Lost Suwannee County

by Eric Musgrove

Overview

Suwannee County is filled with forgotten echoes of its lost past, from demolished pioneer homes to defunct railroads to lost forts from the Seminole Wars. In the 1830s, ecotourism arrived. Local sulfur springs, with their grand hotels and health resorts, drew travelers from around the world for a dip in the same healing waters of the Suwannee River traversed by steamboats. Thundering iron horses brought citizens and industry into the county, making Live Oak one of the largest cities in Florida in the early twentieth century. Landmarks and communities like the opulent Suwannee Springs resort and the once-flourishing riverbank town of Columbus disappeared in the face of progress. Lifelong resident and historian Eric Musgrove launches an entertaining and informative journey through Suwannee County's lost history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625858238
Publisher:	History Press, The
Publication date:	07/17/2017
Series:	Lost
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Eric Musgrove is a seventh-generation native of Suwannee County, Florida. Growing up on the family's country homestead, he quickly developed a love for history that has remained strong through his life. Eric has been the youngest member of the Suwannee County Historical Commission since he was appointed to it in 2003. He was treasurer from 2008 to 2014 and, since October 2014, has served as its chairman. He is a frequent presenter of local history and has been mentioned in the New York Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune, among hundreds of other prominent national and international newspapers. In early 2012, Eric was awarded the 2011 Trailblazer Award by the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his work in preserving and presenting local history. Since 2013, he has published a weekly historical column for one of Suwannee County's local newspapers, the Suwannee Democrat.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction 11

Part I Forgotten People and Events

1 Presidential Conspirator: Lewis Thornton Powell 17

2 Politics as Usual: The Selection of the County Seat 22

3 Jack-of-All-Trades: Gus Potsdamer 34

4 Man's Best Friend: Beulah the Dog 44

5 Leasing the Moon 48

6 "I Was a Pilot Flying an Airplane": Barbara Moore 51

Part II Faded Memories

7 "Education Is the Key to Unlock the Golden Door of Freedom": African American Schools of Higher Learning 59

8 "What's in a Name?": Suwannee County Streets 66

9 A Millionaire's Dream: The Hillman Bridge 82

10 Lost Landmarks 88

Part III Lost Ways of Life

11 Early Florida Tourism, Suwannee Springs Style 97

12 Ghost Town: Columbus 103

13 Steamboating on the Suwannee 108

14 The Iron Horse Makes Its Mark 125

15 Convict Leasing System 139

16 Former Towns and Lost Communities 152

Conclusion 165

Bibliography 167

Index 169

About the Author 175