Eric Musgrove Contributor It was a long shot, many said. A group of ragtag, mainly backwoods frontiersmen, against the most powerful empire of the day. Its army nearly always outnumbered and undersupplied,…
Category: History
Local History regarding Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties.
Full Circle Farm: A family-run livestock operation rooted in grass-fed traditions and soil health
Hailey Waldo Riverbend News Since 2002, Full Circle Farm of Live Oak has operated as a family-run agricultural business focused on pasture- based livestock production, soil health and direct sales. What began…
This Day in History
1675 In colonial New England, King Philip’s War begins when a band of Wampanoag warriors raid the border settlement of Swansea, Mass., and massacre the English colonists there. 1717 On June 24,…
The surprising history of color and gender roles
Ady Kinsley Riverbend News When most people think of the color pink, it’s associated with things like Barbie, dresses, bows and most of all, femininity. Blue is seen as a masculine color,…
Remembering Suwannee: 1882 description of Luraville
Eric Musgrove Contributor The internet can be a very wondrous thing, providing access to records from all around the world at the touch of a button. One such record I found many…
A modern-day mystery for the record books
Mickey Starling Riverbend News The year was 1991, two years before the release of the film, “Groundhog Day.” In a small village in Romania, a true script was unfolding that would make…
Misfortune and high taxes made a perfect recipe for success
Mickey Starling Riverbend News Pietro Ferrero was a baker who lived in Alba, Italy. The aspiring young baker decided to open a large pastry shop in Turin, Italy. The business struggled early…
Remembering Suwannee: U.S.S. Suwannee, Part 7
Eric Musgrove Contributor Last week, we saw the escort carrier Suwannee survive the Battle of Leyte Gulf, albeit damaged. She was able to return to the West Coast for much-needed repairs. This…
Play-Doh’s accidental success was child’s play
Mickey Starling Riverbend News After recently learning about the accidental creation of potato chips, I began searching for other mishaps that eventually made millions of dollars. I didn’t look long before finding…
Berry sweet success: Blackberry Festival returns for fourth year
Danny Federico [email protected] Families, friends and visitors from all over gathered on Saturday, June 6, for Riverbend News’ Fourth Annual Blackberry Festival. Individuals of all ages enjoyed a day full of food,…
Remembering the past, celebrating freedom: The meaning of Juneteenth
Hailey Waldo Riverbend News Every year, on June 19, communities across the United States gather to celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in America and honors the resilience,…
Sergeant Joe M. Hawkins Jr.: Prisoner of war
Christian Peterson [email protected] The year was 1942. Joe M. Hawkins Jr. was only 18 years old, but war was raging across Europe, and he wanted to serve his country and the Western…
This Day in History
1692 In Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Bridget Bishop, the first colonist to be tried in the Salem witch trials is hanged after being found guilty of the practice of…
Remembering Suwannee: U.S.S. Suwannee, Part 6
Eric Musgrove Contributor Last week, we ended our discussion with Suwannee’s part in the Battle off Samar, a heroic defense by outnumbered and outgunned small ships against the might of the Japanese…
Leaves and Limestone: Smoke and flame azaleas
Jennifer Mason Contributor The air is thick with smoke as I get ready to work in my vegetable garden. It seems as if folks have gone burn crazy. Now I know that…
Keep your eyes peeled for the lubber grasshopper
Ed Duke and Sam Hand Florida A&M University Contributor Mid-summer is the time when North Florida residents typically notice the largest numbers of adult eastern lubber grasshoppers. The females are seeking appropriate…
Remembering Suwannee: U.S.S. Suwannee, Part 5
Eric Musgrove, County Historian Last week, we left Suwannee and her consorts facing the might of the Japanese fleet off the coast of Samar in the Philippine Islands. The Americans were outnumbered…