Near Mulberry in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Pierce

Photographed By Dean Moss McCracken, January 16, 2017

1. Pierce Marker

Inscription. On this site stood the phosphate mining town of Pierce. It was one of many company-owned mining towns and villages that once populated Polk County. Pierce was started in April 1906 by the Pierce Phosphate Company. This company was acquired in October 1906 by the American Agricultural Chemical Company, which owned and operated the town until it was disbanded in 1954-55. Pierce was one of the largest mining towns in Bone Valley, with more than 1,000 residents by 1940. In addition to a drying plant for the phosphate mined nearby, Pierce had houses, schools, a church, a commissary, and a hospital for the company's workers and their families. Housing and utilities were provided to residents for a modest monthly fee. Such mining towns were necessary in the early days of Bone Valley phosphate mining, since there were few roads and few automobiles. By the 1950s, workers could commute to their jobs, and the mining towns ceased to be necessary.

Erected 2015 by The Polk County Historical Commission and Friends of Pierce. (Marker Number PCHC-018.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1906.

Location. 27° 49.824′ N, 81° 58.235′ W. Marker

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is near Mulberry, Florida, in Polk County. Marker is on Old State Road 37 N, 0.3 miles south of Pebbledale Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5000 Old State Highway 37 North, Mulberry FL 33860, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Mulberry Tree (approx. 4.4 miles away); The Mulberry Time Capsule (approx. 4.4 miles away); Historical Citrus Planting (approx. 4.4 miles away); Phosphate Area War Memorial (approx. 4.4 miles away); In Memorium to Cecil B. Strange (approx. 4½ miles away); Evergreen & Palm Cemeteries (approx. 8.4 miles away); Homeland School (approx. 8.7 miles away); Mann Manor (approx. 8.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mulberry.

Photographed By Dean Moss McCracken, January 16, 2017

2. Pierce Marker

Looking north on Old Hwy 37.

Photographed By Dean Moss McCracken, January 17, 2017

3. Bone Valley

This picture, taken during the 1930s, exhibits why this area of Polk County is referred to as Bone Valley. The men are standing just across the road from the current location of the Pierce Marker and holding a 26' mastodon tusk. Picture Courtesy; Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library, Bartow, Florida.

Photographed By Dean Moss McCracken, January 17, 2017

4. Moving Out

Picture from The Lakeland Ledger. May 25, 1954. Pierce File; The Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library. Bartow, Florida.

Rolling Hills image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dean Moss McCracken, January 16, 2017

5. Rolling Hills

This is possibly one of the homes moved from Pierce less than a mile south currently in the community of Rolling Hills.

Brewster, Florida image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dean Moss McCracken, January 16, 2017

6. Brewster, Florida

This smoke stack is all that is left of another abandoned mining town five miles south of Pierce.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2017, by Dean Moss McCracken of Lakeland, Florida. This page has been viewed 743 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 17, 2017, by Dean Moss McCracken of Lakeland, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.