Macclenny in Baker County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Olustree Memories
Heritage Park Village
| | The Legacy of Baker County | |
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, September 21, 2022
1. Olustree Memories Marker
Olustee Friends A.G. St. Johns and Vonceil (Dobson-Fraser) Alvarez
Introduction: Olustee was once a fort during Florida's territorial days as well as a Methodist sanctuary mission. It was once a bustling, busy and active community with hotels, mercantile stores, a pecan farm, large homes called mansions, sawmills, flourishing turpentine businesses, and cattle ranching. Some interesting facts and observations are from a 1993 interview with Olustee residents.
"The railroad arrived in 1858. The Yankees moved in and set up mills around Ocean Pond and built a railroad way out into the lake where acres of the pond's cypress trees were harvested. " A.G.
"It was a big business. The timber company built a floating bath house with one room for boys and one for girls. We could put our swim suits on and dive off the platform into the lake. It was crystal clear with a white sand bottom."' Vonceil
"I use to drink the water from Ocean Pond until it got so polluted from the industry and later with power boats. Believe it or not, it was 99.9 percent clear at one time." A.G.
"I lived in downtown and the train carrying cattle used to stop in Olustee during the middle of the night to unload the cattle cars so the cattle could drink water from Ocean Pond. They made a terrible racket bellowing and clopping up and down the ramps. They were poor, undernourished, pitiful cattle that arrived starving for water and feed. They died by the hundreds. Some were dead in the cattle cars when they arrived and they would burn them. It stunk, you just cannot imagine how bad. Those that lived went to the slaughter house and made into corned beef which was doled out to the needy by the government. They also had huge dipping vats for the worms and ticks on them." Vonceil
Topics. This historical
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Location. 30° 16.73′ N, 82° 8.056′ W. Marker is in Macclenny, Florida, in Baker County. It can be reached from South Lowder Street 0.1 miles south of W Railroad Avenue. Marker located within Heritage Park Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 S Lowder St, Macclenny FL 32063, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Clyde Sands and Mamie Thrift (here, next to this marker); Elisha Greene and Samuel Spearing (a few steps from
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, September 21, 2022
2. Olustree Memories Marker (center marker)
Also see . . . Heritage Park Village. (Submitted on September 27, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
