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The second-ever edition of the Tallahassee Democrat. Founder John Collins named the then-weekly paper in keeping with his promise to "follow the true and tried doctrines of the 'Old Time Democracy.' "(Photo: Democrat files)Buy Photo

For those who like researching history, the new online archive service of the Tallahassee Democrat can be addictive. One search leads to another and each yields intriguing revelations.

Here are a few nuggets found in a recent search of the 1.4 million pages of stories published by the Tallahassee Democrat since its founding in 1905.

Some Like It Hot

In the mid-20th century, the Democrat regularly ran standalone wire photos of bathing beauties, providing a bit of cheesecake in a buttoned-up era. Many of the women were Hollywood starlets making their first national appearances.

One of the most famous made her debut in the Democrat on Feb. 2, 1947: Marilyn Monroe, in a two-piece bathing suit. The caption said Monroe was 18 and had worked as a model and babysitter: One night, she went to babysit at the home of a movie talent scout. You guessed it. Now shes got a contract with 20th Century Fox.

Learn about the archives:Tallahassee Democrat archives are open

Tips and Tricks:Navigating the Tallahassee Democrat archives is simple

Birth of a legend, Part I

One of the most famous Tallahassee residents made his first appearance in the Democrat on Oct. 13, 1950: Bobby Bowden. The future legendary Florida State University football coach was then quarterback of the Howard Bulldogs, who lost to FSU in Doak Campbell Stadium. In the day before the story about the game, it was written: Howard is expected to pin its hopes for an upset on the passing of quarterback Bobby Bowden, a capable operator of the Bulldog T attack.

Birth of a legend, Part II

The great Florida A&M football coach Jake Gaither began his career at FAMU in 1938 as the lone assistant coach of head coach Bill Bell, a fact noted on Oct. 21, 1938. The adjectives began flowing the next year: On Oct. 6, 1939, Gaither was praised in a Democrat story as, the capable assistant of Bell who has built an enviable reputation for the sterling backfield combinations he has turned out.

Begin exploring the archives now

It seemed like a good idea

Lake Ella, named for the daughter of the man who once owned the lake and surrounding farm, became city property in the 1930s. The first reference to it in the Democrat is Nov. 12, 1933, when it hosted a livestock show (the fattest hogs, the sleekest bulls, the prettiest milkers in Leon County).

But the archives also track the history of Lake Ellas most famous residents. A small gaggle of 25 ducks and geese had taken up residency at the lake, when the Democrat carried a story March 24, 1957 in which City Manager Arvah Hopkins announced an agreement with wildlife officials to make the lake a refuge for injured geese and ducks who could no longer migrate.

Apparently, most of those ducks and geese were later killed by cars and dogs, so the city tried again on Nov. 28, 1961. Acting on a suggestion by businessman Payne Midyette, the city agreed to stock the lake with Mallard ducks and swans, and feed them from an island in the middle of the lake.

Not sure what happened to the swans, but dozens of ducks still call the lake home today.

Photos of actress Marilyn Monroe, center, ran four times in the Democrat in 1947, the year she appeared in her first two movies.(Photo: Democrat files)

Springtime of Yesteryear

For more than 40 years, the Springtime Tallahassee parade has proceeded south on Monroe Street to the Florida capitol. But it wasnt always that way. As the Democrat archives show, the parade wound around downtown its first five years (1968-1972).

In 1969, the parade traveled north on Monroe Street from the old Capitol, turned west on the south side of divided Park Avenue, turned south on Adams and finished at the old Capitol. In 1978, it proceeded north on Adams from the old Capitol, turned east on Call Street, then south on Monroe and finished at the old Capitol.

In September 1972, Adams Street was closed at Pensacola Street for construction of the new Capitol just west of the old Capitol and every Springtime Tallahassee parade since has traveled south on Monroe Street.

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Current Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum made his first appearances in the Democrat in Febburary 2000, as a FAMU student leader organizing protests against Gov. Jeb Bush's ending of affirmative action guidelines.(Photo: Democrat files)

The road to the mansion began in 2000

Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum began his political career more than 17 years ago as president of the student senate at Florida A&M.

Gillums first mention in the Democrat was Feb. 1, 2000, when he was among the 50 students at a FAMU meeting questioning Gov. Jeb Bushs One Florida initiative to remove racial considerations from state university admissions and the awarding of state contracts.

A week later, Feb. 9, 2000, the baby-faced and bespectacled Gillum led 2,000 FAMU students on a march to the capitol to protest One Florida, which was followed a month later by a rally that drew thousands of protesters from around the state.

One Florida passed. But Gillum has kept moving forward. In 2001, he was elected FAMUs student government president. In 2003, he was elected to the Tallahassee city commission becoming, at 23, the youngest commission member in history. He was elected mayor in 2014, and now he is running for governor.

All the news that fits to print

Newspapers often miss stories as our critics are wont to point out. And there are many milestones, events and people the Democrat did not track as assiduously as we could have. Two examples:

The Democrat's front page the day after Sept. 11, 2001.(Photo: Democrat files)

Centennial Field was Tallahassees chief sports and civic arena from 1924 to 1975. It was home to baseball and football games, boxing and wrestling matches, high school graduations and many other events. Construction of Centennial Field was one of the chief accomplishments of the citys 100th anniversary celebration in 1924 as noted years later in an interview with Florida Secretary of State, R.A. Gray, who served as centennial chairman.

Oddly, however, it appears the Democrat never wrote any stories about the city commission decision to build Tallahassees first stadium. The first mention is a story on Nov. 13, 1924 about the next days football game between visiting Madison High and Tallahassees Leon High being played at Centennial Field.

Similarly, the paper apparently never wrote a story about Clinton Street being renamed College Avenue by the city council which happened in 1909, according to a 1929 story.

Maybe such a story was unnecessary. Starting in 1906, the Democrat began referring to Clinton Street as the College Avenue in stories or put the name in parentheses after Clinton Street (College Avenue). By June 25, 1909, the Democrat no longer used quote marks or parentheses. And a Sept. 20, 1936 story explained the presence of FSU at the west end of the street meant Everybody said College Avenue ignoring Clinton Street.

Clinton Street was named in 1826, when Tallahassee streets were first laid out. Historians are unsure whether it honors two-time U.S. Vice President George Clinton or his nephew, New York governor DeWitt Clinton, who spearheaded construction of the Erie Canal.

Gerald Ensley is a retired Democrat reporter. He can be contacted at geraldensley21@gmail.com.

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A collection of fascinating finds in the Tallahassee Democrat archives - Tallahassee.com