Levy County History

174 years ago

03 October 1839 - Company "K" of the 7th US Infantry evacuated post No. 4 on this date and arrived at Fort Poinsett, the Cedar Keys on 16 October 1839. Captain D.L. Miles, 7th Infantry Assistant Quarter Master arrived at the Cedar Keys on 25 October 1839 and assumed command of said post on that date. At that time there were 36 men in Company "K" and the company left the post on 03 December 1839. Fort Poinsett, on Atsena Otie, was occupied from October 1839 until February 1843. Post No. 4 was located on the mainland south of present day SR 24.

122 years ago

18 January 1881 - A traveler on the Atlantic, Gulf & West India Transit Railroad who boarded the train at Baldwin for Cedar Key wrote of his trip. The locomotive, the "E.N. Dickerson" pulled into the station. The train was made up of three coaches, a baggage car, and several box cars and flats.

As the train left Baldwin, we passed long trains of heavily loaded log cars and every few miles the train came to a halt before some huge lumber mill. We passed the towns of Highland, Lawty and Temples and arrive at Starke, having twenty minutes for dinner at the Railroad House. The train continued on and we soon reached Waldo and then Gainesville, a city of about three thousand inhabitants. Six miles further on we come to Arredondo, then Archer and Bronson. Otter Creek was the supper station and we proceeded on to Rosewood, where the locomotive takes on water, there being none at Cedar Key. Crossing the long trestle which connects Cedar Key with the mainland, we rolled slowly through the little yard and come up to the boat landing directly on the opposite side of the track where the steamer, the "Admiral," awaited us for the trip to Havana. The road is in good condition and the train made remarkably good time. The conductor was experienced and courteous and the engineer was capable.

From the Archives & History Center
Levy County Clerk`s Office
Danny J. Shipp, Clerk of Court