Palmetto in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

A Look Back in Time

History traces the evolution of life at Emerson Point

— Emerson Point Preserve —

A Look Back in Time Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 3, 2025

1. A Look Back in Time Marker

Inscription.

A Look Back in Time. History traces the evolution of life at Emerson Point. , 800? - AD 1500: , Occupation by Amerindian peoples, possibly Timucans, builders of the temple mound and village middens. Throughout their time here, Amerindians used the natural resources of their environment under a complex spiritual and ceremonial lifestyle which sustained indigenous people until their gradual disappearance throughout Southwest Florida by the mid 1700s. , , 1814: , A Cuban, Jose Maria Caldez, settled and farmed on the north side of the Oyster River, the earlier name of today’s Manatee River. This was possibly on Snead Island. , , 1840s: , Edward Sneed, whose misspelled name was given to the island, homesteaded at the islands eastern end, proving his claim in 1849. , , 1866-1870: , Robert Stewart Griffith and wife Anna (Webb) built a home atop the temple mound and began the cultivation of bananas, citrus, and vegetables. , , After the birth of their first child, Florence Mitchell, they moved to a new homestead in southern Sarasota County. , , 1894: , Captain June Poitevent, retired steamboat captain, and wife May purchased 940 acres, including the mound area. His misspelled name (“Portavant”) was given to the mound on government maps. , , 1899: , James Emerson, after whom Emerson Point is named, homesteaded 6-3/4 acres or the extreme west point of the island. , , 1910-1922: , The Poitevent property was sold to Peter and Golden Marine, who upgraded the home atop the mound and planted the avenue of royal palms from the temple mound to the river. The couple drowned while swimming in the river in front of the mounds. , , 1924-1991: , The property was purchased by Freeman H. and Mabel Horton who expanded the Griffith/Poitevent/Marine house and greatly increased agricultural cultivation. The Hortons moved across the river to Bradenton in 1937, but farming continued on the property into the early 1950s. Horton was always careful to preserve the mound area with its magnificent trees and natural habitat. , < , 1991: , The State of Florida and Manatee County purchased 195 acres, including the mound complex, from the Horton Estate. , , 1996: , Three acres at the western tip of the island were added to the Park in 1996. , (captions) , Robert Stewart Griffith and wife Anna Webb Griffith , Captain June Poitevent, 1894 , Griffith House, 1869 , Peter Marina , Avenue of royal palms, 1910 , Freeman H. Horton , Mable Horton

800? - AD 1500:
Occupation by Amerindian peoples, possibly Timucans, builders of the temple mound and village middens. Throughout their time here, Amerindians used the natural resources of their environment under a complex spiritual and ceremonial lifestyle which sustained indigenous people until their gradual disappearance throughout Southwest Florida by the mid 1700s.

1814:
A Cuban, Jose Maria Caldez, settled and farmed on the north side of the Oyster River, the earlier name of today’s Manatee River. This was possibly on Snead Island.

1840s:
Edward Sneed, whose misspelled name was given to the island, homesteaded at the islands eastern end, proving his claim in 1849.

1866-1870:
Robert Stewart Griffith and wife Anna (Webb) built a home atop the temple mound and began the cultivation of bananas, citrus, and vegetables.

After the birth of their first child, Florence Mitchell, they moved to a new homestead in southern Sarasota County.

1894:
Captain June Poitevent, retired steamboat captain, and wife May purchased 940 acres, including the mound area. His misspelled name (“Portavant”)

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was given to the mound on government maps.

1899:
James Emerson, after whom Emerson Point is named, homesteaded 6-3/4 acres or the extreme west point of the island.

1910-1922:
The Poitevent property was sold to Peter and Golden Marine, who upgraded the home atop the mound and planted the avenue of royal palms from the temple mound to the river. The couple drowned while swimming in the river in front of the mounds.

1924-1991:
The property was purchased by Freeman H. and Mabel Horton who expanded the Griffith/Poitevent/Marine house and greatly increased agricultural cultivation. The Hortons moved across the river to Bradenton in 1937, but farming continued on the property into the early 1950s. Horton was always careful to preserve the mound area with its magnificent trees and natural habitat.
<
1991:
The State of Florida and Manatee County purchased 195 acres, including the mound complex, from the Horton Estate.

1996:
Three acres at the western tip of the island were added to the Park in 1996.
(captions)
Robert Stewart Griffith and wife Anna Webb Griffith
Captain June Poitevent, 1894
Griffith House, 1869
Peter Marina
Avenue of royal palms, 1910
Freeman H. Horton
Mable Horton

Topics.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 3, 2025

2. A Look Back in Time Marker

This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 800 CE.

Location. 27° 31.871′ N, 82° 37.595′ W. Marker is in Palmetto, Florida, in Manatee County. It is on 17th Street West 0.2 miles east of 57th Terrace West, on the left when traveling west. Located within the Emerson Point Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5801 17th Street West, Palmetto FL 34221, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

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: Pioneer Life in the Wilds

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(here, next to this marker); Adapting to Island Living (here, next to this marker); Seeds of the Future (here, next to this marker); Glimpse into Prehistory (a few steps from this marker); Mysteries of the Mounds (within shouting distance of this marker); Temple Mound at Emerson Point (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Bountiful Harvest (about 300 feet away); Snead Island / Seventh Day Adventist School (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palmetto.

Also see . . .
1. Portavant Temple Mound at Emerson Point Preserve. (Submitted on July 5, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Emerson Point Timeline. (Submitted on July 5, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 97 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.