Jump to content

Summerfield, Florida: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 29°00′30″N 82°02′06″W / 29.00833°N 82.03500°W / 29.00833; -82.03500
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
m cite news
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 60: Line 60:


===Whitesville/Summerfield History===
===Whitesville/Summerfield History===
Colonel Adam G. Summer moved to Marion County in 1856 from Pomaria, SC, and settled on 1,400 acres in an area called Watula, or Long Hammock. On the Summer Plantation, Col. Summer worked to develop improved livestock through crossbreeding and also began experimenting with different types of grasses. His primary interest, however, was in livestock, starting with cattle purchased from William Edwards in Micanopy, before importing blood strains from elsewhere, including six Brahman calves from the East Indies in 1860.
In 1856, Colonel Adam G. Summer relocated from Pomaria, SC, to Marion County, where he took up residence on a vast expanse of 1,400 acres known as Watula, or Long Hammock. Here, on what came to be known as the Summer Plantation, Colonel Summer dedicated himself to the enhancement of livestock through crossbreeding and initiated trials with various grass types. Livestock, particularly cattle initially acquired from William Edwards in Micanopy, captivated his interest, leading him to introduce new bloodlines from abroad.


By 1866, the Summer Plantation boasted fifty Brahma and other high-grade cattle, alongside other livestock. After the Civil War, Col. Summer established his former slaves on tracts of land, providing them with shacks and more autonomy. Unfortunately, Col. Summer's endeavors were cut short by his death in 1866.
The year 1860 saw Colonel Summer's importation of six Brahman calves from the East Indies, a move that also introduced Bremen geese, other poultry, several exquisite horses, and an English Foxhound to the plantation. By 1866, the plantation was home to fifty Brahma cattle of superior quality among other animals. Post-Civil War, Colonel Summer was notable for granting each of his former slaves a piece of land and a shack, providing them with a tangible form of independence. These freed individuals settled in a broad area stretching from Belleview to the Sumter County Line. Tragically, Colonel Summer's life and his agricultural and livestock projects concluded with his death in 1866.


Charles H. White settled in the community post-Civil War, serving as postmaster and opening the first general store on the present site of Summerfield's Methodist Church. The area, known as Watula, Long Hammock, featured various establishments including a school, blacksmith shop, and more, with unimproved land selling for $10 per acre.
After the Civil War, Charles H. White ventured to Florida, establishing himself in the community of Watula, Long Hammock. Taking on roles such as postmaster, he also inaugurated the first general store, situated where the Methodist Church of Summerfield stands today. This burgeoning community also boasted a school, blacksmith shop, sawmill, gristmill, cotton gin, Methodist church, an express telegraph office, and a shipping station. Land, yet to be cultivated, was sold at $10 an acre, with cotton, oranges, and vegetables being the primary crops.


The year 1873 marked the renaming of Watula, Long Hammock, to Whitesville, in honor of Charles H. White, located just three-quarters of a mile west of what is now Summerfield, along the northern shores of Summers Lake.
In 1873, the community was renamed Whitesville in honor of Charles H. White. It was located on the north bank of Summers Lake, west of today's Summerfield. However, a dispute with Fletcher Fink in 1880 over railway right of way led to Whitesville's decline, as the railway was rerouted, bypassing the town. It wasn't until 1887, with a new railroad station, that more settlers arrived, and in 1888, Whitesville was renamed Summerfield, in honor of Col. Adam G. Summer.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/uwf%3A17069#page/7/mode/1uphttps://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/uwf%3A17069#page/7/mode/1up | title= Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory Vol.1, dated 1886-1887 | work=Florida state gazetteer | date=Feb 21, 1887 | accessdate=6 June 2015 | </ref>

Fletcher Fink, owning the land north of Whitesville, rebuffed a 1880 railroad request for a right of way through his property. This refusal led the railroad to divert its route eastward, significantly impacting Whitesville by choosing not to establish a station there. This decision severely affected Whitesville, with a new station named Like Weir being established two miles east. A decade later, a spur connected this station directly to Lake Weir at Weirsdale.

In 1887, a resolution led to construction of a new railroad station in Whitesville, attracting more settlers from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama. By 1888, in tribute to Colonel Adam G. Summer, Whitesville's name was changed to Summerfield, commemorating its founding figure.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/uwf%3A17069#page/7/mode/1uphttps://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/uwf%3A17069#page/7/mode/1up | title= Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory Vol.1, dated 1886-1887 | work=Florida state gazetteer | date=February 21, 1887 | accessdate=6 June 2015 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 06:46, 9 March 2024

Summerfield, Florida
Post office of Summerfield, FL
Post office of Summerfield, FL
Summerfield is located in Florida
Summerfield
Summerfield
Summerfield is located in the United States
Summerfield
Summerfield
Coordinates: 29°00′30″N 82°02′06″W / 29.00833°N 82.03500°W / 29.00833; -82.03500
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyMarion
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
34491, 34492
Area code352

Summerfield is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is located near the intersection of US 301 and County Road 475A. The community is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.[1]

History

[edit]

A post office called Summerfield has been in operation since 1885.[2] The community was named for Col. Adam G. Summer, a local cattleman and land owner.[3]

Whitesville/Summerfield History

[edit]

In 1856, Colonel Adam G. Summer relocated from Pomaria, SC, to Marion County, where he took up residence on a vast expanse of 1,400 acres known as Watula, or Long Hammock. Here, on what came to be known as the Summer Plantation, Colonel Summer dedicated himself to the enhancement of livestock through crossbreeding and initiated trials with various grass types. Livestock, particularly cattle initially acquired from William Edwards in Micanopy, captivated his interest, leading him to introduce new bloodlines from abroad.

The year 1860 saw Colonel Summer's importation of six Brahman calves from the East Indies, a move that also introduced Bremen geese, other poultry, several exquisite horses, and an English Foxhound to the plantation. By 1866, the plantation was home to fifty Brahma cattle of superior quality among other animals. Post-Civil War, Colonel Summer was notable for granting each of his former slaves a piece of land and a shack, providing them with a tangible form of independence. These freed individuals settled in a broad area stretching from Belleview to the Sumter County Line. Tragically, Colonel Summer's life and his agricultural and livestock projects concluded with his death in 1866.

After the Civil War, Charles H. White ventured to Florida, establishing himself in the community of Watula, Long Hammock. Taking on roles such as postmaster, he also inaugurated the first general store, situated where the Methodist Church of Summerfield stands today. This burgeoning community also boasted a school, blacksmith shop, sawmill, gristmill, cotton gin, Methodist church, an express telegraph office, and a shipping station. Land, yet to be cultivated, was sold at $10 an acre, with cotton, oranges, and vegetables being the primary crops.

The year 1873 marked the renaming of Watula, Long Hammock, to Whitesville, in honor of Charles H. White, located just three-quarters of a mile west of what is now Summerfield, along the northern shores of Summers Lake.

Fletcher Fink, owning the land north of Whitesville, rebuffed a 1880 railroad request for a right of way through his property. This refusal led the railroad to divert its route eastward, significantly impacting Whitesville by choosing not to establish a station there. This decision severely affected Whitesville, with a new station named Like Weir being established two miles east. A decade later, a spur connected this station directly to Lake Weir at Weirsdale.

In 1887, a resolution led to construction of a new railroad station in Whitesville, attracting more settlers from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama. By 1888, in tribute to Colonel Adam G. Summer, Whitesville's name was changed to Summerfield, commemorating its founding figure.[4]

See also

[edit]

flag Florida portal

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Summerfield, FL". usa.com. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "Marion County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  3. ^ Frisaro, Freida Ratliff (February 21, 1988). "Indian heritage runs deep throughout Central Florida". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 63. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  4. ^ "Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory Vol.1, dated 1886-1887". Florida state gazetteer. February 21, 1887. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
[edit]