joe Clark, the book was republished in 2003 and the second edition is available for purchase at the library for $40. All proceeds benefit the library.

The Holmes County Public Library is located at 303 North J. Harvey Etheridge Street in Bonifay and open from Monday through Friday.