Jason Futch reporter2@riverbendnews.org The Lafayette County Historical Society has been preserving the history of Lafayette County for nearly 45 years, hoping to share with a future generation of residents. As it prepares…
Category: History
Remembering Suwannee: Francis James Ross, Part 4
Eric Musgrove Contributor We continue looking at Francis J. Ross this week. On Feb. 28, 1833, the Federal government approved a post office at “Ross’s Mineral Springs,” the same day postal operations…
Remembering Suwannee: Francis James Ross, Part 3
Eric Musgrove Contributor We will continue looking at Francis J. Ross this week. While Arthur Sykes managed part of the Suwannee Springs property, Ross was busy with other territorial affairs. As we…
Comments made in in the year 1957
•“I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.” • “I’m afraid to send my kids…
Remembering Suwannee: Francis James Ross, Part 2
Eric Musgrove Contributor Last week, we began studying little-known Suwannee County pioneer Francis James (F. J.) Ross. We continue that this week. In 1827, Ross was supposedly awarded a contract for $1,200…
Remembering Suwannee: Francis James Ross, Part 1
Florida’s history is full of interesting people. Since I discussed a hotel at Suwannee Springs last week, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss someone interesting who was associated with that…
Remembering Suwannee: Suwannee Springs
Eric Musgrove Contributor In past articles, I have spoken about the various resort hotels that were once located at Suwannee Springs (also known as Gadsden Springs, Lower Mineral Springs, and Suwannee Sulphur…
Remembering Suwannee: Convict leasing system, Part 10
Eric Musgrove Contributor This week, we complete our multi-part series on the convict lease system in Florida. Although Section 1 of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution allows “slavery” and…
Women have now been voting for 105 years
Kathy Egan reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com In 1787, the U.S. Constitution was drafted, establishing the government of the United States. By 1788, all the necessary states had ratified it, so, in 1789, it became effective,…
Two-step trauma: The Dancing Plague of 1518
Mickey Starling reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com In my search for interesting moments in history to share, I may have stumbled upon the inspiration for the song “Dancing the Night Away,” which was a Leo Sayer…
Remembering Suwannee: Convict leasing system, Part 6
Eric Musgrove Contributor This week, we will continue looking at some of the more interesting stories in the book “American Siberia” by J. C. Powell, captain of the convict camp for many…
Remembering Suwannee: Convict leasing system, Part 5
Eric Musgrove Contributor This week, we will continue looking at some of the more interesting stories in the book “American Siberia” by J. C. Powell, captain of the convict camp for many…
On this day in history…
• 1918 – First woman enlists in the United States Marines: After joining the Marine corps, Opha May Johnson was assigned desk duty at the Marine Corps headquarters in Arlington, Va. •…
Remembering Suwannee: Convict leasing system, Part 4
Eric Musgrove Contributor This week, we will continue looking at some of the more interesting stories in the book “American Siberia” by J. C. Powell, captain of the convict camp for many…
Remembering Suwannee: Convict leasing system, Part 3
Eric Musgrove Contributor This week, we will continue looking at some of the stories related to the convict lease system and Suwannee County. The main source of this material is the book…
Remembering Suwannee: Convict leasing system, Part 2
Eric Musgrove Contributor Last week, we began looking at the convict leasing system, especially as it related to Suwannee County. We ended the article with a look at the first paragraph of…
The history of tattoos
Leah Androski reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Tattoos have been around for approximately 5,000 years, with the oldest documented tattoos found on an iceman named Otzi who scientists say lived during 3,300 B.C. Here is some…