I’m a native Floridian. I wish all of these “hidden” Florida gems would stay hidden so the developers don’t find them and “improve” them. There’s not much old Florida left. What has happened to Florida in the last five years truly breaks my heart. 💔😢
Yep!! Florida is NOT just beaches....in fact the BEST parts of Florida are the places in between the beaches....but please don't tell anyone!! it's already too crowded here😂
Tell me about it..... I remember 20 years ago when Zephyrhills used to be a beautiful little town here in Pasco County, along with Dade City as well..... Now there are humans allover the damn place! 😢
@@JohnMoore-xf5wy decades ago?.... So you do know how beautiful it was... Like I tell everyone around, is not the quantity of the people, is the quality we been getting in the last 5 years..... Back in the days all you would see at the Walmart parking lot was very old grandparents couples arguing about what they forgot from inside the store 😂 🥰...... Now days everything happens at Walmart parking lot!
Florida is in decline. Nothing is maintained. They build it ONCE and then walk away. This goes for many, many roads now which are just crumbling to pieces. It's been 20 years since they did any road work near my home!
Being in England I can only dream of visiting America some day, these video are my way of seeing around America from a distance, so thank you for making them
Scotty, I do the same. I look at other countries too. I live in Warwick, Rhode Island. Look it up, it's a nice state. It's nice to watch without having to travel.
Most of those old homes had what they referred to as "high ceilings". The turret styled "towers" most likely was just another addition to the house for architecture's state. Being from the South and having traveled much of it, all of these states feature these high ceiling houses due to the lack of air conditioning. The heat drawn up allowed for the lower levels to remain cooler. Being a builder, I've remodeled some of these gems. They present special problems with heating and air. However, when they're finished, the ambience living inside is hard to beat.
old farm hse, window inside above doors between rooms & hallway & above main doors. I vid showed small ooenings in rooms to outside size of a brick for air circulating. anybody know about that?
@@GetReady4LiftOff They are called transom ,don't know if this is spelled correctly. They are made for air flow, I've always thought they were very neat!
As a kid in So. Ca. (1950's) we went to old hotels and doors to the hallways always had a transom window for air flow, even in Venice and San Diego. Good ideas travel.
At White Sulphur Springs there used to be a place I believe were you could take a boat ride on the glass bottom boat on the Suwanee River and be able to look down at activity underwater. From what I understand Roosevelt also went to White Sulphur Springs for the “healing “properties. There’s also a white sulfur springs in Georgia. They call it the little White House. He sure was able to hide the polio for a long time. Anyway brought back memories and I am a true Florida girl. I had family that had a farm in Lake City, good days riding horses, living in a rural area, climbing bales of hay. I love my State. Thanks for the memories.
FLORIDA- DESATAN- POOR Due To RACISM- Domestic Apartheid- Ronnie messed with Disney - then had to Apologize--ha-ha- high home insurance rates too! Covid Numbers-Cheated
Thank you for making my day. I visited the springs as a child with my grandmother when all of the decks were there and the place was quite active. The Suwannee river was up and the spring water was dark and scary. Florida’s sulphur springs were still very popular in the late fifties and early sixties. My grandmother (born 1894) knew every Stephen Foster song and played her piano and sang them for us children to entertain us. We visited the same museum but things have drastically changed since then. These rural communities were alive and prosperous and crime was near zero.
We had to stop in Jasper once, and my hubby was hospitalized there for s day for chest pain. The Dr and nurse lived in Live Oak. They were working with antiquated medical equipment and the Dr had to pound on the X-ray machine to get it working, but they were all well trained and super friendly with a great staff. Will never forget those two towns that we had completely missed on our previous trips through those places several times before. Thanks for the memories!
When Irma hit Florida, my relatives and I traveled on I -75 through Hamilton County. Jasper is a part of it. After we drove past the train tracks we were in Georgia. The houses looked different and the town looked sleepy with lots of history.That was in 2017 during the two hurricanes which damaged my mom's house near Tortola BVI.
In 1958 my Grand Mother stopped in White Springs, on her way back to her home in Tampa, the sulphur smell was really strong, you could smell it way before you got there. It was a busy little place. I will never forget the smell and my summer vacation in Florida with my Grandmother. Also everyone who grew up in the deep south knew of Stephen Forrester. Wonderful video traveling down U.S. Hwy. 41 thank you.
Foster, Stephen. 1972 White Springs Pop Festival...more than hippies and blue grass bands in those woods. Sulphur smell is the paper mills, all the way to Jacksonville, strong distinctive smell.
Another Native here-- Daytona Beach. Anytime my family went on vacation, when we crossed the Suwannee we'd all sing "Way down upon the Swannee River, far far away!" and we'd always have a great vacation!! I brought up my kids singing it whenever we left Palm Coast to see relatives "up nawth". Now, my husband and I sing it if we ever go up. Can't NOT sing it!!
I remember a ten-year-old girl from North Port Florida.. who sang opera on American idol. Jay Leno push the golden buzzard when she performed. Her name was Emanne Beasha. Her dad owns a ice cream factory.
I realize now what draws me and intrigues me to your road trips. As a kid going on family vacation trips, more East of the Mississippi, I would not be the one to sleep in the car as I wanted to see where we were driving. As someone now in my mid 50's, thank you for making these recordings.
"Swanee River" 1939 film. Back in the 60s a regularly played Saturday black and white movie. It also was a regular in beginning piano as I remember practicing it and singing for my mom as she made breakfast ! (along with Camptown Races and My Old Kentucky Home) and (63 or 64) 3rd or 4th grade singing these same songs considered American Folk Songs.
At 38:57, an old paddy wagon, early police car for picking up prisoners. Now to back track. Did you notice, even on the run down properties...no litter?!?All those little towns are so clean, the yards, roads, etc. I guess a testament to how school curriculum has changed, art, music and dance were big when I was in school. So, we learned ALL the Stephen Foster songs and a lot of folk dancing, too. Thanks for the tour of those lovely towns. 😊
I stopped the video at the same location to comment, but you beat me to it Holly! Agreed, we also learned many Stephen Foster songs in elementary school in the 70's in the Midwest.
I went to live in Clearwater when I was 17. After living all around that area, Tampa, St Pete then Nokomis and Venice. Went to the other coast and lived in Daytona and West Palm. I had quite the culture shock when I went into the center of the state like Clewiston around Okechobee it was very Deep South. I had went to High School in a very small town in Alabama called Millbrook and it was far more like that than it was like the coastal areas
Great video. My dad was born in Suwannee in 1937. He grew up a bit south of there in Wauchula Florida. Him and my Grandparents are buried in Live Oak. Thanks for the memories !
You should visit Bok Tower in Lake Wales, FL. All of Lake Wales is beautiful, but Bok Tower really is amazing. It was built in the 20’s. The gardens were designed by Olmstead. The carillon there does play and is built from some amazing native materials. Look it up! I loved this video. I live in Tampa and you don’t actually have to drive far to find forgotten Florida. It’s always around the corner waiting to disappear back into the green….
Mid/ North Florida has the most refreshing water in America I've been everywhere in the country but on a hot day jumping in the spring after a hot day.
In early 2022, we visited Chiefland, FL, which is about 70 miles south of White Springs and also in a rural area; and it was love at first sight. We bought a fifth--wheel in a 55 and over park and spent four months there this past winter. Rural Florida is truly the fountain of youth. We will have to visit White Springs next winter when we are there.
Have to visit manatee spring when in chiefland. But disclaimer it's just far enough you Won't have cell reception. But it's worth it. Watch out for deer, don't forget to go down the boardwalk to see the Suwannee river (lower Suwannee near the gulf being my fav section of river in the state, pretty much. But I get why Most people love the nearly crystal clear spring-born rivers/ tributaries/ spring runs maybe even more & I'm from/ live in west central FL in/ around Tampa. Completely different change of pace up there. Just don't move there or else it'll become like everything else, and seriously the Suwannee floods sometimes like nobody's business (no dams, bypass canals, unnatural leeves-- so all 10,000+ square miles drain to just about chiefland, can rise 20 feet or so and flood a lot of streets and properties if they aren't on stilts 😂
Thank you for featuring White Springs. My dad grew up ten minutes from the White Sulphur Springs on farmland and his father still lives in the same place. As a child, my cousins and I would walk through the woods along the Suwannee River to what is now Big Shoals State Park. When the river was especially calm, we would walk out onto the shoals. I've never been to White Sulphur Springs but there was hardly a visit where we didn't walk to the Suwannee past pasture and bee hives and over small creeks. I always feel peaceful watching that river.
There are plenty of rural spots in Florida. However they are all not dying, like in most states. This is because there's FOUR INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS and a TURNPIKE that crisscross the state. With the exception of Southwest Florida, you're never far away from them. Northern Florida used to be the most populated part of the state, until after WWII. Since most of Florida was wide open leading to and during WWII, there was plenty of combat training that occurred here. After the war, a lot of WWII veterans wanted to go back to Florida and the population exploded. There were inroads made to Central and South Florida after the Civil War, but it didn't pay off until after WWII.
Well, maybe. All I'm saying is that Small Town Rural Living isn't rare thing here in Florida. It's even nicer, because everywhere is in spitting distance from everywhere else. Go in Peace and Walk with God. 😎 👍
@BigGator5 So in other words, it’s overly crowded. Just here to establish that we in Texas do everything bigger and better than y’all do in Florida. 😂😭😀
Lord Spoda ...Oh, I know. I don't take anything personally. Still... While everything might be bigger in Texas, everything in Florida is LONGER! (rimshot) 😉 Go in Peace and Walk with God. 😎 👍
I don't know..I just have to say again I love Florida! All the way from the panhandle to Key West! I grew up in South Florida and let me tell u anytime I have to make a road trip out of state and come back , I feel like a made a touch down as soon as I cross the border back into FLA...love all its history and diversities, foliage, springs, beaches, lakes, egrets, lizards, gators😋
Enjoyed your video! Thanks for posting. We have camped at Stephen Foster Cultural Center. It has a very nice campground. At Christmas they have an amazing light display and in the area where the man was practicing guitar, there are local crafters providing demonstrations of pioneer crafts. It’s been about 5 or 6 years since we were there at Christmas, so I sure hope they are still doing all this at Christmas. We watched a blacksmith demonstration and the gentleman was offering one on one hands-on experiences. My sons were young teens and spent an afternoon making a couple of hooks and a fire poker with the gentlemen’s help. There were other crafters showing how a spinning wheel works to turn shaved wool into yarn, a weaver using a large loom to turn the yarn into blankets, a potter, a felter (I thought that was what they called themselves) they were using fur to mat together to make felt and then using the felt to make hats. It was very interesting. They also had a s’more making area setup and a hot chocolate stand. It is one of our favorite Christmas Memories! Thank you again for taking us along on your adventure.
I was blessed to have grown up in North Florida, one of the last rural parts of the State, and saw the beauty and miracles of nature before the developers came. The old folks always told me the same story played out in Miami, and in Orlando, and one day it would play out here too, and they were right. For adventurous types you can rent canoes and kayaks and go down to the old Sulphur Spring down the river right up to that water gate.
It’s great you went to somewhere I’ve been before! I went there January 24, 2022. Beautiful place. I can say I walked where you walked and drove down the same streets. I went inside, too. These places in Florida are my favorite parts of Florida.
Great research. The original name of the Suwannee River was derived from a native word sawani which describes fresh bodies of water. Also, you will see less alligators in North Florida, especially around springs because the spring waters are very cold. The farther south you go, the more likely you are to find them and all kinds of other reptiles waiting to eat you. You should consider doing a tour of a reservation. You would have to seek permission from the tribal office but most of them, especially the large tribes, will grant guided entrance. That's where you'll get the history of any place before the 1800's. Safe Travels
A very enjoyable and interesting video. The bath house in White Springs was amazing, and it was great to see how it originally looked, that's an awesome photo !! I really enjoyed this video, and as always, lots of beautiful old buildings, which I love to see. Thanks so much.😊💕
White Springs is beautiful. Love the Suwannee River, Telford Hotel and hardware store. Some nice houses too. Interesting info on Steven Foster. Love the architecture you point out in your videos. I like the old jail in Jasper. Enjoy your weekend! Thank you for another great video!
When you pump down the aquifer for drinking water the surface water disappears, simple physics. You also tend to get a lot of house eating sink holes. Excellent video, enjoyed it much.
As Fla's unprecedented growth continues, more and more sinkholes will start appearing. Much of the state is on soft soil with limestone deposits. Developments deplete or divert aquafiers which in turn create sink holes. About a decade back, some poor person sleeping in his central Fla house had the misfortune of "disappearing" as the entire house was consumed by a sink hole. He was never found. Fla needs to curb this building or risk future dangers. Mother Nature didn't mean for the entire state to fill up with overcrowded conditions.
I remember when that happened, I think it was in Seffner Fl. They also used to have a lot of farm land ( strawberries) in that area years ago . Yes , low swamp land , and over development has resulted in a lot of problems for Fl.
@@marcellesmith6432 Yes, it was Seffner. I wasn't totally sure until you confirmed it. I saw a picture of the house location. . as it had already been "consumed". What was so damn eerie about the shot was. ., the house sat in the MIDDLE of a subdivision. It wasn't aloof or sitting by itself away from neighbors. It could have been any one of the others. Probably a lot of anxious people in that 'hood. I know that I'd want to MOVE out ASAP
I live about 40 miles from there, been there several times, so much to see, so beautiful, and oh so much history. At Christmas it’s beautifully decorated for the public to see, really gorgeous❤️thanks for sharing on RU-vid.
I was born in Orlando in 1950 and now live in Umatilla about one hour from Daytona Beach, Florida. Never heard of these little towns. Love the tour and information and love the houses and churches. Thank you for sharing this incredible video. 🌴
I'm 62 years old, I was raised in northern California, in Walnut Creek. I moved to Orlando in 1986 to be with my boyfriend. Moved back to California in 1993. The towns we lived in were Orlando and Ocoee. I loved Florida, it is such a unique State. The coolest little town was Ocoee, there was a drive-in movie theater just up the street from where we lived. The sulfur smell is strong probably because the water level is so low.
I grew up outside Live Oak from '63 to '69, on the banks of the Suwannee River - so very familiar with all these places. What memories it evokes - including the spanish moss. I greatly appreciated your tour, statistics, and architecture notes - very interesting. So much has changed in 60 years - then again, not so much. The last time I visited the Stephen Foster Memorial - don't think it had the 'culture of the time' explanations. :) The dioramas are still the same! Thank you for the flashback.
What a shame that Telford Hotel is not open still. I love the canopy over the walk up to the door. Noticed that the road markings, are really clearly painted and the rad signs are really clean. The roads in the UK are not usually looked after that well unless in London the capital or some of the larger cities. Another brilliant video !!
That horse drawn "jail cart" is actually called a "Paddy Wagon." The cops would round up the drunks and rowdies and bring them to the "cross bar hotel" for the night. True story.
Not for nothing, but those rural towns in Florida are well kept and clean. And the early 1900's houses are still astatically awesome. Great video of these beautiful rural towns. I think the secret is out about these rural towns. I think there will be an influx's of people buying up properties there in the not-too-distant future. The housing market will explode in the next few years. Thanks to this your video.
Yeah I mean the video is cool and all. But it screws things up for us locals who don't wanna deal with snowbirds and just live our lives in peace. This is going on all over the SE and up and down Appalachia.
Interesting journey. One big reason we should never erase negative history, images or words is that once they're gone, and there are no reminders to point to, history will inevitably repeat itself. You can't avoid evil by pretending it doesn't exist. The Stephen Foster exhibit does a good job in educating the public about those times. We still have a long way to go but as long as we keep going, we stand a chance. 🗽for all. Thank you.
I spent the first several years of my life in Geneva, Alabama. We wandered all over North Florida in the 50's. Defuniak Springs, Marianna, White Springs, and elsewhere. I first SCUBA dived in Morrison Springs, then the clearest water on earth. Beautiful. It was wonderful.
This is one fascinating video. I worship with people from Live Oak and White Springs. Thanks for the historical information of what happened in these towns. This is the best way to learn. Hope some school aged children watch your videos so they can learn something. Thank you Lord
My Mother was born and raised just outside of White Springs in the country and she took us kids there many times to visit her family and see where and how she grew up. So many stories were told. It was always so peaceful and quiet there and people were always warm and friendly. The people of this area lived a very simple life. They didn't have much but what they had they shared. Very treasured memories. Thank you for this wonderful video.
First thank you for exploring this area that I grew up in. In Live Oak when you pass that Dollar Genral you see an old empty supper market. I used to work at that marked in High School in the late 80s. It was my first job. It is sad to see it so empty now. I can remember it being a busy place and a Friday night hangout spot in High School. Again thank you.
You're right in my hometown area that I grew up in for 20 years before I joined the military! Also, they were going to build the University of Florida there in Lake City before they decided on Gainesville last minute during planning.
I personally don't like Palatka, I live 15 mins away and usually go to keystone to avoid Palatka. If you come 100 you drive through my one horse town. Florahome has a colorful history and a cool little town to live in
I remember going to White Springs every year for our Honor Roll trip. This was back in the 70’s. At that time, there was a huge skating rink right beside the springs. We would swim a while and skate a while. Good memories.
Some beautiful houses in rural Florida, especially in the first town. What a contrast to the big cities! You really do such a nice job with these videos and it's evident you are enjoying yourself too!
Thanks Joey !!! loved this one- as usual ! we dont have much of these kind of towns in OZ- as we are a 'young' country and also our old homes were mostly built from VERY basic materials, but even ones that were better built- OZ has a penchant for bull-dozing them down ! (unfortunately) I love the Stats- as they give me a glimpse into WHAT a town (potentially) is like. Love your work, I say Hi to Nicole. Cheers 🦘
I lived in Virginia, and about an hour from my house there was a spring that people go to all the time. It's part of The Homestead Resort (I think it's called Omini now). Hot Springs, Va.
We had a sulfur pond in our backyard. The neighborhood kids were always there swimming. The water comes out cold. We had all kinds of fish in it. We even had 4 Snooks that lived in it. Boy I do miss those days and that home.
Just down the road from me, couple hours. Yeah old Florida has its sleepy charms, but also has it's dark side of history. The development history is interesting, the east coast didn't really get going until the railroad came through (as you covered in the key west episodes). Florida was difficult to travel and develop back then, all swampy, the rivers were the navigations for lumber and agriculture. Before around 1900 it was mostly a backwater, the beaches as we know them now didn't exist, they were wild. There's still pockets of the wild cost in the middle panhandle, Appalachacola, St George Island, and Port St Joe. A lot of unfortunate hurricane history through there as well (inclidi g the relatively recent Michael). I'd highly recommend getting a tent and camping on the beach along there, get to see it in its pristine form. Just make sure to bring some bear spray for the bears and maybe even for the locals haha
I was in there years ago when someone was trying to revitalize it. It was so expensive to bring it up to code, they closed it down. Even if it re-opened, I doubt there would be enough business to keep it going. 😢
Lived in Florida 30 + years.. been there man many times.. those towns will never be nothing other than a place to retire. They have been like that forever
Lived in Florida my whole life (36) and there's towns like this all over the state, although developers are doing their best to turn everything into strip malls and suburbs. You can find horse farms on dirt roads less than half an hour from Disney if you know where to look. Then you have everything south of Lake Okeechobee which is still run by "big sugar" - sugar cane farms for hours. Lots of small towns in there with lots of small town secrets.
Stranger things have been said about the river. Do you know anything about the American Negro Holocaust. I live in Lake Tropicana Ranchettes and now know it was a sorting camp for vagrants.
Those dioramas are beautiful, and also because there were many beautiful moments in the lives of black people. They did some amazing things despite the prejudice, segregation, stereotypes hatred and violence... They had a rich culture and life amongst themselves, that we are ignorant of.
The sulphuric springs part reminds me of Mineral Wells here in Texas. The healing waters brought visitors from around the world. The baker hotel is currently being renovated.
Used to swim in Suwannee river down in Levy County growing up. Also all the springs. We saw Gators all the time. More often they'd see you and you wouldn't see them 😂 Cedar Key is a nice little island town to visit if you haven't ❤
What great memories! Florida is so much more than beaches and Disney. We have some of the most beautiful springs and woodlands in the world. I’m 100% FloGrown and grew up singing these songs! Thanks for posting!
The locations you have been are the most beautiful among the rest you've shot. This is alloy of peacefulness comprising vegetation, waterscenery, beautiful birds churkin around, and even alligators don't show up to let you be safe and secured!
We live in a very rural area in Florida! However, we are only one hour from Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville. Homes are popping up like mushrooms! Traffic is increasing monthly. Some small towns nearby are quaint and charming. When we feel a little bored, we drive to beaches in hours and dine in fine restaurants that evening. The weather is gorgeous, and there are many sights to visit. Try that in most states.
My hometown! I grew up here, went to school here from kindergarten to 8th grade! Such good memories! We used to swim in the spring house you see in the video and my friend fell off of the top of it and broke her leg. My first boyfriends name is carved in the top of the springhouse next to mine.
Fond memories of White Springs and tubing down the Itchetuknee river as a kid. I may drive over this summer and do it again, just for old times sake. Also, the Telfort Hotel was owned by Chuck Harder, who used it as a broadcasting base for his syndicated “For the People” radio show back in the early/mid 90s.
Big city Jasper! Lol.... my hometown. I lived there the 1st 18 years of my life, and still have lots of family there. A correction to the video: He was not on Main Street when he said he was, and had he actually driven just a 1/4 mile beyond the abandoned dry cleaners he would have seen streets full of people and a packed park with people waiting on their turn on the basketball court. Jasper and White Springs are part of Hamilton County, along with Jennings,Florida. This small town's high school is known for its state basketball championships. Hamilton County High appears in the state finals consistently. It used to be a beautiful place.
One of my favorite area's in Florida. Especially White Springs & the Telford ( I left a comment about Chuck Harder & his radio program) my family is from Daytona area) anyhow Hello from Orange Springs. 👋🤠
Great video. I used to live about 25 minutes or so from Live Oak ( near Lee). The crime in Live Oak is usually high, due to drug use. There aren't many well paying jobs near there ( other than Pilgrims or Nestlé). The jail is always hiring. It's not a bad town per say. Just bad elements. Jasper on the other hand is turning into a ghost town. Not many want to live there.
