Welcome to our Coleman - Wildwood and North Sumter FloridaPast Page
"Preserving Yesterday, Today, for Tomorrow"
With Now & Then Fades
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This Page is Dedicated to Sumter County,
concentrating on the Wildwood, Coleman and Surrounding Areas.
Since the start of our project, many kind local folks have shared history,
experiences, photos and stories with us. As time allows, we'll add more here.
By Sharing with us, your old photos, history and stories, this project wouldn't be possible!
THANKING EVERYONE SINCERELY FOR THEIR CONTINUED HELP
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COLEMAN THEN & NOW
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Most of us, just pass on through this small town, without giving a second thought.
Some of us give second thought, and stop to appreciate what was when it was.....
For many years, we've watched this historic corner in Coleman, Sumter County, Florida. There have been many times that I was within the walls of all these buildings. I can honestly say, I was one of the first feet within these buildings, when they were moved in and set up.
I had quite a few interesting conversations, and purchased some fine treasures. But never did we take the time to properly photograph, nor document those stories told to our ears. So not long ago, after this place has been closed for some time, I Finally Decided to stop and photograph what I could from the roadway behind. And of course, I wanted to add some history, stories and other photographs.
While hunting the internet for resources, I discovered a Wonderful Page, that Shows n Tells the Story of this Historic Coleman Corner.
We borrowed a few photographs, properly marked, and some history.
Please give Credit to, and see the rest of the photographs and stories by clicking HERE
"The village includes a collection of historical buildings - a city jail, train depot, butcher shop, fur-trading center, an outhouse and other buildings, mostly constructed in the mid- to late-1800s. 75-year-old Bobby used to feed prisoners there as a child. He was never afraid of them he has said, because he knew many of them personally. Bobby’s wife, Eve, is the mayor of Coleman."
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"The store was built in 1923 by M.T. Caruthers, Bobby’s uncle. It opened as a General Store and stayed one for over sixty years. Bobby’s father, Joe Caruthers, took over as owner in 1947 after serving as store manager for thirteen years and one day."
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"The train station was originally built in 1895 one block away from its present location. In 1978 it was given to the city of Coleman. The City moved it three miles to what was then the city dump. It was used as a Boy Scout hut for about the next twenty years. Bobby bought the building and brought it back to Coleman."
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"The Post Office was originally built in 1849 at Sopchoppy, FL, thirty miles south of Tallahassee on the coast. It was used as a fur trading center and Post Office. In the early years mail was delivered on horseback. Bobby acquired the building and brought it to Coleman in sections. It is believed to be standing just as it did 153 years ago, facing south."
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"The old school house was originally built about three miles east of Coleman in 1869. During the Depression it was used as a home. During the next several years it was moved to several locations and used as a barn. Bobby bought it and moved it to this village. The original bell is still with the building."
___ We only borrowed some highlights to share. If you are reading thus far, you'll Really Want to Visit and Read the Rest of the Story Here__
Text and some images are © 2007 Al Reeves & Karen Henkel-Reeves. -
The rest of the photographs are ours. Share as you like, but please give proper credits. It's all about Preserving Yesterday, Today, for Tomorrow.
I had quite a few interesting conversations, and purchased some fine treasures. But never did we take the time to properly photograph, nor document those stories told to our ears. So not long ago, after this place has been closed for some time, I Finally Decided to stop and photograph what I could from the roadway behind. And of course, I wanted to add some history, stories and other photographs.
While hunting the internet for resources, I discovered a Wonderful Page, that Shows n Tells the Story of this Historic Coleman Corner.
We borrowed a few photographs, properly marked, and some history.
Please give Credit to, and see the rest of the photographs and stories by clicking HERE
"The village includes a collection of historical buildings - a city jail, train depot, butcher shop, fur-trading center, an outhouse and other buildings, mostly constructed in the mid- to late-1800s. 75-year-old Bobby used to feed prisoners there as a child. He was never afraid of them he has said, because he knew many of them personally. Bobby’s wife, Eve, is the mayor of Coleman."
____
"The store was built in 1923 by M.T. Caruthers, Bobby’s uncle. It opened as a General Store and stayed one for over sixty years. Bobby’s father, Joe Caruthers, took over as owner in 1947 after serving as store manager for thirteen years and one day."
____
"The train station was originally built in 1895 one block away from its present location. In 1978 it was given to the city of Coleman. The City moved it three miles to what was then the city dump. It was used as a Boy Scout hut for about the next twenty years. Bobby bought the building and brought it back to Coleman."
__
"The Post Office was originally built in 1849 at Sopchoppy, FL, thirty miles south of Tallahassee on the coast. It was used as a fur trading center and Post Office. In the early years mail was delivered on horseback. Bobby acquired the building and brought it to Coleman in sections. It is believed to be standing just as it did 153 years ago, facing south."
__
"The old school house was originally built about three miles east of Coleman in 1869. During the Depression it was used as a home. During the next several years it was moved to several locations and used as a barn. Bobby bought it and moved it to this village. The original bell is still with the building."
___ We only borrowed some highlights to share. If you are reading thus far, you'll Really Want to Visit and Read the Rest of the Story Here__
Text and some images are © 2007 Al Reeves & Karen Henkel-Reeves. -
The rest of the photographs are ours. Share as you like, but please give proper credits. It's all about Preserving Yesterday, Today, for Tomorrow.
photo © 2007 Al Reeves & Karen Henkel-Reeves.
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photo © 2007 Al Reeves & Karen Henkel-Reeves.
photo © 2007 Al Reeves & Karen Henkel-Reeves.
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Below, you'll find an interesting story about this famed corner in Coleman
Please credit Lake and Sumter Style Magazine
Credit all photos here to Lake and Sumter Style Magazine - Click the images to visit their story on Facebook
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Our Now & Then Fade-Overs of Coleman
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Coleman Railroad Depot - 1900s
Google map view snip of where they were loading cabbage in 1911
Coleman - Loading Cabbage on the box car. 1911 Fade-Over-Snip in Color
Coleman - Loading Cabbage Railroad box car in the year 1911 Fade-Over-Snip in Black & White
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A hard morning's work, loading box cars with cabbage in Coleman 1911
Snip of some history shared Facebook Comment Section about Coleman RR Thanks to Curtis Jones. CLICK IMAGE to Visit the thread on Facebook
Photo credit Sumter County Florida Historical Society
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Dedication to the new Coleman Post Office
A Now & Then Fade-Over Snip
Flag Raising Ceremony for Coleman's New Post Office
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Ceremony of Dedication U.S. Post Office Coleman, FloridaPast - click to see location on Google Map
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Brief story of this moment captured. Told by Florida Memory;
"Woman operating telephone switchboard in Coleman, Florida." "J.O. Fleece's telephone company had exchanges in Wildwood and Coleman and served the central Sumter County area. Mr. Fleece sold the service to Peninsular Telephone Company about 1914." |
Woman operating telephone switchboard in Coleman Florida - Florida Memory Photo
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Visual History of the Hill House in Coleman
Shared on Facebook by the Sumter County Preservation Society
The Hill House - Coleman - 2021 Sumter County Preservation Society Photo
Mitchell and Mary married on December 25, 1881 and had 13 children. Sumter County Preservation Society photo & text
Sumter County Preservation Society;
Mitchell and Mary married on December 25, 1881 and had 13 children. 11 boys and 2 girls. All the children except their son Charles would live to adulthood. Charles died at age 2 after falling down the stairs of the home. 
The Hill House, Coleman. Photo taken in the 1930s. Sumter County Preservation Society photo and text
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The Hill House - Coleman Florida built between 1853 -1857 Sumter County Preservation Society photo Facebook Share
Mitchell and Mary Hill at their 50th wedding anniversary. Pictured here with 9 of their 13 children
Mitchell and Mary Hill lived a long life in Coleman. Sumter County Preservation Society photo and text
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Wildwood as it was then and now
Main Street Wildwood - 1879 -FloridaMemoryProject photo
Pine Grove Motor Court Under the Stately Pines of Wildwood FloridaPast
on US 301 facing east toward the Pine Grove Motor Court, left side
Pine Grove Motor Court of Wildwood Fla., 1930s 40s era
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on US 301 facing east toward the Pine Grove Motor Court, right side 6/2023
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Another Sincere Thanks goes to the Fillmon Family, for sharing yet another Great image of a FloridaPast Roadside.
Which still exists today, except a few of the structures are no longer standing. Though we just found out, these cabins, and The Pine Grove Bar, below,
will all be demolished in the near future.
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We want to Thank Mr. Jeff Davies who shared this image of Pine Grove Bar with us with on
Sumter County FloridaPast Facebook Community, which he had found on Pinterest
Click Here to Visit the Original Thread for First Hand Stories about the Pine Grove Bar
Which still exists today, except a few of the structures are no longer standing. Though we just found out, these cabins, and The Pine Grove Bar, below,
will all be demolished in the near future.
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We want to Thank Mr. Jeff Davies who shared this image of Pine Grove Bar with us with on
Sumter County FloridaPast Facebook Community, which he had found on Pinterest
Click Here to Visit the Original Thread for First Hand Stories about the Pine Grove Bar
1955 - The Pine Grove Bar - US 301 just north of Wildwood Florida
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June 2023 Google Snip of The Pine Grove Bar 301 Wildwood near the cabins
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Sumter County Children Line Up at Martin Theater Wildwood FloridaPast
Martin Theater Wildwood - 1955 - Wildwood Historical Association Photo
