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.
(From Interstate 75, drive west on SR 26 and south on Seaboard Dr. to the intersection with SW 1st Ave. Park in the parking lot to the north of and across the street from the library.)(0.0 mile so far)
At this site during the 1910s, there were several buildings for a livery, feed and sales business. On the east side of the tracks was located John N. Partin's Buggy and Blacksmith Shop. An early freight depot was located just to the north of here.
In the 1910s and 1920s, J.M. Holt & Son had a cotton gin and grist mill here.
At this site in 1907, Dr. Samuel Pace Getzen and his wife, Mary Miller Getzen, built a home. Dr. Getzen and Dr. Ruff had contracts with area mining companies to provide medical care for their employees.
During the 1920s, the City Hall was located here, in a portion of the Commercial Hotel building.
This two-story red brick building was erected in about 1908 by Dr. Howell, and was named the Pickett House. The hotel rooms were upstairs, and the first floor was occupied by businesses which included a drug store, doctor's office, grocery, an antique store, a pawn shop, and the post office.
A later use of the building was for the True Value Newberry Hardware.
The early name of this town was Newtown, the name of the first post office established on March 19, 1894. Later that year, it was renamed Newberry, probably to honor the town of Newberry, South Carolina. The town incorporated in 1895.
This land was the site of the New York Racket Store, owned by C.D. May. It burned down in the early 1900s. Afterwards, Mr. and Mrs. May opened a dry goods store and millinery store next to the bank. They sold it and moved away in 1920.
In 1938, this municipal building was designed by Sanford Goin of Gainesville for the W.P.A. Inexpensive local limestone and pine were used, and construction jobs were created for the local unemployed.
A group of local businessmen obtained the charter for this bank in May of 1906, by principal stockholders H.E. Pickett, W.H. Tucker, Dr. J.F. Ruff, C.D. May, C.A. Neal, J.G. White and Dr. S.G. Getzen. It had its first office in the Tucker Store. The first bank president was Henry A. Pickett, who arrived here with his family in 1858 from Brooks County, Georgia.
This building with its handsome cornice and imposing pilasters was erected for it two years later. Upstairs from the bank was Newberry Lodge No. 150, F.& A.M.
In 1984, the bank building was remodeled to unify it with the two adjacent structures which it had absorbed.
This building was erected in about 1880 in Jonesville, about five miles to the east. Stringfellow and Williams used it for their mercantile store. In about 1900, it was moved here and Thomas Kincaid used it for his retail store. It later became a bookstore.
Mrs. N.J. Barry, the widow of Dr. Barry, built this two-story wooden building in 1908. For several decades, it housed a drug store, and later was turned into a seamstress and notions shop.
In the early 1900s, John G. White built this for his general store, in which he sold jewelry, ready-to-wear clothes, furniture and coffins. It later became the offices of Museum Services.
Henry A. Pickett built this one-story brick building in 1906. The first office of the Bank of Newberry was in the southeast corner of this building. For about 80 years, it was the home of the Tucker & Roland General Merchandise Store operated by W.H. Tucker and his family. Later, it was the Evans Custom Saddlery Shop and then the home of a lawn mower shop.
These brick buildings were erected shortly after the fire which destroyed much of the business district in 1907.
In the early days, this was the site of Max's Place, a Standard Oil station owned by John Maxie Holt. Later, it was known as Sparkman's Grocery Store. During the 1930s, it was managed by Bill Trammell.
At this corner in the 1940s was a Gulf Oil station owned by Porter Fleming. On the side was a building that served as a bar and dance hall. In 1948, Fleming sold it to become the Newberry City Marshall.
Before 1900, blacksmith J.M. Holt built this home. Later, he operated an automobile business. The house was later occupied by his granddaughter, Pauline Rain.
Mr. Holt built this house in the early 1900s, facing the railroad. His daughter and her husband, William Trammel, later occupied the house. A subsequent owner was W. Austin Smith.
Malcolm Knight built this home in 1902, and it was later owned by John Newbern, then C.H. Williams, and then David and Barbara Gordon.
Located at the intersection of the two railroad lines, the wooden passenger station had a barrel tile roof. This was the focal point for the town, as it was the first thing most persons arriving saw of Newberry. For this reason, the grounds were nicely landscaped as a park. The station was torn down in 1966 and replaced by the present concrete block building.
That was the location of the railroad station for freight, on the east-west line passing through Newberry.
Built in the early 1910s as the home of Wallace R. Cheeves, it was later acquired by naval stores operator Charles Williams. His son, Don Williams, owned it afterward.
The Cheves brothers had a cold storage plant here. Beginning in 1913, they had an Ice and Chero Cola Bottling Plant.
This one story building with the handsome brickwork and arched doors and windows was the City Water & Electric Light Plant. Electricity became available to the citizens of Newberry in 1913, the year this structure was erected.
More recently, this building has been used as a storage facility.
This was the location of the Newberry Machine & Motor Co. in the 1920s.
This building was constructed here by 1926 and housed the Methodist Church. It is now the home of the Masonic Lodge, which was founded in 1900.
This house was built in about 1900, and became the residence of E.D. Norfleet and his family. The Norfleets were active in phosphate mining and in the civic affairs of Newberry. Both Mr. and Mrs. Norfleet served the town as mayor.
Phosphate mining was the principal industry until World War I, which cut off European markets. Subsequently, the focus turned to agriculture with emphasis on watermelons.
Shortly after 1900, merchant J.B. Smith built a cottage on this corner. Later, it was the home of Marcia Buchanan.
This home was built in about 1920 by dentist S.A. Hussey. The Craftsman style architectural design is typical of the 1920s, which aids natural cooling. Later, it was owned by Daphnie Griffith.
This church organized in 1902 and soon built a wooden sanctuary. It was replaced with the present structure in 1912 with leaded stained glass windows set in rounded arches. The Romanesque style includes the corner bell tower with arches.
Merchant W.H. Tucker built this home of hand-made concrete blocks in 1908. This was the first house in town made from this material. His daughter, Katie Cooke,was the later owner. This house is the exception from the early Newberry trend of wood residential construction.
During the 1920s, this was the location of the hotel Sargent.
This cottage shows a "revival" design, which is an exception to the general trend, which had hip roofs with sweeping lines, or sharply pitched gabled farm styles, or a massed plan with a side gable.
This school was built of brick in 1908, and continued to be used for classes until the 1970s. Various proposals have been made for remodeling and use.
In the front yard is a monument to physician Dr. Samuel Pace Getzen and Mary Miller Getzen, a cultural and civic leader.
The first portion of this school was completed during 1924.
Alachua County, Florida Historical Tour Series: Micanopy, Evinston, Archer, Newberry, by Alachua County Historical Commission (1985)
Florida Historic Stained Glass Survey: Sites of Historic Windows in Public Facilities in the State of Florida, by Robert O. Jones (Florida Members of the Stained Glass Association of America 1995)
Florida Historical Markers & Sites, by Floyd E. Boone (Gulf Publishing Company 1988)
Historical and Architectural Survey of Newberry, Florida, by Murray D. Laurie (City of Newberry 1986)
History of Alachua County 1924-1969, by Jess G. Davis (Alachua County Historical Commission 1969)
Newberry: The Early Years, by Don L. Davis (1995)