Christmas in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Turpentine Tree
Fort Christmas Historical Park
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, October 20, 2022
1. Turpentine Tree Marker
Inscription.
Turpentine Tree. Fort Christmas Historical Park. This is an example of a tree that has been prepared for turpentining. You will notice trees with this type of distinctive scaring all around the park. To prepare a tree for turpentining part of the bark on the tree trunk was first removed. Next, a series of V shaped streaks were cut into this area. This would injure the tree and cause the gum (oleoreson) to bleed out of the wood, A metal gutter was placed in the cut so the gum would drip down into a hanging clay cup called a Herty cup. The ascending rows of streaks on either side above the cup formed a "cat face." When the cups became full, a man would come and empty the gum from them into a bucket. The buckets then would be emptied into 50 gallon barrels spaced out in the woods. The barrels would be taken by mule and wagon to the still site for processing. Some of the uses for turpentine are as paint thinner, disinfectants, and medicine.
This is an example of a tree that has been prepared for turpentining. You will notice trees with this type of distinctive scaring all around the park. To prepare a tree for turpentining part of the bark on the tree trunk was first removed. Next, a series of V
shaped streaks were cut into this area. This would injure the tree and cause the gum (oleoreson) to bleed out of the wood, A metal gutter was placed in the cut so the gum would drip down into a hanging clay cup called a Herty cup. The ascending rows of streaks on either side above the cup formed a "cat face." When the cups became full, a man would come and empty the gum from them into a bucket. The buckets then would be emptied into 50 gallon barrels spaced out in the woods. The barrels would be taken by mule and wagon to the still site for processing. Some of the uses for turpentine are as paint thinner, disinfectants, and medicine.
Location. 28° 33.66′ N, 81° 1.303′ W. Marker is in Christmas, Florida, in Orange
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County. Marker is on North Fort Christmas Road, 0.1 miles north of Christmas Cemetery Road. Located within Fort Christmas Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1222 N Fort Christmas Road, 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. Beehead Ranch House (a few steps from this marker); Cane Grinding-Syrup Making (within shouting distance of this marker); Cane Grinding (within shouting distance of this marker); Cotton (within shouting distance of this marker); Woods House (within shouting distance of this marker); Florida Pioneer Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); Simmons 3 House (within shouting distance of this marker); Chickens (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Christmas.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 27, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
