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South of the St. Marys River

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  " South of the St. Marys River - Stories from the History of Northeast Florida" delves into the rich and fascinating history of a region that has played a significant role in shaping the cultural tapestry of America . From the prehistoric times when Northeast Florida was inhabited by fearsome creatures to the epic battles between Spain and France for control of the territory, this book offers a unique look at the events that have shaped the area.   Now Available in Kindle and Paperback Editions Readers will journey through the tumultuous times when Georgia invaded Florida not once, but three times, as well as the infamous era of pirates on Amelia Island . Explore the life of David Levy Yulee, a prominent figure in Florida 's history, and learn about the innovative Florida Railroad Company that transformed transportation in the region. From the pivotal Battle of Olustee to the ghost town of Italia in Nassau County , this book uncovers hidden gems and forgott...
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Ottis Elwood Toole: The Jacksonville Serial Killer

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This article is reprinted from the book  South of the St Marys River: Stories from the History of Northeast Florida On July 27, 1981 Reve Walsh took her six year old, Adam shopping at a Sears store in Hollywood , Florida .  She left him playing video games in the toy department for a few minutes.  When she returned Adam was nowhere to be found.  Two weeks later the boy’s head was discovered by fishermen in a canal near Vero Beach , nearly 120 miles away.  Adam’s body was never found.  Over the following years, Adam’s father, John Walsh, became an activist on behalf of murdered and missing children and went on to host the television show “ America ’s Most Wanted.” While the case was never officially solved, both the police and John Walsh believe they know who was responsible for Adam’s abduction and murder:  Ottis Elwood Toole of Jacksonville , Florida . Ottis Elwood Toole was born in the Springfield area of Jacksonville on March 5, 1947.  A...
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Olustee: Florida's Only Major Civil War Battle

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President Abraham Lincoln was concerned about his re-election chances in 1864.  The country was in the middle of a terrible Civil War that had claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens in the last three years. Despite victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg the previous year there still seemed to be no end in sight for the war.  Many people did not agree with Lincoln ’s conciliatory attitude towards the rebel states.  Others believed that he had gone too far when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation effectively turning the war from a campaign to save the union into one whose purpose was to abolish slavery.  Absolutely no one liked the draft.  In short, Lincoln needed votes and his thoughts turned to Florida . Florida had become the 27 th State on March 3, 1845.  It entered the union as a “slave state” and was highly dependent upon slave laborers for its agrarian economy.  Almost half of Florida ’s entire population was slaves who wor...
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Alligators and Ostriches - Exotic Animal Attractions of Northeast Florida

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In the late 1800s Northeast Florida was a major winter destination for visitors from the northern states.  Henry Flagler’s railroad was pushing southward and with it came hotels and tourists.  The folks from “up north” wanted to experience Florida ’s warm climate and exotic environs.  All of these people needed to be entertained.  Of course, they wanted to see those strange prehistoric creatures that they had heard about – alligators.  Local entrepreneurs were happy to oblige by establishing amusement parks and alligator attractions.  For good measure, ostrich shows – featuring a species not native to Florida – were added to the mix.  After all, exotic animals are exotic animals. It all began on Anastasia Island , just outside of St. Augustine , in the 1890s.  A tram had recently been installed to ferry people from the City of St. Augustine to the beaches of Anastasia Island .  A St . Augustine resident set up a small exhibit at the...
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The Christmas Siege of St. Augustine

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  Thousands of tourists flock to St. Augustine at Christmas each year to experience the Nights of Lights, a dazzling display of millions of colorful lights.  Merriment, laughter and wonder fill the streets of America ’s oldest city.  It was not that way for the residents of St. Augustine during the Christmas of 1702.  The city was under siege and all 1500 of its residents had been inside the walls of Castillo de San Marcos for over a month. For almost half a century, England and Spain were at odds over the colonization the southeastern portion of North America .  Escalating tensions resulted in the outbreak of Queen Anne's War  fought primarily between English controlled South Carolina and Spanish controlled Northeast Florida .  The Governor of Carolina, James Moore, had long coveted Spanish Florida and used the war as an excuse to invade.  His plan was to take the capital city of St. Augustine . Moore raised a sizable force of about f...
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