Christmas in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Cane Grinding

— Fort Christmas Historical Park —

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, October 20, 2022

1. Cane Grinding Marker

Inscription. Every farmer had a patch of sugarcane that provided syrup and brown sugar. The patch was cultivated in low areas, getting sweet in late October. It was cut and hauled by wagon to the mill where it was stripped and topped.

To grind sugarcane, a mule was hitched to the long, soft shaft that turned the mill as the mule walked around. The cane was fed through the rollers and the juice from the pressed stalks was collected through a burlap covered barrel.

Grinding and syrup cooking went on from late October through December. Families worked together at these times, hauling cane from their farms throughout the community to the mill location.

(caption) Thomas and Sarah Canada Family, circa 1900, grinding sugar cane -Cane Mill donated by Ralph Coward

Erected by Orange County Parks and Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 28° 33.675′ N, 81° 1.285′ W. Marker is in Christmas, Florida, in Orange County. Marker can be reached from North Fort Christmas Road, 0.1 miles north of Christmas Cemetery Road, on the left when traveling north

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

. Located within Fort Christmas Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 N Fort Christmas Rd, Christmas FL 32709, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cane Grinding-Syrup Making (here, next to this marker); Turpentine Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); Beehead Ranch House (within shouting distance of this marker); Dugout Canoe (within shouting distance of this marker); Woods House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Christmas Picnic Pavilion (about 300 feet away); Cotton (about 300 feet away); Fort Christmas (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Christmas.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Christmas Historical Park. (Submitted on October 21, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Fort Christmas Historical Park. (Submitted on October 21, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Cane Grinding Marker (left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, October 20, 2022

2. Cane Grinding Marker (left)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.