Sources: Bellwood refers to Tales of West Pasco (1962) by Ralph Bellwood. Ash refers to Florida Cracker Days in West Pasco County 1830-1982 (1984-5) by Pauline Stevenson Ash. WPH refers to West Pasco's Heritage (1974) by the West Pasco Historical Society. Historic Places refers to The Historic Places of Pasco County (1992) by James J. Horgan, Alice F. Hall, and Edward J. Herrmann. Avery refers to The Genesis of New Port Richey (1924) by Elroy M. Avery. Stanaback refers to A History of Hernando County 1840-1976 by Richard J. Stanaback. MacManus refers to Citrus, Sawmills, Critters, & Crackers: Life in Early Lutz and Central Pasco County by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus. Hendley refers to History of Pasco County (1943) by Jefferson Alexis Hendley. Stoughton refers to Tarpon Springs Florida - The Early Years (1975) by Gertrude K. Stoughton.This page was last revised on April 11, 2008.
For more events before Pasco County was created in 1887, please see the Hernando County timeline.About 900 to 1500. Native Americans known as the Tocobaga Indians live in small villages at the northern end of Tampa Bay.
1528. Panfilo de Narvaez lands on the shores of Old Tampa Bay and marches northward through what is now Pasco County. He learned that the local Indians were called the Timucua.
1825. Fort King Road is cleared. [It was completed in 1826. This military trail connected Fort Brooke (Tampa) to Fort King (Ocala).]
Dec. 23, 1836. Construction begins on the fort that would become Fort Dade, at the intersection of Fort King Road and the Withlacoochee River, near present day Lacoochee.
Mar. 6, 1837. At Fort Dade General Thomas S. Jesup and five Seminole chiefs and representatives sign the capitulation in which the Seminoles agreed to emigrate.
Dec. 14, 1837. Lt. Thomas Boylston Adams dies of typhoid fever at Fort Dade, at age 28. He served in the Seminole War.
1839. Fort Dade is abandoned.
About 1842. Thomas R. Tucker (1798-1865) and Sarah Tucker (1788- 1855) settle in Pasco County. [He planted the county's first orange grove in 1845. The area was called Tuckertown, and later Richland. The earliest marker at the Tucker Cemetery in Richland is that of Sarah Tucker.]
1842. Jacob Wells arrives from Madison County and builds a home near Riggs Hammock on what originally was Handcart Road, now Prospect Road. A community developed there called Prospect.
Aug. 4, 1842. The Armed Occupation Act is signed into law.
Dec. 20, 1842. James Gibbons is issued a permit for 160 acres in S 27, T 24, R21, in what would become Dade City. [Information from a deed dated Dec. 1, 1849, conveying the property to Gibbons' heirs.]
Jan. 2, 1845. The Fort Dade post office is established. [James Gibbons was the first postmaster. He kept the post office in his home, on the site of the Dade City Business Center, formerly Lykes-Pasco Packing Co. Gibbons subsequently died, and William D. Spencer was appointed on Jan. 31, 1845. He was followed by Clement Tyner in 1848 and Capt. William Kendrick in 1849. Information from A History of Zephyrhills 1821- 1921. The Fort Dade post office was abandoned and re-established several times.]
Mar. 3, 1845. Florida becomes the twenty-seventh state.
1849. The Army rebuilds Fort Dade west of the current location of Dade City.
About 1850. Capt. John Townsend builds a log cabin about 14 miles northwest of what is now Dade City. [Townsend donated the home in 1856 for use as a Methodist Church.
1852. A man named Walter Lowe goes in the schooner Chestnut to Anclote Key and in several days secures a cargo of sponges. They brought such a profit that other men embarked in the business. This might be considered the birth of the sponge industry of Florida. [From an 1892 newspaper article.]
Aug. 20, 1853. A post office is established at Cedar Tree. [James Bates is appointed the first postmaster.]
About 1855. A bridge is constructed across the Withlacoochee River. [According to a historical marker, it was constructed by the slaves of James Lanier. In 1855 Lanier patented property at what is now Socrum in Polk County; the bridge may have been built to facilitate his move to Polk County and for shipment of his produce.]
May 14, 1856. Seminoles besiege the isolated cabin of Capt. Robert Bradley and his family near Darby. Two of his children were killed. More is on the Hernando timeline page.
1859. The Florida map accompanying the 1859 annual report of the Surveyor General shows Pittitochoscolee, where New Port Richey is now located. [An 1875 U. S. government publication listing post roads has: “From Monticello, by Beaseley, Fort Andrew, Fort Hulburt, Fort Frank Brooke, Clay Landing, Wakasassa, Wekevia, Fort Clinch, Homasassa, Augusta, Spring Hill, Pittitochoscolee, to Fort Harrison.” In 1876, Florida: Its Scenery, Climate, and History has: “PITTITOCHOSCOLEE—Settlement in Hernando County, on the Gulf Coast, a short distance above Anclote River.”]
1859. A post office directory shows post offices at Cedar Tree, Fort Dade, and Fort Taylor.
Dec. 7, 1859. Maj. John Parsons receives a deed for a homestead in S1 T24 R16, in Aripeka.
1860s. During the Civil War, a salt works was in operation at the Salt Springs, just north of Port Richey.
Jan. 10, 1861. Florida secedes from the United States.
Dec. 1863. According to Rev. Capt. Leroy G. Lesley: Tampa’s Fighting Parson, by Spessard Stone, “In December 1863, [Lesley] and his neighbor David Hope were engaged in the production of salt, twenty- five miles southwest of Brooksville. 'Hope, Leslie & Ryals' advertised salt for $10 per bushel and that they'd give $5.00 per bushel for corn, or give one bushel of salt for two of corn. On January 16, 1864, 'Hope & Leslie' gave notice that they would sell their stock of 800 head of cattle, more or less, for $20,000; also for $8,000 their salt works, producing 10 to 15 bushels per day. In 1864 L. G. Lesley was taxed on 200 acres, valued at $500, with $500 in improvements, 10 slaves assessed at $10,000, for which he paid $71.84 in county taxes and $35.92 in state taxes. In 1866 he was taxed on 200 acres.” [At this time, neither Lesley nor Hope lived in what is now Pasco County.]
About 1866. Peter Karr Baillie and his wife leave Georgia for Florida and build a home at what is now called Bailey's Bluff. Ash gives the dates 1864 and 1867.
1867. Frederick Meyer and Franklin B. Meyer, brothers, build log cabins about 100 yards west of the present Anclote Cemetery, thus founding the community of Anclote.
1868. According to Hendley: “Hudson. The first settlers that we have any record of settled there in 1868, Mr. Worley, Jess Hay, William Hay, and Joseph Hay. Later on W. D. Frierson, Bill Lang, William Bailey, Bill Tillet and Crocket Whiden, Sam Stevenson, Bud Stevenson, Allen Hill and Malcolm Hill, Hill House and J. W. Hudson made a scattering settlement along the coast.” [According to F. C. Mallett, Malcolm Hill settled on what is now Massachusetts Avenue.]
May 25, 1869. According to a genealogy web site, Nancy Jane Branch is born at Hudson. [Web sites indicate she was a daughter of John Laurence Branch and Eliza Wilder, and that she married Reuben Y. Walden. The place name Hudson was not yet in use at this time.]
About 1870. Dr. James G. Wallace (1836-1911), comes to Pasco County, the first medical doctor in the county, according to William Dayton. [In 1884, John Ward Hill (died, 1916, in St. Petersburg), a pioneer doctor in Pasco County, began a practice at Chipco. Hendley wrote, “Dr. G. B. Roberts. Dr. J. G. Wallace, Dr. C. T. Seay, and Dr. Alexander attended to the health of the country at large.” The Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1886-87 lists W. W. Cochran and W. F. Alexander as physicians in Fort Dade and A. F. Newkirk as a physician in Blanton. The first established doctors in Dade City are said to be R. D. Sistrunk and John T. Bradshaw.]
Jan. 10, 1870. Benjamin H. Gaines marries Rosannah C. Baillie in Anclote. [Information from Carl Gause.]
Mar. 9, 1870. The Florida Peninsular reports:
SUPPOSED MURDER.—A dangerous character by the name of James Gibson is supposed to have been killed near the Ft. Dade settlement on the 19th ult., by Jack Osborn and Charles Wells, two young men of that vicinity. It appears that Gibson was eloping with a sister of Mr. Osborn, and he was pursued by Osborn and Wells for the purpose of rescuing the girl from his hands and carry her to her parents. On overtaking them resistance was offered by Gibson, whereupon the pursuing party fired upon him and it is supposed killed him, as nothing has been seen or heard of him since that time. The authorities are making a vigorous search, and at last accounts were dragging a lake where the body was supposed to have been thrown. Miss Osborn has returned to her parents, but no facts can be elicited from her as to the murder. Osborn and Wells have left the country. When we hear the full particulars of the affair, we will give them to our readers.May 11, 1870. The Florida Peninsular reports, “Mr. E. Bettman and Capt. F. Worth have opened a store at Tuckertown, in Hernando County.”
Sept. 28, 1870. The Florida Peninsular reports a political rally at Fort Dade featured speakers T. S. Coogler, colored, John A. Henderson, Capt. F. Lykes, F. E. Saxon.
1872. James Washington Clark Sr. and some of his friends settle at the mouth of the Pithlachascotee River, according to Frances Clark Mallett. [According to Avery he settled there in 1874.]
1872. Newton A. Carter, Wright W. Williamson, a Mr. Strickland, and a Mr. Lyons build the Mount Zion Methodist Church in Fort Dade, according to a 1920 article in the Dade City Banner. [On June 19, 1879, the Sunland Tribune mentions in its Fort Dade news column Mt. Zion Methodist Church with Rev. Pander, pastor.]
About 1872. According to Hendley:
About the year of 1872 a post office was established at Fort Dade and Henry Ryals, the father of the late Rev. Henry Ryals, was appointed postmaster. He lived south of Lake Pasadena and kept the post office at his home. He had a cabinet made of cypress by a cabinet maker in Tampa, in which he kept the belonging of the post office. Jasper Carter now has the old cabinet at his home in Dade City. Mr. Ryals gave up the office after a time and it floated about the country just where anyone would have it, as it did not pay more than about $10.00 a year commissions. It was at one time kept by a school teacher at the school house near Indian Lake, and as mail came only on Saturdays from Brooksville on horse back, the teacher would meet the mail man and those who were looking for mail, and open the pouch and deliver the mail to them, put the balance in his pocket and take it home with him. After that R. M. Wilson, who had a store near the present ice plant, was postmaster for a time, but turned it down because the government wanted a report each three months and he thought once a year was enough. Then Mr. N. A. Carter took it and kept it in his home for several years, and then in his store, until he sold his store to Marshall and Sumner in 1883, Mr. R. J. Marshall becoming postmaster. In 1885 Mr. Carter was appointed assignee for the firm of Marshall and Sumner, and Jasper C. Carter was appointed acting postmaster. Dade City was granted a post office about this time, and as business of the section moved to Dade City after railroads came, the Fort Dade post office was abandoned about 1889.1874-75. Two water mills used to grind meal are constructed by Levi Eiland. One was south of Chipco and the other was near the farm of J. W. Hudson [Stanaback].
1875. A grist mill built by Jack Howell and Levi Eiland goes into operation at Chipco.
Oct. 5, 1876. A post office is established at Tuckertown. [It was renamed Richland on July 17, 1886.]
Jan. 8, 1876. Rev. John W. Wells begins serving as pastor of the newly organized Union Church, according to a local church register. This church is believed to be the first Baptist church in western Pasco county.
Dec. 22, 1877. The Sunland Tribune reports, “Mr. John Geiger, living in the lower part of Hernando county near the county line between that county and Hillsborough was killed on the night of the 18th inst.”
Late 1877 or early 1878. The Isaac W. Hudson family moves to what is now the site of Hudson, building a home near a large spring. He was advised by his doctor to move to the Gulf coast, hoping that the salt air would help his bronchial ailment. (Isaac W. Hudson Jr., who was born on Nov. 17, 1870, said he was a little over seven years old when they arrived. Apparently in 1978, the Florida legislature proclaimed April 28 to be Hudson Founder's Day, based on the approximate date April 28, 1878, on which Isaac Hudson settled here. According to Webb's Historical, Industrial and Biographical Florida (1885), the family settled there on Feb. 5, 1879.)
1878. The Hudson Cemetery is established with the first burial that of Ida Melissa Hudson, the daughter of Isaac W. and Amanda Hudson, according to Historic Places.
1878. The Enterprise Church is built. [It was moved to the Pioneer Florida Museum in 1977. A sign on the church lists the charter members as: Bishop D. S. Legget, P. E. W. [illegible] Jordan, Robert Sumner, Jane Sumner, David H. Thrasher, J. Cary Sumner, Mary [illegible] Sumner, Willie Thrasher, James Shearer, Jane Shearer, F. A. Barnes, Mary Clement, Elizabeth Tucker, W. H. Parker [illegible].]
June 2, 1878. Double Branch Baptist Church is constituted. [Twenty-four adults became charter members. The name came from two branches of water converging nearby. The church met at Magic Lake off Elam Road near Holton Cemetery. On Jan. 27, 1890, Jane Godwin deeded two acres on State Road 54 to the Church. The Church and Cemetery are still located at this site. In 1895 a new church was constructed. In 1999 the name was changed to First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel. Information from the web site of the church.]
Sept. 10, 1878. The Anclote post office is established, with William A. Cobb as postmaster. [Later, according to History of Tarpon Springs by Robert Franklin Pent, “Mr. Morrish, an Englishman, moved in with his family and became the grocer and postmaster, Mr. Craver having moved out.”]
Dec. 2, 1878. The Hopeville post office is established. [The post office closed on Nov. 22, 1881. According to a postal history book, the only postmaster was James Washington Clark. However, J. B. or J. W. Hudson, as quoted in Hendley, wrote that the Hopeville post office was “out east of Port Richey at old man Worley's place.” In a 1952 newspaper interview, Isaac W. Hudson Jr. recalled that one of his earliest tasks was to ride horseback after mail every Sunday, inland some seven miles to Worley Prairie, which he believed was approximately the site of Moon Lake ranch, and where the mail was brought weekly by horse and buggy from Brooksville to the postmaster, old Mr. Worley, who lived there alone. These trips ended when the Hudson post office was established. The application for the Hopeville post office gives the location as NW 1/4 S33 T25 R16, 1/2 mile south of Dead Cypress Creek and 2 miles north of the Pithlachascotee River. The contractor's name is given as James O. Brown. Frances Clark Mallett writes, “Although there are almost no written records on the early history of Port Richey and Hopeville area, oral history passed down through old-time residents and descendants, indicates that Hopeville was settled in the mid 1800's. It once was the site of a salt works that supplied local residents and the Confederate Army. ... David and Henry Hope, two early settlers of the Chicuchatta (Brooksville) settlement, were two of the Hopes who established the tiny community of Hopeville at the salt springs.]
Jan. 16, 1879. The state House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution asking for a lighthouse at Anclote Key. The measure was promoted by Samuel Hope.
Feb. 10, 1879. A post office is established at Pleasant Plains. [The postmistress was Anna Weckter. It closed on Sept. 17 of the same year.]
June 19, 1879. The Sunland Tribune has:
Fort Dade Items. RELIGIOUS.—Missionary Baptist, Parson Bell, of Brooksville, pastor, Oak Grove church. Service on Saturday before and first Sunday in every month.
Methodist Parson Parker, Ct. preacher, service at Mt. Zion on Saturday before and 2nd Sabbath in each month, at Fort Broom in the evening after Mt. Zion. The Ct. preacher assisted by Parson Barns.
CROPS—Corn is good, although damaged 20 per cent by the dry weather. Oats generally turned out well. Cotton is very good, in fact the farmers wear cheerful faces.
SCHOOL.—Ft. Broom—John Raymond, teacher, today closed his first session. He will open for the balance of the year on Monday week. He closed by giving a public examination, and in order to contribute to the occasion, the patrons and friends furnished a “fish fry picnic dinner.” I am unable to name it, but will tell you what I saw and heard. In the first place everybody came and “mammy” (?) with them. Examination opened by prayer by Parson Barns, followed with the answering of questions by the students, that gave entire satisfaction to all concerned. ...
[The Dade City Cemetery historic marker reads: “Oak Grove Baptist Church and Cemetery were established here in the early 1870s by Rev. R. E. Bell. Church minutes of 1877 describe the location as 'Oak Grove, Florida.' By 1886 it was referred to as 'Dade City Baptist Church.' In the early 1890s, the congregation transferred to other local churches.” A notice in the Fort Dade Messenger of July 11, 1884, reads: “Bids will be received for the building of the Oak Grove Baptist church and Fort Dade Masonic Lodge until 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 1884. The committee reserve the right to refuse any or all bids. Specifications can be seen by calling on R. M. Wilson, secretary of committee.”]
Nov. 1879. William Maxie Hope (1846-1900) marries Anna Olivia Sowers. It is the earliest known wedding in what is now Port Richey and New Port Richey. [Documents give several dates in November. Her widow's pension claim filed in 1909 stated that she had married in Port Richey Hernando County. They may not have been local residents.]
Nov. 27, 1879. The Decatur Daily Review reports, “The sponge schooners have two places to clean their sponges when coast-sponging. One at Anclote Keys, the other at Rock Island.”
1880. A post office is established at Pinan. [The post office operated until 1881 or 1887. It may have been in what is now Hernando County.]
Aug. 10, 1881. Judge Edmund F. Dunne contracts with Hamilton Disston to handle the selection of the four million acres of the Disston Purchase from the state of Florida. [As his attorney fee, Dunne received control of 100,000 acres of land, where he founded the Catholic Colony of San Antonio.]
Oct. 12, 1881. A deed dated Oct. 12, 1881, conveys a donation of 11 acres in S29 T24 R21 from Newton Carter and wife May A. Carter to the trustees of the Fort Dade Church. [A deed dated Sept. 26, 1919, conveys 5 acres of the property from A. A. Boone, John Raymond, J. C. Carter, and W. W. Slone as trustees of Fort Dade Methodist Church to J. W. Urquhart. Both deeds provided by Jeff Cannon.]
1882. A Baptist church is constructed of pitch pine at the corner of Hudson Ave. and Main Street in Hudson. [The church was moved in 1888 to the corner of Hudson Ave. and Guava Street. The structure served as a community church, and later had other uses, including a 1920s post office, a store, a school, and a 1930s residence. The church was later rebuilt and now houses Igesia Fuente de Amor Church of God. According to a Methodist church history, a Methodist church, built just before the turn of the century on East Hudson Avenue and Guava Street was destroyed by fire on Feb. 18, 1938. The Baptists offered the Methodist congregation the use of an old church which was later moved to the lot where their church had burned.]
May 16, 1882. The first post office in Hudson was established. According to Ash, in the 1880s, as Postmaster I. W. Hudson set aside one room in his home for the office.
Oct. 30, 1882. A post office is established at Hatton. [The postmaster was Minor G. Rowe (1852-1901), and the post office was in his home.]
Nov. 27, 1882. A post office is established at Sumner. [It was renamed San Antonio on Dec. 19, 1882; it was renamed Lake Jovita on Nov. 1, 1926; it was renamed San Antonio on Aug. 1, 1931.]
Feb. 1883. The state of Florida sells several hundred thousand acres of land located mainly in what are now Pinellas and Pasco counties at 25 cents per acre to the Florida Land Improvement Co. Part of the city of St. Petersburg and almost all of the town of New Port Richey are on these lands.
Apr. 3, 1883. A post office is established at Lenard. [It was discontinued in 1900 with service continuing from Blanton.]
May 1883. The Florida Land Improvement Co. sells part of its land, including the site of Port Richey, to Anson Peacely Killen Safford (1830-1891).
May 28, 1883. A post office is established at Diston, with James J. Head as postmaster. [It was originally in Hillsborough County. It changed to Pasco County on Jan. 20, 1888. It was renamed Drexel on Sept. 15, 1888. It was discontinued on Apr. 11, 1890, and re- established on Jan. 11, 1892. It was discontinued on July 31, 1902.]
June 1883. Andrew Barthle (1802-1891) and Charles Barthle (1852- 1936) build the first permanent home in what would become St. Joseph.
June 22, 1883. The Fort Dade Messenger, Vol. II, No. 2, consisting of four pages, has “The amount subscribed for the Baptist church organ is almost made up.” R. M. Wilson was in charge of checking off donations. Earnest and Thrasher on Lake Buddy has an advertisement. Land is offered for sale by Judge E. F. Dunne who lived at “Residence E side of Clear Lake, 3 miles southwest of the Post Office.” Jas. A. Grady was selling the “largest lot of buggies ever brought to this market.” Orange trees were sold by D. T. Clements, who could be reached at the International Ocean Telegraphic Office at Tuckertown.
July 16, 1883. A post office is established at Chipco.
Oct. 9, 1883. The Gulf Key post office is established. [It was renamed Argo on Nov. 12, 1886, and renamed Gulf Key on Dec. 24, 1892. The post office was closed on Jan. 6, 1896, with service continued from Aripeka.]
Dec. 1883. Aaron McLaughlin Richey and his wife and daughter settle near the mouth of the Pithlachascotee River.
Jan. 28, 1884. A post office is established at Ellerslie. [Oscar Meacham was the first postmaster.]
Apr. 2, 1884. A post office is established at Keystone Park. [It was discontinued in 1923 with service continuing from Odessa.]
July 9, 1884. The Port Richey post office is established. Aaron Richey established the post office, giving it the name Port Richey.
July 11, 1884. The Fort Dade Messenger (vol. 3, no. 4) shows John H. Brown is the publisher. R. J. Marshall is the postmaster. R. M. Wilson is listed as secretary of the Masonic Lodge. A Baptist church directory shows R. E. Bell as pastor of Oak Grove, L. Parish as superintendent of the Sabbath School, W. W. Bostick as pastor at Pleasant Hill, R. T. Caddin as pastor of a church at the county line between Hernando and Hillsborough, and B. L. Ray as pastor at Double Branch Church. There are advertisements for:
- James G. Wallace, attorney and counselor at law at Fort Dade.
- Miss P. R. Weaver, at Ellerslie, dress-making, hats trimmed.
- Fort Dade High School, S. L. Hancock, Charles Croft, and Henry Jordan, trustees.
- A saw mill owned by Emerson & Chappman
- A saw mill owned by E. Ravesies.
- W. A. Jones of Fort Dade, surveyor and real estate agent.
- Ellerslie Academy, J. G. Wallace, President of the Board of Trustees.
- C. D. Brockman, contractor and builder, with office at Chipco City.
- F. P. McElroy & Co., Maine Street, Fort Dade, dealers in drugs, medicines and chemicals.
- W. C. Sumner, dealer in general merchandise, Fort Dade. Family groceries, canned goods, etc.
- Ft. Dade Restaurant, Mr. J. G. Jones. Meals prepared at half hour's notice. Sleeping rooms at moderate rates. Soda wter and confectionery kept constantly on hand.
- Mr. Pixton, photographer, near Hatton P. O.
[According to one source the newspaper was established in 1882. The newspaper was apparently founded by R. O. Carter and B. L. Blackburn. According to Hendley, the first newspaper in Pasco county was called the Messenger and was edited by B. L. Blackburn and the first printer or type setter was Mr. Mahoney. D. H. Moseley, an editor of the paper, later wrote that it was “a weekly paper that boasted of having the largest circulation in Hernando county, with a paid-up subscription list of 87.” The June 22, 1883, issue shows W. C. Sumner as publisher and the editor was J. G. Wallace, who had just assumed that position with that issue. According to Webb's Historical, Industrial and Biographical Florida (1885), the Fort Dade Messenger was established in 1882 by a stock company and is now published by W. C. Sumner with J. G. Wallace editor. The 1886 Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory shows W. F. Alexander, a physician, as the publisher.]
Aug. 29, 1884. A post office is established at Twin Lakes.
Oct. 13, 1884. A post office is established at Ashley. [The town was located near Lanier Bridge.]
Nov. 12, 1884. The incorporation papers for the Cootie Land & Improvement Co. are filed.
Dec. 1, 1884. Henry W. Coleman and William N. Ferguson open a store, the second general store in Dade City.
Dec. 17, 1884. The Blanton post office is established. Horace J. Charles was the first postmaster. [Lora Blocker writes that the first post office “was located near Blanton east of Blanton Lake. In 1887, when the Orange Belt Railroad was built, the Post Office was located in the depot. Mary E. Blocker was then post mistress. The post office was later located in the home of Mary Blocker which is now know as the Tangelo Apartments. The location of the post office from 1901 to July 1905 is unknown. When E. Sanford Blocker was postmaster it was located in the back of Wilson’s Garage (directly back of Mrs. Mae McCoullough’s house today). When Sanford Blocker died in 1934, Robert Compher was postmaster and had the post office in his general store. Norman Blocker built a room onto his store for the post office when he became postmaster in 1936. This building still stands and is the home of Mrs. Mae McCoullough.”]
Dec. 18, 1884. A post office is established at Dade City. [The first postmaster was Minor G. Rowe.]
1885. A real estate brochure for Annuttaliga Hammock in Hernando county has: “Still further south are the Pithluchescootie and Anclote, both navigable by vessels of ordinary tonnage. At the mouth of the latter river is the flourishing settlement of Anclote. Here, too, are located some of the finest fisheries in the county.”
Jan. 1885. A. P. K. Safford sells his land to the Cooty Land and Improvement Co. [In May 1897 the Cooty Land and Improvement Co. sold its land to Albert Sessoms and B. F. Bullard, turpentine and timber operators. In 1905 they sold their land to the Aripeka Saw Mills, a Georgia corporation.]
Jan. 2, 1885. A post office is established at Saint Thomas.
Jan. 6, 1885. A post office is established at McLeod. [The post office was renamed Macon three weeks later. The Tampa Tribune of May 2, 1895, reports on Macon, a new town which has evolved at the junction of the Savannah and St. Petersburg Railroads. According to Hendley, the A. C. L. R. R. changed the name to Trilby in 1896. A plat map dated December 1896 has “Trilby Townsite.” A magazine article, using the name Trilby, is dated Oct. 31, 1896. The town is called Trilby in a Washington Post article of May 22, 1897, and in an 1897 New York Times article. The post office was renamed Trilby in 1901.]
Jan. 12, 1885. A post office is established at Loyce.
Jan. 29, 1885. The Indiana Weekly Progress reports, “Mrs. Harriet Smith, of Tuckertown, Fla., has proved that women have a soul above the fashions. She is making money by running a large sawmill.”
Feb. 17, 1885. A post office is established at Earnestville.
Aug. 18, 1885. A post office is established at Dixie.
Nov. 4, 1885. A post office is established at Carmel. [It was discontinued in 1886 with service continued from San Antonio.]
1886. An 1886 survey of the Port Richey area has these place names: Cow Creek, Cross Bayou, Deer Island or Green Key, Oyster Creek, Pith-lo-chas-Cootie River, Port Richie P. O., and Salt Bayou.
1886. The spongers from Key West build a pavilion at Bailey's Bluff to store the sponges they had pulled from the Gulf.
1886. The Dade City hotel is built. [It was located on the site of the later Edwinola.]
Feb 17, 1886. The New York Times reports: “PENSACOLA, Fla., Feb. 16.—R. J. Marshall, alias Morton, Postmaster at Fort Dade, Fla., was arrested here yesterday charged with embezzling money order funds by Post Office Inspector Baird, who came here in answer to a telegram from Postmaster Yonge, who had located Marshall the day before. Marshall absconded last July, leaving a wife and two children at Fort Dade.”
Feb. 19, 1886. William Stanton Quertermous (1829-1887) writes, in a letter mailed from Hudson: “ ...we have had nice spring weather ever since with the exception of a few slight frosts to taper off I have watermellons up about four acres planted I have suckseeds in clearing about three acres more of the stock for potatoes I will bud off the balance and part it in corn and peas every thing is beginning to assume its natural appearance the orange trees are not materially injured it is thought the next crop of oranges will be a larger one the lemons and guavers are beginning to put up they were killed to the ground ... we still hear that our Railroad is to be built specialy the Florida Southern I understand will build that road from Brooksville to point Penallas this summer it will run about six miles east of me they have made the survey but I do not think anyboddy Knows what they will do thats our railroad co that never tells nothing They have got the money to do as they please...” [More information on Quertermous is at Jeff Cannon's web site here.]
Mar. 15, 1886. A post office is established at Herndon.
Nov. 9, 1886. A post office is established at Bee Tree. [The location was S35, T24, R17, near the intersection of Hudson Avenue and Hays Road. It was discontinued Nov. 19, 1888.]
Nov. 11, 1886. Simon J. Temple purchases 280.74 acres of land for $1,026.69 from Florida Railway and Navigation Corp. [He named the area Abbott; it later became Zephyrhills.]
About 1887. A depot is built at Trilby.
1887. The Plant System Railroad comes to Pasco County. [It was later called the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. A second railroad arrived in 1888, which later became part of the Seaboard Railroad. The center of Dade City was moved to the new depot along Meridian Ave.]
1887. A second newspaper in Dade City, the Pasco County Democrat is established by Capt. John B. Johnston. [On Mar. 26, 1920, the Dade City Banner reported: “Jno. B. Johnston, of Tampa, whose name will appear prominent in the history of Dade City journalism, if such is ever written, was a caller on the Banner last Saturday. Mr. Johnston was the pioneer printer in Pasco county we believe; anyhow he established the Democrat here in 1887 and continued its publication for twenty years. Later he started Progress in Dade City, but it belied its name and expired in two years.” The Democrat was replaced by the Dade City Star.]
1887. Oranges and Alligators: Sketches of South Florida Life by Iza Duffus Hardy has: “About nine miles north of Tarpon, near the mouth of the ‘Cootie River,’ the settlement of Tremont Springs is in process of formation, and, though in a very early stage as yet, promises well, on account of the fine quality of the land there, which for a mile or two back from the coast is a rich and fertile loam, wherein both the pine and the palmetto flourish abundantly.” [A “Map of Tremont, Pasco Co.” is labeled Gulf Coast Land Co., Tarpon Springs and Chicago. This proposed community would have been located in the Port Richey area.]
Mar. 4, 1887. A post office is established at Cedar. [It was discontinued three months later, with service continued from Lenard.]
June 2, 1887. Florida Governor E. A. Perry signs into law “A Bill to Divide the County of Hernando and make therefrom the Counties of Citrus and Pasco.” [According to Back Home: A History of Citrus County, Florida, the bill was entitled “An act to Divide the County of Hernando, and to Create and Establish the Counties of Pasco and Citrus from portions of Hernando.” According to this source, the bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. James F. Latham, and the bill sailed through both houses, with only Rep. McKeen Carleton of Putnam County and Sen. C. W. Stevens of Madison County voting against the bill. Latham later represented Pasco County in the House of Representatives.]
July 18, 1887. The Pasco Board of County Commissioners meets for the first time, electing Col. Ebenezer G. Liles (1825-1927) as chairman. [Liles served as a commissioner until April 1889 and again from Jan. 1903 to Dec. 1904.] Dade City is named the temporary county seat. The following officers of Pasco County were named: H. H. Henley, Clerk of the Court; G. M. Roberts, treasurer; Nick P. Bishoff, tax assessor; Robert J. Bradley, tax collector; J. A. Grady, sheriff; D. O. Thrasher, County Judge; and W. A. Jones, County Surveyor. [Nick Bishoff served as tax assessor from 1887 to 1890. He was succeeded by J. A. Cunningham, who served from 1890-1892.]
Aug. 1, 1887. The County Commission divides the county into five districts. [The commissioners for each district were: Dist. 1, Daniel T. McLeod; Dist. 2, W. R. Lilburn; Dist. 3, Joshua Jackson “Jack” Gillett; Dist. 4, Ebenezer G. Liles; Dist. 5, Joseph Byrd Hudson. The County Commission also voted to accept the proposal of Coleman Ferguson and Co. for a two-story structure on Meridian St. in Dade City for use as a temporary court house free of rent. The company promised it would be finished by Sept. 5. Hendley later recalled that the building was “a long one-story house where the hardware store of Treiber and Otto is now located.” The Commission turned down a similar offer by E. B. Hall for a rent-free location apparently at Fort Dade. Hall unsuccessfully sued the Commission over this decision. At this meeting, the Commission delayed action on the application of Jacob H. Delcher as a student to the East Florida Seminary. A transcription of the minutes of this meeting is here.]
Sept. 1887. County Commission minutes show the election precincts were established as follows: Precinct 1, Macon; Precinct 2, Dade City; Precinct 3, Richland; Precinct 4, Wesley Chapel; Precinct 5, San Antonio; Precinct 6, Chipco; Precinct 7, St. Thomas; Precinct 8, Loyce; Precinct 9, Hudson; and Precinct 10, Bailey. [Precinct 11 was established later, in August 1888, at Earnestville.]
Sept. 15, 1887. The Anclote Keys lighthouse is first lit.
Oct. 17, 1887. The Pasco County Commission adopts a strict quarantine policy requiring persons who entered the county to have yellow-fever immunity cards. The minutes have: “In view of the fact that yellow fever is raging in Tampa and for our own protection, the board assembled to take some steps to establish a quarantine against infected sections.” Telegrams were sent to the mayors of Tampa, Plant City, and Lakeland, stating that Pasco County was quarantined against Tampa and all points south of here. It was voted to appoint two quarantine guards for Flat Ford, Cooper's Ford, the F. R. & N. R. R. crossing, the Hillsborough River, Burnt Bridge, Anclote, and, if necessary, Trout Creek.
Oct. 31, 1887. The New York Times reports, “The official records, of the Marine Hospital Bureau show the continued existence of yellow fever at Tampa, Fla., but nowhere else in the state. Reports have been received that cases have appeared at different points in Pasco County.”
Dec. 21, 1887. An Iowa newspaper reports, “A special from Dade City, Florida, says Dick Hines (?) and Charley Metz (?), colored, were lynched there Tuesday for assaulting Mrs. Oberry and her daughter, living near Owensboro. When arrested the negroes confessed their crime and begged for mercy, but were speedily lynched. No particulars can be learned more than they were tortured before being strung up, and the ropes were so arranged that they slowly died of strangulation. Their bodies were left hanging and it is reported they were afterward riddled with shot.”
About 1888. The Lakeview Highlands Hotel, located near Pasadena and Chesterfield roads, off Clinton Avenue, is built. [It was a luxury hotel where wealthy visitors from the north vacationed. The freezes of 1894 and 1895 ended the prosperity of the community and the hotel, which burned in 1899. Information from Historic Places.]
1888. Ruby Eugene Clark is born in Port Richey, according to her obituary. This is perhaps the first birth in Port Richey. [On Aug. 26, 1889, Victor Malcolm Clark was born in Port Richey.]
1888. Abbott is surveyed for Simon J. Temple, who owned much of the land.
Feb. 2, 1888. The Abbott post office is established. [The name was changed to Hegman in 1890 and back to Abbott in 1892. The name was changed to Zephyrhills in 1910.]
Feb. 9, 1888. An article in the Ohio Democrat, referring to what is now called Orange Lake in New Port Richey, reports:
Another pretty drive is to the famous Blue Sink, one of those marvelous spots where in some past generation the land and all upon it disappeared. It is very beautiful, circular in form and filled with water blue as indigo. The banks slope gently down and all around are giant pines, that stand as grim sentinels and custodians of the secret of the spot. A short distance to the north are the Salt Springs where during the war the confederates manufactured their salt. Relics of those olden days may still be seen.Mar. 15, 1888. A post office is established at Godwin.
Apr. 21, 1888. A post office is established at Jessamine. [The community developed when Walter N. Pike and William J. Ellsworth came in 1887. They started a seed and plant business called Jessamine Gardens.]
May 22, 1888. A post office is established at Lacoochee. [William Acosta was postmaster. On May 29, 1914, a newspaper reported that Charles Jensen was appointed postmaster.]
June 14, 1888. The San Antonio News says that it is published semi-monthly by Jno. J. O'Neill, editor, and P. E. Lyons, assistant editor. It has:
Well this is the long looked for picnic day. ... This picnic is given by the San Antonio Literary society, an enterprising body of young men who about a year and a half ago, formed themselves into a society for their mutual benefit. It was intended to be a literary and dramatic club. Their first appearance before the public was their picnic on the 16th of June last year, a grand success which made a name for the society. It brought together the largest crowd that ever met in Pasco County. Then they started this newspaper which they still own. ...The newspaper also reported that the general business manager of the Benedictine Order in this country has been examining the San Antonio colony to determine whether to establish a college here. It reported that the Farmers' Alliance was organized at Clear Lake school house on the second of May. Advertisements appeared by: Jos. G. Kirchner, blacksmith; John S. Flanagan, justice of the peace and notary public, with land for sale; J. W. Fisher, M. D., physician and surgeon, with his office over the Dade City drug store and his residence at the Dade City hotel; Dr. J. W. Gatton of San Antonio; Dr. J. G. Wallace of Dade City; M. J. Dooner, merchant in San Antonio; Coleman, Ferguson & Co. of Dade City; T. Lucas and Co. of St. Thomas, with dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, Queensware, harness and saddlery; J. C. Tremmell, engraver and repairer; Charles M. Gailmard, breeder of land and water fowls; William Sultenfuss, lumber yard proprietor; Brand and Wichers, date grove and nursery.It is pretty well settled now that we are to have a foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in San Antonio. They have bought the Sultenfuss Hotel property and the interior of the building is being remodeled with the expectation of having it ready for school by the first Monday in September. ...
The well which Mr. Wichers is boring is now about 350 feet deep. ... M. J. Dooner bought the first load of watermelons raised on the Isham Howell's place. ... P. J. Lyons is contractor for the building of the seminary formerly intended for the hotel. ... Mr. William Sultenfuss has moved into his new home on Lake Cecelia. It is the prettiest dwelling house in San Antonio.
July 1888. Because of continuing concerns over yellow fever, the county commission appoints Dr. G. M. Roberts quarantine physician and orders that outsiders cannot stop in Dade City without a health certificate from him.
Aug. 21, 1888. The Semiweekly Age of Coshocton reports, “A. J. Gill of Dade City, Fla., is the owner of an orange tree fifty-three years old, which is two and a half feet in diameter and thirty-five feet high. This tree has yielded 10,000 oranges in a single season, and it is believed, if no mishap intervenes, the product will reach 12,000 the present year. It is one of a group of eighteen, each but little inferior in size.”
1889. A Frenchman in Florida quotes Judge Edmund F. Dunn (in translation):
We have a judge who fulfills the duties of a notary public. His name is John S. Flanagan. Mr. Paul Gailmard, your compatriot, is a photographer. You saw his gallery. In the colony itself, medicine is practiced by Dr. Corrigan; in Ft. Dade, not far from here, there lives a physician-surgeon who can cut off your leg as easy as an alligator can. If you like, when passing through Ft. Dade, ask for Dr. A. S. Alexander—35 years in practice. This year, I have established a here a newspaper, The San Antonio Herald, appearing from time to time, which doesn't really make it less interesting as you can judge for yourself by the collection you see here. The subscription is five francs a year. The editor of the newspaper is G. M. Jordan. He is also the writer. We have two editors and two printers.Dunne also identified the presence in San Antonio of a civil engineer, a customs inspector, an architect, a glass worker, a superintendent of streets and roads, a carriage maker, an organist, countless carpenters, and a professor of Latin and Greek.
[According to another source, the San Antonio Herald was founded in 1884. Several other newspapers were founded in San Antonio thereafter, including the Florida Staats Zeitung, which originally was published in German.]
1889. A cemetery is established in what became the town of Vereen, which existed in the 1880s and 1890s. [The cemetery is located on Hudson Avenue, one-half mile east of Hicks Road. The historical marker reads: “...Stephen P. Douglas who died in 1889 is the earliest marked burial. In 1890 Abraham and Susanna Bellamy donated land to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in memory of her parents Joseph and Susanna Vereen. A building completed in 1891, served as the community's church and for some years, as a public school, until it was destroyed by a forest fire in 1920.”]
1889. A Methodist church is erected on College Street by James E. Lee.
Jan. 15, 1889. An election is held to select the city officials of the newly-incorporated Dade City. [According to the Pasco County Democrat, 47 voters, more than two-thirds of the proposed citizens, cast their ballots. City officers elected were: Mayor, John B. Johnston; Clerk, J. C. Calhoun; Councilmen, A. A. Boone, D. T. Clement, J. E. Lee, F. P. McElroy, and J. T. McMichael.]
Apr. 11, 1889. An election to name the county seat is held. According to courthouse records, 765 voters turned out on election day. Dade City won with 432 votes. Gladstone, as San Antonio was listed on the ballot, received 205 votes. Pasadena received 96; Urbana, 20; Fort Dade, 4; Clear Lake, 2; Jefferson, 2; and Owensboro, 1. [A frame court house was erected after the election.]
May 6, 1889. An entirely new board of county commissioners takes over: H. W. Coleman, chairman; Allen Hill, J. H. Pedrick, J. A. Smith, J. W. Jackson.
June 4, 1889. Saint Leo College is granted a charter by the state of Florida.
July 15, 1889. A post office is established at Pasadena.
Aug. 2, 1889. A post office is established at Pasco.
Aug. 8, 1889. School board minutes refer to a “graded and high school” in Dade City. [For information on this school, see the history of education page.]
Sept. 5, 1889. The Bank of Pasco County is granted a charter. [It was the first bank in Pasco County. The bank opened in a two-story, red-brick building completed in 1891 at Meridian Avenue and Seventh Street, the first brick building in Dade City.]
Early 1890s. A Presbyterian church is erected on College Street in Dade City. [The First Presbyterian Church of Dade City was organized on Jan. 13, 1889. The church building still exists.]
1890. The Proceedings of the Florida Medical Association includes a verbal report by Dr. N. A. Williams of Dade City for the Pasco County Medical Society. He said, “We organized in Pasco County something less than a year ago. I think we have about seven members. Our Secretary is Dr. B. L. Rae of Dade City; our President, Dr. G. W. Gatton of San Antonio.”
1890. The U. S. census for Pasco County shows 4249 persons (3872 whites, 376 negroes, and 1 Indian).
1890. Henry Clay Bush is the first surveyor to establish permanent boundaries and to map the area in western Pasco County, according to Ash.
1891. John King Cheyney (1858-1939) starts a commercial sponge venture called the Anclote and Rock Island Sponge Company on Bailey's Bluff. [On Mar. 9, 1894, the Tampa Tribune reported on the Anclote & Rock Island sponge Co., John K. Cheyney, manager. It reported that J. C. Bowyer has 13 vessels, 120 employees, $400,000 annual income. More about Bailey's Bluff is here.
Jan. 17, 1890. A post office is established at Ehren.
Oct. 18, 1890. A post office is established at Saint Leo.
Feb. 24, 1891. Local residents vote to incorporate Saint Leo. [Dr. Joseph Felix Corrigan (1846-1918), the attending physician of Saint Leo College, was elected the first mayor and his home served as the town hall. Others elected were: city clerk, E. G. Gailmard; marshal, Michael Forster; councilmen, J. S. Slevin, B. M. Wichers, N. P. Bishoff, Wm. Grus, and W. L. Mobley. Saint Leo was incorporated by an act of the legislature on June 2, 1891.]
May 6, 1891. A post office is established at Pedrick. [It was renamed Flatford in 1892 and discontinued in 1896 with service continuing from Richland.]
Aug. 7, 1891. Residents of San Antonio vote 28-8 in favor of incorporation, and choose these officials: Mayor, G. S. Bowen; Aldermen, F. J. Christ, F. J. O'Neill, J. W. Jackson, Bernard Kissen, Patrick McCabe; Clerk, Paul R. Gailward; Marshal, P. J. Lyons. [Information from a 1991 address by Dr. James J. Horgan published in the Pasco News and incorporation papers provided by Jeff Cannon. However, according to a web page San Antonio was incorporated in 1889. The Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1886-87 has in the San Antonio listing: “This is an incorporated village.”]
Oct. 20, 1891. A Texas newspaper reports, “The farmer's alliance meets at Dade City today. Nearly 3000 delegates will attend to discuss the sub-treasury bill and a resolution to support only alliance men at the state election, which means a third party in Florida. The convention will endorse the Ocala platform.”
Oct. 24, 1891. The Bismarck Daily Tribune has: “DADE CITY, Oct. 28.—The State Farmers' Alliance, after discussion lasting five hours, endorsed the platform adopted at Ocala last year. Senator Pasco, who was not barred from the meeting because of being a lawyer, went on record against the sub-treasury plan.”
1892. A Baptist church is erected on College Street in Dade City. [It burned down in 1899.]
1892. St. Mary's Episcopal Church is built, serving settlers at Lake Pasadena.
1892. A brick jail is constructed at Dade City. [The marker at the Pasco County Jail lists these county commissioners: B. C. Campbell, T. F. Williams, L. S. Bradham, W. H. Haager, J. W. Clark.]
July 18, 1892. Benjamin and Virginia Baisden sell an acre of their property near Buddy Lake to the trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for five dollars. [The trustees were Baisden himself, Henry Whitfield, and Alec Branden. Information from Jeff Cannon.]
Aug. 3, 1892. The Indiana Progress reports, “Pasco county, Florida, boasts of having the oldest soldier in the United States. His name is Jonathan Pratt, and he is claimed to be 103 years old.”
Sept. 17, 1892. A post office is established at Elba Heights.
Sept. 19, 1892. A newspaper reports, “Mrs. Sarah W. Kuester, of Lenard, Pasco county, Fla., is a remarkably hale and persevering lady of seventy-four, who has just finished a noteworthy piece of bead-work for the world's fair. It is a copy of Stuart's picture of Gen. Washington, and is wrought with fine beads on canvas fifty-two inches long and thirty-nine inches wide. The figure of Washington is thirty-eight inches in height,and Mrs. Kuester has made a very careful study of the coloring of each detail of drapery, clouds, etc. Over five hundred thousand beads have been used, and the effect is that of a fine painting. Who can present a better record of persevering labor than this?”
Dec. 2, 1892. The Mayflower post office is established. [It was closed on July 21, 1898.]
May 6, 1893. A post office is established at Amelia (an area now known as Darby).
May 8, 1893. A post office is established at St. Joseph.
July 4, 1893. The town marshal of Tarpon Springs, William Erastus Whitehurst (1870-1893), attempting to arrest a drunken sponge fisherman named Atwell, was shot and killed by Constantine “Bud” Stevenson and John McNeil. [Both men were convicted on May 25, 1894. The jury recommended mercy, saving the defendants from being hanged. The name is spelled Whithurst in a newspaper article.]
July 20, 1893. The Tampa Weekly Tribune mentions a newspaper, The World, in Dade City. [On Oct. 20, 1893, the Tribune reports John Post and family, merchants, Dade City World newspaper, return to Tampa to live.]
July 24, 1893. A post office is established at Myrtle. [It was discontinued in 1914 with service continuing from Lutz.]
1894. A list of officers of the Twin Lakes Masonic Lodge has: Wm. Dowling, Blanton; D. M. Oberry, Blanton (Daniel M. Oberry); J. J. Howell, Blanton; W. R. Nicks, Twin Lakes (William R. Nicks); W. J. Scott, Twin Lakes; S. J. Ansley, Chipco (Samuel J. Ansley); M. R. Morrison, Blanton; G. J. Hancock, St. Thomas (George J. Hancock); H. J. Hancock, Twin Lakes (Horace J. Hancock); J. B. Miller, Blanton; B. F. Nicks, Twin Lakes; J. D. Matthews, Twin Lakes.
1894. The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette has: “A letter received from Dr. George C. Muirhead (?) at Dade City, Florida, states that he has been offered an office for the practice of his profession and will remain there. A host of warm friends here are sorry he does not intend to return, but are rejoiced at the news that he is enjoying excellent health.”
Jan. 5, 1894. The Tampa Weekly Tribune reports on the Commercial Hotel, Lacoochee, Mrs. W. T. Johns, proprietor.
Aug. 20, 1894. The Trenton Times reports: “Dade City, Fla., Aug. 20—Milton Higgs came home from Floral City, where he works, to see his wife. As he reached home his wife drove up in a cart with another man. Higgs led the woman into the house and blew out her brains. The murderer escaped.”
Sept. 15, 1894. A newspaper reports: “T. W. Miller was assassinated near Lacoochee, Fla., while cutting timber. His body was riddled with bullets, and was found at noon by his wife, who had gone to call him to dinner.
Sept. 18, 1894. The Times Union reports that Abe McGirt, a farmer, was found dead near Lacoochee today. Examination of the corpse showed that McGirt's neck had been broken and his skull crushed. [On Oct. 12, 1894, the Tampa Tribune reported that Judge Barron Phillips sentenced Lewis Raymond, Will Mitchell, Henry Morris, and Zelina McGirt, all colored, to hang, for killing Abe McGirt, husband of Zelina McGirt, on Sept. 15, 1894. He also sentenced Milton Higgs to hang for killing his wife Susie on Aug. 18, 1894. On Dec. 14, 1894, the newspaper reported the sentences of Zelene McGirt and her two sons and Will Raymond were commuted to life imprisonment.]
Dec. 28, 1894. A light snowfall sweeps through Florida.
Dec. 29, 1894. The temperature drops to 18 degrees in Tampa, damaging the citrus industry. [A second freeze occurred on Feb. 9, 1895. According to the obituary of John M. Baillie of what would become Elfers, “The '95 freeze killed all his citrus nursery.”]
Mid-1890s. A small Episcopal church is established at Lake Buddy. [A document of the Florida Episcopal church, which appears to be from the mid-1890s, has: “In addition to my regular work, I have visited and officiated at Brooksville and Lake Buddy, two Sundays at each place—opening for service a small church at Lake Buddy, and organizing the mission. In that connection I visited the new town of Inverness, the county seat of Citrus County ....”]
1895. An 1895 atlas shows these places in Pasco County, with populations: Abbott; Argo; Big Cypress; Blanton; Chipco 13; Dade City 321; Drexel; Earnestville 72; Ehren; Ellerslie; Godwin; Hegman; Hudson 16; Jessamine; Keystone Park; Lacoochee; Lenard 101; Macon 133; Milliards; Odessa; Owensboro; Pasadena; Pedrick; Port Richey 27; Richland; San Antonio 252; St. Leo; St. Thomas 202; Twin Lakes 76. The atlas also shows Anclote (population 84), although it is in Hillsborough county.
Jan. 24, 1895. A deed conveys property in S22 T23 R21 from Nathan H. Garner and his wife Maggie W. to the trustees of St. John A. M. Church in Macon (now Trilby). [Info from Jeff Cannon]
Feb. 7, 1895. A freeze destroys many citrus groves. [A temperature of 16.8 degrees was recorded at Saint Leo.]
Feb. 11, 1895. The Newark Daily Advocate in an article about the damage to the Florida orange crop, reports: “Anclote, 28, with snow, which is unprecedented....”
Feb. 11, 1895. The Aripeka post office is established in Hernando county. The first postmaster was George Pine (born, 1835). The 1900 census indicates Pine was a photographer born in New Jersey. [The original spelling may have been Aipeka. The United States Post-Office Guide for 1904, p. 366, spells the name of this town Arbeka.]
May 3, 1895. The Galveston County Daily News reports, “Dade City, Fla.—Leslie Wilson, the 15-year-old son of R. M. Wilson, was caught in the belt at Bass' saw mill, two miles north of Dade City on the 27th. Both of his legs were broken and he was otherwise badly injured. His condition is critical.”
June 11, 1896. The Tampa Weekly Tribune reports that Bailey's Point was the scene of a stabbing.
June 12, 1896. The Tampa Morning Tribune reports that Drayton McKinney and C. J. Raulerson both were killed in a shootout in the woods between Lacoochee and Trilby.
July 23, 1896. The Tampa Weekly Tribune reports that Thomas Green of Richland was killed by George Wilder for abusing Wilder's wife. The shooting took place on the Polk-Pasco line.
Aug. 10, 1896. A fire in Dade City destroys Coleman & Ferguson's general store, T. J. Howard's drug store, J. J. Wilson's poolroom, Powell's barber shop, and A. A. Boone's grocery store. The loss was estimated at $27,000.
Sept. 10, 1896. The Tampa Weekly Tribune mentions Rev. D. A. Cole, Methodist minister in Dade City.
1897. The Trilby Methodist Church is organized, according to a historical marker, which reads: “Trilby Methodist Church - organized by the Rev. T. H. Sistrunk in 1897 and built by the 12 charter members a year later, this original frame church and steeple of pioneer design has long been a center of community activities. Moved from near the railroad coalchute to the present site about 1920, it was remodeled in 1978. The pulpit, handmade by John Spinks, is still in use.”
1897. Embry Tobacco Co. is established.
Jan. 5, 1897. The Florida Times-Union reports, “Tarpon Springs, Fla., January 4.—Hon. John B. Walton was in town a few days during the week. He brought some prospective land buyers over from Tampa to show them the advantages offered for investment in lands north of the Pithlachescotee river belonging to the Cootie Land company. The company owns some of the most desirable land on the Gulf Coast, well adapted to vegetable and fruit-growing, dairying, and anything requiring fertile lands to produce. No place offers greater inducements to a colony of thrifty Swedes or Germans, as they are industrious and economical and on such land would build up a prosperous and self-sustaining community of intelligent wealth-producers. Every settler, of a good class, adds permanently to the wealth and development of its varied resources.”
Feb. 5, 1897. The Decatur Daily Republican reports: “Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 5.—Constantine Stevenson, a farmer of this county [sic], was shot and killed yesterday while in his field. The assassins were concealed in a clump of bushes and fired four charges of buckshot into Stevenson, tearing his body to pieces. Stevenson was a member of the Tillet faction which has been engaged in a feud with the Whiddens, and which has now caused the loss of nine lives. In 1895, after four members of the Tillet faction had been killed, three of the Whidden brothers were shot to death while sleeping in hammocks at their lodging camp in this county. Stevenson, it is supposed, took part in this killing. In July of last year J. W. Whitehurst, a member of the Whidden faction, was assassinated while sitting on his front porch. Stevenson was indicted for this murder, and tried, but was acquitted, while the Whidden faction believed him guilty and swore vengeance, and his murder yesterday shows the vow was kept.” [Tillet W. Whidden of Pasco County and Willard Whitehurst subsequently surrendered to Sheriff Spencer in Tampa. Both denied involvement in the murder; Whidden said he preferred the custody of Hillsborough to the jail of Pasco County.]
May 27, 1897. Several newspapers report: “Tampa, Fla., May 27.—William Edwards was assassinated at his home near Trilby. He and his two children were eating supper, when parties concealed in the woods fired through a window, killing Edwards instantly. He was a one armed ex-Federal soldier. This is the seventh man killed in the Whitehurst-Whiddin-Stevenson feud. Bud Stevenson was assassinated in his field two months ago. It was thought Edwards did it, and he was marked by the friends of Stevenson.”
Sept. 15, 1897. A post office is established at Wesley Chapel. [It was discontinued in 1902.]
Sept. 28, 1897. An Ohio newspaper, reprinting a New York Tribune article, reports, “For many years the principal dredging has been in progress at Bailey's point. Now, however, the crews of the sponging vessels have begun to remove their kraals to Anclote key. Several reasons are given for the change in place of operations, the most important of which is the fact that the water around Bailey's point was being used too rapidly on account of the large number of sponge men there.”
Oct. 16, 1897. The Newport Mercury reports, “The black crews of the sponging vessels have begun to remove their kraals to Anclote key. Several reasons are given for the removal, but the most important is that the water at Bailey's Point was being used too rapidly on account of the large number of men there.”
Jan. 17, 1898. A post office is established at Shingleton. [It was discontinued in 1901 with service continuing from Pasco.]
Mar. 7, 1898. Minutes of the Dade City City Council meeting have: “Mr. T. F. Cheek and others appeared before the board asking that the Council take some step to rid the town of the illicit sale of whiskey. After discussion C. W. Furman offered the following resolution which was adopted: 'The Mayor and Marshal are commanded to abate all disorder in this city by enforcing the law in its fullest meaning and effect and arrest all parties who are in any way connected with any house of disorder and arrest the proprietors for keeping such hours.'”
May 2, 1898. James A. Delcher is elected Chairman of the Dade City City Council, replacing J. D. Sumner, who resigned.
Dec. 9, 1898. A post office is established at Wheeler. [It was discontinued in 1902, with service continuing from Enville.]
Dec. 18, 1898. Rev. J. M. Mitchell is appointed pastor of the Hudson Methodist Episcopal Church, South, according to a church register. [The register shows that subsequently Rev. M. T. Bell served until Dec. 17, 1900, and Rev. Tom McMullon served until Dec. 1901. Other pastors were Rev. W. F. Fletcher (1902), Rev. R. H. Barnett (1903), Rev. W. H. F. Robarts (1904), Rev. K. M. Albright (1905), Rev. K. D. Jones (1906), Rev. J. M. Dieffenwierth (1907), Revs. Combs, Willis, and Mitchell (sharing, Dec. 1908 to Dec. 1909), Rev. J. D. Frierson (1909-1911).]
Feb. 13, 1899. The temperature at Inverness drops to 14 degrees, according to readings made by W. C. Zimmerman.
Nov. 9-10, 1899. The Tampa Morning Tribune reports that Giuseppe Licata, an Italian immigrant, was accused of killing a rural farmer in a quarrel over a cow. A group of Pasco County farmers marched on the Tampa jail, demanding that he be released for justice. Licata was later found innocent of the charges.
1900. The population of Pasco County is 6054.
March 1900. The Pavilion Church and Reading Room for Sponge Fishermen is founded at Bailey's Bluff by Emma M. Stirling (1838-1907), a Scottish woman who wintered in Tampa.
May 17, 1900. The Blackshear Times (Georgia) reports, “The shooting and instant killing of Mr. J. Irwin Cleland last week near Hudson, Fla., was a severe shock to his aged father (John Cleland) and relatives in this (Pierce) county. He was shot from ambush by negroes, of whom three has been lynched. Circumstances prevented the body from being brought home for burial and today it sleeps in Florida soil.”
May 22, 1900. A post office is established at Odessa.
June 22, 1900. A post office is established at Greer.
July 16, 1900. The Security post office is established. The postmaster was Otis Baker, according to R. F. Pent in The History of Tarpon Springs. [It closed on Dec. 31, 1908.]
Aug. 13, 1900. A post office is established at Bramlett. [It was discontinued in 1902, with service continued from Abbott.]
1901. Trilby is incorporated, according to Scott Black. [However, see also May 1, 1913.]
Jan. 27, 1901. Early the morning, a riot breaks out at a negro dance at Rice & Phelps' turpentine camp near Dade City. Dan Childers, a white man, is killed and J. B. McNeill is fatally wounded. Two black women and one black man were shot and seriously wounded. [On Feb. 5, 1901, a mob lynched two black men, Will Wright and Sam Williams, in the county jail at Dade City. They had been implicated in the killing of Childers and the wounding of McNeill. Sheriff Griffin refused to give up the keys and the mob, said to be 30 to 50 men, broke down the outer door. Unable to break down the steel doors of the cells, they opened fire through the steel bars, shooting both prisoners to death. The Coroner's jury found that they came to their death at the hands of “parties unknown.” On Feb. 14, 1901, the Tampa Tribune apparently gave the names as Will Wright and Sam Johnson.]
Mar. 11, 1901. American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record reports: “Dr. C. S. Lowry, of Dade City, Fla., has sold his drug business to J. Clarence Griffin. Dr. Lowry will locate in Lakeland, where he will practice his profession. He has also purchased a drug store in Lakeland.”
July 24, 1901. The New York Times has:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 23.—News reaches here from San Antonio, Fla., of a terrific electric storm at that town. Services were in progress at the time in the Catholic Church. This church was struck by lightning and partly wrecked. Father Benedict, who was in the confessional at the time, was knocked unconscious. It was first believed that he was dead. Miss Gerner, who was kneeling near the entrance, and several others, were shocked severely. The building was set on fire, and the entire interior seemed to be in flames at once. There was a panic and a wild rush to get out of the church. Many were bruised during this scramble for safety. Father Benedict was unconscious for several minutes. He recovered and is reported to-day to be well almost. The interior of the church was damaged badly.1902. Memoirs of Florida (1902) by Francis P. Fleming has:
PASCO COUNTY, organized in 1887, has an area of 800 square miles and contains a population of 6,054, an increase from 1890 of 1,805. It is situated on the Gulf, between Hernando and Hillsboro counties, with a water frontage of many miles, but no important harbors. There is much fertile agricultural land, and large crops of sweet potatoes, rice, hay, millet and egg plant are produced, as well as other field crops. The yield of vegetables reaches enormous proportions and can be easily marketed. Oranges are raised in considerable quantities and the tropical fruits find congenial environment. Phosphate rock is found abundant and the mining interests are extensive. Dade City is the seat of county affairs, the chief city and railroad center, is most conveniently located on the lines of the Seaboard Air Line and Savannah, Florida & Western roads and is a progressive, pushing town of 500 inhabitants. The tobacco crop of Pasco County is of great importance and its yield is the second largest in the State, being exceeded only by that of Gadsden county. Live stock of all kinds do exceedingly well and are raised in great numbers. Poultry of the various sorts are successfully bred and 438,100 dozen eggs were gathered in 1900. Off the rocky coast of Pasco county are famous spongefishing grounds and several hundred boats are busied in this industry.Jan. 8, 1902. Jno. B. Johnston is selected as Mayor of Dade City.
Mar. 6, 1902. A post office is established at Sagano.
May 17, 1902. A list of Democratic county excecutive committees for the various counties in the Florida Cracker includes: Pasco. M. J. Dooner, State Excecutive Committee, San Antonio; J. M. McShane, chairman county Executive Committee, San Antonio; J. M. McShane, San Antonio; R. C. Mickler, Macon; G. W. Dayton, Dade City; S. W. Averett, Lumberton; J. A. Smith, Wesley; J. B. Miller, Jr., Blanton; R. B. McKendree, Pasco; J. B. Gay, Riverland; J. W. Hudson, Hudson; M. N. Hill, Port Richey; W. C. Ray, Dade City; E. B. Liles, Ehren; J. C. Geiger, Abbott; J. W. Gant, Enville.
July 31, 1902. A newspaper reports, “Ocala, Fla., July 30—An unknown negro was lynched at San Antonio, Pasco County, last night, for criminal assault on a white woman.” [A newspaper story datelined Ocala, Fla., July 31, reported, “An unknown negro was lynched at San Antonio, Pasco county for criminal assault on a white woman. After being identified by his victim he was strung up on a tree in sight of the railroad station and his body riddled with bullets.” [According to a web site, on Aug. 1, 1902, Alonzo Williams, a black man, was lynched at San Antonio. Pioneer Days spells the name Alonso Williams, and gives the date 1901. It quotes an unidentified newspaper article as saying that Williams choked into unconsciousness the niece of prominent resident Col. K. G. Liles and that “He was led forth to be dealt with summarily, but justly, and in a few moments the body of the beast was dangling from the Corrigan building and riddled with bullets, a fitting punishment that will always be dealt to such fiends so long as there is a spark of the fires of manhood in our breasts.”]
July 31, 1902. A newspaper reports that John B. Johnston of the Dade City Democrat was elected to the legislature from Pasco County.
Nov. 24, 1902. A post office is established at Kenney. [It was discontinued in 1912 with service continuing from Zephyrhills.]
1903. The Mount Zion A. M. E. Church is constructed in Dade City. [The trustees of the church at the time of the purchase of the property were Rufus Johnson, George Young, and Butler T. Green. The minister at this time may have been Rev. Amos Thompson. The building was demolished in 2007.]
April 1903. The Pasco County Telephone Co. is organized in April 1903 by W. J. Ellsworth of Jessamine.
July 18, 1903. The Tarpon Springs News reports:
HUDSON. The sponge fleet has been kept in by bad weather. H. C. Bush is doing surveying on the Hudson & Brooksville railway. Rev. M. Smith is visiting in Hudson this week. Squally weather with brisk rains prevails here. Our picnic, of 25th inst, is the great topic of conversation hereabouts. A complete programme of amusements is to be in evidence besides the picnic feature. Our hearts are set on making this a success—which our good people certainly deserve. May they enjoy good weather, a big crowd and the time of their lives on that day, of all others!PORT RICHEY. This week opened with wind and rain. Port Richeyites visiting in Tarpon Monday were: J. W. Clark, G. B. Harshaw, and Robert. McCreary and son. Second growth on orange trees seems thrifty. Services at M. E. church Sunday and meetings during week. A. M. Richey's pear trees were damaged some by wind. The population of this settlement is 55 all told. D. H. and J. W. Clark caught two fine tarpon Monday, one a six footer. R. R. Premier is building a small boat. The Clearwater wharf contractor is here gathering cabbage palmetto logs. Our bathing has been ruined by much fresh water.
Oct. 15, 1903. The Tampa Tribune reports that convicted cow stealers B. C. Slaughter, Sam Harris, George West, and Thomas O. Slaughter will each receive two years in prison.
Nov. 2, 1903. In a letter to the Waterloo Daily Courier Jacob Schaefer writes, “San Antonio is a small town, 29 residences, 4 general stores, 2 meat markets, having meat only on Saturdays, which is made of native cattle here; one blacksmith shop, one small saw mill, one turpentine distillery, a depot, public school, also a parochial school, also a convent for Sisters, a church, city hall, etc. St. Leo college is one-half mile east of here, laying on a big hill near the lake of Jovita, a fine, clear, sweet water lake one mile square. On this lake you can get a good boat ride and fish. Negroes are not allowed here to settle, the few which are here working in the turpentine stills, and if the still is moved the negroes go with it.”
1904. The sawmill operation begins at Fivay. [More on the town of Fivay is here.]
1904. The Dade City Star is established. [On Dec. 8, 1904, a newspaper reported, “The Dade City Star is one of the latest ventures on the journalistic sea.” According to a 1972 newspaper article, “Basil Orville (“Villie”) Bowden became owner and editor of the Dade City Star which he established in 1904....” On Oct. 15, 1909, B. O. Bowden is shown as editor and owner.]
Jan. 4, 1904. J. K. Ward is elected Mayor of Dade City.
Mar. 24, 1904. The Tampa Tribune reports a Pasco County bank safe was dynamited by robbers.
May 26, 1904. The Tampa Tribune reports the Brooksville-Hudson railroad has opened. [According to WPH, in 1905 a railroad spur track was laid from Fivay to Hudson, with a depot at Hudson for passengers and commodities. This line connected Hudson and the Fivay Lumber Co. with Tampa.]
Sept. 23, 1904. The Fivay post office is established. [It was closed on June 15, 1912.]
Dec. 8, 1904. The Tampa Morning Tribune reports on murder trials in Pasco County: Jones murdered Pyatt; James Tompkins, colored for murder; A. F. Sullivan killed Tom Wilson; George Quinn, colored, killed Will Thompson, acquitted; Henry Packer, colored.
Dec. 18, 1904. The Pasco County Democrat reports that John J. Doyle died on Dec. 7 at his residence near Dade City. He had moved here from Fitchburg, Mass., in October, hoping that his health would improve.
Feb. 6, 1905. D. O. Thrasher is selected as Mayor of Dade City.
Feb. 9, 1905. Dade City Council meets to consider granting a franchise for an electric light and water works plant to Isaac D. Sperry, Drew B. Mills, and Emille Muller for a period of 25 years.
Apr. 20, 1905. The Tampa Tribune has the Pasco County Criminal Court docket: Henry Parker convicted of murder, sentenced to life in prison, Frances Bailey, colored, convicted of murder, life in prison, Robert Coleman, murder, life imprisonment.
May 3, 1905. The Gainesville Daily Sun reports, “W. B. Keith, near Dade City, has harvested the finest crop of ten acres of oats ever raised in Pasco County.”
June 28, 1905. The Tampa Tribune reports that S. B. Keagin was charged with killing Mr. Norman.
Nov. 10, 1905. The St. Lucie County Tribune reports, “Pasco county is among the latest to join the ‘dry’ column in Florida. In an election held last week the ‘drys’ carried the day by overwhelming majority. The county voted dry once before, but the election was set aside in the courts. This time it is claimed that the election was conducted so that the will of the people will be heeded.”
Mar. 1, 1906. The Arcadia Champion reports, “Boon Embry, of Dade City, who owns one of the largest tobacco farms in the state, has just closed a ten-year contract for his crop at 40 cents a pound. He has nearly thirty acres under sheds.”
Mar. 6, 1906. The Gainesville Daily Sun reports: “One of the most important transfers in real estate recorded in Florida in some time was the sale of 18,000 acres of timber land, together with forty ‘crops,’ or 400,000 boxes, and the complete naval stores outfit of W. B. Phifer, located at Abbott, Pasco county, a few days ago. It is understood that the consideration was $90,000. A large acreage of the tract is virgin timber, and said to be among the finest for turpentine purposes in Pasco county.”
Aug. 19, 1906. A turpentine man named Burton kills R. E. Wishart of Ocala, who operated a tie camp at Ehren. The shooting occurred at the office of a dentist named Nichols, located at San Antonio. Wishart was a patron; Burton intended to shoot the dentist but killed the wrong man.
Oct. 11, 1906. The Tampa Tribune reports that John D. Sims, former Tax Collector of Pasco County, was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to two years in prison.
Oct. 18, 1906. The Tampa Tribune reports Clyde Pike was murdered by Lafayette Pike and Maxey Ryals.
1907. The Dade City Hotel burns down. [Or, 1910.]
1907. Sunnybrook Tobacco Co. buys out the Embry Tobacco Co. [In the early 1920s Sunnybrook became the largest employer in Pasco County. The plant was heavily damaged by fire in 1924 and closed down.]
Jan. 31, 1907. The Tampa Tribune reports E. Wilson was elected Mayor of Dade City.
June 6, 1907. The Tampa Tribune reports Moses Baisden, colored, shot Bessie Saunders, colored, and escaped from Hillsborough County.
1908. Electric power is brought to Dade City by Dade City Ice, Light, and Power Co.
1908. The Touchton Building is erected at the corner of Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue in Dade City.
Jan. 26, 1908. The Gainesville Daily Sun reports, “Pasco County has the tobacco fever. In Dade City it is difficult to find clerks for the stores or landlords for the hotels—all rush out to grow tobacco.”
Feb. 10, 1908. A post office is established at Tucker. [It was renamed Greenfield on July 6, 1923.]
Feb. 13, 1908. The Tampa Weekly Tribune reports colored Masons celebrated at Ehren.
Apr. 23, 1908. The Tampa Tribune reports that Joseph Henry and George Roberts, soldiers who robbed the Fort Dade post office, were detained by officials on desertion charges in hopes they receive a more severe punishment.
May 14, 1908. The Tampa Morning Tribune reports that ex-Sen. Kirk and George W. Dayton addressed an unruly crowd in Dade City.
Sept. 30, 1908. A meeting is held at the office of the Aripeka Saw Mills Co. for the incorporation of the town of Fivay. More information is here.
Nov. 12, 1908. The Tampa Weekly Tribune mentions Dade City Orange Growers, Dade City Vegetable Co., Sunny Brook Tobacco Co., Dade City Star, B. O. Bowden, editor, and the Dade City Drug Co., Boon & Touchton, proprietors.
1909. A newspaper is established in Trilby, the Pasco News. [It ceased publication in 1916.]
April 1909. The AME Church Review (unseen) reports on editor Hightower T. Kealing's tour of AME churches, as follows: Kealing arrived in Croom on Feb. 27, 1908, and met with Rev. S. H. Bell and spent the night with Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Williams. He described conditions at the train station: “As usual, little or no attention is given to the waiting room for colored people in these villages. Not a heater at Croom, not even a light. Mr. Williams and Reverend Berrian had to furnish a lamp, and on this cold morning, Friday Feb. 28th, made a bonfire, and before the fire the representative of the Review waited for the train.” In Trilby Mr. and Mrs. Burt Foster welcomed him into in their comfortable home. He described Mrs. Burt as a genuine entertainer who took special delight in making it pleasant for those stopping over in Trilby. “On Friday night, February 28, I addressed a most excellent audience in St. John A. M. E. Church. Rev. E. D. Dempsey was the pastor. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Witherspoon assisted in making my stay pleasant.” On March 1, he spoke to the Mount Zion AME Church in Dade City, describing the church as beautiful and writing that he was pleased they were building a parsonage. [Information from a newspaper article by Imani Asukile]
May 8, 1909. Sheldon S. Nicks is shot to death at Fivay by a man that he was apparently trying to arrest. [Nicks is identified in Tampa Morning Tribune articles as a Hernando County sheriff's deputy but is later identified as a Pasco County sheriff's deputy in another newspaper.]
May 11, 1909. The Tampa Morning Tribune reports that the Mutual Construction Co. of Louisville, Ky., was awarded the contract for erecting Pasco County's new court house at $34,860. It reported the company was allowed 250 working days to complete the contract. [According to one source, Circuit Court Clerk Archie J. Burnside accepted the completed building on July 5, 1909, and made the first payment of $6,360 on that date. However, the Atlanta Constitution of Sept. 20, 1909, carried a classified ad: “WANTED - Ten good carpenters to go to Dade City, Fla., work on courthouse, 30c per hour, 10-hour day. Call upon A H Haggard, 16 W. North avenue Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 12 m.” According to Eddie Herrmann, County Commission records reflect that acceptance was refused on Dec. 16, 1909, “on grounds, not fully completed,” and was subsequently accepted on Jan. 3, 1910.]
May 14, 1909. A post office is established at Needmore.
May 21, 1909. The Fort Pierce News reports: “On the same day that the courthouse contract was let the county commissioners of Pasco ordered the construction of 35 miles of hard road, connecting Dade City and Hudson. The value of this improvement cannot be estimated. Practically speaking, it will be even more valuable than the new courthouse and yet there are some people who prefer the sand.”
Aug. 29, 1909. The Tampa Tribune (unseen) reports that five members of the Tucker family, all living near Richland, have been arrested on charges of cattle stealing. The men were Elliott, Fulton, Velpo, Elmore, and Austin. Theft of cattle had been occurring for several years in Polk, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties.
Oct. 15, 1909. The Dade City Star states that it “has the largest circulation of any paper ever published in Pasco County.” The newspaper reports on a four-day murder trial that resulted in a hung jury. State Attorney Herbert Phillips prosecuted the case and defense counsel included Col. E. F. Green, Capt. John B. Johnson, and Col. Robert W. Davis. School board minutes show that board members are L. J. Sellers, W. S. Larkin, and D. E. Wallace, and M. L. Gilbert is superintendent. In an advertisement, J. D. Sumner invites everybody to make his store headquarters during court or any other time when in town. S. Daiger advertises groceries, feed, fertilizer, crockery, clothing, oil stoves. O. N. Williams & Son advertise that they are the original Racket Store and have added a grocery department and a millinery and dress making department supervised by Mrs. Jennie Knapp. O. N. Williams is an agent for the Standard Fertilizer Co. Coleman and Ferguson advertise. W. L. Baker states that he is successor to R. C. Davis and advertises fresh fish each day, fresh pork, sausage, beef, and mutton. R. T. Thrasher is a dealer in general merchandise. Brown's Livery has good teams and careful drivers. E. M. Staley is a contractor and builder.
Oct. 30, 1909. The Gainesville Daily Sun reports, “E. B. Embry of Dade City, who is manager of the Sunnybrook Tobacco Company, says that Florida wrapper tobacco is bringing two dollars a pound. The Dade City plantation is one of the largest in the State.”
Dec. 14, 1909. The Elfers post office is established. The first postmaster was Levi D. Eiland. [Mrs. J. M. Mitchell recalled that the next postmaster was J. M. Mitchell in Oct. 1911, followed by Spivey Woddy.]
Dec. 17, 1909. The DeLand News reports, “A deal has been consummated whereby Powell Brothers, of DeLand, have come into possession of the ownership of fifteen thousand acres of timber lands in Pasco county. While the tract has been put through the process of turpentining, the timber is yet intact. The tract is conveniently located near two railroads, and is one of the finest in the state. The consideration is understood to have been $75,000, the sale having been made by J. R. Sloan and associates, of Jacksonville.”
About 1910. The first burial takes place at Indian Pond Cemetery in Dade City [Historic Places of Pasco County].
1910. Capt. Howard B. Jeffries, a Civil War veteran from Pennsylvania, and the Zephyrhills Colony Co. purchase 35,000 acres at Abbott Station for resale to pensioned Union veterans of the Civil War.
Feb. 11, 1910. The Atlanta Constitution reports: “Tampa, Fla., February 10—Meager details were received here tonight of the killing of Joseph and M___ Hale of Abbott, a small community a short distance from Dade City, by Will Stafford, one of the most prominent farmers in that county. The two brothers had been charged, it is alleged, with stealing hogs from Mr. Stafford and a quarrel ensued. Yesterday afternoon the three met at Abbott. Just how the difficulty which led up to the dual killing started cannot be learned. Stafford secured a double barreled gun, however, and killed both of the young men. The bodies were carried to Dade City, where an inquest will be held tomorrow morning.”
Apr. 22, 1910. The Fort Pierce News reports that Miss Hettie B. Spencer of Dade City was elected a vice president of the association of Florida postmasters last week.
May 20, 1910. The Fort Pierce News reports, “At Fort Dade, the first organization of Spanish war veterans in Florida have just been organized, with a membership of about fifty. Capt. A. G. Clark, of Fort Dade, is organizer.”
May 31, 1910. The name of the Abbott post office is changed to Zephyrhills. [Another source has Mar. 10, 1910.]
1911. The Port Richey Co. purchases part of the land of the Aripeka Saw Mills. [The Port Richey Co. consisted of P. L. Weeks, a turpentine operator from Brooksville, his brother J. S. Weeks Jr., and W. E. Guilford, formerly with the Gillette Safety Razor Co.
Apr. 4, 1911. The Atlanta Constitution reports: “Dade City, Fla., April 3.—While personally directing the completion of a hotel he has built here, S. H. Gerowe fell 30 feet today and was instantly killed. He was standing on a window ledge on the second story, pulling a nail. The nail came out suddenly and Mr. Gerowe lost his balance. He was formerly a traveling salesman for Harry Schlesinger, of Atlanta.”
Aug. 16, 1911. A map labeled “Port Richey Company, Plan for Town of Port Richey” is recorded in public records. [The plan was drawn up by W. E. Guilford. It apparently had many of the streets and avenues surveyed, but not named.]
Oct. 1, 1911. A 1911 Port Richey Co. publication has: “The Port Richey Northern Railway at this writing (October 1, 1911) has been completed to within two miles of Port Richey. It will require but a short while longer to complete the road to the town of Port Richey. Work on the railroad bridge is already under way, and will be completed by December 1st.”
Oct. 4, 1911. A post office is established at Crystal Springs. [A Mar. 27, 1919, newspaper article mentioned that W. P. Brophy was the postmaster.]
Oct. 5, 1911. A newspaper is founded in Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills Colonist. [The Oct. 12, 1911, newspaper shows George H. Gibson as editor, publisher, and proprietor, and Floyd A. Gibson as foreman. Maxie Smith is shown as the publisher in the Apr. 29, 1921, newspaper. The newspaper became the Zephyrhills News in the 1925. On Apr. 2, 1926, S. D. Lovett is shown as editor and publisher.]
Nov. 16, 1911. The Zephyrhills Colonist mentions vol. I, no. 1, of the Dade City Record.
1912. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station is erected in Dade City.
1912. The Grand Army of the Republic Hall is constructed in Zephyrhills.
1912. A Guide to Florida for Tourists, Sportsmen, and Settlers lists three hotels in Dade City: Woods' Tavern, I. A. Woods, capacity 25; Embry House, W. E. Embry, capacity, 25; Osceola, Mrs. M. D. Cochran, capacity, 20.
Jan. 20, 1912. The Tampa Daily Times reports, “The new hotel being erected by the Port Richey company is nearly completed and will be ready for guests about February 1. It is a well constructed frame building with wide verandas, large office and dining room and ten or twelve bed rooms.” [The hotel became the Sass Hotel, operated by Fred and Ollie Sass. In 1920 the Enchantment Inn Co. bought the hotel and renamed it The Inn. The largest stockholder of the Enchantment Inn Co. was George R. Sims. Other stockholders were Clyde F. Burns, Elroy M. Avery, H. S. Rothera, George L. Wanner, W. A. Casey, Mead Wood, C. L. Fox, J. S. Jackson, S. D. Copeland, and D. J. Clark. On June 23, 1921, an ad appears in the New Port Richey Press for The Inn, H. S. Rothera, manager. On Apr. 13, 1922, the New Port Richey Press reported that the Enchantment Inn Co. sold the hotel to Miss H. A. Turnbolt of Lincoln, Ill. On Jan. 5, 1923, the New Port Richey Press reported that Miss Turnbolt had returned to St. Louis because of ill health and that the hotel was being leased to Mr. and Mrs. Sass. On June 15, 1923, the New Port Richey Press reported that Fred L. Walsh of Somerville, Mass., had purchased the Inn from the Enchantment Co. A Jan. 2, 1925, newspaper ad shows the Enchantment Inn, F. L. Walsh, proprietor. The 1926 newspaper article reporting on the burning of the hotel has: “The present ownership of the hotel took possession in April 1925. It comprises Thomas W. Swope of Independence, Mo., and L. A. Moseley of Jacksonville.”]
Jan. 20, 1912. The Tampa Daily Times reports, “Mr. McNatt is erecting a new store building and will soon have it filled with a good stock of goods. The Port Richey colony lands have been open to settlement only a short time, yet a number of ten and twenty acre tracts have been purchased by homeseekers, many of whom have already moved on their lands and are beginning to make improvements.”
Feb. 3, 1912. The Tampa Daily Times reports, “A force of workmen are engaged in erecting a well designed hotel. work has also been commenced on a new store which will be opened and occupied by Mr. W. R. McNatt, and a passenger station and freight warehouse is to go up at once. Several residences and storehouses are in prospect. To insure the rapid upbuilding of Port Richey the Port Richey company is giving absolutely free to each purchaser of a ten-acre farm tract a lot in the town. The majority of purchasers will build on their free town lots and thus the rapid growth of Port Richey is assured.”
Mar. 8, 1912. The Hotel Edwinola in Dade City opens, with Edwin J. Gasque, owner, and A. J. Stebbins, manager. [It opened on the site of the former Dade City Hotel. In the 1950s the building became Florida East Coast University; the university was closed in the 1970s. The Edwinola reopened in 1974 as a restaurant, and as a retirement home in 1982.]
Aug. 1, 1912. The First State Bank of Zephyrhills begins operations, having bought out the McCormick, Stapleton, & Co., bankers, of Zephyrhills. [On July 16, 1915, the Dade City Banner reported that the banks in Zephyrhills have consolidated, with the American State Bank of Zephyrhills purchasing the assets of the First State Bank of Zephyrhills.]
Aug. 8, 1912. The Atlanta Constitution has: “Zephyr Hills, Fla. August 7.—Richard A. Burke, vice president and general manager of the Homestead Land company of Crystal Springs, near here, jumped in front of a fast moving passenger train today and was instantly killed. ... Burke came here two years ago from Milwaukee, Wis., and was one of the foremost citizens in this section. No reason is known for the rash act.”
Aug. 25, 1912. The Atlanta Constitution reports: “Tampa, Fla., August 24—Lonnie Rewis, a young married man, was shot and killed at Fivay Junction by unknown parties late last night. It developed at the corner's inquest that Rewis had alleged illicit relations with a young woman named Pearce. Bad blood has existed between the two families for some time because of Rewis’ infatuation for the girl.” [According to Jeff Cannon, Rewis (1884-1912), shot on Aug. 23, was allegedly having a relationship with Grace Pearce, a girl under age 17; members of her family were immediately suspected in the killing.]
Nov. 1912. The depot at New Port Richey is built, according to an article by J. H. Moran in Avery. [The building of the bridge across the Cotee River delayed the arrival of trains until the summer of 1913, when semi-weekly train service was established.]
Dec. 21, 1912. Ehren Pine Co. is incorporated, with officers E. L. Mueller, president; Louis Mueller, vice president; Curt Holzer, secretary; J. A. Barthle, treasurer.
1913. The first of two legal executions occurs in Pasco County as Tom Bush is hanged by Sheriff Sturkie for murdering his wife.
1913. Railroad service to Elfers is established by the Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad to accommodate shipment of citrus. (The track was extended to New Port Richey during World War I. According to Ash, operation of the railroad was assumed in 1927 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad which closed the New Port Richey depot on April 25, 1943.)
1913. Father Felix Ullrich, Benedictine priest from the St. Leo Abbey, celebrates the first Mass offered in western Pasco County in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Casey on Washington St. at Virginia Avenue, according to a Queen of Peace Church history. [Ullrich founded Queen of Peace Catholic Church in 1919 and became its first resident priest in 1922.]
1913. The Dade City Banner is established. [In 1914 the Dade City Banner was published every Friday by editor W. M. Hetherington. This newspaper later became the Pasco News and the Pasco County News, which ceased publication on Nov. 30, 2006, although the company continued to publish the Pasco Shopper, a free advertising flyer.
April 30, 1913. Voters approve a $100,000 bond issue to build a hard road from Tarpon Springs to Port Richey to Aripeka.
May 1, 1913. Trilby is incorporated. [The incorporation papers show that Dr. W. G. DeVane was selected Mayor.]
May 4, 1913. The new St. Rita Church is blessed by Benedictine Fr. Augustine Feller.
May 9, 1913. The Tarpon Springs Leader reports that R. E. Filcher and George R. Sims purchased the Port Richey Co. and its lands including the town site of Port Richey on April 1. [Filcher died July 21, 1929, in Los Angeles.]
May 9, 1913. The Tarpon Springs Leader reports: “A large plot has been donated by the Company adjacent to the lake in the town of Port Richey for the immediate erection of a Methodist Church building. ... The church building will be constructed of cement brick.” [On Aug. 12, 1913, the Port Richey Company deeded lots 29, 30, 31, and 32 in Block 51 to J. A. Kyle, W. E. Frank, and J. H. Moran, as trustees of the Port Richey Methodist Episcopal Church South. This property was at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and Jefferson Street. According to Hendley, “In 1913 the Methodist church was organized, the first minister was Rev. H. Logan. J. M. Mitchell was the first superintendent of the Sunday School; later on the Methodists built a substantial church.” According to J. H. Moran in Avery, “The first religious service was held in the park in the summer of 1913, the Reverend Holmes Logan of Tarpon Springs preaching the sermon. In the fall the service was held in the McNatt building and there continued until the Methodist church was ready for occupancy. After Mr. Logan came Pastors Tompkins, Collier, (during whose ministry the church was built) Windham, Stevens, Partridge, and J. E. Jones.” Construction of the Methodist-Episcopal Church at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and Jefferson St. began on Feb. 1, 1915, and was completed in 1918.]
May 9, 1913. The Tarpon Springs Leader reports: “Poles have been laid along the Tarpon Springs-Port Richey road, via Elfers, and within the next week or two wires will be strung and Port Richey will be in telephone communication with the outside world.”
Nov. 1913. On the day after Thanksgiving, Gerben DeVries first visits Port Richey. He wrote later, “Port Richey then consisted of a store and a postoffice in charge of David Clark who had always lived here. There was a small school building, a few houses near the mouth of the river, and that was about all. New Port Richey was not yet on the map. Where this town now stands, I found a hotel in charge of two very congenial people—Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sass. There was also a 'freight and passenger depot' at the end of two rusty 30-pound rails, an unoccupied store building which is now the Idlewile apartment house, Mr. Malmstrom's home on the Circle nearing completion, a beautiful river bank covered with a grove of the finest palm and oak trees I had ever seen, a lot of pretty white stakes marking the location of town lots for sale, and a sand trail as crooked as they make them running from here to Tarpon Springs.”
1914. The Hotel Newport is constructed on North Boulevard in what would become New Port Richey by A. J. Pauels and Mike Broersma.
1914. Port Richey Hardware and Supply is established. [A 1924 advertisement makes this claim and says the business is “the oldest established business in town.”]
Feb. 1914. Rollo Draft arrives in what would become New Port Richey, which has a population of less than 20, according to his recollection in an article in the New Port Richey Press of Oct. 31, 1957.
June 12, 1914. The Dade City Star reports on the primary election, saying, “The count shows that something like eight hundred votes were cast, in fact nearly every one qualified to cast a vote, did so.” O. N. Williams was elected to the legislature. A. A. Boone was elected tax collector. Wendell Gilbert was elected tax assessor. County Commissioners elected by district were R. L. Bryant (1), Allen Bird (2), John H. Harper (3), D. H. McCarthy (4), J. M. Baillie (5). E. M. Craig was elected to the school board from District One and Z. T. Roberts was elected from District Two. An obituary of Dr. T. C. Whitman says he died at his home south of Ehren and tells of his experience in the Civil War. Rev. T. S. Hubert was pastor of the Baptist church.
Sept. 25, 1914. The Dade City Banner reports that J. T. Futch is about to build a packing house south of the depot, that A. J. Reed has leased the old mill site between Church and Meridian streets, which he will convert into a wood yard and mill, that concrete sidewalks are soon to be constructed on College Street, and that J. T. Teston will operate a laundry.
Nov. 13, 1914. The Dade City Banner reports:
Mrs. Raymond Hitchcock, wife of the noted actor, and her brother arrived in the city Tuesday, and are making their headquarters at the Edwinola for the present. Mrs. Hitchcock bought the old Blanton tract, consisting of 300 acres, last year from Mr. Stewart, manager of the Hippodrome, of New York, who was here last winter, and expects to spend the winter here in improving her property, setting out a large orange grove on it in the near future. The Blanton estate is about six miles from town, and Mrs. Hitchcock and brother, should they decide to stay here, will probably buy property and build a winter home in the city, managing their grove from this place.Nov. 17, 1914. The vote to incorporate Zephyrhills is held at the G. A. R. Hall. [It passed 65 to 12. W. C. Boggs was elected Mayor, and the five aldermen elected were N. L. Wright, S. J. Lyons, A. D. Penry, S. G. Allen, and W. J. McLaughlin. Peter O. Bobb was chosen marshal and P. T. Williams was chosen city clerk.]
Nov. 20, 1914. The Dade City Banner reports that Mr. C. Beech resigned as city marshal and that Mayor A. F. Price appointed W. F. “Bill” Flemming to fill the unexpired term. [Beech had been beaten up in the negro quarters earlier in the month.]
Nov. 27, 1914. An advertisement in the Dade City Banner announces that Dr. F. C. Wirt, osteopath, will be at Dade City Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at the Edwinola Hotel, and at San Antonio on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning, beginning Nov. 16.
Dec. 4, 1914. In an article about Zephyrhills, the Dade City Banner reports:
Zephyrhills is to have a new depot. The Seaboard people are unloading brick and other material just north of their old depot. We are very glad to see this move taken by the Seaboard. The present depot has been very inadequate to serve the people of Zephyrhills. It is one of the best paying depots between Tampa and Jacksonville, and we feel we are entitled to some consideration from the Seaboard people, as they have treated us pretty well. The Methodists have commenced on their new $5,000 building, contract for which has been let to Clark & Fuller. It is located on the corner of Fifth avenue and Tenth street; it is to be a fine building and the Methodists can justly feel proud of their endeavors.1915. A new Methodist church is constructed in New Port Richey two blocks east of Rev. J. M. Mitchell's home. He preached there for many years (Ash).
1915. New Port Richey has 100 residents, according to a local history.
Feb. 12, 1915. The Dade City Banner reports that the Pasco County Medical Society held its regular monthly meeting and banquet at the Hotel Edwinola. Those present were Drs. Devane and Byrd of Trilby, Dr. C. H. Scoville of Dixie, Dr. J. T. Bradshaw and Dr. J. W. Gatton of San Antonio, Dr. J. F. Corrigan of St. Leo, Dr. Wilhoit of Lacoochee, Drs. Wade and Sistrunk of Dade City, and Dr. J. H. Brownfield, visiting physician.
Feb. 20, 1915. The application for a New Port Richey Post Office is dated Feb. 20, 1915. [The name New Port Richey appears in the minutes of the Pasco County school board on May 3-4, 1915. For information on why New Port Richey became a separate place from Port Richey and how it was named, see the Origins of Place Names page.]
Feb. 27, 1915. The cornerstone of the First Methodist Church in New Port Richey is laid.
May 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Luikart arrive in what would become New Port Richey from West Virginia. In an interview by Julie Obenreder, Mrs. Luikart recalled that at the time there were only six houses in the town. There were no roads, only sand trails running through dense woodlands.
June 18, 1915. An issue of The Pasco County Weekly News of Trilby with this date indicates it is volume I, No. 11. The masthead includes the slogan “Trilby has railroads running in every direction, and 14 passenger trains daily” and the slogan “Trilby is located in the famous Pasco highlands trucking and citrus belt.” John Tippen is shown as editor and publisher. C. D. Bradshaw is shown as business manager. The newspaper has “W. E. Wilson has been appointed deputy sheriff for this district” and “It is stated that the postoffice department has rescinded the appointment of D. G. Allen as postmaster, and E. W. Gideons is to remain in that position.” In a section of Lacoochee news items, the newspaper has “J. T. Neal has been appointed deputy sheriff here.” A letter from the Mayor of Lacoochee expresses support for a proposed merger of Trilby and Lacoochee. [The Pioneer Florida Museum has page 1 of this newspaper.]
Aug. 6, 1915. Will Leak, a black man, is lynched at Trilby after being accused of attempted rape. He was taken from the county jail and hanged on an oak tree in front of Hilliard's barber shop in the center of town. An Associated Press article datelined Trilby, Fla., Aug. 6, 1915, reported: “A mob attacked the jail at Dade City late last night, overpowering the jailer, secured Will Leach a negro and brought him here and hanged him in front of the railway station.”
Aug. 6, 1915. The Dade City Banner reports: “About 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon Tom Scott and Elmore Tucker, of Richland, were fired on from ambush as they were crossing the Withlacoochee river at Cow's Ford, about four miles east of Richland. Scott was killed and Tucker was wounded in the chin and arm. The horse was unhurt.” [On Aug. 15, the Atlanta Constitution reported: “Tampa, Fla., Aug. 14 — Taft, Ivey and Preston Overstreet, brothers, white men, accused of ambuscading and killing Tom Scott and Elmore Tucker, near Dade City, early in the week, are in jail here for safekeeping. Officers at Dade City feared for the safety of the men and rushed them to the local jail. Scott and Tucker were driving in a wagon when they were fired upon from ambush. Scott died immediately and Tucker fled through the woods.”]
Aug. 24, 1915. Lewis Charles Draft, age 5, dies. His funeral is the first held in New Port Richey.
Aug. 30, 1915. The New Port Richey post office is established.
Oct. 9, 1915. The Dade City Banner and the Dade City Star are consolidated.
Nov. 12, 1915. The Dade City Banner reports that John O'Berry, who lived about a mile from Trilby, was shot and killed Saturday night at Trilby by an unknown assassin.
Dec. 31, 1915. James E. Grey (GHS '34) is born, the first boy born in New Port Richey. He was the son of Frank I. Grey and Mary Casey.
1915-1916. A board of trade is established to promote New Port Richey during the winter of 1915-1916, according to an article by Gerben DeVries.
1915 or 1916. The H. H. Havens Building is constructed on East Main Street. [It later became the Chasco Inn Building. Information about the building is here.
1916. The Cotee River Community Club is built by George R. Sims. [He deeded it to the City of New Port Richey in November 1924.]
1916. A brick, two-story city hall is constructed on Meridian Ave. in Dade City.
1916. Pine Hill Cemetery is established by the women of the Civic Club on two acres donated by George R. Sims, according to the historical marker at the cemetery. [According to the marker, the first interment was that of Clifford E. Freels in 1917; another source has C. E. Freel. On Nov. 2, 1917, a notice in the Dade City Banner indicates that the Pine Hill Community Cemetery Association had been formed by Nettie F. Sheldon, Lonnie L. Clark, Jennie Leach, Emma M. Rowan, Minnie Broersma, and Alice C. Davis. On Feb. 16, 1920, the Port Richey Press reported, “The new cemetery will be known as the Pine Hill Cemetery.” The cemetery was deeded to the city in May 1926, or, according to a recent newspaper article, in 1941.]
Jan. 1916. The first newspaper, the New Port Richey Post, is published. The following is from an article by Ralph Bellwood in the New Port Richey Press of Jan. 2, 1969:
From the information we have been able to glean from the past, less than two hundred copies were printed and only four issues came out during the first year. Practically no advertisement was found in the first two issues; however, the Post of December, 1916, had nearly a full page of advertisements.[The New Port Richey Post subsequently ceased publication. Only the Jan. 1916 issue has been seen; it does not show the name of a publisher. In 1948 the New Port Richey Press said that the Post was “apparently produced by the Port Richey Company.”]Jan. 1916. The New Port Richey Post reports, “Dr. J. Martin Posey, of Hudson, has rented the pretty bungalow owned by W. F. Bragg on Orange Circle and moved his family here. Dr. Posey is much impressed with the prospects of a fine little city and enthused over the possibilities of this part of Florida. He has opened an office over the Port Richey Drug Store and will be one of our substantial citizens hereafter.”
Jan. 1916. The New Port Richey Post reports, “One of the recent business blocks erected here is that of B. H. Hermanson, who, as proprietor, has opened the New Port Richey drug store and soda fountain. ... The postoffice is located in the Drug Store quarters, and in other sections of the building are located the dry goods store of W. H. Valentine, the meat market of J. W. Clark, and on second floor may be found W. A. Casey's barber shop, Dr. Posey's office and other items of interest.”
Feb. 1916. An article in the Dade City Banner lists the county commissioners: D. H. McCarthy (chairman), J. H. Harper, R. L. Bryant, J. M. Baillie, Allen Bird.
Mar. 31, 1916. The Dade City Banner reports that Tom Pearce, a son of Pasco County Surveyor Allen Pearce, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant as he left his home two miles west of San Antonio on Saturday night. [Pearce had been suggested as the person who might have killed Adolphus Lewis at Fivay some time earlier.] The newspaper also reports that coming attractions at the Motio next week include the five-reel feature Hazel Kirke, starring Pearl White and Creighton Hale.
June 29, 1916. The Bank of Dade City opens.
Nov. 24, 1916. The Dade City Banner has: “The undersigned agree to close their respective places of business for Thanksgiving on November 30, 1916. Coleman and Ferguson, T. L. Shofner, J. A. Peek, Cash Grocery Store, Hubert Jewelry Store, S. F. Huckabay, H. C. Griffin, O. N. Williams and Son, W. M. Redding.”
1917. The business people of New Port Richey purchase a Model T Ford heavy duty fire truck which has a water tank but no pumper, according to a history of the NPRVFD. [For the history of fire departments in western Pasco County, see this page.]
1917. LeRoy and Mary Jane Bailey of Jackson, Michigan, purchase the Clark homestead from J. Henry Sheldon and rename it the Bay Lea Inn. [Sheldon had purchased the home after Mrs. Clark died in 1915, according to F. C. Mallett. The Dec. 2, 1920, New Port Richey Press carries an ad for the Bay Lea Hotel, Mrs. M. A. Bailey, proprietor. A 1947 ad for the Baylea Inn invites people to Thanksgiving dinner.]
1917. At this time the Dowling Lumber Mill in Odessa is producing 100,000 board feet daily.
Jan. 19, 1917. The banner headline in the Dade City Banner reads: “Everything in Readiness for Pasco County's First Fair, Opening Wednesday, January 24th.” [According to the web site of the Pasco County Fair, “On April 7, 1947, the Pasco County Fair Association Inc. was chartered with the purpose of hosting an annual fair to promote youth and other county resources. The first documented county fair was Jan. 20 through 24, 1948.”]
Mar. 13, 1917. Samuel Pasco dies, in Tampa.
Dec. 17, 1917. The Tarpon Springs Leader laments the fact that in his very popular book Over the Top, published earlier this year, Arthur Guy Empey has used the word cooties for body lice; Cootie or Cootee is a popular shortened form for Pithlachascotee.
Dec. 28, 1917. The second and final public hanging takes place at the Dade City jail. Edgar London, a black man convicted of murdering his wife at Ehren in 1917, is executed by Sheriff I. W. Hudson.
1918. The Mount Zion AME Church on 7th Street in Dade City is constructed, the first Protestant church in Pasco County to be built of masonry [Historic Places of Pasco County].
1918. The State Bank of Trilby is constructed.
Mar. 22, 1918. The Dade City Banner reports: “Zephyrhills was completely terrorized Tuesday morning shortly after one o'clock when a band of bank robbers blew the safe of the American State Bank and attempted to rob the bank of about $5,000. In the melee following the first explosion in the bank, in which twenty or more shots are said to have been exchanged between the robbers and citizens, Mr. A. B. Storms, a baker and prominent citizen of Zephyrhills, was killed by one of the bandits. Failing to gain entrance into the inner door of the safe, the bandits escaped in an automobile, which they had stationed in the edge of town, after cutting the telegraph and telephone wires, to prevent the alarm being given.”
May 17, 1918. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Isom Stewart are found in their home east of Dade City in Lake County. They were murdered with an axe. [They are shown as living in the Pasadena election precinct in the 1910 census. A son and two grandsons were arrested. The Dade City Banner reported, “It looks particularly bad for Josh [Josh Browning, grandson] as he bought a Ford car and was spending money freely shortly after the murder and could not give a satisfactory explanation as to where his sudden wealth came from.”]
Oct. 11, 1918. The Dade City Banner reports that the county board of education decided on Tuesday to close all Pasco County schools for five weeks until Nov. 11 because of the outbreak of influenza.
Oct. 24, 1918. The Zephyrhills Colonist reports in the Ellerslie news column: “Dan Richardson, colored, who has done a good deal of work for the people in this community, died at his home near Lumberton of influenza. Dan was the most reliable of his race we have had to do with.”
Oct. 25, 1918. A headline in the Dade City Banner reads “Joe Parker Victim of Spanish Influenza” and a subheadline reads “No Other Death Here and the Epidemic Giving Way.”
Nov. 21, 1918. The Port Richey Press begins publication. [The publisher was Charles L. Fox and son. The name was changed to the New Port Richey Press on Nov. 4, 1920.]
Dec. 6, 1918. The Dade City Banner reports that Orville L. Dayton will be the next Mayor of Dade City.
Dec. 26, 1918. The earliest Port Richey Press which has been seen (vol. 1, no. 6) reports “Christmas Day in New Port Richey was well and royally spent. Both hotels provided Christmas dinners with seasonable fare.” It reported, “The entertainment held at New Port Richey school, last Saturday night may be said to have ushered in the busy festive season which the Twin Ports have this week witnessed. The occasion was the pupils Christmas concert, and the schoolhouse was packed with an audience both interested and appreciative.” It mentioned that Miss Leach was the principal and that Mr. Havens gave a violin selection. The newspaper reported that pupils of Elfers High School presented a Christmas program on Monday night. “At the close of the program, Mr. Pinholster, the principal, was presented by pupils with a handsome military set, and he in turn made presents to the scholars.” An advertisement for Elfers Junior High School stated that G. D. Pinholster was Principal. There are advertisements for three hotels, the Sass Hotel, the Hotel Newport, and the Sheldon House in Old Port Richey. The Port Richey postmaster is J. H. Sheldon.
Jan. 30, 1919. The Port Richey Press reports: “A meeting was held in the Clubhouse Thursday night to consider the progress which is being made on State Aid Road No. 5, which is the official title of the important highway running through Pasco County, and connecting New Port Richey with Tarpon Springs on the south and Port Richey, Hudson, Dade City, etc., to the north.”
Spring 1919. According to Avery, “The first brick building in the town [New Port Richey] was completed by Mr. Sims in the spring of 1919, and has since been used by him for his central offices. In the fall of 1921, the beautiful and substantial building for the First State Bank of New Port Richey was completed. A few months later, Ralph Werner's two-story brick mercantile building on Main street opened its doors, and was quickly followed by James W. Clark, jr.'s two story brick building extending along the boulevard from Main street to the railway at Nebraska street.”
Mar. 9, 1919. The Church of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, the first Roman Catholic church in western Pasco, is dedicated. At the time there were only seven Catholic families in town. [The church building was moved to Sims Park on June 5, 2001, where it was to be restored and used as a meeting place.]
June 1919. Dr. Elroy McKendree Avery arrives in New Port Richey.
Aug. 28, 1919. The Port Richey Press reports: “We are more than pleased to be in a position to announce that arrangements for the immediate installation of an electric light and ice manufacturing plant in New Port Richey are now compete, and may be expected to be in practical operation within sixty days; probably light and power earlier than this. The plant secured is in every way efficient and up-to-date, and will be capable of turning out ice equal to the best in Florida. Work of erecting buildings for the housing of the plant will be commenced at once, and it may be surmized that the poles and lines will go up simultaneously.”
Sept. 4, 1919. The Port Richey Press reports that on last Monday the County Commission granted Clyde Fenimore Burns the franchise to erect poles and lay lines and supply electric current to New Port Richey. [On Nov. 23, 1917, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported that Clyde Burns had arrived in New Port Richey from Chicago “for the purpose of installing an electric plant for lighting New Port Richey.” According to Ash, electricity first appeared in western Pasco County around New Port Richey and Elfers in 1918.]
Dec. 25, 1919. The Port Richey Press has: “The telephone number of the Port Richey Press is 120-O. One long and two short rings will call us up on the local line.”
Early 1920s. According to Ash, in the early 1920s B. H. Hermanson developed Booker T. Washington as an exclusive subdivision for blacks. The subdivision was added to Port Richey on Nov. 19, 1925.
1920. The Pasco County population is 8802.
April 10, 1920. The Avery Library and Historical Society formally opens with dedication ceremonies (Janet Lewis in WPH). [Dr. Elroy McKendree Avery had donated his personal book collection as the nucleus of a public library. The library was originally located in the Snell Building on Main St. between Boulevard and Adams (Ash). The Port Richey Press of Nov. 20, 1919, carried a notice that an application to form a non-profit corporation known as the Avery Library and Historical Society would be filed on Dec. 22, 1919.]
Apr. 2, 1920. The Dade City Banner reports: “The plant of the Ehren Pine Company at Ehren was entirely destroyed by fire last Sunday, entailing a loss estimated at $125,000. The fire was started by a high wind carrying brands from a burning trash pile to the mill which was ablaze in several places in a few minutes. A large boarding house and two residences were burned with the mills. The mill of the Ehren Pine Company has been destroyed by fire once or twice before. The president of the company and principal owner, is F. E. Mueller, and the secretary is A. E. Medard (?). With the sawmill gone there is little left of Ehren, and its future will depend largely upon whether Mr. Muller and his associates rebuild or not.”
July 22, 1920. The Port Richey Press says “our population is at least 550.” It reports the population figures for the largest towns in Pasco, presumably from the 1920 census: Dade City, 1296; Zephyrhills, 577; Odessa 700; San Antonio, just under 700.
Dec. 17, 1920. The Dade City Banner reports that F. D. Cosner was elected Mayor and that, because of reports of rabies among dogs in town, city council voted to require dogs to be muzzled year- round or be shot by Marshal Sparkman. [Frederick D. Cosner, b. 1872, served two terms as mayor.]
Jan. 2, 1921. The first Baptist service in New Port Richey is conducted in a rented hall in the Snell Building. Rev. A. E. Gammage, pastor of Elfers Baptist Church, preached the sermon (WPH). [According to a 1927 article in the New Port Richey Press, “The First Baptist church ... was established about ten years ago through the influence of Dr. Joseph Billhimer and the first meetings were held at his house.” The first service in the new building on Circle Boulevard was held on July 4, 1926, with the sermon delivered by Dr. Charles Mercer Brittain, Executive Secretary of the Florida State Board of Missions.]
Jan. 7, 1921. The Dade City Banner reports: “The saw mill of the Greer Lumber Co. at Greer, five miles south of Dade City, was destroyed by fire last night.”
Jan. 27, 1921. In an article in the New Port Richey Press, postmaster Gerben DeVries writes, “A reliable authority estimates our present population [New Port Richey] about 1500. I can confirm that figure.”
Mar. 4, 1921. The Dade City Banner reports: “J. M. O'Berry, the pioneer of Blanton, has deeded to Sanford Blocker and Fred O'Berry as trustees, to hold in perpetuity as a public park, the triangular piece of land in the village of Blanton between the station, the postoffice and the street.”
June 8, 1921. The Tarpon Springs Leader reports that a new theater, the Picturedrome, is under construction in New Port Richey for Pretorius and Jackson.
June 14, 1921. Community Congregational Church holds its first service at Snell Hall at Adams and Main Street. Rev. Milton H. Babcock was the organizing pastor. [During the summer, a church building was started on two lots donated by George R. Sims, located on the north side of Orange Lake. Before the building was finished, it was badly damaged by the Oct. 1921 hurricane but the fledgling congregation repaired the damage and completed the building. Rev. Babcock resigned in April 1922 and was succeeded by Rev. Charles Drake (until Feb. 1923), Rev. Ray Busler (to Oct. 1923), Rev. Oscar Denny (to Nov. 1929), Rev Ralph Krout (to April 1932), and Rev. Frank J. Brown (to April 1935). Lay ministers served briefly, followed by Rev. James Parker (from Sept. 1936 to April 1941) and Rev. Floyd H. Andrus (to July 1963). The church was replaced by a new building at the same site in 1966.]
July 8, 1921. The Dade City Banner reports that W. R. Townsend, a woodsman in the employ of the Dowling Lumber Co. at Odessa killed Alex Roberts, a black man, in self-defense.
Aug. 12, 1921. The Tarpon Springs Leader reports, “The First State Bank of New Port Richey has been organized, and this institution is now erecting its fine stone building right in the heart of the city. Contractor W. C. Newcomb, of Largo, is making headway on the work and is planning to finish and turn the structure over to the officers by the first of September. The vault in the bank is being made as near burglar proof as possible and all necessary precautions are being taken in the structure throughout to make it as safe and secure as modern engineering can devise. C. Werner is putting up a two-story business building which will accommodate a number of stores and in addition will house many people upstairs in well arranged apartments. A drug store will occupy one of the rooms on the first floor. Meade Wood has the job of erecting a big building for the Congregational church. The plans call for a main room that will accommodate several hundred people and will likely be equal to all the needs of the church for many