Story Submitted by Aucilla Research Institute There is no detailed history of the community on the lower Aucilla River known as “Nutall Rise.” It is randomly mentioned in narratives related to the…
Category: History
Salute Black Female Military Pioneers
Written and submitted by Rev. Gene Hall Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of…
Fires, fire trucks, and pyrotechnics: A comedy of errors
Submitted by Rebekah Sheats For a town of its size, young Monticello had invested in few public safety resources to meet an emergency. When a fire roared through the downtown district in…
EDWARD BALL AND THE PULPWOOD ERA
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute Even though the Great Timber Boom was over, the impact of that era was not. During the boom no thought had…
Concrete, Kids, and Coca-Cola
Submitted by Rebekah Sheats An old map of the town of Monticello reveals the surprising fact that, among the multiple commercial establishments and residences in the growing community in 1909, only a…
THE LOPIN GOPHER RAILROAD
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute The area around the lower Aucilla was isolated and remote during the early days of statehood. U.S. Highway 98 was…
A history of the L. R. Rainey Building: groceries, mules and thieves
Submitted by Rebekah Sheats A fresh coat of paint has recently added new life to the large building on North Jefferson Street that houses Steve Walker’s realty office and Vintage Treasures. This…
THE TURPENTINE ERA
By George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute Similar to the rapid growth of plantations in the early 1800s, the late 1800s saw another large-scale development in the…
EARLY PLANTATIONS IN THE AUCILLA RIVER AREA
By George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute After the signing of the Adams-Onís Treaty resulting in the transfer of Florida from Spain to the United States, settlers…
The storm brewing in Hamilton County killed President Lincoln
Lee Trawick ECB Publishing, Inc. In 1859, a mild, meek looking religious family moved to a small village named Bellville, in Hamilton County. The family’s name was Powell: among the children in the…
THE SEMINOLE WARS
Submitted by: George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute While the Seminole people are primarily identified with the State of Florida, they were part of the Creek Confederacy…
Florida Historical Society to Release Red Hills Book
Story submitted by North Florida College Rose Knox grew up listening to stories, and in her “own backyard” was a rich history of people, places and happenings. Her latest book, written in…
The Wirick-Simmons House: stepping back in time
Kathrine Alderman ECB Publishing, Inc. The historic Wirick-Simmons House, located on North Jefferson Street. Right across from the post office, is currently owned by the Jefferson County Historic Association (JCHA) itself, and…
DIVIDING THE LAND
Background – After Spain ceded the Florida Territory to the United States in 1821, there was a great demand for land in the new territory. As a result, one of the first…
The transition to a U.S. territory
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute Spanish Control – By virtue of Ponce de Leon’s landing in Florida in 1513, Spain claimed the territory including what is…
The Tocobaga
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute One of the more interesting stories regarding the Spanish Mission Period in Florida involved the Tocobaga Native Americans. Although relatively unknown,…
The Spanish Mission Era
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute The Beginning – After the Narváez and De Soto expeditions in the 16th century, the Spanish did not attempt further ventures…
The Early Spanish Explorers Hernando De Soto
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute The first written history of the Aucilla River area is that based on expeditions of the early Spanish explorers, Panfilo de…
A little story you might not know
Story submitted by Anita Collins “How Xmas Jingle was Written Is of much Interest Here” was the title of an article from a 1940’s Monticello News newspaper. “T’was the Night before Christmas”…
The first European visitor Panfilo De Narváez
George M. Cole and John E. Ladson III Aucilla Research Institute The first written history of the Aucilla River area is that based on expeditions of the early Spanish explorers. Panfilo de…