Snow flurries in Two Egg, Florida (1/23/2016)

Monster Sighting near Two Egg, Florida!!

Strange Footprint found at Monster Sighting Location

There are some strange doings in the swamps about 7 miles from "downtown" Two Egg, Florida!
The latest in a string of eyewitnesses has come forward to report that she spotted the Two Egg - Parramore Monster, known affectionately as the Stump Jumper, during the first week of June. A check of the area around the sighting, which took place about in a swampy area, revealed physical evidence supporting her claims in the form of strange footprints.

The unusual prints appear to have three toes, one large "big" toe and two smaller ones. They were found leading from a swampy area across a plowed fire lane and into an overgrown area of planted pines.

The latest sighting matches previous descriptions of the monster, which is said to be hairy and around 5 or 6 feet tall. It is usually described as being brown or gray in color and is said to run at a remarkable speed. Because it has only been seen at night, usually in the beam of car headlights, most in the area believe it to be nocturnal. It is often described as a "mini-Bigfoot," although one eyewitness reported that the creature had a long raccoon-like tail.

What it could be is not known, but it has been spotted in and around a swampy area about 7 miles northeast of Two Egg and one mile north of a small crossroads called Parramore. The area is in Jackson County, about an hour northwest of Tallahassee.

To learn more about the new sighting, please visit www.twoeggfla.com/monster2.  You can learn more about the quaint little community of Two Egg by visiting http://www.twoeggfla.com/.

"A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida" - Now in Print!

I'm pleased to announce that my new short novel - A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida - is now available.

Set in the most unique Southern small town of them all, the book tells the story of an old man who finds himself alone and distressed on a Christmas Eve night. Isolated from his community and all but forgotten, he experiences redemption through the words of a mysterious man he sees lurking around his barn.

This is my first venture into nonfiction writing, so I hope you enjoy it. The book includes snippets of true history and is set in the days of the Great Depression. I began writing it as a script for a church drama, but it slowly grew into a small book.

A Christmas in Two Egg, Florida can be ordered through Amazon.com by clicking the ad in this posting. All of my other books are nonfiction and can be purchased there as well. You can also learn about our unique little community of Two Egg by visiting http://www.twoeggfla.com/.

Best,
Dale Cox

Two Egg, Florida T-shirts and Souvenirs are now available!

In response to many inquiries from people all across the nation, our sister site - http://www.twoeggfla.com/ - has made available a large collection of t-shirts and other souvenirs featuring the quaint and historic community of Two Egg, Florida.

Yes, Two Egg is a real place. In fact, it has been featured in national magazines such as National Geographic and on television broadcasts around the world. Located in the panhandle of Florida between Tallahassee and Pensacola, the unqiuely named community has brought smiles to untold thousands of travelers over the years.

The new collection of souvenirs includes t-shirts and a wide variety of other items of clothing, bbq aprons, coasters, cutting boards, coffee mugs, travel mugs and much more. All are emblazoned with either photographs or logos featuring Two Egg, Florida. In addition to items with photographs of the Two Egg highway sign, there are also shirts and other items featuring the "I'm a Kickin' Chicken from Two Egg, Florida" and "Two Egg, Florida: Capital of the New South!" logos.

To learn more about the new items and to learn more about Two Egg itself, please visit http://www.twoeggfla.com/.

Legend of the Dogwood Tree is a Southern favorite for Easter

One of the most unique of the old legends handed down in the South is the story of the Dogwood Tree.

This beautiful little tree explodes in white blossoms each spring and is one of the favorite blooming trees. It grows across the South and is popular as a yard tree, but also grows wild in the woods across the region.

The legend holds that the tree was once very large and because its wood was strong and sturdy, it provided building material for a variety of purposes. According to the story, it was the dogwood tree that provided the wood used to build the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Because of its role in the crucifixion, it is said that God both cursed and blessed the tree. It was cursed to forever be small, so that it would never grow large enough again for its wood to be used as a cross for a crucifixion. At the same time, however, the tree was blessed so that it would produce beautiful flowers each spring, just in time for Easter.

The most unique part of the legend is that the petals of the dogwood actually form the shape of a cross. Upon close examination, it can be seen that the blooms of the tree always have four petals. And the tips of each of the petals are indented, as if they bear a nailprint. There are even colors in the petals that bring to mind the drops of blood that spilled during the crucifixion.

To learn more about this unique legend, please visit our sister site on the historic community of Two Egg, Florida, at www.twoeggfla.com/dogwood and click the link for "Dogwood Tree Legend is a Two Egg Favorite." Here are links to some great places in the South to see dogwood trees in bloom:

• Muskogee Azalea Festival - Muskogee, Oklahoma
• Dogwood Canyon Nature Park - near Branson, Missouri
• Garvan Woodland Gardens - Hot Springs, Missouri
• Natchez Trace Parkway - Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee
• Dothan Area Botanical Gardens - Dothan, Alabama
• Maclay Gardens State Park - Tallahassee, Florida
• Callaway Gardens - Pine Mountain, Georgia

Snow Falls in Two Egg, Florida

For the first time in more than a decade, snow has fallen on our unique little community of Two Egg, Florida!

The Two Egg area joined the list of Southern communities receiving snowfall as the record-breaking winter continues. Two Egg doesn't see snow very often, but today it began to fall at around 3:30 p.m. and continued for more than an hour and a half as a winter weather advisory was issued across Northwest Florida by the National Weather Service.

Two Egg's last noticable snow was in the early 1990s, although there have been a few flurries over the years since. Today's snowfall was enough to dust the grass and cover the tops of cars and roofs. Nearby communities reported slightly heavier amounts.

If you would like to see more of today's Two Egg, Florida snow, please visit www.twoeggfla.com/snow2010.

Two Egg, Florida

It could very well be called America's hometown because no one seems to be able to so much as hear a mention of the quaint little community of Two Egg, Florida and not feel a smile cross their face.

Two Egg is located in Jackson County, about one hour west of Tallahassee. It is a place with no city services, no city taxes, no city restrictions and no city bad manners.

Founded before the Civil War, the community did not receive its unique name until the Great Depression. Today it is little more than a crossroads, but it may very well be the biggest little spot on the map in all of the American South!

If you would like to learn more about Two Egg, Florida (including the story of its unusual name), please visit our new website at www.twoeggfla.com.

The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge, Florida

Ghost stories and legends are a big part of the culture of the South. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories are signfiicant because like most legends they usually have a foundation in a real historical event. And sometimes, the real story is even more interesting than the legend!

This is definitely the case with the story of Florida's Ghost of Bellamy Bridge.

Bellamy Bridge, seen here, is a historic iron-frame structure spanning the Chipola River a few miles north of Marianna, Florida (and a few miles west of the famed Florida community of Two Egg). As the story goes, the bridge and swamps surrounding it are haunted by the ghost of Elizabeth Jane Bellamy. A darling of antebellum society, she supposedly burned to death after her wedding gown by accident touched either a candle or open fire during her reception.

Although there are several versions, the story has been part of the folklore of Northwest Florida for more than 100 years. Since I'm often asked about it, I started researching the legend a few years ago to find out the truth behind the ghost story. The results of the research proved far more interesting than the legend itself! I've begun a new series on Bellamy Bridge at our sister blog, Two Egg, Florida. If you are interested in learning more, just follow the link.

Books still available for Christmas

If you would like to obtain copies of Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts, The Battle of Marianna, Florida or The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida, it is still possible to have them delivered in time for Christmas.

I checked this morning and both http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/ still have copies in stock and are promising delivery by December 24th.

If you are in Northwest Florida, Chipola River Book and Tea at 4402 Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna (across the street from the Battle of Marianna monument) also has a few copies of each left.

Last chance to order for Christmas!

If you hope to order copies of any of my books in time for Christmas, this is pretty much your last chance. Due to mail volume this time of year, this weekend is the last opportunity to make sure that book shipments are delivered by Christmas day. If you order before Monday, they should make it.

Copies are available of all three: The Battle of Marianna, Florida, The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida, and Two Egg, Florida: A Collection of Ghost Stories, Legends and Unusual Facts.

You can order them online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/dalecox or through www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com or your favorite online bookstore. If you are in the Northwest Florida area, signed copies are available at Chipola River Book and Tea at 4402 Lafayette Street in downtown Marianna (on the same block as the Gazebo restaurant across the street from the Battle of Marianna monument).