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Sunset Park (later Nicks Park). In the 1960s Ralph Bellwood wrote the following about this picture.
The plot of ground shown in our picture today is significant because it embraces a bit of very early history of this area. As inscribed in the lower left corner of the picture, it is a “Park in Port Richey, Fla.” It is known today as Nicks Park, named for an oldtimer, Bob Nicks, who deeded the parcel of land to the town of Port Richey to be used as a park about 45 years ago. We do not know when Mr. Nicks procured the land nor who owned it before him, but we do know it was used as a landing and camp ground years before Captain Richey settled on Richey Point in 1883. This particular spot was known as Hope’s Landing, so named because William Hope, great-grandfather of 75-year-old K. E. Hope, who lives in Port Richey now, came from Brooksville to this place and camped while he and his family boiled salt to keep barrels of mullet that he caught in the river and bayous. As one can see, the picture was taken before the larger part of the land was thoroughly cleared, for stumps and brush still remain. As time passed all of this was cleaned off and one could get a view of the river and part of the Gulf at its mouth. The house seen at the right was originally more of an open pavilion, built by the people of the community and used as a shelter if it rained when picnics were being held in the park. Later, it was enclosed an sealed on the inside. For years the building was used as City.... |