Florahome's History

Florahome's History. . , In the late 1800s, marshlands surrounding an upland area located 15 miles west of Palatka were being drained to make farmland and lure newcomers to the area. The name of the community came from one of the original residents , Flora Sipprell. According to local lore, folks were headed for "Flora's home", which in time was shortened to Florahome. , The primary transportation to Florahome in the 1800s was the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway who, in 1886, built a beautiful train depot in the center of the community. Streets were laid out, with many named after trees and shrubs. The depot was located where Palmetto Avenue intersected with the railway, and in 1899, the surrounding acreage was developed into a beautiful park named Palmetto Park to further entice families to develop here. , By December of 1899, Florahome had a post office, by 1914 a school, and by 1918 a population of 160. Between 1901-1921 several churches had formed and built in the community. In 1923, the train depot burned down, and with a new highway and vehicular travel, passenger train service discontinued, so the depot was never rebuilt. , Besides packing sheds for local agriculture, several other businesses were established. These included a couple of general and dry goods stores, a blacksmith, a cobbler, a garage with gas pumps, a tourist court for travelers, an ice house, a funeral parlor, and a community center with a small library. , Although a few of the original houses, a couple of churches, and one business still stand as reminders of times past, the remaining businesses either burned or were torn down over the years. However, Palmetto Park remains a place to learn about Florahome's past; a present gathering place for families and neighbors; and the community's children , which are Florahome's future.