Hernando County used to be known as the ‘Home of the Tangerine.’ The soil in Hernando County is said to be well suited to the growing of tangerines. In addition to tangerines, many other citrus grow well in the county.

Hernando County has a long history with oranges. It is thought that the first commercial oranges in the area were planted by Frederick Lykes in 1851. Other settlers had planted oranges in the area earlier, but are not believed to have attempted commercial planting.
The first bank in Hernando County was the Brooksville State Bank and was established in 1890. The bank was highly reliant on the Citrus. Citrus was the area’s major cash crop and at the time had an estimated 300,000 trees planted in the area. The winter of 1894 to 1895 was very cold and much of the citrus was lost. These losses contributed to the the bank closing in 1897.

A few years after the freeze several small groves were started. In 1905, J. J. Bell established a small orange packing plant. In 1908, Bell and other prominent orange growers decided to establish the Brookville Citrus Growers Association. This association built a packing facility on South Main. The marketing and growing of tangerines in the area was pushed by the association. This association lasted until a big freeze hit in the winter of 1984 to 1985.

Oranges were part of the inspiration for the editor of a daily Czechoslovakian newspaper Joseph Joscak, to start a column that advocated moving to warm Florida which led to the creation of Masaryktown. Many of his readers were working in mines and factories in the north and read his column which extolled the virtues of moving to the warm climate and the farming.

He had a number of interested Czechoslovakians and started to look for a spot to start a farming community. They formed a corporation to invest in land. He had found information about land available near Orlando and Brooksville. The corporation elected a committee of five men to check out the land. The Orlando land was found to be swampy, but the Hernando land they deemed acceptable, in part because there were existing groves in the area. The Hernando Plantation Co. as they named the corporation purchased around 10,000 acres about 10 miles south of Brooksville. This area became Masaryktown.

The orange industry has had a great impact on the county. Local historian Frasier Mountain wrote that a local company developed a “technique of sectionizing orange and grapefruit and canned them in glass mason jars.” He explained further, “They had a production line of probably 50 mostly women of the community on an individual contract for pay, by the bushels of oranges they could get done in a day… It was a very efficient and clean atmosphere… the peelings were sold back to the growers as fertilizer for the groves… Some of the buildings of the firm still exist, long since abandoned… the building (existing) on the corner of Main Street and MLK Avenue, is a 5,000 square foot refrigerated Freezing 15 degree warehouse, used in later years for storage of concentrate and fresh juice… F&M Packing Co, (Florida and Michigan) the Family firm also had a large plant to process Cherries in Michigan, so each plant was in production about 6 months out of the year and the Brayton, (McCool) family and some of the hired help made the trip twice a year becoming local city leaders in both places...Brooksville and Traverse City, MI.”

Citrus also acted as an alluring symbol attracting people to the area. At this point there is very little commercial citrus, Hernando is producing half of the citrus that it produced in 2008-2009.

Even though there has been a drop in commercial production, this is still an excellent place to grow citrus. Oranges require a certain amount of cold to develop full sweetness, but cannot be below freezing for a long time, so the best areas to grow citrus is limited. You can buy trees from Lowes, Home Depot, or Boyette’s Grove and try your hand at growing oranges.

This past weekend, shots rang out across the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, in commemoration of the 181st anniversary of Dade’s Battle. The actual battle took place just a little distance away from where The Dade Battlefield Society, Inc. performed the reenactment - the battle which started the Second Seminole War (that lasted 7 years).

On December 28th, 1835, 108 U.S. soldiers, who were led by Major Francis Langhorne Dade, were attacked by surprise by Seminole Indians on their journey to Fort King (now Ocala) from Fort Brooke, in Tampa. After the battle was finished, there were only three soldiers that survived.

The Reenactment and Trade Fair were dedicated to Jerry Robertson and Jerry Vaughn - dedicated members of the Society who passed away recently.

Attending the events on Sunday, before the reenactment began, there was a demonstration which highlighted the various pieces of equipment that both the Seminoles and the U.S. soldiers most likely would have used, as well as the type of clothing they would have worn. Several presenters spoke to the crowd, the Color Guard Ceremony took place, and the audience stood for the National Anthem.

Afterwards, the reenactment transported the spectators back in time, allowing them to hear and see what it might have been like on that day. The reenactors dressed as U.S. soldiers, walked along a path, when a sudden shot was fired, beginning the battle. Audience members witnessed the Seminole reenactors firing while running in and out of sight on foot and horseback, calling to each other, while the U.S. soldiers fired their guns and a cannon into the forest, taking shelter behind a barricade that was built by the reenactors as the battle continued.

Throughout the event, the narrator Frank Laumer, helped to guide spectators through the battle, as Pvt. Ransom Clark. It was explained that he’s been very involved for many years, but that this would be his last narration. He received a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the battle.

During that weekend, along with the reenactment, there were sutlers and vendors on the grounds as well as military and Seminole camps.

After the reenactment finished, individuals had the opportunity to speak with the reenactors and take photos. Speaking with two reenactors (a Seminole and a U.S. soldier reenactor) it was clear that there is a great deal of dedication and love of history involved in organizing and participating in the events.

The US Soldier reenactor who has been involved in a number of different types of reenactments said that while there might not be a significant difference between doing the Civil War and the Second Seminole War reenactments, there are distinct differences that you have to learn like the way one shoulders, lifts and fires the weapon.

“I don’t consider this a reenactment,” he explained. “This is honoring the dead here. And this isn’t a costume, this is a United States Army uniform that we wear.”
I spoke to a Seminole reenactor, who was working with a horse. He said, “I do this for a living, so I work with this stuff every day… I do school shows, and festivals, historical sites. I do encampments, educational programs on history and culture.”

If you’re interested in becoming involved in events like this, reenactors stressed that it’s important to come to the events, talk to the people and look online to see what’s out there. Experienced reenactors can help you find out how to get started, with things like where to buy or how make the equipment you need.
The Dade Battlefield Society Inc., which is, “a nonprofit citizen support organization,” can be found online at https://www.dadebattlefield.com/. The address for the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is 7200 CR 603, Bushnell, FL 33513.

More information about the park itself can be found online at: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Dade-Battlefield

Later this year, other events will be held at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, including a World War II Weekend on March 4th and 5th of 2017, as well as the 7th annual Inter-Tribal Holiday Pow-Wow, presented by Pan-O-Kee Native American Tribe of Central Florida, September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2017.

In recent issues, we’ve been focusing on Brooksville’s historic murals and the history that is behind them. This week we’ll be discussing the history behind the mural, "Early Physicians of Brooksville" located in the SunTrust lot off of Main Street.

In 2003, this mural was sponsored by Victor Heins and the Hernando County Tourism Bureau and was the third mural that was completed. The mural was designed and painted by local artist Diane Becker, and features Dr. Creekmore, Dr. Harvard, Dr. Sheldon Stringer Sr., and Dr. Lykes. The portraits mimic that of old, sepia colored photographs, and depict doctors who were landholders, community leaders, and philanthropists.

Dr. Creekmore - One of the founders of Hernando County Hospital in 1925, Dr. Creekmore started his practice in 1906, and continued to do so until his death at 90 years old. Interestingly, his office was located over what is now the Main Street Eatery.

Dr. Harvard - Dr. Harvard was the son of a doctor and passed away in 1964, but continued to work in the community until that time. He earned his medical degree in 1930, and if you head to the town’s museum, you can find the bag he used when making house calls.

Dr. Sheldon Stringer Sr. - On the tour, Mrs. Rupe explained, “He lived in the house at the May museum, which was once the Stringer House, and he added a room for his medical practice, and if you go to the, ‘Doctors Room,’ at the museum, that was his office at that time.” Dr. Stringer (1834-1903) was a surgeon, druggist, and doctor, and in 1870, he wrote an 80 page speech about local education.

Dr. Lykes - At the age of 15, Howell T. Lykes came to the area and joined the Confederate Army. He handed his practice to Stringer Sr. (his brother in law) and he practiced medicine for two years when the war ended. Dr. Lykes had seven sons and they each joined the family business which was incorporated in 1910 as the Lykes Brothers. The main operations were moved to Tampa and they shipped cattle to Cuba aboard a three-masted wooden schooner. The family business was involved in industries like ranching, shipbuilding, sugar processing, and meat processing. Mrs. Rupe explained, “So the Lykes, a lot of them started here and now they’re all over Florida.” Over the course of 20 years, the family donated over $100,000 to the local hospital. What is now Bayfront Regional Hospital was previously Lykes Memorial Hospital, which had previously been Hernando County Hospital. The Lykes family homestead was the original Spring Hill. The Lykes Home is located on the north west side of the intersection of Fort Dade Avenue and Citrus Way. Most of the land that made up the original Lykes ranch is now part of the Cemex mine.

On Jan. 10, 2017, the BOCC approved the rezoning from AG/(Agricultural) to PDP(NC)/Planned Development Project (Neighborhood Commercial) with deviations for the historic Richloam General Store owned by Eric Burkes.

Burkes, a relative to the original owner and postmaster, is requesting to reopen the old country store which he plans to stock with 1 cent candy and items that were available in the 1930 time period. Burkes explained that the store used to be on a state road until 50 came through and the road was moved north.

Parking will be next to the store.

The rezoning, which was needed to reopen the store was unanimously approved.

The grand opening will be held Feb. 25 8AM - 4PM. The address is 38215 Richloam Clay Sink Rd; Webster, FL 33597.

On Jan. 21st, before the skies darkened and winds picked up, the 37th Annual Brooksville Raid Re-enactment took place. The re-enactment was supposed to continue on Sunday, but was unfortunately cancelled due to inclement weather. To coincide with this Civil War Battle re-enactment, one of the largest in the country, this article describes the primary conflicts that occurred in Hernando County.

During the Civil War there were two significant conflicts in Hernando County: the Battle of Bayport and the Brooksville Raid. The Hernando County area had come to the attention of the Union, because it was supplying the Confederacy with needed provisions.

The Battle of Bayport occurred on April 3, 1863. Seven launches and cutters were released from the U.S. warships Sagamore, Fort Henry and St. Lawrence. The four largest of the boats were armed with mortars, with the largest mortar being 24 inches.

Dawn found the raiders two miles outside of Bayport facing offshore wind and an outgoing tide. It took the attackers 2 hours to get through these to Bayport. This allowed the defenders to prepare for the coming attack.

There were six ships in port at the time. Four of the ships were run up into the salt flats and grounded. The Helen was found south of the main harbor and burned by the Union Forces. The remaining ship was a large schooner loaded with cotton, which was burned in the main harbor during the battle (most likely by Confederates to prevent its capture).

The port was defended by three companies of Confederate troops, commanded by Captain J.C. Chambers, Captain S.M.G. Gary and Captain Samuel E. Hope. The troops had built an earthwork battery on the main harbor. There were also rifle pits around. These rifle pits were adjacent to the battery and on a small area of high ground opposite the channel.

The battle between the Confederate soldiers and the Union sailors lasted 25 to 35 minutes. The Union cannon fire drove the Confederates from the battery. Two of the Union mortars had become disabled, because of intense usage, so the Union decided to withdraw.

Again in July of 1864 the Union decided to attack the area, since it was supplying the Confederacy. The idea was if the Confederate soldiers had no supplies, they would have to surrender. This attack would be referred to as "The Brooksville Raid."

The Union sent 240 soldiers by sea to disrupt the supplies coming from the area. They landed near Anclote River and headed north along the path. The troops were supplied by the 2nd Florida Cavalry (Union) and the 2nd U. S. Colored Infantry.

The Union troops burned a swath six miles wide. They confiscated livestock, grain, provisions and other supplies. Sometimes they set fire to barns, smokehouses, and houses. Some of the Union soldiers were locals of the area and knew where things were located.

The Confederate soldiers facing a superior force skirmished the Union soldiers as they advanced attacking and fading. There was no major battle since the Confederate volunteers did not want to directly engage the larger Union force and the Union soldiers were more interested in disrupting the supplies to Confederates than engaging their soldiers.

The raid netted the Union seven prisoners, 15 horses, 13 slaves and disrupted the Confederacy’s supply line. The clashes during the raid resulted in the deaths of five Confederates and three Union soldiers. The homes of a number of residents were destroyed including prominent Confederate officers Captain Hope, Captain Leslie, and Captain Hooker.

The Union saw the importance of Hernando County to the Confederacy as a supplier. They attacked the port and then the source of the supplies. The loss of supplies contributed to the defeat of the Confederacy.

The Whitehurst-Whidden-Stevenson Feud started in Hillsborough (Tarpon Springs) and took place mostly in Pasco County. Although a prominent Hernando Citizen John Washington Crum is thought to have also been a victim of this feud. The feud turned deadly with the killing of Tarpon Springs Marshall William Erastus Whitehurst on July 4, 1893.

The Tarpon Springs Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office both list Marshal William Erastus Whitehurst as an officer killed in the line of duty. Marshal Whitehurst was hired by the City of Tarpon Springs, but he was deputized by Hillsborough County. The City of Tarpon had requested that the Hillsborough Sheriff permanently station a deputy in the city, but the request was denied, so the City of Tarpon Springs hired their own lawman and had him deputized by the Hillsborough Sheriff. Mr. Whitehurst's father Walton served as a Florida House Representative for Hillsborough County in 1891.

On the Fourth of July, Tarpon Springs celebrated with a festival. Mr. Whitehurst participated in a contest where riders attempted to lance rings hanging from strings while riding at full speed. The marshal was called away from the festivities to deal with a drunken sponger, Bob Atwell, disturbing the peace.

Mr. Atwell resisted being arrested and his friend Constantine "Bud" Stevenson joined him in resisting the Marshal. In the ensuing struggle, the Marshal was shot and killed by Mr. Stevenson and a friend John McNeill. Tillet Whidden was also said to have been involved in the shootout on the side of the Marshal. Mr. Stevenson was severely wounded in the gunfight and passed out at the scene. Bob Atwell and John McNeill fled into the woods. With a posse out to avenge the Marshal, John McNeill surrendered to the Pasco County Sheriff in Dade City.

Bud Stevenson was badly injured in the shootout and was kept in a house in Tarpon Springs while he recovered under guard and protection of a deputy. On July 26, late at night, a large group of men attempted to take Mr. Stevenson. They held the deputy at gunpoint while the rest of the group attempted to enter the house. The Stevenson women who slept on the porch, awoke when the group tried to enter and a struggle ensuded. Two of the attackers went around the house and fired into the window, wounding Mr. Stevenson and killing a cousin of Stevenson, Henry Taylor Osteen.

The first trial of Stevenson and McNeill for the murder of Whitehurst took place almost a year later from May 22 to May 28, 1894. Stevenson was found guilty of murder in the first degree and McNeill was found guilty of manslaughter. On June 8th, Judge Barron Philips declared a mistrial and voided the convictions. At the second trial for Stevenson on December 20 to 22 1894, he was acquitted.

On July 26, 1895 the Whitehurst allies Dan and Crockett Whidden were killed in their camp on the Cootie River in Pasco. A group of men shot Dan and Crockett while they slept in their hammocks. Their workers were roused from their sleep by the gunfire and found the two deceased.

The murdered men were brothers to Tillet Whidden who was accused of a number of murders in the area. On May 29, 1896, The Tampa Morning Tribune reported that Tillet Whidden was found not guilty of murder. "This is the second trial of Tillet Whidden for murder during this session and he has been acquitted in both cases."

On June 12, 1896, the Daily Charlotte Observer reported on another murder "At Brooksville, Fla., Wednesday night, John W. Crum was shot and instantly killed by some unknown assassin. He was a delegate to the Democratic convention which met yesterday and came to town to meet his delegation, and was on his return home when he was killed." The Tampa morning Tribune reported "It is thought that Tillet Whidden is implicated in the tragedy as bitter animosity existed between the two. "

On February 3, 1897, Bud Stevenson was shot from ambush while planting watermelon on his farm near Hudson. Later that same year, William Edwards was shot while eating dinner at his home near Trilby. It was reported that this might have been retaliation for the killing of Mr. Stevenson as it was hypothesised that it was Mr. Edwards who assassinated Mr. Stevenson.

This feud shows how wild the area was at the turn of the 20th century. The number of deaths attributed to the feud vary from six to fourteen depending on the account. Often times men took the law into their own hands to settle their disputes and witnesses knew that the law could not protect them if they testified against them, so the trials often lead to acquittals.

Near where the Western Way Plaza now sits, in Brooksville, there was a replica UFO. It was built by John Reeves who reported that he frequently saw UFOs in that area.

He enjoyed taking walks through the sandy pine covered area around his home. He reported that on March 2, 1965 in the woods he came across a strange object sitting on the ground. The object was disc shaped and held up with four stilts keeping it a few feet off the ground. The disc was 40 feet in diameter and 9 feet tall at the center.

He said he saw strange creatures near the disc, which had a luminous skin. The creatures were tall and thin and their skin was porcelain smooth. The creatures carried a small square object which the creature held at chin level and made a bright flash of light.

John was startled and ran away. He was caught in the underbrush, tripped, and lost his eye glasses. The creature retrieved his glasses and dropped them near by him. The creature then returned to the disc, but dropped two things that resembled sheets of paper with odd writing. The disc then began rotating counterclockwise and ascended at a rapid speed.

Reeves told his story on a local radio station where he showed the sheets of paper. According to John, the Air Force visited him after his interview and confiscated the papers. The sheets were later returned to him, but they no longer had the odd writing and were thicker.

John says he continued to meet with the spacemen over the next few years. During walks he would meet with the spacemen.

On August 6, 1968, John states that space man asked him if he would like to go to the moon.

The trip to the Moon lasted a total of six hours. John said the space men's base was in a transparent dome on the Dark Side of the Moon.

While John was on the surface of the moon he used a medicine bottle to collect gray lunar dust and picked up a rock that looked like a crystal. John would show off the gray dust and rock when telling his story.

John's story and roadside UFO attracted attention. He was willing to tell his story to people that stopped by interested about the UFO he had built. For a while in the 60s and 70s Hernando County was referred to as the 'UFO Capital of the World.'

With the development of Spring Hill and the numerous Italian families that moved down from the Northeast, it seems like Hernando County is a prime spot for a 'Little Italy.'

The community of Spring Hill was founded in 1967 by the Mackle Brothers’ Deltona Development Corporation. The Mackle Brothers had already successfully started developments throughout Florida.

The marketing for Mackle Brothers was innovative. The Mackle Brothers set up a model home in Grand Central Station in New York City and a model home/sales center on Long Island, New York. They aggressively pushed their economical Florida homes to people living the the northeast . They sent salesman door to door in middle class neighborhoods in the northeast. The real estate in the northeast had greatly appreciated and a homeowner could trade an older home up north for a new home in Spring Hill of a similar size and still have a significant amount of money in their pocket. Many of the areas targeted by the Mackle Brothers contained large amounts of Italian Americans.

Nick Morana shared his memory of purchasing a lot in Spring Hill from his home in Natick, Massachusetts. A fellow came over on Sunday afternoon and showed him a map of Spring Hill. The lots were offered at $195 down and $28 a month for six years. He also took advantage of the Deltona Corporation's $99 weekend special. For $99 they would be flown to the Ocala or Gainesville airports. From there they would be bused to Spring Hill to see the community. They were put up at the Jack Tar Hotel in Clearwater with everything included. Nick reminisced, "We had a lot of fun." Nick moved down as a snowbird in 1979 and moved down permanently in 1982.

The $99 weekend special was part of the larger fly and buy program where the Deltona Corporation would fly potential buyers down on a McDonnell Douglas aircraft and have them play golf, see the community, and buy a lot in Spring Hill. Spring Hill opened to huge crowds in May of 1967. Sales of home sites at Spring Hill went very quickly and the 28,500 platted lots were mostly sold out in three years!

Large numbers of the new owners in Spring Hill were Italians. These new residents started a number of traditional Italian social clubs Knights of Columbus and Sons of Italy.

Daniel Webster, the area’s US Congressman, credited Italians in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus with helping to turn Florida to a red state. For years the Republicans had similar numbers in the State House, but had never been able to get the majority. As a representative in the State House, Webster explains, “For sixteen years, I was in the minority.” That was the case until the Republican leadership noticed the large groups of Italian Americans in Hernando, Pasco and some of the surrounding area. They started recruiting Italians to run for those offices, examples he provided were Paula Bono Dockery Mike Fasano and Heather Fiorentino. The strategy paid off and Republicans took control of the house in 1997. “They all won,” he said, “and we had the majority by one vote.” A Republican majority followed in the Senate.

It is interesting that although the Tampa area is home to many Italian Americans, there is not a "Little Italy," where there are Italian groceries, bakeries, meat markets and restaurants. Southeastern Ybor was known as 'Little Italy' for a while, but has since lost that designation as the Italians integrated into the larger community. Hernando could take the opportunity and create a 'Little Italy' of our own. This could be great way to create a draw to the community, offering the residents something that could be used everyday. It would also encourage small business and the local economy.

The waterfall on US19 almost had a different name on it. Spring Hill was not the first choice of the developers. The original name of the development was Spring Lake after the twenty mostly spring fed lakes that were scattered throughout the development’s property.

Spring Hill was developed by the Deltona Corporation. The Deltona Corporation was the development company that was formed by the Mackle Brothers: Elliott, Robert and Frank Jr. They had developments started in Marco Island and Deltona Lakes at the time, but their main focus was Spring Hill.

According to Frank E. Mackle III the son of Frank Jr. they purchased 21,440 acres for $5 million “but - true to the Three Mackle Firsts - only 15,000 of it would be included in the master plan.” The Three Mackle Firsts: 1. A Coordinated Growth Plan, 2. Limited Size (No larger than 15,000 acres), 3. A Central Water System to Every Lot. The Mackle Brothers set the remainder aside for future development. “The area had a gentle roll to it reaching 130 feet in elevation at its highest point,” said Frank E. Mackle III.

They chose the area, because heading north from Clearwater there was a development gap. As they headed north there was Tarpon Springs and then very little development until you reached Weeki Wachee Springs. So the Deltona Corporation decided that this was a prime area for a development.

They created a master plan that contained all the facilities necessary for a town. The plan included seven schools, 23 churches, and 500 acres of property zoned for commercial-business. They even had two golf courses laid out.

Frank E. Mackle III remembers, “During the planning process the working name for the community was Spring Lake (after the small town where Dad and the family summered) until it was discovered that there already was a Spring Lake, Florida.”

Spring Lake was a nearby community with a church and community center, so the Deltona Corporation had to choose a different name. Spring Lake still exists on the eastern side of Hernando County. The Mackle Brothers chose the name of another smaller nearby community, called Spring Hill. Spring Hill was the name of the Lykes Brothers’ home and the community that grew up around it at the Corner of Citrus Way and Fort Dade Avenue. This is why there is a Spring Hill Cemetery in that area.

The Spring Hill name was on maps for many years, but that referred to the Lykes Brothers’ home. In the 1960s, the Deltona Corporation appropriated the name for their development after being denied the name Spring Lake, because of a nearby town that was already using that name.

On the eastern outskirts of Hernando County, a few miles east of 75, about a half mile south of 50, down a limerock road stands a small general store and post office whose history is connected to several early industries of Florida: timber, turpentine, the railroad and agricultural development. Proprietors Eric and Donna Burkes, who also operate a sign production business, rebuilt the structure in 2016 as a way to attract customers. The Burkes began the sign business in their home next door three years ago, following Eric’s retirement from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

The business quickly outgrew the space. They decided to expand to the rear of the historic general store and post office once owned and operated by Eric’s uncle, Sid Brinson. The portion of the building that they use for the sign business was once the living quarters for the storekeeper. It is complete with a working fireplace constructed from bricks reclaimed from the remains of a turpentine still on the property.

It had always been Eric’s goal to renovate and reopen the store. Eric’s father John Brinson owned the property before him. John Brinson purchased it from his uncle Sid Brinson who operated the Post Office and General Store from 1920 until 1936. Eric explained, “The goal is to step into a 1920’s working general store but at the same time try to preserve the history.” They hope to be able to begin operating the post office over the summer under The USPS Village Postal Program. Fortunately Eric’s father John Brinson was able to see the store fully restored and operational before he passed away.

Eric Burkes has also preserved the history through a book he authored, History of Richloam. In the book he explains that Sid Brinson came to Florida in 1913 from Georgia to work as the Superintendent for the Schroeder Lumber Company. The Schroeder Lumber Company purchased several thousands of acres in an area known as “Kalon” in the 1890’s.

The Schroeder Lumber Company would harvest the trees for timber and then construct homes on the land to market and sell to potential buyers from the Northeast. They renamed the area “Richloam” because it means rich soil and was more helpful in selling the area to potential land buyers. The Schroeder Lumber Company owned a lodge where they would put up guests interested in purchasing property. Here they even maintained a farm where they would display a variety of crops that could grow in the area.

In his book, Burkes details the railroad that ran through the area, the Orange Belt Railroad which connected Sanford to Saint Petersburg. He explains that potential buyers would travel down to Richloam on the railroad. In 1902, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad purchased the line and eventually established “a Train Depot and Express Office” at the Richloam Store. Farmers shipped out their crops from the depot. Perhaps a token of the railroad’s wide reach, while rebuilding the general store, the Burkes discovered a ticket inside the wall for the Chicago Zoological Park, which opened in July 1934. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad aka “The Goat” ran through Richloam until 1967.

The Burkes found an assortment of other relics both in the walls and on the grounds of the Richloam Store including a hammer used in the 1928 re-construction of the store following a fire earlier that year. It is thought that the fire was started to cover up evidence of a robbery (a federal crime when a post office is involved).

Eric Burkes explained that the original 1928 metal structure of the Richloam general store remains, but the wood had been badly damaged by termites so he had to replace the majority of it. Before the renovation he said, “You could just about push the whole building down with your hands. It underwent a long drawn out process, but we’ve got it restored back to its original state.”

The store was originally called “Brinson and Boyett General Merchandise” as it was joint venture between Sid Brinson and Elbert “Son” H. Boyett. Boyett left the business sometime around 1929 as by 1930, Sid Brinson was the only name listed on the business license.

Along with the train depot, and the general store/post office, the property was also home to an ice house, a smokehouse and a turpentine still. The store served the people of Richloam and the surrounding areas, including the town of Slaughter and Clay Sink.

Sid Brinson closed the store and post office in 1936, the same year that Schroeder Land Company sold their last remaining 36,000 acres to the Federal Government for $3 an acre. The purchase was part of the US Land Resettlement Administration’s Withlacoochee Land Use Project. The goal of the US Land Resettlement Administration (RA) was to resettle "struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government." The RA was conceived by Rexford G. Tugwell, an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Columbia University professor. FDR established the RA by Executive Order and placed Tugwell at it's head. The RA obtained the land for what was to become the Withlacoochee State Forest from private landowners between 1936 and 1939 under the provisions of the U.S. Land Resettlement Administration.

After closing the store, Sid Brinson left for Sarasota to work again for the Schroeder Land Company. The State of Florida purchased Richloam from the federal government in 1958 through a land-lease agreement for $6.2 million with payment made over 25 years.

The Richloam General Store, now open for business again, is a nod to the early industries that drove the development of the area. It’s also a great place to appreciate a slower pace of life and chat with locals on the front porch. They offer locally made goods and penny candy. If you’re a Hernando County history enthusiast, a copy of Burkes’ book, A History of Richloam, belongs on your shelf. You can purchase it at the Richloam Store.

They are located at 38215 Richloam Clay Sink Rd, Webster, FL 33597 and open Monday through Friday 8 am - 4pm.

This past weekend, shots rang out across the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, in commemoration of the 181st anniversary of Dade’s Battle. The actual battle took place just a little distance away from where The Dade Battlefield Society, Inc. performed the reenactment - the battle which started the Second Seminole War (that lasted 7 years).

On December 28th, 1835, 108 U.S. soldiers, who were led by Major Francis Langhorne Dade, were attacked by surprise by Seminole Indians on their journey to Fort King (now Ocala) from Fort Brooke, in Tampa. After the battle was finished, there were only three soldiers that survived.

The Reenactment and Trade Fair were dedicated to Jerry Robertson and Jerry Vaughn - dedicated members of the Society who passed away recently.

Attending the events on Sunday, before the reenactment began, there was a demonstration which highlighted the various pieces of equipment that both the Seminoles and the U.S. soldiers most likely would have used, as well as the type of clothing they would have worn. Several presenters spoke to the crowd, the Color Guard Ceremony took place, and the audience stood for the National Anthem.

Afterwards, the reenactment transported the spectators back in time, allowing them to hear and see what it might have been like on that day. The reenactors dressed as U.S. soldiers, walked along a path, when a sudden shot was fired, beginning the battle. Audience members witnessed the Seminole reenactors firing while running in and out of sight on foot and horseback, calling to each other, while the U.S. soldiers fired their guns and a cannon into the forest, taking shelter behind a barricade that was built by the reenactors as the battle continued.

Throughout the event, the narrator Frank Laumer, helped to guide spectators through the battle, as Pvt. Ransom Clark. It was explained that he’s been very involved for many years, but that this would be his last narration. He received a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the battle.

During that weekend, along with the reenactment, there were sutlers and vendors on the grounds as well as military and Seminole camps.

After the reenactment finished, individuals had the opportunity to speak with the reenactors and take photos. Speaking with two reenactors (a Seminole and a U.S. soldier reenactor) it was clear that there is a great deal of dedication and love of history involved in organizing and participating in the events.

The US Soldier reenactor who has been involved in a number of different types of reenactments said that while there might not be a significant difference between doing the Civil War and the Second Seminole War reenactments, there are distinct differences that you have to learn like the way one shoulders, lifts and fires the weapon.

“I don’t consider this a reenactment,” he explained. “This is honoring the dead here. And this isn’t a costume, this is a United States Army uniform that we wear.”
I spoke to a Seminole reenactor, who was working with a horse. He said, “I do this for a living, so I work with this stuff every day… I do school shows, and festivals, historical sites. I do encampments, educational programs on history and culture.”

If you’re interested in becoming involved in events like this, reenactors stressed that it’s important to come to the events, talk to the people and look online to see what’s out there. Experienced reenactors can help you find out how to get started, with things like where to buy or how make the equipment you need.
The Dade Battlefield Society Inc., which is, “a nonprofit citizen support organization,” can be found online at https://www.dadebattlefield.com/. The address for the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is 7200 CR 603, Bushnell, FL 33513.

More information about the park itself can be found online at: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Dade-Battlefield

Later this year, other events will be held at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, including a World War II Weekend on March 4th and 5th of 2017, as well as the 7th annual Inter-Tribal Holiday Pow-Wow, presented by Pan-O-Kee Native American Tribe of Central Florida, September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2017.

In recent issues, we’ve been focusing on Brooksville’s historic murals and the history that is behind them. This week we’ll be discussing the history behind the mural, "Early Physicians of Brooksville" located in the SunTrust lot off of Main Street.

In 2003, this mural was sponsored by Victor Heins and the Hernando County Tourism Bureau and was the third mural that was completed. The mural was designed and painted by local artist Diane Becker, and features Dr. Creekmore, Dr. Harvard, Dr. Sheldon Stringer Sr., and Dr. Lykes. The portraits mimic that of old, sepia colored photographs, and depict doctors who were landholders, community leaders, and philanthropists.

Dr. Creekmore - One of the founders of Hernando County Hospital in 1925, Dr. Creekmore started his practice in 1906, and continued to do so until his death at 90 years old. Interestingly, his office was located over what is now the Main Street Eatery.

Dr. Harvard - Dr. Harvard was the son of a doctor and passed away in 1964, but continued to work in the community until that time. He earned his medical degree in 1930, and if you head to the town’s museum, you can find the bag he used when making house calls.

Dr. Sheldon Stringer Sr. - On the tour, Mrs. Rupe explained, “He lived in the house at the May museum, which was once the Stringer House, and he added a room for his medical practice, and if you go to the, ‘Doctors Room,’ at the museum, that was his office at that time.” Dr. Stringer (1834-1903) was a surgeon, druggist, and doctor, and in 1870, he wrote an 80 page speech about local education.

Dr. Lykes - At the age of 15, Howell T. Lykes came to the area and joined the Confederate Army. He handed his practice to Stringer Sr. (his brother in law) and he practiced medicine for two years when the war ended. Dr. Lykes had seven sons and they each joined the family business which was incorporated in 1910 as the Lykes Brothers. The main operations were moved to Tampa and they shipped cattle to Cuba aboard a three-masted wooden schooner. The family business was involved in industries like ranching, shipbuilding, sugar processing, and meat processing. Mrs. Rupe explained, “So the Lykes, a lot of them started here and now they’re all over Florida.” Over the course of 20 years, the family donated over $100,000 to the local hospital. What is now Bayfront Regional Hospital was previously Lykes Memorial Hospital, which had previously been Hernando County Hospital. The Lykes family homestead was the original Spring Hill. The Lykes Home is located on the north west side of the intersection of Fort Dade Avenue and Citrus Way. Most of the land that made up the original Lykes ranch is now part of the Cemex mine.

On Jan. 10, 2017, the BOCC approved the rezoning from AG/(Agricultural) to PDP(NC)/Planned Development Project (Neighborhood Commercial) with deviations for the historic Richloam General Store owned by Eric Burkes.

Burkes, a relative to the original owner and postmaster, is requesting to reopen the old country store which he plans to stock with 1 cent candy and items that were available in the 1930 time period. Burkes explained that the store used to be on a state road until 50 came through and the road was moved north.

Parking will be next to the store.

The rezoning, which was needed to reopen the store was unanimously approved.

The grand opening will be held Feb. 25 8AM - 4PM. The address is 38215 Richloam Clay Sink Rd; Webster, FL 33597.

On Jan. 21st, before the skies darkened and winds picked up, the 37th Annual Brooksville Raid Re-enactment took place. The re-enactment was supposed to continue on Sunday, but was unfortunately cancelled due to inclement weather. To coincide with this Civil War Battle re-enactment, one of the largest in the country, this article describes the primary conflicts that occurred in Hernando County.

During the Civil War there were two significant conflicts in Hernando County: the Battle of Bayport and the Brooksville Raid. The Hernando County area had come to the attention of the Union, because it was supplying the Confederacy with needed provisions.

The Battle of Bayport occurred on April 3, 1863. Seven launches and cutters were released from the U.S. warships Sagamore, Fort Henry and St. Lawrence. The four largest of the boats were armed with mortars, with the largest mortar being 24 inches.

Dawn found the raiders two miles outside of Bayport facing offshore wind and an outgoing tide. It took the attackers 2 hours to get through these to Bayport. This allowed the defenders to prepare for the coming attack.

There were six ships in port at the time. Four of the ships were run up into the salt flats and grounded. The Helen was found south of the main harbor and burned by the Union Forces. The remaining ship was a large schooner loaded with cotton, which was burned in the main harbor during the battle (most likely by Confederates to prevent its capture).

The port was defended by three companies of Confederate troops, commanded by Captain J.C. Chambers, Captain S.M.G. Gary and Captain Samuel E. Hope. The troops had built an earthwork battery on the main harbor. There were also rifle pits around. These rifle pits were adjacent to the battery and on a small area of high ground opposite the channel.

The battle between the Confederate soldiers and the Union sailors lasted 25 to 35 minutes. The Union cannon fire drove the Confederates from the battery. Two of the Union mortars had become disabled, because of intense usage, so the Union decided to withdraw.

Again in July of 1864 the Union decided to attack the area, since it was supplying the Confederacy. The idea was if the Confederate soldiers had no supplies, they would have to surrender. This attack would be referred to as "The Brooksville Raid."

The Union sent 240 soldiers by sea to disrupt the supplies coming from the area. They landed near Anclote River and headed north along the path. The troops were supplied by the 2nd Florida Cavalry (Union) and the 2nd U. S. Colored Infantry.

The Union troops burned a swath six miles wide. They confiscated livestock, grain, provisions and other supplies. Sometimes they set fire to barns, smokehouses, and houses. Some of the Union soldiers were locals of the area and knew where things were located.

The Confederate soldiers facing a superior force skirmished the Union soldiers as they advanced attacking and fading. There was no major battle since the Confederate volunteers did not want to directly engage the larger Union force and the Union soldiers were more interested in disrupting the supplies to Confederates than engaging their soldiers.

The raid netted the Union seven prisoners, 15 horses, 13 slaves and disrupted the Confederacy’s supply line. The clashes during the raid resulted in the deaths of five Confederates and three Union soldiers. The homes of a number of residents were destroyed including prominent Confederate officers Captain Hope, Captain Leslie, and Captain Hooker.

The Union saw the importance of Hernando County to the Confederacy as a supplier. They attacked the port and then the source of the supplies. The loss of supplies contributed to the defeat of the Confederacy.

The Whitehurst-Whidden-Stevenson Feud started in Hillsborough (Tarpon Springs) and took place mostly in Pasco County. Although a prominent Hernando Citizen John Washington Crum is thought to have also been a victim of this feud. The feud turned deadly with the killing of Tarpon Springs Marshall William Erastus Whitehurst on July 4, 1893.

The Tarpon Springs Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office both list Marshal William Erastus Whitehurst as an officer killed in the line of duty. Marshal Whitehurst was hired by the City of Tarpon Springs, but he was deputized by Hillsborough County. The City of Tarpon had requested that the Hillsborough Sheriff permanently station a deputy in the city, but the request was denied, so the City of Tarpon Springs hired their own lawman and had him deputized by the Hillsborough Sheriff. Mr. Whitehurst's father Walton served as a Florida House Representative for Hillsborough County in 1891.

On the Fourth of July, Tarpon Springs celebrated with a festival. Mr. Whitehurst participated in a contest where riders attempted to lance rings hanging from strings while riding at full speed. The marshal was called away from the festivities to deal with a drunken sponger, Bob Atwell, disturbing the peace.

Mr. Atwell resisted being arrested and his friend Constantine "Bud" Stevenson joined him in resisting the Marshal. In the ensuing struggle, the Marshal was shot and killed by Mr. Stevenson and a friend John McNeill. Tillet Whidden was also said to have been involved in the shootout on the side of the Marshal. Mr. Stevenson was severely wounded in the gunfight and passed out at the scene. Bob Atwell and John McNeill fled into the woods. With a posse out to avenge the Marshal, John McNeill surrendered to the Pasco County Sheriff in Dade City.

Bud Stevenson was badly injured in the shootout and was kept in a house in Tarpon Springs while he recovered under guard and protection of a deputy. On July 26, late at night, a large group of men attempted to take Mr. Stevenson. They held the deputy at gunpoint while the rest of the group attempted to enter the house. The Stevenson women who slept on the porch, awoke when the group tried to enter and a struggle ensuded. Two of the attackers went around the house and fired into the window, wounding Mr. Stevenson and killing a cousin of Stevenson, Henry Taylor Osteen.

The first trial of Stevenson and McNeill for the murder of Whitehurst took place almost a year later from May 22 to May 28, 1894. Stevenson was found guilty of murder in the first degree and McNeill was found guilty of manslaughter. On June 8th, Judge Barron Philips declared a mistrial and voided the convictions. At the second trial for Stevenson on December 20 to 22 1894, he was acquitted.

On July 26, 1895 the Whitehurst allies Dan and Crockett Whidden were killed in their camp on the Cootie River in Pasco. A group of men shot Dan and Crockett while they slept in their hammocks. Their workers were roused from their sleep by the gunfire and found the two deceased.

The murdered men were brothers to Tillet Whidden who was accused of a number of murders in the area. On May 29, 1896, The Tampa Morning Tribune reported that Tillet Whidden was found not guilty of murder. "This is the second trial of Tillet Whidden for murder during this session and he has been acquitted in both cases."

On June 12, 1896, the Daily Charlotte Observer reported on another murder "At Brooksville, Fla., Wednesday night, John W. Crum was shot and instantly killed by some unknown assassin. He was a delegate to the Democratic convention which met yesterday and came to town to meet his delegation, and was on his return home when he was killed." The Tampa morning Tribune reported "It is thought that Tillet Whidden is implicated in the tragedy as bitter animosity existed between the two. "

On February 3, 1897, Bud Stevenson was shot from ambush while planting watermelon on his farm near Hudson. Later that same year, William Edwards was shot while eating dinner at his home near Trilby. It was reported that this might have been retaliation for the killing of Mr. Stevenson as it was hypothesised that it was Mr. Edwards who assassinated Mr. Stevenson.

This feud shows how wild the area was at the turn of the 20th century. The number of deaths attributed to the feud vary from six to fourteen depending on the account. Often times men took the law into their own hands to settle their disputes and witnesses knew that the law could not protect them if they testified against them, so the trials often lead to acquittals.

Near where the Western Way Plaza now sits, in Brooksville, there was a replica UFO. It was built by John Reeves who reported that he frequently saw UFOs in that area.

He enjoyed taking walks through the sandy pine covered area around his home. He reported that on March 2, 1965 in the woods he came across a strange object sitting on the ground. The object was disc shaped and held up with four stilts keeping it a few feet off the ground. The disc was 40 feet in diameter and 9 feet tall at the center.

He said he saw strange creatures near the disc, which had a luminous skin. The creatures were tall and thin and their skin was porcelain smooth. The creatures carried a small square object which the creature held at chin level and made a bright flash of light.

John was startled and ran away. He was caught in the underbrush, tripped, and lost his eye glasses. The creature retrieved his glasses and dropped them near by him. The creature then returned to the disc, but dropped two things that resembled sheets of paper with odd writing. The disc then began rotating counterclockwise and ascended at a rapid speed.

Reeves told his story on a local radio station where he showed the sheets of paper. According to John, the Air Force visited him after his interview and confiscated the papers. The sheets were later returned to him, but they no longer had the odd writing and were thicker.

John says he continued to meet with the spacemen over the next few years. During walks he would meet with the spacemen.

On August 6, 1968, John states that space man asked him if he would like to go to the moon.

The trip to the Moon lasted a total of six hours. John said the space men's base was in a transparent dome on the Dark Side of the Moon.

While John was on the surface of the moon he used a medicine bottle to collect gray lunar dust and picked up a rock that looked like a crystal. John would show off the gray dust and rock when telling his story.

John's story and roadside UFO attracted attention. He was willing to tell his story to people that stopped by interested about the UFO he had built. For a while in the 60s and 70s Hernando County was referred to as the 'UFO Capital of the World.'

With the development of Spring Hill and the numerous Italian families that moved down from the Northeast, it seems like Hernando County is a prime spot for a 'Little Italy.'

The community of Spring Hill was founded in 1967 by the Mackle Brothers’ Deltona Development Corporation. The Mackle Brothers had already successfully started developments throughout Florida.

The marketing for Mackle Brothers was innovative. The Mackle Brothers set up a model home in Grand Central Station in New York City and a model home/sales center on Long Island, New York. They aggressively pushed their economical Florida homes to people living the the northeast . They sent salesman door to door in middle class neighborhoods in the northeast. The real estate in the northeast had greatly appreciated and a homeowner could trade an older home up north for a new home in Spring Hill of a similar size and still have a significant amount of money in their pocket. Many of the areas targeted by the Mackle Brothers contained large amounts of Italian Americans.

Nick Morana shared his memory of purchasing a lot in Spring Hill from his home in Natick, Massachusetts. A fellow came over on Sunday afternoon and showed him a map of Spring Hill. The lots were offered at $195 down and $28 a month for six years. He also took advantage of the Deltona Corporation's $99 weekend special. For $99 they would be flown to the Ocala or Gainesville airports. From there they would be bused to Spring Hill to see the community. They were put up at the Jack Tar Hotel in Clearwater with everything included. Nick reminisced, "We had a lot of fun." Nick moved down as a snowbird in 1979 and moved down permanently in 1982.

The $99 weekend special was part of the larger fly and buy program where the Deltona Corporation would fly potential buyers down on a McDonnell Douglas aircraft and have them play golf, see the community, and buy a lot in Spring Hill. Spring Hill opened to huge crowds in May of 1967. Sales of home sites at Spring Hill went very quickly and the 28,500 platted lots were mostly sold out in three years!

Large numbers of the new owners in Spring Hill were Italians. These new residents started a number of traditional Italian social clubs Knights of Columbus and Sons of Italy.

Daniel Webster, the area’s US Congressman, credited Italians in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus with helping to turn Florida to a red state. For years the Republicans had similar numbers in the State House, but had never been able to get the majority. As a representative in the State House, Webster explains, “For sixteen years, I was in the minority.” That was the case until the Republican leadership noticed the large groups of Italian Americans in Hernando, Pasco and some of the surrounding area. They started recruiting Italians to run for those offices, examples he provided were Paula Bono Dockery Mike Fasano and Heather Fiorentino. The strategy paid off and Republicans took control of the house in 1997. “They all won,” he said, “and we had the majority by one vote.” A Republican majority followed in the Senate.

It is interesting that although the Tampa area is home to many Italian Americans, there is not a "Little Italy," where there are Italian groceries, bakeries, meat markets and restaurants. Southeastern Ybor was known as 'Little Italy' for a while, but has since lost that designation as the Italians integrated into the larger community. Hernando could take the opportunity and create a 'Little Italy' of our own. This could be great way to create a draw to the community, offering the residents something that could be used everyday. It would also encourage small business and the local economy.

The waterfall on US19 almost had a different name on it. Spring Hill was not the first choice of the developers. The original name of the development was Spring Lake after the twenty mostly spring fed lakes that were scattered throughout the development’s property.

Spring Hill was developed by the Deltona Corporation. The Deltona Corporation was the development company that was formed by the Mackle Brothers: Elliott, Robert and Frank Jr. They had developments started in Marco Island and Deltona Lakes at the time, but their main focus was Spring Hill.

According to Frank E. Mackle III the son of Frank Jr. they purchased 21,440 acres for $5 million “but - true to the Three Mackle Firsts - only 15,000 of it would be included in the master plan.” The Three Mackle Firsts: 1. A Coordinated Growth Plan, 2. Limited Size (No larger than 15,000 acres), 3. A Central Water System to Every Lot. The Mackle Brothers set the remainder aside for future development. “The area had a gentle roll to it reaching 130 feet in elevation at its highest point,” said Frank E. Mackle III.

They chose the area, because heading north from Clearwater there was a development gap. As they headed north there was Tarpon Springs and then very little development until you reached Weeki Wachee Springs. So the Deltona Corporation decided that this was a prime area for a development.

They created a master plan that contained all the facilities necessary for a town. The plan included seven schools, 23 churches, and 500 acres of property zoned for commercial-business. They even had two golf courses laid out.

Frank E. Mackle III remembers, “During the planning process the working name for the community was Spring Lake (after the small town where Dad and the family summered) until it was discovered that there already was a Spring Lake, Florida.”

Spring Lake was a nearby community with a church and community center, so the Deltona Corporation had to choose a different name. Spring Lake still exists on the eastern side of Hernando County. The Mackle Brothers chose the name of another smaller nearby community, called Spring Hill. Spring Hill was the name of the Lykes Brothers’ home and the community that grew up around it at the Corner of Citrus Way and Fort Dade Avenue. This is why there is a Spring Hill Cemetery in that area.

The Spring Hill name was on maps for many years, but that referred to the Lykes Brothers’ home. In the 1960s, the Deltona Corporation appropriated the name for their development after being denied the name Spring Lake, because of a nearby town that was already using that name.

On the eastern outskirts of Hernando County, a few miles east of 75, about a half mile south of 50, down a limerock road stands a small general store and post office whose history is connected to several early industries of Florida: timber, turpentine, the railroad and agricultural development. Proprietors Eric and Donna Burkes, who also operate a sign production business, rebuilt the structure in 2016 as a way to attract customers. The Burkes began the sign business in their home next door three years ago, following Eric’s retirement from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

The business quickly outgrew the space. They decided to expand to the rear of the historic general store and post office once owned and operated by Eric’s uncle, Sid Brinson. The portion of the building that they use for the sign business was once the living quarters for the storekeeper. It is complete with a working fireplace constructed from bricks reclaimed from the remains of a turpentine still on the property.

It had always been Eric’s goal to renovate and reopen the store. Eric’s father John Brinson owned the property before him. John Brinson purchased it from his uncle Sid Brinson who operated the Post Office and General Store from 1920 until 1936. Eric explained, “The goal is to step into a 1920’s working general store but at the same time try to preserve the history.” They hope to be able to begin operating the post office over the summer under The USPS Village Postal Program. Fortunately Eric’s father John Brinson was able to see the store fully restored and operational before he passed away.

Eric Burkes has also preserved the history through a book he authored, History of Richloam. In the book he explains that Sid Brinson came to Florida in 1913 from Georgia to work as the Superintendent for the Schroeder Lumber Company. The Schroeder Lumber Company purchased several thousands of acres in an area known as “Kalon” in the 1890’s.

The Schroeder Lumber Company would harvest the trees for timber and then construct homes on the land to market and sell to potential buyers from the Northeast. They renamed the area “Richloam” because it means rich soil and was more helpful in selling the area to potential land buyers. The Schroeder Lumber Company owned a lodge where they would put up guests interested in purchasing property. Here they even maintained a farm where they would display a variety of crops that could grow in the area.

In his book, Burkes details the railroad that ran through the area, the Orange Belt Railroad which connected Sanford to Saint Petersburg. He explains that potential buyers would travel down to Richloam on the railroad. In 1902, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad purchased the line and eventually established “a Train Depot and Express Office” at the Richloam Store. Farmers shipped out their crops from the depot. Perhaps a token of the railroad’s wide reach, while rebuilding the general store, the Burkes discovered a ticket inside the wall for the Chicago Zoological Park, which opened in July 1934. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad aka “The Goat” ran through Richloam until 1967.

The Burkes found an assortment of other relics both in the walls and on the grounds of the Richloam Store including a hammer used in the 1928 re-construction of the store following a fire earlier that year. It is thought that the fire was started to cover up evidence of a robbery (a federal crime when a post office is involved).

Eric Burkes explained that the original 1928 metal structure of the Richloam general store remains, but the wood had been badly damaged by termites so he had to replace the majority of it. Before the renovation he said, “You could just about push the whole building down with your hands. It underwent a long drawn out process, but we’ve got it restored back to its original state.”

The store was originally called “Brinson and Boyett General Merchandise” as it was joint venture between Sid Brinson and Elbert “Son” H. Boyett. Boyett left the business sometime around 1929 as by 1930, Sid Brinson was the only name listed on the business license.

Along with the train depot, and the general store/post office, the property was also home to an ice house, a smokehouse and a turpentine still. The store served the people of Richloam and the surrounding areas, including the town of Slaughter and Clay Sink.

Sid Brinson closed the store and post office in 1936, the same year that Schroeder Land Company sold their last remaining 36,000 acres to the Federal Government for $3 an acre. The purchase was part of the US Land Resettlement Administration’s Withlacoochee Land Use Project. The goal of the US Land Resettlement Administration (RA) was to resettle "struggling urban and rural families to communities planned by the federal government." The RA was conceived by Rexford G. Tugwell, an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Columbia University professor. FDR established the RA by Executive Order and placed Tugwell at it's head. The RA obtained the land for what was to become the Withlacoochee State Forest from private landowners between 1936 and 1939 under the provisions of the U.S. Land Resettlement Administration.

After closing the store, Sid Brinson left for Sarasota to work again for the Schroeder Land Company. The State of Florida purchased Richloam from the federal government in 1958 through a land-lease agreement for $6.2 million with payment made over 25 years.

The Richloam General Store, now open for business again, is a nod to the early industries that drove the development of the area. It’s also a great place to appreciate a slower pace of life and chat with locals on the front porch. They offer locally made goods and penny candy. If you’re a Hernando County history enthusiast, a copy of Burkes’ book, A History of Richloam, belongs on your shelf. You can purchase it at the Richloam Store.

They are located at 38215 Richloam Clay Sink Rd, Webster, FL 33597 and open Monday through Friday 8 am - 4pm.

The genesis of the Brooksville Army field now known as the Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport came during World War II. A multi-county committee representing the Hernando County Chamber of Commerce met with US Senator Claude Pepper asking for his help in convincing the Army Air Force to create an army base on the lands controlled by the Withlacoochee Forest land use development program. The committee was comprised of John Wallace who served as Project Manager for the creation of the Withlacoochee Forest for the Resettlement Administration, Sheriff Neil F. Law of Hernando County, Hernando County Businessman Alfred A. McKethan, Sheriff Bill Coleman of Sumter County, Citrus County Businessman Frank D. Sanders and Pasco County legislator George F. Dayton.

The idea to develop an airport in the Hernando County area was well received and Senator Pepper proved persuasive to the Air Force. Shortly after the trip, several Air Force officers came from Maxwell Field, Alabama to examine possible locations. They were shown several areas in the Withlacoochee Forest and one area near Masaryktown which was not part of the Withlacoochee Forest. The officers were impressed by the area near Masaryktown. The land was placed under emergency proceedings and construction of the airport proceeded quickly with it entering service in November 1942.

During World War II, the airfield started as a base for the 1st Bombardment Squadron which was equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress. In the beginning of 1944, the 1st was transferred to Texas and they were replaced by the 5th, 99th and 430th. Those squadrons were then transferred to Texas leaving their planes behind at the airfield.

With the end of the war, the Air Force closed the facility. In 1945, it was transferred to civil hands and renamed the Hernando County Airport, which was in turn renamed the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport in 2013.

The airport currently encompasses 2,498 acres and has two runways. On October 15, 2012, the airport opened an air traffic control tower, which was the first time it operated an air traffic control tower since World War II.

In 1943, the Army acquired 10,200 Acres for training aerial gunners. The location is south of Centralia Road (Co Rd 476), east of Melanie Ave. and west of Citrus Way. They built a moving target system in which a jeep with attached target above went around a track.

Soldiers in training fired .50 caliber machine guns at the target. Other training activities included jungle warfare, rifle firing practice, rifle grenades, bazookas, mortars and antitank guns. By November 1946, the Army disbanded the training grounds due to the end of WWII.

Some of the munitions may still be in this location and if you find a munition it is recommended to call 911.

According to historian Frasier Mountain, there was an army radar at Bayport in support of the airport. In addition to the radar, the army also used the area in survival training and built causeways between the islands.

There is also said to have been a radar on Pine Island in support of the navy. In Douglas Waitley's Best Backroads of Florida: Beaches and Hills he says, "Pine Island supported a beautiful stand of longleaf pines, but, during World War II, the trees were felled so as not to interfere with the anti-submarine radar station built here."

After the war, some of the surplused equipment was used to log throughout the county. The heavy pieces of equipment were used to drag trees out of remote areas in the county. There are also a number of Quonset huts some of which were surplused after World War II.

World War II greatly affected Florida and Hernando County. Many of the young men stationed in Florida never forgot the area and returned in later life. In fact a large part of the migration to Florida can be traced directly back to the people stationed there for World War II.