Going Back In Time .... Olde Florida

[Big ole Boy]

I’d like to see a remake of the “Yearling” authored by, Marjorie Rawlings….. or a version perhaps with some modernity that the audience can identify with – pre- mid 1920’s Florida …..

One of the first movies I ever remember watching as a child was the “Yearling” starring Gregory Peck, produced in 1966. I watched the movie at “Rawlings” Elementary the first year the school opened – sort of a time capsule within a time capsule.

Later I would come to read the “Yearling” as a book.

Remember doing sketches as a child shortly after the movie of that log cabin existence with wood fence ….

Sketching while attending “Syndley Linear” Elementary school in third grade with my black third grade teacher – “Mrs. Mack” – I miss her ….. and Mr. “Banks” in 9th grade pre-algerbra, - I was disappointed that my math did not allow me into the Algerbra with Mrs. Bowman until the 10th grade ….

Somehow that “Yearling” seems to tap into something bigger inside of me – something connected with the universe of “integrity”.

Early 70’s elementary school in Gainesville,,,, JJ Finley in my first attempt at first grade. I failed first grade in 1968-69 session.

The Slip and Slide that burned down - I loved that slide - vandals burned it down - never to be seen again …. The festivals and carnivals … the riot with fists held high in Gainesville ….. the Beattles …. …. Seeing a movie about “Stephen Foster” at St. Patricks Elementary in the 4th grade …. Catholicism - feeling my first connection with reverence for something - to value something large and full - a quantity of goodness realized by the world around me ...

Ahh, …. The Cross Creek and Wacahoota in me remembers the YMCA, Camp MCConnel just on the other side of Paynes Prarie – what a glorious time and group to be with as we went to go see the Peter Benchly’s movie …. “Jaws” ….

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

You might enjoy this, David:

http://www.adventureoutpost.net/ToursA-N.htm#Cross%20Creek

I will go on this one when I get the chance.


Lars' home page: http://www.adventureoutpost.net

I've done a number of kayak trips with Lars and they are always wonderful!

 

[Big ole Boy]

Pam,

I just drove by that Outpost yesterday.

Had lunch in High Springs yesterday at Floyd's .... I lived in High Springs years ago attending Santa Fe High - sure has changed .... some for the better ...

 

[Wally Jones]

David,

Cross Creek is a really neat area and it's hard to believe a Yankee could write about life there so beautifully. But old Marjorie did a good job.

A couple of books you might enjoy which capture the old Florida:

"The Other Florida" by Gloria Jahoda. It's a history book, but well written and talks about the Florida tourists drive through (well, they used to)to get to central and south Florida. Everything from evidence the Garden of Eden was really in the panhandle to making turpentine to a rattlesnake handler. Good stuff. Neat old photographs, too.

"A Land Remembered" by Patrick D. Smith. Fiction, but based on history. Insight into Florida "crackers" and their life from right after the Civil War to the present.

 

[Dennis J. Black ASA IFAS]

I know probably not what the readers of this thread want to read, but here goes. Concrete and steel are the two greatest inventions in the history of man. Trees are meant to be milled or burned when the time is right.

Yea I know, I just a northerner.

 

[Dennis J. Black ASA IFAS]

Sorry for the typo.

"I'm just a northerner"

 

[J in Florida]

Has Orange Lake come back since the sinkhole nearly drained it?

I remember (barely) chuggin beers while tubing down the Itchetucknee (sp?) when I first moved to Gainesville. There was also this sinkhole in a farmers field past Williston people would sneak into.

At the first apartment I lived in , I worked maintenance for the complex while going to school at UF. The apartment manager had a weekend place on a canal that led to cross creek, and he took us out there from time to time to help him with his "Sheetmetal Shack in the Swamp". There were alligators and water moccasins everywhere.

Is the Yearling restaurant still there? I believe their specialties were Cooter and Gator Tail.

North Florida is a wonderful place.

 

[Big ole Boy]

"The Yearling" restaurant is still there. Its under new ownership. Orange Lake is very dry - almost gone. I went there as a kid and had a great weekend riding around on Honda 50 - little mini bike back about 70 or 71 -

understand that an old cook at the "Yearling" knew Marjorie ....

.... some folks still around that knew her ....

 

[Eric J Johnson]

This is weird!!! I was just reading some articles online about the history of Florida and famous people who called FL home. I read about that exact person and everything you are writing about. Some very interesting reading...here is a link to where I was at. Sorry if you already know this stuff, I'm into history. I'm not sure if this is the site where I read about the author or not, but here it is anyways.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~fllee/history/

 

[Big ole Boy]

Florida history is a compelling subject these days as the country seems to be retracing its steps looking for its original roots.

My own family traveled down with the roads as they were built. My grandad was born in Y-bor City and his dad started an electric company in Naples, FL in 1926.

Heritage gives me something to latch onto when the world around me spins at an
ever increasing franetic pace.