Florida History - In Print

[yarddog]

I remember another Claude Kirk classic. Stokely Carmichael was on stage at FSU when Governor Kirk literally went up to him and physically took the microphone away from him and began speaking.

[windchime]

Bump!

[stainlessbanner]

The Barbers were old Florida and came from GA, I believe. Wasn't there a story where one of the Barber or Mizel boys rode his horse into the courthouse?

I love reading the stories about Jake Summerlin's cattle drives down to Punta Rassa and the 'Scamby river! I think Andy Jackson came hunting down here, too.

As you know there are few ranchers in Osceola, today. They are selling out like hotcakes. The Mormons are the only ones holding land.

[stainlessbanner]

I think DeLeon thought Florida was an island and came up around "bone island" from Cuba to P'Cola. I remember reading the same thing about being settled first. Interestingly, the locals never let Ponce on shore, they met him on the beach and fought, eventually killing him.

blam has been tracking the Florida "ancients" on a few threads - FL is apparently an archealogical treasure (no fountain, though).

European DNA Found In 7-8,000 Year Old Skeleton In Florida (Windover)

Bye, Bye Beringia (8,000 Year Old Site In Florida)

[stainlessbanner]

The story of Panther John Gomez, one of Florida's oldest legends is a good story. Panther John was a ramblin' spirit who sailed with the Pirate Gaspar!

Some excerpts here

[stainlessbanner]

More Books by Annette Bruce"

Tellable Cracker Tales
More Tellable Cracker Tales
SandSpun

Florida Legends and Folklore told by many generations and different storytellers - some true, some fiction. Lots of fun.

[Truth Addict]

You might want to consider "Floridays" by Don Blanding, a book of poetry and illustrations written in 1941.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"My favorite Florida author is Carl Hiaasen. He writes some happy-go-lucky Florida-based mysteries by the titles of:"

A co-worker of mine recently turned me on to Hiaasen's books. He lent me "Sick Puppy", and then "Stormy Weather". I loved them.

Hiaasen does a great job of making his characters seem very realistc and lifelike, both in the good guys and the bad. I especially like Skink, the ex-governor turned hermit.

[Humal]

My favorite Florida book is a historical fiction by Patrick D. Smith, "A Land Remembered". I heard him speak about his writing, and he said the events in his stories were based on actual happenings. All of his books are good, but I especially liked this one.

[FReepaholic]

Florida's Golden Galleons - The Search for the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet

Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha

[dread78645]

Cross Creek and The Yearling by Marge Rawlings.

[JulieRNR21]

I have enjoyed reading:

"A Time Remembered"
"The Orchid Thief"
"Their Eyes Were On God"
"The Yearling"
"American Empress"

[Calpernia]

That is my favorite of the pictures you posted.

[Tank-FL]

Yep, William Warren Barber was killed by Indians in Nassau County in 1839 and Moss (his brother) led a posse that hunted down and killed the Indian Raiding Party. Moss was the head of the family during the troubles.

And an important note:

The Mizel's were re-constructionist.

[dansangel]

I especially like Skink, the ex-governor turned hermit.

He's really the common thread throughout the books - that and his *friend*, the state trooper.

Glad you enjoy them as much as I do, (((((VC)))))

[cold_dead_fingers]

ROFLOL @ Columbus coming on the Mayflower.

[cold_dead_fingers]

If anyone has any good factual books on Henry Flagler, please post. This man was responsible for building South Florida, practically. Out of his annoyance and frustration over a lack of transportation and lodging in S FL, he built rails, roads, hotels, resorts, etc. Any good resources?

[PJ-Comix]

I remember Gov. Kirk when he took over the school board building here in Bradenton in the late 60's and the National Guard carried him out under federal court order.

What was that all about? BTW, for all his eccentricity, Claude Kirk was the first governor of Florida to openly support racial integration (LeRoy Collins did too but not openly). You won't hear much about that since Kirk was a Republican (first one elected Florida Governor since Reconstruction).

[bobjam]

1492 cerainly preceeds 1565, but I was referring to the establishment of a permanent colony in the United States. I've always been a big fan of Columbus, and I highly recommend "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" by Samuel Elliot Morrison. Unfortunately, most US history books essentially begin with Plymouth. Virginia is treated as a fluke and the rest is really ignored. Most people don't know that the third oldest city in the USA is Santa Fe, New Mexico (1610). New England liberals think as though they started this country and therefore they know how to manage it.

[PJ-Comix]

If anyone has any good factual books on Henry Flagler, please post.

I wrote an article about Henry Flagler. You can find it online HERE.

Here is a summary of the Flagler article by the publisher:

No other person had so much to do with the economic development of a state as Henry Flagler did with Florida.

This is true. No one person had as much to do with the economic development of a state as did Henry Flagler. He basically created South Florida. Before Flagler built the railroad, the only way to reach South Florida and the Keys was by boat. Very little down here in South Florida before then. Tourism kicked in right after the development of Flaglers Florida East Coast Railroad.