Melrose was settled in the second half of the 19th 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.[2] 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."[3]
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.[4] The rail was known as the Lake Santa Fe Route to most people who lived in the area at the time.[5] 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.[6][7]
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 1,250 acres (5.1 km2), and contains dozens of historic buildings, the most well-known being the Trinity Episcopal Church.[9][10] Furthermore, during the 20th century, many small businesses and restaurants were built which thrived, making the city a stopping place for travelers going into other states like Georgia and Alabama, as well as those commuting to and from larger cities such as Gainesville and Jacksonville. Fishing in Lake Santa Fe became more popular with locals, as catfish, bass, and other animals could be caught.[11]
Libraryedit
The Melrose Public Library was the first full-service branch in Putnam County. Members of the Melrose Women’s Club, including former Melrose Elementary School principal Maud Watkins, were the initial fundraisers. The Melrose Public Library opened December 22, 1984 with Virginia Bird serving as the first librarian. Bird was later succeeded by Stella Brown and Sheree Sims.[12]
Referencesedit
^"Melrose ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
^"About Melrose". www.melrosefl.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^Tolles, Zonira Hunter (1982). Bonnie Melrose: the Early History of Melrose, Florida. pp. 20, 54, 55.
^"Melrose Florida Is A Victorian Village Near Gainesville". Florida Backroads Travel. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"The Lake Santa Fe Route". www.taplines.net. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"About Melrose". www.melrosefl.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"Melrose Florida Is A Victorian Village Near Gainesville". Florida Backroads Travel. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"The Lake Santa Fe Route". www.taplines.net. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"Melrose Florida Is A Victorian Village Near Gainesville". Florida Backroads Travel. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"History | Trinity Episcopal Church". www.trinitymelrosefl.org. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"Lake Santa Fe (Alachua County)". myfwc.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"History of the Melrose Public Library". Melrose Library Association. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
External linksedit
Price, Jimmy and Larry price. . Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
Trinity Episcopal Church in the Melrose Historic District in Melrose, FL.
April 10, 2024
melrose, florida, melrose, unincorporated, community, alachua, bradford, clay, putnam, counties, state, florida, lies, state, road, approximately, east, gainesville, straight, line, distance, approximately, southwest, jacksonville, straight, line, distance, to. 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 17 mi 27 km east of Gainesville straight line distance and approximately 50 mi 80 km southwest of Jacksonville straight line distance The town lies on Lake Santa Fe MelroseUnincorporated communityA former gas station now serving as commercial building on Florida SR 26 and Grove Street MelroseLocation within the state of FloridaCoordinates 29 43 N 82 3 W 29 717 N 82 050 W 29 717 82 050CountryUnited StatesStateFloridaCountyAlachua Bradford Clay and PutnamTime zoneUTC 5 Eastern EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP code32666 1 Contents 1 History 2 Library 3 References 4 External linksHistory editMelrose was settled in the second half of the 19th 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 2 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 3 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 4 The rail was known as the Lake Santa Fe Route to most people who lived in the area at the time 5 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 6 7 nbsp The Green Cove Springs and Melrose Railroad with a train in 1890 Many of these carried citrus and logs 8 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 1 250 acres 5 1 km2 and contains dozens of historic buildings the most well known being the Trinity Episcopal Church 9 10 Furthermore during the 20th century many small businesses and restaurants were built which thrived making the city a stopping place for travelers going into other states like Georgia and Alabama as well as those commuting to and from larger cities such as Gainesville and Jacksonville Fishing in Lake Santa Fe became more popular with locals as catfish bass and other animals could be caught 11 Library editThe Melrose Public Library was the first full service branch in Putnam County Members of the Melrose Women s Club including former Melrose Elementary School principal Maud Watkins were the initial fundraisers The Melrose Public Library opened December 22 1984 with Virginia Bird serving as the first librarian Bird was later succeeded by Stella Brown and Sheree Sims 12 References edit Melrose ZIP Code zipdatamaps com 2022 Retrieved November 18 2022 About Melrose www melrosefl com Retrieved March 24 2016 Tolles Zonira Hunter 1982 Bonnie Melrose the Early History of Melrose Florida pp 20 54 55 Melrose Florida Is A Victorian Village Near Gainesville Florida Backroads Travel Retrieved March 24 2016 The Lake Santa Fe Route www taplines net Retrieved March 24 2016 About Melrose www melrosefl com Retrieved March 24 2016 Melrose Florida Is A Victorian Village Near Gainesville Florida Backroads Travel Retrieved March 24 2016 The Lake Santa Fe Route www taplines net Retrieved March 24 2016 Melrose Florida Is A Victorian Village Near Gainesville Florida Backroads Travel Retrieved March 24 2016 History Trinity Episcopal Church www trinitymelrosefl org Retrieved March 24 2016 Lake Santa Fe Alachua County myfwc com Retrieved March 24 2016 History of the Melrose Public Library Melrose Library Association Retrieved December 2 2019 External links editPrice Jimmy and Larry price Map of Banana Florida showing Melrose Archived from the original on May 19 2011 Retrieved December 22 2011 nbsp Trinity Episcopal Church in the Melrose Historic District in Melrose FL Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melrose Florida amp oldid 1216860528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
