I am honored and extremely grateful to be featured in the September 2019 issues of Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes Magazines distributed in Pasco County, Florida. Pasco County is a local stomping ground for me where there are many wilderness areas and historical sites to see and learn about. So over the yearsContinue reading ““Florida Trailblazer” Featured in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel Magazines in Pasco County, Florida”
Category Archives: Old and Abandoned Cemeteries
Florida Trailblazer Podcast (Episode 1)
I have been working on lots of new projects for Florida Trailblazer and one of them involves a podcast. It is something I actually had in mind to do for a long while now but it wasn’t until recently that I began putting it together. It is still a work in progress and will evolveContinue reading “Florida Trailblazer Podcast (Episode 1)”
Hull-Smith Cemetery in Ocala National Forest
During the 1800’s many families and early settlers had homesteads and cemeteries throughout Florida. I have been visiting a lot of these old cemeteries over the years and some are in better conditions than others. One of the areas I have visited recently is now part of Ocala National Forest and there are several oldContinue reading “Hull-Smith Cemetery in Ocala National Forest”
Caraway Cemetery at Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area
This is an interesting site I explored in Alachua County known as Caraway Cemetery. It is most likely that this cemetery belonged to the family long ago dating back to the early to mid-1900’s. They would’ve had a homestead near the cemetery as most families did back in those times. Today the area is partContinue reading “Caraway Cemetery at Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area”
Thomas C. Fillyaw Gravesite in Ocala National Forest
This is known as the Thomas C. Fillyaw gravesite in Ocala National Forest. He was a Confederate Soldier and lived near and managed a steamboat landing here after the Civil War. (Thomas C. Fillyaw, CPL 10th Btn GA Inf CSA May 1830-Dec. 8, 1873 Buried here by his son T.T. Fillyaw). After posting some photos andContinue reading “Thomas C. Fillyaw Gravesite in Ocala National Forest”
Coleman Church Cemetery in Alachua County
This is an old African-American cemetery that I explored in the backwoods of Alachua County. Many of these cemeteries around the state are becoming lost to time and neglect so I am trying to explore and document them as I can. This particular one may be kept up from time to time from the looksContinue reading “Coleman Church Cemetery in Alachua County”
Lone Gravesite at Andrews Wildlife Management Area
I have always enjoyed the scenic wilderness along this part of the Suwannee River at Andrews Wildlife Management Area. There are many trails and recreational opportunities here. Some of the history includes logging and agricultural uses going back to the 1800’s, the land was purchased by the Andrews family in 1945, they managed the land for outdoorContinue reading “Lone Gravesite at Andrews Wildlife Management Area”
Gainer Cemetery in Washington County
I did some exploring and hiking at Econfina Creek Wildlife Management Area which is in Washington County in northern Florida. This area of the state to me still has that “old Florida” feel to it and there is a lot of wilderness areas to experience and naturally with that I wanted to see what historyContinue reading “Gainer Cemetery in Washington County”
Jeremiah Milton Brewer Gravesite in Ocala National Forest
This is an interesting gravesite I found in Ocala National Forest, a man name Jeremiah M. Brewer is buried here. He lived from 1844 to 1877, some of the history I found on him describes him serving in the Civil War as a Union Soldier. I find it interesting that there are both Confederate andContinue reading “Jeremiah Milton Brewer Gravesite in Ocala National Forest”
Roadside History: Gravesite of Ellis Mize in Alachua County
One of the most interesting gravesites I have visited was this one in Alachua County. It is the gravesite of Ellis Mize. The Mize family operated a turpentine still up until 1950. Ellis Mize lived from 1862 until 1967. Because of his love for the pine tree industry, Mize had his granite tombstone carved to resembleContinue reading “Roadside History: Gravesite of Ellis Mize in Alachua County”
