TAYLOR COUNTY
FEDERAL WRITER’S PROJECT
American Guide
Tallahassee, Florida
Sites & Landmarks
March 31, 1938
R. Woodbery
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, December 23, 1856.
Ft. Pleasant – On the Econfina River – two miles down the river from the present town of Shady Grove.
Ft. Andrews – On lower Fenholloway River about six miles above its mouth.
Ft. Frank Brook – on the Steinhatchee River about six miles above its mouth.
Falls of the Steinhatchee River where Andrew Jackson crossed the river in 1818.
Nutall Rise – On the Aucilla River. Here was probably the location of a farm during Spanish days.
“Camp Ground” – On Fenholloway River – three and one half miles southeast of Perry. Here a company of home guards had there encampment during the Civil War. J. W. Faulkner was Captain of the company. For years after the Civil War the Methodist Episcopal Church South held an annual Camp Meeting at this place. It is now sometimes used for a picnic point.
Rock Island – Near mouth of Fenholloway River, where deserters are said to have gathered to take a ship for Cedar Key which was held by Union soldiers.
Shady Grove – Located in the northern part of Taylor County, near the Madison County line, received its name from the many oaks that stood around the old town of that same name.
Scanlon – Located west of Perry – named for the Brooks-Scanlon Corporation.
Carbur – Southeast of Perry – A company established a camp here and named the town.
Boyd – North of Perry – named for J. B. Boyd.
Fenholloway – River flows southward through Taylor County into the Gulf of Mexico. A Hamlet with a population of thirty-four- situated on the Live Oak, Perry and Gulf Railroad; Recorded on the map in n. o. winter’s Florida: The land of Enchantment. Fenhalui was a former creek settlement. The source of Fenholloway (Fenhalui) is sem. – cr. Fone “footlog”, and halwi, “high” – High- footlog.
Piney-Point – Received its name from pine trees which covered the cape.
Buck Horn – West of Perry – named for the many deer which are found there.
Thelma – Name given by United States Post Office Department. Located near the gulf, south of Perry.
Clara – In the extreme southeastern part of Taylor County – named by turpentine people who camped there.
Mandalay – A station on the Live Oak, Perry & Gulf Railroad in the southwestern part of Taylor County. Named is said to be shortened from Sanakrit Gharamandala, “District or Circle of Forts.” Use of Mandalay may have been inspired by the popularity of a song based on well-known poem of Kipling’s.
Secotana – Station in Taylor County. Algonquian tribe of same name occupied in 1584 area now included in counties of Washington, Terrell, Dore, Benfort and Hyde, North Carolina. Name Secotan, of Algonquian origin, may signify “burnt place.”
Waldo Springs – Located five miles south of Perry, in Taylor County, is the biggest spring in that county. It is said to be one of the dozen springs’ greatest volumes in Florida, having an output of 12,000 gallons a minute.
Hampton Springs – About four miles from Perry, to the west, was named for the Hampton family, who were at one time owners of the spring. For seventy-five years it has been considered one of the greatest curative springs in the south.
Thomas’ Old Mill – Six or seven miles from the mouth of Fenholloway River is the location of what is known as the Thomas’ Old Mill. This was probably used by the Spanish or British as a place to grind grain many years before the United States acquired Florida.
Jonesville – At Jonesville now known as Adams Beach near the mouth of Blue Creek were salt works during the Civil War.
Natural Bridge – On Econfina River where Jackson crossed the river.