1. Facts
TAYLOR COUNTY, FLORIDA
Land Area: 1,042 sq. miles
Taylor County was named for Zachary Taylor, President, prominent in the second Seminole Indian war, defeating the Indians in the decisive battle of Okeechobee for which he received the brevet of brigadier-general, and in 1838 the chief command in Florida
The first state librarian, W. T. Cash, was a Taylor County native.
A governor, Cary Hardee, was from Taylor County.
The first chancellor of the state university system, Dr. Broward Culpepper, was from Taylor County.
Taylor County had the first County Health Unit in Florida.
The first state auditor Ollie Williams, was from Taylor County.
Taylor County is the home of the Florida Forest Festival and the Forestry Museum.
The first Pine Tree Festival was held in 1955. In 1966 the festival was renamed the Florida Forest Festival.
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PERRY, FLORIDA 32347
Land Area: 9.3 sq. miles
Elevation: 42 feet
Perry was first known as Rose Head.
First Post Office was established at Rose Head in 1869. In 1875, the town name was changed to Perry.
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DOCTORS’ MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
First Hospital opened 1957
Second Hospital opened 1970
Third Hospital opened 2003
The site for the hospital was on a track of land that once served as the municipal airport.
On September 1, 1957, Doctors’ Memorial Hospital was opened as a 30-bed not-for-profit Hill-Burton hospital.
A new two story building was placed in service in 1970 and the old building was used for support services. Most of the old building was destroyed in a fire in 1972.
On May 15, 2003 a new $21 million dollar, 96,000-square-foot facility was opened on US Hwy 19, to replace the outdated facility on Ash Street. This site was once the quarters for Burton-Swartz Cypress Company.
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Taylor County Health Department
Florida’s First Health Unit
Established in 1930
On October 1, 1930, the first full time county health unit in the state was organized in Taylor County, with offices in the Court House in Perry. The unit consisted of W. H. Y. Smith, M. D., Medical Director, Miss Martha B. Waltmier, R. N., public health nurse, Mr. William Hendrix, sanitarian and a clerk.
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GRAYSTONE
c. 1904 – PRESENT
The house was built before 1904 by Boss Faultner or his father. Used as a home until 1918. After 1918 the building was used as a hotel and later an apartment house.
It has 13 rooms – 4 bedrooms, 1 guest room, large kitchen with adjacent pantry, dining room, living room and an observation tower with 5 windows. The house has nine fireplaces.
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Hampton Springs Hotel
1908 – 1954
The land was purchased by Benjamin W. and Joseph L. Hampton for $400 from John and Ana Carlton of Madison in 1879. The Hamptons eventually formed the Hampton Springs Hotel and Mineral Company with $20,000 of working capital. The family decided to capitalize off the investment around the turn of the century and the first part of the hotel was built in 1908. It was a two story structure with about 70 rooms. A nearby boarding house, also two story structure, helped house the overflow during the busy season. It wasn’t until wealthy Georgia railroad businessman J. W. Oglesby took an interest in the area that things started to expand. When the hotel was expanded in 1915, it had all the trappings of a luxury resort, including wicker furniture, steam heat throughout the building and a magnificent water fountain that would be lit up at night. This beautiful resort hotel was constructed 5 miles west of Perry. It was built on the site of a sumptuous spring. The hotel had its own power and water plant.
For reasons unknown, Oglesby leased his interest in the hotel in 1927 to Arnold Joerns for 99 years. Joerns then formed what became known as the Hampton Springs Club, an exclusive membership only spa. Real estate surrounding the hotel at that time was valued at $1 million.
The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1954.
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WOMAN’S CLUB
1914 – PRESENT
The Woman’s Club was organized in 1914. The present building was constructed in 1924 on land given by the Town of Perry.
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FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT CO.
1930 - ??
Florida Power & Light Company began operation in Perry on July 15, 1930 (Taylor County News – April 12, 1945).
THE PERRY ICE & POWER COMPANY
1905 – 1907
The Perry Ice & Power Co. offered electric service to Perry starting in 1905. (Ibid) In 1907 they went bankrupt.
PERRY ELECTRIC COMPANY
1908 – 1925
In 1908 Perry Electric Co. opened for business in Perry.
TAYLOR COUNTY POWER COMPANY
1925 – 1930
Taylor County Power Co. succeeded Perry Electric Co. in July 1925. Taylor County Power Co. was controlled and operated by General Utilities & Operating Co. of Baltimore.
In 1929 a 13 KV line was constructed between Foley and Perry enabling the utility to secure power from Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Co. (Ibid)
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Dairies that operated in Taylor County over the years
Goff Dairy owner J. L. Goff
Sunshine Dairy owner Ira Landry
Glendale Dairy owner Mr. & Mrs. R. Swain
Cherolee Dairy owner Mr. & Mrs. Roy Taylor
Perryland Dairy owner Mr. & Mrs. Norman LaValle
Spring Creek Dairy
Miller-Hendry Dairy
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Emporium Buys Peacock Store From Princes
July 7, 1955
The Emporium, a local department store, has acquired ownership of the Peacock Store, operated during the past few years by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Prince. The former owners announced the transfer today.
The Peacock Store, long a landmark in Perry, was established in pioneer days by S. H. Peacock Sr. His son S. H. (Bud) Peacock operated the store up until recent years when he sold out to his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Prince.
The management of the Emporium has announced that they will continue operation of the store as "The Emporium Annex" for the present.
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Perry got natural gas in 1958
It snowed in Perry in 1957 and again in 1989
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Does anyone remember the sawdust mounds out in the woods? I can remember playing on them when I was young. I remember one behind the Shiloh Church on Shiloh Road, also one east of Boyd out towards the bay. They would set up a small sawmill and cut timber close around and when all was cut nearby they would move to another location.