June 2017 | 21
stories they’ve carried throughout the years,
changing hands from owner to barman as they
paid the price of a stiff drink and earned pride
of place on hallowed walls.
Notably among them is a saddle from
John Wayne, a uniform worn by a member
of the Thunderbirds crew, one of Bob
Hope’s fl ight suits, and countless signed
photos of celebrities and prominent military
personnel who made Trader Jon’s a stop on
their itinerary as well as numerous bits and
bobs such as uniform patches, decals, and
insignias.
It’s a testament of sorts to his ability to
make friends and fi nagle the most unusual
items in return for a generous pour, a silent
answer to his ever-famous question: “What
did you bring me?” Never one to turn down
the opportunity to add to his collection,
Trader Jon turned trading into an art form,
making it a currency worth far more than
actual money could ever match.
The bar operated from the early 1950’s
when Trader Jon purchased it until 1998, a
year after a stroke left him unable to run the
bar on his own. Proving that Trader Jon’s was
no mere tavern but an irreplaceable piece of
America’s past, it was made a historic site in
1992; and when threat of being lost loomed
large, Trader Jon’s Preservation Squadron
was formed under the leadership of former
Blue Angels fl ight leader Captain Bob Stumpf
and US Marine Corps Major Ken Bolin, who
joined forces in an effort to raise funds to
buy the property. Despite raising $300,000,
however, the mission failed; and after
enjoying three brief years of revival from 2000
until 2003 under new ownership, Trader Jon’s
days came to an ultimate end.
Even after the doors permanently
closed, the law fi rm of Aylstock, Witkin &
Sasser saw the need to preserve the essence
of Trader Jon’s and purchased the entire
collection to donate to the Naval Aviation
Museum Foundation. Later transferred to the
University of West Florida, the collection is
now on exhibit at the Wentworth Museum.
“The purpose of this exhibit is really
to recreate one of Pensacola’s iconic
establishments and share artifacts from the
bar with the public,” says Robert Overton,
Jr., Executive Director of the UWF Historic
Trust. “Our greatest hope is that this exhibit
will bring back fond
memories for those
who visited the bar
during its years of
operation, and we
feel that Trader Jon’s
served as a memorial
to our military—and
Naval aviation, in
particular—and, by
extension, that the
exhibit will serve
as one, as well,” he
continues. “The T.
T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum is the gateway
to Pensacola’s history, preserving artifacts
from the rich and diverse history of the fi rst
multi-year European settlement in the United
States, and that’s a source of pride for our
community. The museum is also a driver of
cultural and heritage tourism, which has a
positive economic impact on our region; and
having Trader Jon’s as one of our exhibits is
extremely important in providing visitors a
more complete picture of the city’s past.”
It’s a picture unlike any other, created
by a man who valued a good treasure and a
good tale far more than turning a profi t. And
for anyone who remembers those glory days
when Trader Jon’s was open for business, it’s a
return to a time and a place where history was
unfolding every moment, and you never knew
who—or what—you would see when you
walked through the door.
The T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State
Museum is located at 330 South Jefferson
Street, Pensacola, Florida 32502. Open
Tuesday- Wednesday 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.;
Thursday- Saturday 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.;
and Sunday 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. For
more information on admission prices and
exhibits, call (850) 595-5985 or visit
www.historicpensacola.org.
“Our greatest hope is that this exhibit will bring back fond memories for those who
visited the bar during its years of operation, and we feel that Trader Jon’s served as a
memorial to our military—and Naval aviation, in particular—and, by extension, that the
exhibit will serve as one, as well.”
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