Pine Level was founded in the 1850s and had bars, saloons, courthouse, jail, stores, churches and homes. Gunfights were considered a common sight on the streets.[1]
In 1866, the site of what became Pine Level was chosen as the new county seat of Manatee County to replace the Manatee River village of Manatee (now the eastern section of Bradenton). Ostensibly Pine Level was chosen for its more central geographic location, but it may have been chosen to punish Manatee for its Confederate sympathies in the Civil War.[2]
In 1887, Pine Level was included in the new DeSoto County carved out of Manatee County and it became the county seat of the new county and the seat of Manatee County was returned to Manatee. In 1889, however, the county seat of DeSoto County was moved from Pine Level to Arcadia.
The East and West Coast Railway began construction of a route from Bradenton east to Arcadia in July 1913. The nearly 50 mile long line was completed and opened for operation on May 3, 1915. Pine Level was located on this line, 41 miles from its starting point in Bradenton. Pine Level had a depot, a 1,348' railroad siding and a 524' spur track. The railroad served a large saw mill at Pine Level. In July 1933, the Interstate Commerce Commission authorized the East & West Coast Railway to abandon the tracks from Bradenton to Arcadia. Most of the abandonment actually then took place in September 1934.
Compiled in the late 1930s and first published in 1939, the Florida guide listed Pine Level's population as 30 and described the folklore associated with nearby Horse Creek:
Before 1880 this and neighboring streams were favorite haunts of 'Alligator' Platt, renowned hunter, whose exploits are preserved in the lore of south Florida. He would hide along a bank until a 'gator floated to the surface, and then dive in and tackle the creature, it is said. Man and beast would vanish in a tremendous swirl of muddy water. Platt would shortly reappear, astride his victim, and ride it triumphantly ashore, his thumbs hooked in the 'gator's eyes. It was easy to capture the biggest saurian that way, with no expense for gunpowder and shell, said Platt, recommending the method to his contemporaries.[3]
— Federal Writers'Project, "Part III: The Florida Loop", Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State (1947)
Today, all that remains of Pine Level is the Pine Level Methodist Church, the Indian Mound Cemetery, and the Pine Level Campground Cemetery. The site is marked by a State of Florida bronze marker.
Referencesedit
^"Pine Level - Ghost Town". www.ghosttowns.com. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
^*Pine Level, DeSoto Co, Florida in Desoto Co FLGenWeb Project June 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^Federal Writers' Project (1947). Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 469. ISBN9781595342089.
pine, level, desoto, county, florida, pine, level, ghost, town, desoto, county, florida, united, states, pine, level, methodist, churchpine, level, founded, 1850s, bars, saloons, courthouse, jail, stores, churches, homes, gunfights, were, considered, common, s. Pine Level is a ghost town in DeSoto County Florida United States Pine Level Methodist ChurchPine Level was founded in the 1850s and had bars saloons courthouse jail stores churches and homes Gunfights were considered a common sight on the streets 1 In 1866 the site of what became Pine Level was chosen as the new county seat of Manatee County to replace the Manatee River village of Manatee now the eastern section of Bradenton Ostensibly Pine Level was chosen for its more central geographic location but it may have been chosen to punish Manatee for its Confederate sympathies in the Civil War 2 In 1887 Pine Level was included in the new DeSoto County carved out of Manatee County and it became the county seat of the new county and the seat of Manatee County was returned to Manatee In 1889 however the county seat of DeSoto County was moved from Pine Level to Arcadia The East and West Coast Railway began construction of a route from Bradenton east to Arcadia in July 1913 The nearly 50 mile long line was completed and opened for operation on May 3 1915 Pine Level was located on this line 41 miles from its starting point in Bradenton Pine Level had a depot a 1 348 railroad siding and a 524 spur track The railroad served a large saw mill at Pine Level In July 1933 the Interstate Commerce Commission authorized the East amp West Coast Railway to abandon the tracks from Bradenton to Arcadia Most of the abandonment actually then took place in September 1934 Compiled in the late 1930s and first published in 1939 the Florida guide listed Pine Level s population as 30 and described the folklore associated with nearby Horse Creek Before 1880 this and neighboring streams were favorite haunts of Alligator Platt renowned hunter whose exploits are preserved in the lore of south Florida He would hide along a bank until a gator floated to the surface and then dive in and tackle the creature it is said Man and beast would vanish in a tremendous swirl of muddy water Platt would shortly reappear astride his victim and ride it triumphantly ashore his thumbs hooked in the gator s eyes It was easy to capture the biggest saurian that way with no expense for gunpowder and shell said Platt recommending the method to his contemporaries 3 Federal Writers Project Part III The Florida Loop Florida A Guide to the Southernmost State 1947 Today all that remains of Pine Level is the Pine Level Methodist Church the Indian Mound Cemetery and the Pine Level Campground Cemetery The site is marked by a State of Florida bronze marker References edit Pine Level Ghost Town www ghosttowns com Retrieved April 9 2016 Pine Level DeSoto Co Florida in Desoto Co FLGenWeb Project Archived June 13 2006 at the Wayback Machine Federal Writers Project 1947 Florida A Guide to the Southernmost State 5th ed New York Oxford University Press p 469 ISBN 9781595342089 External links edithttp www fl genweb org decole desoto desoto htm FGenWeb Project Inc ghosttowns com Pine Level photos 27 16 N 82 0 W 27 267 N 82 000 W 27 267 82 000 This article about a location in DeSoto County Florida is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pine Level DeSoto County Florida amp oldid 1167495967, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
