AUTHORS

Jason Byrne

Paola Historical Cemetery

The Paola Historical Cemetery, also known as the Banana Lake Cemetery or Paola Church Yard Cemetery, is an unassuming lot recently cleared of underbrush in hopes of being finally developed. It is estimated that around 60 graves were once buried...

Bradenton Almost Replaced Tampa as Cigar Hub

Tampa began manufacturing cigars in 1886, becoming the city's primary industry. Tampa went on to be the region's principal city. But Bradenton could have filled that role instead, according to Manatee County's first settler Josiah Gates. Around 1880, Gates was...

DeSoto County Seat Moves from Pine Level to Arcadia

DeSoto County was split off from Manatee County in 1887. The new county included what is now Hardee, Highlands, Glades, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. Pine Level had been the county seat of Manatee County and initially remained so in the...

The Parker Brothers Ranch of DeSoto County

Captain John Parker was a Seminole War veteran and former sheriff of Hillsborough County. He was the first settler east of Arcadia (before the town existed) in 1858. He became a cattle baron and established a ranch spanning 125 square...

Maitland’s Lake Lily was known as John’s Hole

In the days before railroads penetrated the forest, let's call it 1859, only a few scattered families braved living in frontier Orange and Seminole County. Back then, along the lonely Orlando-Mellonville Road, not a single house could be found between...

East Altamonte Clings to its Heritage

Against all odds, East Altamonte has persisted for over 130 years. The historically black community is surrounded by valuable real estate and three land-hungry municipalities. “In 20 years, Winwood will not exist,” Alcee Hastings, the community’s most famous son, said...

Nolan House in Altamonte Springs

Yesterday, I stopped by the Nolan House in Altamonte Springs. I've been meaning to for a while, after numerous "trips" there on Google Street View. I serendipitously ran into owner Carmen Bierman, who was hanging out on the porch. The...