Exploring in the woods by Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County, Florida. I discovered a lush wilderness with many citrus trees, Oaks and Cypresses as well. These woods have a certain mystery about them and experiencing this place has inspired me to learn some of the history behind the town that almost was, called Panasoffkee.
Here is some information on the history: “Panasoffkee is a lake, but it was almost a city. The Florida Gazetteer of 1887 shows Panasoffkee twice the size of Jacksonville. There was no Miami in those days. Even before that year, however, a settlement existed on the lake. In the earlier 1880's, when the Florida Central Railroad extended south from Wildwood, the first new station stop was at Panasoffkee. This meant fast, cheap transportation. Bachelor's Lumber Mill hired hundreds of hands and a steamship dragged millions of feet of cypress across the lake to the new railroad yards. Cypress wasn't the only booming crop. For years, oranges had been hauled to the railroad over a sandy trail that skirted the lakeshore. This was expensive, consequently orange prices were high. But with better transportation available, early grove owners had visions of oranges being shipped thousands of miles away, at prices even a workingman could afford. So thousands of new trees were planted along the lake and on both sides of the outlet, which drains the lake into the Withlacoochee River. It soon appeared that Panasoffkee would be the orange capital of the world. No other place had so many trees, such cheap, speedy rail service, so moderate a climate. What was needed, of course, was a city. So the Bachelors, who later owned one of the hotels, and John Conley, who owned one of the stores, began planning. President Cleveland was induced to open a post office. Wide streets were laid out, cypress signs erected at intersections gave the avenues imposing names. Proposed resort hotels were given choice sites along the lakeshore. Lots were set aside for churches, schools and a city hall. The population grew from a few score to hundreds, then to thousands. Houses went up almost overnight and around the town square were three general stores, two hotels, a drug store, a blacksmith, a barbershop and poolroom. A public park was completed. When it began to appear that Panasoffkee might be the largest city of peninsular Florida, a delegation went north to entice Yankee capital. Bankers were invited to come and see the sight of oranges maturing beside next year's blossoms on the same tree in a mild, gentle winter sun. A group of financiers headed by Jay Gould agreed to an inspection. They were to be taken on an open-boat trip around the warm lakeshore to shoot wild duck and geese while, in the background, they could view groves and groves of juicy, ripe ranges, grapefruit and lemons. Wild turkey, deer and sometimes panther stare in stunned surprise when they see an automobile round a curve and move toward them. Came the march morning of the banker's arrival and overnight temperatures fell to near zero. There was a "hard freeze". The top-hatted capitalists stepped from their train and saw trees coated with ice, blossoms covered with sleet. Indignantly, they drew their Prince Albert coats around them and stomped back to the warmth of the coaches, muttering through muttonchop beards about time wasted chasing foolish, visionary fantasies. Trees and crops certainly would perish in such a climate! By the time they got back home, they had more compelling problems than Panasoffkee and frost-covered oranges. New York had been isolated by a snowstorm; food was so scarce that officials feared a famine. Philadelphia and Baltimore were also in dire straits. There were fears of serious fires because not even fire-fighting apparatus could be moved through snow-blocked streets. It was the winter of 1883! And so Panasoffkee slid back to oblivion. Discouraged and impatient young men lost faith in the town and moved to more promising fields. Some buildings burned down with no one lifting a hand to save them. A few of the more imposing homes were towed away to other locations. Weeds and Spanish moss took over the groves. In 1895 there was another "hard freeze". Now, even the cypress was abandoned, the steamer allowed to rot and sink. Last to go were the cypress street signs which blew down and disappeared. Today hardly a trace can be found of the town that once was home to thousands of people fired with a great vision. Panasoffkee has returned to the wilderness. Several of the camps are located in aged, abandoned orange groves whose moss-covered trees, given up as lost almost three-quarters of a century ago, have refused to die and despite weeds, weather and neglect are still bearing fruit.”
*Metal detecting and removing artifacts from these public lands in Florida is illegal and prohibited. Please be respectful of the history that remains in these places for future generations. Thank you!