As a historian, I find most of what I write about to be interesting, but I know not everyone shares this attitude. Today is the final part of a three-part series on…
Category: History
Local History regarding Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties.
Tree appreciation today for a better tomorrow
Riverbend News Staff [email protected] “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” – Greek Proverb April 25 is National Arbor Day. Arbor Day is…
Catfish Festival hooks crowd in Branford
Danny Federico [email protected] The Branford community gathered once again on Saturday, April 11, to celebrate the annual Catfish Festival. Hosted by American Legion Post 59 in Branford, the annual festival raises funds…
Remembering Suwannee: Some interesting facts about Suwannee County, Part 2
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,…
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 [email protected] 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…
Local youth go hog wild at the Suwannee Valley Youth Livestock Show and Sale
Danny Federico [email protected] Students from all corners of the tri-county area converged on the Bob Holmes Arena in Live Oak for the 2026 Suwannee Valley Youth Livestock Show and Sale. This five-day…
W.B. Howland celebrates 100 years of business and community service
Christian Peterson [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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…
Farm Bureau establishes disaster relief fund for agriculture
Danny Federico [email protected] Florida Farm Bureau has created a disaster relief fund that will assist Florida farmers and ranchers who have suffered significant agricultural losses or expenses because of weather-related events and…
SRWMD declares Phase II Water Shortage
Suwannee River Water Management District Contributor Due to continued drought conditions and a forecast that calls for lower than average rainfall in the months ahead, the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD)…
Moth mishap makes computer history
Mickey Starling [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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. …