Mansfield, Haigler inducted into Trenton Hall of Fame
By Carrie A. Mizell
Trenton native Mary Jo Mansfield is shown acceting a plaque acknowledging her as a new member of Trenton Hall of Fame from Mayor Glen Thigpen. Mansfield is joined by her daughter, Melanie Dorminey and son-in-law, Dale Dorminey.
Trenton City Commissioners passed a resolution on Monday evening inducting Mary Jo Mansfield and the late John F. Haigler into the Trenton Hall of Fame.
Mayor Glen Thigpen signed Resolution No. 2009-02, which states that both Mansfield and Haigler have made significant and substantial contributions to the City of Trenton and its residents and businesses.
Mansfield is a Trenton native and a Florida State University graduate, who taught elementary education, primarily music, for 41 years. During her tenure as an educator, Mansfield taught in Gilchrist County for 28 years, having worked at both Bell Elementary School and Trenton Elementary School. Since retiring, Mansfield has worked as a volunteer and a substitute teacher. She is actively involved with Gilchrist County Character Council and AARP. Mansfield is also president of Gilchrist/Levy County Retired Educators Association and Chairwoman of the Gilchrist County Woman’s Club Membership Committee.
The late John F. Haigler (1886-1965) was known around Trenton as a shrewd, but generous man, fun-loving and fond of good jokes.
He was the one who built the Coca Cola Bottling Plant in Trenton, which is today the Suwannee Valley Quilt Shoppe. Haigler also bought out the Coca Cola plants in Bronson and Williston, which made it possible for his business to serve the tri-county area.
Bottles from the Trenton plant have either “Trenton, Florida” or “Haigler” stamped on their bottoms. Today, the Suwannee Valley Rose Café, located in the Quilt Shoppe, has some of these bottles on display at each table.
In the old days, Haigler welcomed kids who wanted to stop by and tour the Coca Cola Bottling Plant. Each kid was given a warm coke, paper and a pencil as gifts for stopping by.
According to an excerpt from “Gilchrist County, Its History and Its People,” one year J.F. Haigler found out five children were unable to afford lunch at the Trenton School. He went to the principal and personally wrote out a check for their lunches for the rest of the school term. Haigler also had a first grade/kindergarten teacher named Gertrude Sapp look for children in need at the Trenton School. Then he would have them brought to Bill Lazarus’ Fair Store to get new clothes. He did this service, as well as numerous others, for years without telling anyone.
