Eric Musgrove County Historian This week, we will continue our look at some of the most interesting (to me, at least) points in Suwannee County’s history. These run the gambit of good,…
Category: History
Remembering Suwannee: Some interesting facts about Suwannee County, Part 1
Eric Musgrove County Historian There is a wealth of history about Suwannee County that has been uncovered and documented over the years. I myself give regular public presentations on our history, and…
Joshua Norton: America’s first and only emperor
Mickey Starling editor@riverbendnews.org The history of America is full of details of how the nation avoided falling prey to dictators, despots and kings. But, nothing was said of emperors. Seizing upon this…
W.B. Howland celebrates 100 years of business and community service
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org The year was 1926 when W.B. Howland and his brother John Phillip Howland Jr., recognized the need for a small store in Live Oak. The business began by providing…
Liberty Tree dedication marks America 250 celebration at Heritage Park & Gardens
Danny Federico editor@riverbendnews.org The Lake City chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) held an America250 Liberty Tree Dedication on Saturday, March 21, at Heritage Park & Gardens, bringing together…
The mother of music: Jean Cornett
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is one of the most well-known landmarks in Suwannee County, drawing thousands of visitors every year with its wide range of festivals and events for local musicians and…
The woman behind the Matilda Effect: Matilda Joslyn Gage and the fight for recognition
Hailey Waldo editor@riverbendnews.org During Women’s History Month, many people reflect on the women who helped shape society through activism, science, literature and innovation. One woman whose influence continues to shape how historians…
Remembering Suwannee: Black history in Suwannee County, Part 7
This week, we continue our discussion of African American history in Suwannee County during the trying Reconstruction era (1865-1877). Religion and politics were not the only things on the minds of African…
Moth mishap makes computer history
Mickey Starling editor@riverbendnews.org Since the day my first computer arrived in the late 90s, something has always bugged me. At first, it was the cranky dialup method of connecting to the internet….
Drunken dive saves Titanic hero
Mickey Starling editor@riverbendnews.org Normally, hearing that someone is drunk leads to negative conclusions or consequences. However, the 1912 sinking of the famed Titanic in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Sea…
The Secret Historian: Grace Emerick Moses
Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Grace Emerick Moses was born near Peoria, Ill., on April 6, 1898. Very little is recorded about Moses’s childhood; however, she eventually married Lowell Johnston. The couple engaged in mission work for most of their marriage. …
Remembering Suwannee: Black history in Suwannee County, Part 6
Eric Musgrove Contributor A couple of weeks ago, we began discussing the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) as it related to Suwannee County. Several religious organizations were founded by and for African Americans in…
Remembering Suwannee: Black history in Suwannee County, Part 5
Eric Musgrove Contributor We have been looking at African American history for the past several weeks. Last week, we began reviewing religious life during Reconstruction. This week, we complete that aspect of…
181 years of Florida history in the making
Hailey Heseltine editor@riverbendnews.org In 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America. This year marks 181 years since Florida’s statehood began. Florida’s history, of course, began long…
Remembering Suwannee: Black history in Suwannee County, Part 4
Eric Musgrove Contributor Last week, I discussed the end of slavery in the United States, an act that freed millions of African Americans to choose their own paths in life, often for…
Casting the BALLOT of courage: Jeanette Udell
Jason Futch reporter@riverbendnews.org The year was 1962. Just a few years before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a man named Sistrunk and his wife,…
Remembering Suwannee: Black history in Suwannee County, Part 3
Eric Musgrove Contributor We ended our discussion last week talking about the First Seminole War, in which former slaves played an important role. This week, we continue our discussion of African American…