Florida, Levy County, Cedar Key
![]()
Florida was provided with its first cross-state railroad in 1861 when the Florida Railroad Company line reached Cedar Key. Overcoming early financial troubles, the line had begun construction from Fernandina, on the Atlantic, in 1856, but building was intermittent. It had been incorporated in 1853 with David L. Yulee as president. The railroad received land grants from Federal and State governments
(Railroads & Streetcars) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Florida was provided with its first cross-state railroad in 1861 when the Florida Railroad Company line reached Cedar Key. Overcoming early financial troubles, the line had begun construction from Fernandina, on the Atlantic, in 1856, but building was intermittent. It had been incorporated in 1853 with David L. Yulee as president. The railroad received land grants from Federal and State governments(Railroads & Streetcars) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
On December 26, 1817, U.S. Secretary of War John C. Calhoun directed General Andrew Jackson to protect citizens trying to settle in Florida. Jackson arrived in Florida with the largest army ever to invade the state to date -- 2,000 Creek Warriors and 1,000 Georgia and Tennessee militiamen. After leaving Nashville, Tennessee, they traveled through Georgia and on to Florida, winding up in Suwanee-Old Town (now Dixie County). Jackson's goal was to remove the Indians, destroy their homes and confiscate their horses, cattle and food and slaves. In four days he had killed or driven off all Indians and escaped slaves. Near this spot, in April 1818, while on a "seek and find" mission, Jackson and his army captured Indian traders Robert Armbrister and Alexander Arbuthnot. They were British subjects who were supposed to be protected by a truce between England and the United States. Jackson had Arbuthnot hanged and Armbrister shot, which almost caused a war between the two countries. The Jackson Trail ran alongside Highway 19, branching south to the coast on the west side of what is now the Horseshoe Beach Road (Highway 351).
The first Baptist Church established in Campbell County in 1828, it became the mother church for many Western and Fairburn Baptist Association churches. James Rainwater (1795 - 1871) was the first known pastor, serving for 26 years, and is buried in the church cemetery. Also buried there is William Brewster, a Revolutionary soldier, (1757 – 1847). Land was donated by Robert Jackson and a log cabin was the first house of worship which also served as a school. This was replaced by a frame building in 1851 and the present sanctuary of Stone Mountain granite was complete in 1906 for the sum of $3,000.00.
Harpersville is one of Shelby County’s oldest communities. Its existence precedes that of Shelby County and the State of Alabama. Big Springs, as Harpersville was originally called was settled around 1815 by the Harper and Kidd families. Prime farmland, the abundance of creeks, springs and branches are what attracted the first families. Soon after the first settlers, other from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia took up residency here. They established a store, blacksmith shop, a steam-driven cotton gin and a variety of other businesses. Mail delivery followed and community prosperity soon led to a regular stage coach stop. Early settlers made one-room schools characteristic of the area. These led to the construction of Elmhill Academy which attracted both out-of-town and out-of-state students who boarded in the community. Harpersville soon became well known for its educational facilities and cultural activities. One of its native sons, Henry B. Walthal, was a stage and silent film actor and a pioneer in Hollywood. “The Florida Short Route” or Highway 280 has brought many opportunities to Harpersville. In 1945, Harpersville officially incorporated. Shortly after incorporation, the town purchased the old Harpersville School and converted it into the Town Hall and municipal complex. Harpersville has produced two NBA stars, George McGinnis (Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers) and Warren Kidd of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Tulane brothers were also prominent residents of Harpersville for a short time and were two Revolutionary War Heroes buried here. Some of Harpersville’s historic sites and structures are: Civil War Fort Ruins, Wallace-Klein Plantation, Chancellor Home, Newman Ruck House, Borum-Darby House, Old Baker Farm, Scott-Bradford Estate and Harpersville Garden of Memories, in which Chief Boz Sheppard, the last chief of the Kewohatchie Indians and his family are buried.
Near this site are the remains of three forts built in 1863 by Confederate troops under the command of Major W.T. Walthall, commander of the military post at Talladega. The forts, built for protection of the Alabama-Tennessee River Railroad trestles across the Coosa River and Yellow Leaf Creek, were manned during the last months of the war by reserve companies consisting of young boys and old men. Barbiere's Reserve Cavalry was stationed here in February 1865. Union troops commanded by General James H. Wilson captured the forts in March 1865.
Wilsonville, nestled near Lay Lake in Shelby County, was named for Adam Wilson. The town was incorporated in 1897. Wilsonville was of great importance in the late 1800s because of the Southern Railway and it was also a major stop on the old stage route from Montgomery to Huntsville. Around the turn of the century, Wilsonville was the trading point for two farming sections, one known as “Four Mile” and the other as “The Kingdom.” The largest mercantile establishment in the county was conducted here by Mr. J.F. Pope, probably the largest individual taxpayer in the county at the time. In the 2000 census, there were 1551 residents with others drawn to the area because of jobs at E.C. Gaston Steam Plant, and the raising of the Coosa River to provide waterfront homes. In February 2007, the Wilsonville Town Hall was renovated through the efforts of Mayor Rosemary Liveoak, the Town Council and the community. This historical marker was dedicated to the Town of Wilsonville during the God and Country Celebration 2010.
This marks the route of the Santa Fe Trail, Kansas City to Santa Fe. 1822–1880.
This historic chapel, a landmark in the Pittsburgh area since 1837, is the third building occupied by the congregation of the Beulah Presbyterian Church, which was organized in 1784. Preceeded by two log buildings, the chapel is built of bricks made on the grounds, and is located on the site once occupied by General Forbes' British Army that drove the French from Fort Duquesne in 1758. Adjoining the chapel is the oldest cemetery in Allegheny County, containing more graves of Revolutionary War soldiers than any other cemetery in the county. Among the distinguished war dead buried here is General John Johnston, Secretary to General Washington throughout the Revolutionary War, and the first clerk of the Beulah session. The oldest known grave is that of James Bonner, a ten year old boy buried here in 1780.
John Smith explored the upper Chickahominy River in December 1607. He left his boat and seven of his crew at Apocant, the highest town on the river in the upper part of what is today the lake. Two crew members departed with Smith and two Chickahominy guides in a borrowed canoe. Twenty miles or so above Apocant, Smith was captured by a group of many bowmen from several tribes which he took to be a hunting party. Smith remained in the custody of paramount chief Powhatan for a month before returning to Jamestown.
October 12th of 1994 Stansley Racing Corp. was awarded the first pari-mutuel license for the state of Virginia. The facility you see is a concept of his son, Brett Lee Stansley, who had the rendering done in a colonial style.
The Town of Vincent is located on land that was granted to the Kidd family by the Governor of Alabama in the 1800's. In 1859, the land was willed to three Kidd daughters, one daughter's name was Anna Bella Vincent after whom the town was named. The oldest home in Vincent is that of Tom Bell which was built in the 1840's. The two-story Colonial home was built by expert carpenters and designers using slave labor during the construction. Anne E. McGraw Vincent moved into this house when she was three years old. Early settlers were the Vincent, Clements, Kidd, McGraw, Elliott and Bell families. Three significant things happened that led to the incorporation of the town: the establishment of a school in 1854; the post office; and the building of the railroad in 1887. The Town of Vincent's charter was enacted into law by the State Legislature on February 16, 1897. Among the leaders for enactment of this law was educator Carroll H. Florey.
One of two native Georgians who served as generals in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, Montgomery C. Meigs was born here on May 3, 1816, grandson of a University of Georgia president. After graduating from West Point, he oversaw construction of some of Washington D.C.'s greatest engineering feats, including the U.S. Capitol dome. Meigs became Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army in 1861, coordinating the massive supply effort throughout the Civil War, and continuing in that position until he retired in 1882. His organizational genius created an efficient war machine that helped defeat the Confederacy. In 1864, Meigs ordered that Arlington, the confiscated plantation of Robert E. Lee's wife, be used for military burials, creating the nation's premier national cemetery. Meigs was buried there when he died Jan. 2, 1892.
The stone rubble is all that remains of Christian Hill, the postwar home of Amos and Margaret Benson. Following the First Battle of Manassas, the Bensons discovered a wounded Union soldier, Private John Rice of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry, left for dead near Sudley Church. For ten days, the Bensons dressed his wounds, provided him with food and water, and protected him from the elements. Rice eventually made a complete recovery.
This Masonic Temple, home of Hiram Lodge No. 7, built in 1823, was the first three-story building in Tennessee, and was at that time, the tallest building west of the Allegheny Mountains. It has been occupied by Hiram Lodge No. 7 since its completion, making it one of the oldest continuing Lodges at the same location in the United States. It was the site of President Andrew Jackson's Treaty with Chickasaw Indians in 1830, and served as an observation post and hospital at the time of the Battle Franklin in November, 1864.
This "Mother Church of the diocese of Tennessee," was begun in 1831, four years after its congregation was organized in 1827. Here James H Otey, its first rector, was elected the first bishop of Tennessee. It was so damaged through use as a Civil War barracks and hospital that it had to be remodeled in 1870. It is the oldest Episcopal Church and congregation in Tennessee, and the oldest Episcopal Church building in continual use west of the Appalachians.
In the cemetery about 300 yards from here are buried Major-General John Twiggs, a hero of the American Revolution, for whom Twiggs County is named, and his son, Major-General David Emanuel Twiggs, who achieved military distinction in the Mexican War and, after resigning his commission at the outbreak of the War Between the States, became a Major-General in the Confederate Army.
Francis Preston Blair brought his family to Washington from Kentucky at the invitation of President Andrew Jackson to publish a newspaper supporting his administration. Between 1842 and 1854, the Blair family built three summer homes in Silver Spring. This structure initially served as a summer home for Francis Preston Blair's son, James, a Naval Officer, who made his fortune during the 1848 Gold Rush in California. James and Mary Blair, named their home the Moorings, a nautical reference. During the Civil War, Soldiers camped at the Moorings. The last Blair to own the house, Violet Blair Janin, Daughter of James, designated the house for public use in her will and changed the name to Jesup Blair in honor of her brother. From 1934 to 1957, the house served the community as the Silver Spring Public Library.
