Special Exhibit: Vintage Office – Relics from City Hall’s Past

The Carrabelle History Museum is pleased to share a special display, “Vintage Office – Relics from City Hall’s Past”. This display is open now through Sunday, June 1. This unique exhibit offers a nostalgic look into the daily workings of Carrabelle’s city government and the tools that helped keep the city running. Visitors can explore the exhibit at the Carrabelle History Museum on Wednesdays from 12 to 5 pm ET, Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm ET, and Sundays from 12 to 5 pm ET. Admission is free, with donations warmly welcomed.

Step back in time and explore original artifacts from Carrabelle’s historic City Hall office. This fascinating display features an authentic 1953 Underwood Standard Typewriter used by the Assistance City Clerk Mary Mathes, a mechanical adding machine, official city log books, a municipal court log from the 1940s (showing lots of charges of fighting and disorderly conduct), and a small black book belonging to City Clerk Charles Lee Daniels. Visitors can also see vintage receipt books, the original city seal stamp, and an assortment of rubber stamps once used for municipal business—each item offering a tangible link to Carrabelle’s mid-20th century administration.

Typewriters revolutionized record keeping. Before their widespread use, government staff painstakingly hand wrote every record. The introduction of typewriters marked a new era of efficiency and organization in municipal operations.

Whether you’re a history buff, longtime local, or curious visitor, this special exhibit brings to life the everyday workings of Carrabelle’s past and celebrates the people  and processes behind the paperwork.