Instructions:
1....Print this file.
2....At its end, click on "rules" to see a copy of the trail rules, print it, and then click where indicated at the end of the 3-page rules and patch order form to get back to the list of Florida trails.
3....If you want a hand-drawn map showing the locations of all of the sites, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Steve Rajtar, 1614 Bimini Dr., Orlando, FL 32806.
4....Hike the trail and order whatever patches you like (optional).
WARNING - This trail may pass through one or more neighborhoods which, although full of history, may now be unsafe for individuals on foot, or which may make you feel unsafe there. Hikers have been approached by individuals who have asked for handouts or who have inquired (not always in a friendly manner) why the hikers are in their neighborhood. Drugs and other inappropriate items have been found by hikers in some neighborhoods. It is suggested that you drive the hike routes first to see if you will feel comfortable walking them and, if you don't think it's a good place for you walk, you might want to consider (1) traveling with a large group, (2) doing the route on bicycles, or (3) choosing another hike route. The degree of comfort will vary with the individual and with the time and season of the hike, so you need to make the determination using your best judgment. If you hike the trail, you accept all risks involved.
During the 1870s and 1880s, this was a popular hotel for persons traveling through the area by train.
This was the home of John K. Tuten, a farmer and owner of a grocery store. It was built in about 1890 and was still owned by his family a century later.
This structure formerly served the home of Sam Fleming, which burned down in 1928.
This building was erected as the Literary Society Hall. Dave Taylor remodeled it in 1912 to serve as the town's hall, recreation center, and meeting place. The hall upstairs was the site of plays and musical programs, and two smaller rooms were used for lodge meetings. Downstairs was a place for meetings and dances, and occasionally roller skating. Later, it became the home of the Archer Day Care Center.
This congregation organized on June 3, 1866, in the Wacahoota area eight miles to the southwest. The present sanctuary was built in part with funds donated by the Cedar Key congregation, on land donated by Mr. Andruss. It was dedicated on December 7, 1884, with a design identical to that of the Kanapaha Church. It was expanded in 1929 and in 1936 was turned 90 degrees to face Church St. The Preacher Gordon Memorial Hall was built on the Gibson St. side in 1977.
This home from the 1890s was the residence of the Andruss family and then served as the manse for the Presbyterian Church. It was moved to this lot in 1958. Previously on this lot was the Hodgson house and next door was the Powell house, both of which burned down.
Quaker settlers from Ohio and Indiana built this house in the early 1880s, and also planted orange groves with rows of oak trees as windbreaks. Later owners included Dr. DePass, Dr. Rice beginning in 1908, and in 1927, William G. McDonald. His daughter, Grace McDonald, married Dr. Frank C. Jones, who used the house as his office. Later owner Cal Carter restored it to its original appearance.
This home was built in 1909 for Mrs. Jackson, and was bought in 1919 by Berton M. Bishop, Sr. He ran a drug store next door. The house was later acquired by Nathan W. Perry, Jr., who restored it.
Cal Tindale and Mr. Dennison built this home in 1927 for W.A. and Ethel Tuten.
This building was erected in about 1888 and served as John K. Tuten's store. In about 1930 when it was owned by Harry Tuten, Cal Tindale remodeled it into a house and moved it back on the lot.
This structure began as a general merchandise store building in about 1894. Located in it were the stores of Wells, Roberts, and then Pons. During the 1920s, the town's first movie theater was opened here by Mrs. Hytop Maddox. It became the home of the Masonic Lodge (Archer Lodge No. 197, F.& A.M.) during the mid-1930s.
Cal Tindale built this for John Robertson to house his grocery store in about 1929. It has also served as a gun repair and watch shop, and a personal residence.
Hytop Maddox of Ft. Valley, Georgia, started a family business here. He arrived in Archer in 1892, married Pearl Groves in 1903, and two years later they opened the Maddox Foundry and Machine Works. It employed 70 men in 1914, and increased to 100 by 1916. During the 1930s, this business was one of the most outstanding heavy machine works in this part of the country. It was expanded during World War II.
Dave Taylor built this house in about 1919, as one of the Maddox quarters homes for foundry workers. In 1930, Chase Maddox and his wife moved in.
This is one of the homes built in about 1919 to house workers at the Maddox Foundry.
David Yulee was granted a charter for the railroad in 1855. This railroad station was first built near the Bauknight house before 1900 (the central section dating from 1860) to serve the railroad route running from Fernandina to Cedar Key. The depot was moved here, and later became part of the Seaboard Coastline System. Along the present Gibson St., the Eagle Mine Branch curved to the south. The depot was later acquired by the Archer Historical Society for the location of a community historical museum.
Cotton-Wood Plantation, located about a mile to the northeast, was owned by David Levy Yulee, the first U.S. senator from this state. He was the son of Moses Levy, who in 1853 to 1860 built the railroad that ran from Fernandina to Cedar Key. The Yulees lived there during the Civil War.
At the end of the war on May 22, 1865, wagons containing the remnants of the Confederate treasury, papers, and the baggage of president Jefferson Davis, were delivered to Cotton-Wood while the remaining Confederate officials attempted to flee and reestablish their government. Their intention was to meet up with Davis in Texas, but found out while they were here that Davis had been captured.
The baggage and papers were buried on the plantation in a cow barn by C. Wickliffe Yulee, son of the senator. The elder Yulee later arranged to have them sent to A. Williams, the stationmaster at Waldo. The remaining $25,000 in gold was split one-fourth to Mrs. Davis and her children and three-fourths to the men who had guarded the wagon train. The papers in Waldo were seized by Federal troops and Yulee was arrested in Gainesville. The confiscated property was taken to Washington, and some of it was returned to its owners in 1874.
The plantation was acquired by Monroe Venable in 1906, and he turned it into a tobacco farm. His daughter, Ethyle Venable Crevasse, built a new brick house in 1966 near the old home, which was destroyed in the 1970s or 1980s.
This building was erected in 1912 as the Venable and Robinson dry goods store. It later housed Alsop's sundry and then Pollard's sundry. It was bought in 1930 by B.M. Bishop, whose drug store was in business here until 1982.
This store building was erected by C.D. Wood in 1909 for his general merchandise business. To the northeast was a large warehouse, and originally the west end was the "front" of this building, facing the depot. Later occupants were R.T. Heagy, Walter B. Long (who divided it into three stores during the 1930s), and the Venable and Robinson Store. Subsequently, it was acquired by Gary and Rhonda Arnold.
The Bank of Archer was organized on August 12, 1913, by Roy Patten Perkins, E.E. Skipper, and others. Its first home was in the Fleming Building, then it moved to the Weimer Building, and in 1927 to the new Venable Building at this location. The first floor was built by Mr. Linderman, with Messrs. Fitz and Hough building the second, which was used for tobacco storage. The bank moved to Williston in 1933 and was renamed the Perkins State Bank. During that decade, the Cummings grocery store moved into this building.
Anticipating the construction of the railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Key, the settlement of Deer Hammock was established here. When the railroad was completed in 1859, the town was renamed Archer to honor the secretary of state, James T. Archer. Archer was incorporated in 1878. Monroe Venable donated the land for construction of the city hall, built in 1965.
This sanctuary was built here in 1939.
This house was originally built in about 1941 as a military residence at Camp Blanding. It was later relocated here by Charles Stanley.
This building was erected in about 1920 on SW Main St. and housed the J.T. Fleming store. It was later dismantled, rebuilt here, and renamed the Weimer Building. The Archer State Bank moved here with the building.
This was the home of W.J. Whitehurst, a farmer, banker and investor who served as a county commissioner. It was built in about 1931.
This house was built in about 1928, probably by Hines and Stalvey. One family who lived here was Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brice. He owned a sawmill and she was a teacher.
This house was built in about 1927, and was the home of Sam Bryan. His grocery store was located in the Weimer Building.
This structure was built in 1944 for the Nazarene Church. It later housed the Greater Faith Ministries.
This building was erected in about 1895 in Arrendondo as a schoolhouse. It was moved here during the 1950s or 1960s and used as the city clinic.
The original portion of this building was erected in about 1905 as the Crown Bottling Plant. It was remodeled in about 1934 and 1950, and before its present use was the clubhouse of the Woman's Club.
This house is built of concrete block and stucco by Milton Morper for William G. McDonald, and was completed in 1928. Later, it was the home of the McDonalds' daughter, Grace, and her husband, Dr. Frank Curtis Jones. Each of Messrs. McDonald and Jones were municipal officers in Archer.
Built in 1911, this was the home of C.A. Wiles. He had moved here from Williston to be the plant superintendent of the Maddox Foundry.
This house was built in about 1925. It was the residence of barber Ed Sparks and the wife, Lula.
In June of 1919, Dr. A.J. Goode moved from Alabama to a new home here. Later, it was the residence of W.S. Pritchett, the owner of the Florida Garage.
In about 1880, Dr. J.C. Neal came from Indiana to Archer for its healthful climate. He built this home in a grove of about 400 orange trees. Merchant C.D. Wood bought it in 1895. In 1923, it was purchased from the Wood estate by Prof. Gordon, who came here from Kentucky. Later, it was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Arnold.
In about 1927, Mr. Vaughn and his son-in-law, Mr. Kirkpatrick, built this home. It was substantially remodeled during the 1980s.
This house from the mid-1920s was owned by Frank Weimer and used as rental property. The Weimers lived next door in an older house which has since been moved to Levy County.
This was the location of a Quaker meeting house during the 1880s, and that building later became a residence that stood until after 1900. In 1920, this church was organized and the congregation built their first building across the street in 1922. It was superseded by the present structure, erected in 1955 with an annex to the rear constructed in 1974.
This is the only remaining prefabricated home in town, having been built in about 1927. The building materials and instructions arrived here on box cars. It was the home of Harrison Walton, an insurance salesman and captain during World War I.
Oscar Helms built this house in 1921. It was the residence of O.F. Cummings, the owner of a dry goods store.
Union Civil War veteran James Skinner built this house in 1883. He raised pears, peaches, and oranges, and was a blacksmith and carriage manufacturer. During the early 1920s, the home was bought by Gus and Alice Morton, and later it was owned by their granddaughter, Ann Batey Green.
This home dates to about 1879, and was the residence of William Lipsey, the original Quaker who promoted Archer for the growing of citrus. the house was later owned by Mr. Leynes, a patternmaker at the Maddox Foundry.
George Weimer owned this home, built in about 1900. It was later owned by A.D. Lindsey of Alabama, and he sold it to S.L. Bryan. The house originally had a double veranda across the front.
This home dates back to about 1922.
James Hancock built this house in 1886. Since then, the original porch was removed and the entrance was moved to the side. This was once surrounded by scuppernong grape arbors. Later, it was acquired by J.H. Mills of Alabama, and later by Sam Shoemaker.
Dave Taylor built this as a rental home in about 1926. It was acquired by the Ailstock family during the 1940s.
Quaker settler T.E. Pearson and his son, Charles E. Pearson, ran a nursery nearby. Charles, a carpenter, built this home in 1885. He was Archer's last Quaker, having been brought here by William Lipsey in 1882. His brother, Gilbert, became a prominent ornithologist and the head of the Audubon Society. Later owners were Dr. Maris B. Grant and Dr. Thomas Wargovich.
Oscar Helms built this house in about 1933 as the residence of Cicero Nipper. It was later remodeled as medical offices.
This was the home of Roy Perkins, built in about 1913. He was a founder of the Bank of Archer, later known as Perkins State Bank.
This home, built in about 1926, was owned by Ed Shoupe and used as a rental property.
This structure was erected in 1936 as a W.P.A. project and served as a school gymnasium. Next door was the Archer School, built in 1917. The school has been torn down and the gym converted into a city maintenance barn.
Walter B. Long owned this home in the early 1900s, and lived here most of his life. His store was located in the C.D. Wood Building. The two-story portion of the home was built by 1910, and the one-story portion of the home was added in 1920. In 1981, this became the office of John Carver, a realtor.
Built in about 1946, this was the home of Ed Benton, the city clerk until he died in an auto acident in 1978. He had also served as city councilman and mayor.
This was built by Dave Taylor in about 1926 as a rental home. During the 1940s, it became the pastorium of the Baptist Church.
This house was built in about 1919 and was the home of John Cannard. Other owners included Mose Lindsey and the Wynn family.
This home was built in about 1923 on the site of Hard Simmons' house, which had burned. The barn from the original home remains. The present house was acquired by the Williams family in 1937.
This 1922 home was the residence of postmaster Elmer Grantham and his wife, Maude Morper. Next door was the Morper home, built in 1905.
This was built in about 1896 and was owned by the Hester family. Beginning in 1902, it belonged to the Andersons.
When this was built in about 1922, it belonged to S.L. Bryan. It was then sold to Milton Morper, who owned it from 1926 until 1976.
Built in about 1922, this was the home of county commissioner W.J. Whitehurst. He later moved to a new home during the 1930s on Heagy Ave.
This home was built in about 1924 by Baptist Preacher Davis. He later sold it to the McElroy family.
This home was built in about 1905 by Nathaniel Benton. He was a carpenter, and included decorative shingles in the gable.
The home of a section foreman was purchased by Monroe Venable and divided by him into three separate buildings. In 1960, one was moved to this location. A second sits next door at 201 E. Main St.
This structure was built in 1927 as W.S. Pritchett's Florida Garage. For many years it has been known as Duke's Garage.
This home was built for Archer businessman and postmaster Robert T. Heagy, Sr., before 1900. In 1948, it was bought by Mr. and Mrs. L.R. Moore, operators of the Archer Suwannee Store until the late 1960s.
This was the home of Christopher J. Mills, a deaf-mute who worked in the family's grist mill on Central Ave. This house was built in about 1922.
Built in about 1925, this was the home of Caleb and Sarah Mills, who moved to Archer from Alabama in 1919. Their children were Luther Earnest, John Hiram, and Christopher J.
This house was built in about 1928 and was the residence of Mr. Pons, who had a grocery store in the Masonic Lodge Building. Later, it was the home of Howard Skinner, who worked at the Skinner Service Station.
This house was built in about 1910 as a section foreman's house. It was moved here by Monroe Venable in about 1951.
This was home of Clarence Slaughter, built in about 1923. He was a railroad worker, town constable, cattleman and farmer.
This was the site of Howard Skinner's Cafe and Garage, which burned down. It was replaced in about 1945 by this store erected by Milton Morper and Howard Skinner.
The original portion of this building was constructed in about 1917, and was expanded in about 1935. The hotel was started by a Newberry family, and was later acquired by Howard Skinner.
This packing shed dates to about 1923.
North on this road, about four miles away from downtown Archer, was a small settlement known as Half Moon. All traces of it have disappeared.
This cottage was built in the 1880s with typical board and batten construction. It was the home of Junius Jackson, who was a 25-year-old servant of the Bauknight family 1900. In 1923, the house was used as the office of A.M. McNeill's turpentine business.
The original part of this house, incorporated into later additions, was built before 1850. During the 1880s, it was owned by Charles W. Bauknight, who served on the city council in 1882-83, and was a farmer and merchant. In the early 1900s, the porch and circular tower room were added. In 1923, A.M. McNeill, Jr. acquired the home.
Built in about 1892, this was the home of Mr. King, a railroad agent.
This home was built in about 1905 and is believed to have been the residence of George Fleming. In the early 1920s, it was the home of the Southerlands, then the Pollards and the Gibbonses.
The first railroad depot was built here in about 1857. To the east and south of here stretched the original town site, settled in the 1850s. The second town site, extending further east and south, generally dates to the 1880s.
This house was built in about 1890, but records are unavailable regarding its occupants before 1917. In that year, a blacksmith named Jones and his family began renting it.
This house was built in about 1900 and sold by S.A. Hussey to Elizabeth Bigham in 1912. Her husband, J.J. Bigham, was the town marshall and a naval stores operator. Later owners included the McCalls.
The Methodist church was organized in Archer by 1866. The cornerstone for this sanctuary was laid on May 13, 1890, and the bell was mounted in the tower on June 22, 1891.
This cemetery was founded in 1853, and contains the remains of members of the Maddox, Skinner, Skipper, Davis and other families.
Located near the front of this cemetery is a plaque commemorating the burial of the remains of 20 to 30 soldiers who were killed in a Civil War battle near Otter Creek. The bodies had been loaded onto a boxcar and were taken here, to the first town that would allow the burial of both Union and Union Colored troops.
Alachua County: A Sesquicentennial Tribute, by John B. Opdyke (The Alachua County Historical Commission 1974)
Alachua County, Florida Historical Tour Series: Micanopy, Evinston, Archer, Newberry, by Alachua County Historical Commission (1985)
Florida Historical Markers & Sites, by Floyd E. Boone (Gulf Publishing Company 1988)
Florida Jewish Heritage Trail, by Rachel B. Heimovics and Marcia Zerivitz (Florida Department of State 2000)
Florida's Eden: The Illustrated History of Alachua County, by John B. Pickard (Maupin House 1994)
Ghost Town Locations In Florida: 350 Forgotten Sites, by Jim Warnke (Warnke Publishing 1992)
Historical and Architectural Survey of The City of Archer, by Melanie V. Barr (1994)
History of Alachua County 1824-1969, by Jess G. Davis (Alachua County Historical Commission 1969)
Nineteenth Century Archer, by Rance O. Braley (1990)