Melrose is an unincorporated community in Alachua, Bradford, Clay, and Putnam counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It lies on State Road 26 approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of Gainesville and approximately 80 km (50 mi) southwest of Jacksonville. The town lies on Lake Santa Fe and the Santa Fe River.
History
Melrose was settled in the second half of the 19th (May 10, 1877) century at the crossing of the Bellamy Road (now State Road 26) and the Starke-Orange Springs Road (now State Road 21), near the Eliam Church and Shakerag race course, and about one mile from the older settlement of Banana.[1] The new town was named Melrose after Melrose Abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was reported that the ladies of the town did not want it to be known as Shakerag. The town of Melrose included part of the Shakerag race course, but there was no settlement at the Shakerag race course before Melrose was settled, and Tolles states that "[t]o say Melrose used to be called Shake Rag is poetic license."[2]
In the late 1800s, the citrus industry thrived in the area. Local growers would bring their yearly harvest to Melrose, where it was loaded onto steam ships in Lake Santa Fe. The ships would then steam from lake Santa Fe to Lake Alto, and then Lake Alto to the town of Waldo using man made canals. The citrus was then transported by rail across the United States.[3] The rail was known as the Lake Santa Fe Route to most people who lived in the area at the time.[4] During this, families moved into houses around Lake Santa Fe and the citrus groves. In 1894, however, two devastating freezes hit the Melrose area and destroyed local groves. Growers then relocated to warmer areas in the central and southern parts of Florida.[5][6]
The Lake Santa Fe Route with a train in 1890. Many of these carried citrus and logs.
[7]In April 1909, evidence was found outside of Melrose that there was an Indian battlefield, which was part of a major battle between Hernando de Soto and his armed forces and local Native Americans fighting with the town (and under the power) of Vitachuco, which took place some time in 1539.[8][9][10] This provided key information about the Spanish exploration, conquest, and battles in Florida. For the rest of the 20th century, citrus farming was rebuilt, but not as large and powerful as it was in the 19th century. Also during this time period, grapevine farms were founded around and outside the community. On January 12, 1990, the Melrose Historic District was designated a U.S. historic district. It encompasses 1250 acres (5.1 km²), and contains dozens of historic buildings, the most well-known being the Trinity Episcopal Church.[11][12] In 1996, Melrose Elementary School opened for those who lived in the town to receive an education, as well as other middle schools and high schools popping up elsewhere around and outside Melrose.[13] During the 20th century, also, was that many small businesses and restaurants were built and thirved, making the city a stopping place for travellers going into other states like Georgia and Alabama. Fishing in Lake Santa Fe became more popular with locals, as catifish, bass, and other animals could be caught.[14] Melrose also boasts having a fire department that possesses the best equipment, highest trained personnel, and well respected reputations in the entire north central Florida region.
References
External links
Trinity Episcopal Church in the Melrose Historic District in Melrose, FL.
