Welcome to our Center Hill, Sumter County, FloridaPast
Now & Then & Back Again Page
We extend a Special Thanks to All who Contributed
and to those who will contribute in the future
Center Hill as painted by L. van DeMark. A Rare Reminder of a Town that No Longer Exists.
This Lovely Painting hangs in Geneva Lariseys home. As told to us by Pat Hewitt Duane, when she shared this Wonderful Painting to Sumter County FloridaPast Facebook Community. A Great Big Thanks to Pat once again!!
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This Lovely Painting hangs in Geneva Lariseys home. As told to us by Pat Hewitt Duane, when she shared this Wonderful Painting to Sumter County FloridaPast Facebook Community. A Great Big Thanks to Pat once again!!
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"Enjoy Your Visit Folks"
FloridaPast Facebook
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To Visit FloridaPast.com Facebook
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1976 Centennial Commemorative Painting by Patricia Hewitt Duane
Hangs in Center Hill Post Office
Moments of a Booming Center Hill, once
"Center Hill was the only town in Sumter County that could boast both Western Union and Postal Telegraph offices in the early days."
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The YouTube video to your' right, is a trailer from a movie that Center Hill was part of, called SMALL TOWN CONSPIRACY.
The first couple moments of this trailer shows Center Hill. I supplied a good amount of set decorations for this movie. Seems like another lifetime ago. Enjoy. And if I find the film in it's entirety, I'll bring it here and share if possible. "The movie was shot in Center Hill, Florida and Winter Garden, Florida towns near Orlando, Florida and was directed by Ralph Clemente" Here is where I borrowed above text -> CLICK WIKIPEDIA |
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This Fade was Inspired by a share from Pat Hewitt Duane.
Who had shared this image of Center Hill, taken from The Daily Commercial.
A 1990 article Pat shared to our Facebook Group, Sumter County FloridaPast.
A glimpse of what once was Center Hill FloridaPast back in 1990. There is No more Center Hill. The City Demolished 95% of it. All that you see here, GONE!
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The Bank of Center Hill
What a Beautiful Building She Was
Sumter County Historical Society photo - Thanks to Della Daughtry for Sharing
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The interior view of the bank
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Few old buildings still stand in Center Hill Today. By tomorrow, they'll be Gone
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99% of Center Hill was recently demolished by the City. A Sad Day that was
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Both of the rare Center Hill Visions above, were shared with us by the Fillmon Family, who also helped in placing these Historical Glimpes.
A Very Sincere Thank You goes to the Fillmon Family!
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Some borrowed history about Center Hill;
"The very early history of Center Hill begins back in 1842. Elethorn Mobley was issued 160.24 acres, dated the 4th day of March, 1842. The families of Elethorn, John Mobley, and John Walter were some of the pioneers of Center Hill and Sumter County. They first called this area "Abram Town" or "Mobley Town". The Indians called Center Hill "Pochechey". This area extended from north of the present Highway 50 to near Beville's Corner.
In 1881, Captain Major Lovell moved into this area from what is now Lake County.
Mrs. Carrie Lovell named this little town "Center Hill" as it was in the center of the county and on top of a hill."
Dr. Spicer joined with Major Lovell in buying much of this land in 1881; he was the first to put in a drug store, and the second grocery store; he was also the first postmaster. Dr. J. J. Outlaw, from Nortonville, Kentucky, practiced dentistry in Center Hill for many of the early years. Cash was very rare; pay came in the form of barter. He would travel from house to house to see his patients."
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE & CREDIT
A Very Sincere Thank You goes to the Fillmon Family!
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Some borrowed history about Center Hill;
"The very early history of Center Hill begins back in 1842. Elethorn Mobley was issued 160.24 acres, dated the 4th day of March, 1842. The families of Elethorn, John Mobley, and John Walter were some of the pioneers of Center Hill and Sumter County. They first called this area "Abram Town" or "Mobley Town". The Indians called Center Hill "Pochechey". This area extended from north of the present Highway 50 to near Beville's Corner.
In 1881, Captain Major Lovell moved into this area from what is now Lake County.
Mrs. Carrie Lovell named this little town "Center Hill" as it was in the center of the county and on top of a hill."
Dr. Spicer joined with Major Lovell in buying much of this land in 1881; he was the first to put in a drug store, and the second grocery store; he was also the first postmaster. Dr. J. J. Outlaw, from Nortonville, Kentucky, practiced dentistry in Center Hill for many of the early years. Cash was very rare; pay came in the form of barter. He would travel from house to house to see his patients."
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE & CREDIT
From another FloridaPast Facebook share, Garnette Rednour commented;
"My grandparents ran the snack stand in the 50- 60's, if these are the sheds in Center Hill. I remember the old coke machine. All the old bottle caps in a big pile on the ground. Love the sound they would make as you walked over them. The smell of all the fresh cucumbers and bell peppers. Good memories."
These are the kind of stories that we Would Love know about!
Do you have any to add? It's all about passing along Our Knowledge Now, for Our Future Generations.
"My grandparents ran the snack stand in the 50- 60's, if these are the sheds in Center Hill. I remember the old coke machine. All the old bottle caps in a big pile on the ground. Love the sound they would make as you walked over them. The smell of all the fresh cucumbers and bell peppers. Good memories."
These are the kind of stories that we Would Love know about!
Do you have any to add? It's all about passing along Our Knowledge Now, for Our Future Generations.
Before there was the Dollar General, there was the Center Hill School
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A few videos we found on Youtube about Center Hill before it's demise
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after it's demise
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Found this as well. Whomever created this particular video, had used some of our images, and images shared with us. And there are images obviously not Center Hill. There's a narration of Seminole history, tied to Center Hill.
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also after the demolition of Center Hill
a farm somewhere in Center Hill
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Downtown Center Hill Around 2014
Thanks to Mike Woodfin for Sharing
Downtown Centerhill - Mike Woodfin‎ Photo
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To see more FloridaPast and other photographs by Mike Woodfin,
please take a moment to visit his Facebook Page, or Mike's Flickr Page. |
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With Special Appreciation to Pat Hewitt Duane for Sharing
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Inside Cherry Drug Store 1970s
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Having the appreciation for old Coca-Cola Ghost Signs, for as long as I can remember, whenever we had the opportunity to take photos, that's what we did.
This is a small Ghost Town in Sumter County, Florida, called Center Hill. Which we've driven through hundreds of times through the years, and I've never noticed this Coca-Cola Ghost Sign. Till one day, my daughter, who was in the back seat, yells, DADDY....... STOP, Coca-Cola Ghost Sign.
Needless to say, Daddy Stopped, and Lo Behold, a Coca Cola Ghost Sign. It was a dreary day, no sun, but I figured we had the camera, I'll shoot a few photos, and then come back another time when the sun is shining.
By the time we went back, some months had already passed. And wouldn't you know, they restored the building. Painting right over the Coke sign. So this is the only known photo so far. As it was, the sign was barely visible. I still don't know how my girl seen it.
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- UPDATE ON COMING BACK, this Town is Now All But GONE! The City came in and Demolished Most All. What a Sad Day for Sumter County, and for All of Us that Truly Appreciate History........ It's a crying moment to say the least....
This is a small Ghost Town in Sumter County, Florida, called Center Hill. Which we've driven through hundreds of times through the years, and I've never noticed this Coca-Cola Ghost Sign. Till one day, my daughter, who was in the back seat, yells, DADDY....... STOP, Coca-Cola Ghost Sign.
Needless to say, Daddy Stopped, and Lo Behold, a Coca Cola Ghost Sign. It was a dreary day, no sun, but I figured we had the camera, I'll shoot a few photos, and then come back another time when the sun is shining.
By the time we went back, some months had already passed. And wouldn't you know, they restored the building. Painting right over the Coke sign. So this is the only known photo so far. As it was, the sign was barely visible. I still don't know how my girl seen it.
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- UPDATE ON COMING BACK, this Town is Now All But GONE! The City came in and Demolished Most All. What a Sad Day for Sumter County, and for All of Us that Truly Appreciate History........ It's a crying moment to say the least....
C0ca-Cola Ghost Sign
on the side of an old General Store
In an Old Ghost Town - Center Hill of course
If you click the photo on the left, it will take you to this very building in Center Hill
The Ghost Sign has been painted over since I shot these photographs many years ago.
After the City of Center Hill Demolished just about the Entire Town,
This and a couple other of the old buildings still stand.
Click to visit this building
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A closer view of this Cool Coke Ghost Sign
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