Ellenton in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Gamble Sugar Cane Mill
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 27, 2013
1. Gamble Sugar Cane Mill Marker
Inscription.
Gamble Sugar Cane Mill. . In 1842, as the Second Seminole War drew to a conclusion, Major Robert Gamble, Jr. established a sugar cane plantation along the banks of the Manatee River, as did others including Hector and Joseph Braden, William Craig and William Wyatt. By 1850 Major Gamble's plantation included over 3,000 acres of land, one hundred slaves, and a sugar mill that housed the best sugar processing machinery then available in the South. During the 1840's and early 1850's, Gamble was the leading producer of sugar and molasses in Florida. Falling prices and steadily mounting debts finally forced Major Gamble to sell the plantation to two Louisiana planters in 1858. With the outbreak of the Civil War, these men terminated their operation, and after selling most of the slaves and machinery, they abandoned the plantation. In 1873, the Mansion and approximately 3,000 acres of land were purchased at public auction by George Patten but the sugar mill was not restored to operation at this or any subsequent time.
In 1842, as the Second Seminole War drew to a conclusion, Major Robert Gamble, Jr. established a sugar cane plantation along the banks of the Manatee River, as did others including Hector and Joseph Braden, William Craig and William Wyatt. By 1850 Major Gamble's plantation included over 3,000 acres of land, one hundred slaves, and a sugar mill that housed the best sugar processing machinery then available in the South. During the 1840's and early 1850's, Gamble was the leading producer of sugar and molasses in Florida. Falling prices and steadily mounting debts finally forced Major Gamble to sell the plantation to two Louisiana planters in 1858. With the outbreak of the Civil War, these men terminated their operation, and after selling most of the slaves and machinery, they abandoned the plantation. In 1873, the Mansion and approximately 3,000 acres of land were purchased at public auction by George Patten but the sugar mill was not restored to operation at this or any subsequent time.
Erected 1973 by Manatee County Historical Society in cooperation with Department of State. (Marker Number F-218.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.
Location. 27° 31.815′ N, 82° 31.683′
Click or scan to see this page online
W. Marker is in Ellenton, Florida, in Manatee County. Marker is on Ellenton-Gillette Road, 0.1 miles north of 17th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ellenton FL 34222, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2019
2. Gamble Sugar Cane Mill Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 896 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on July 28, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2. submitted on March 10, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
