70 Russell Street

The History

Origins

"Brooksville and Hernando County depended on horse drawn wagon and stagecoach as the only means of shipping goods and passenger services to the outside world. In 1885, the Brooksville Railroad Association with President John Parsons, Secretary Christopher Keathley, Trustees John Hale and WS Hancock, and Promoter J.N.C. of Jacksonville raised $20,000 to pay for the rail extension of the Florida Southern Rail from Pemberton's Ferry by way of the Croom community to Brooksville. This surline was a one way single track with no turnabout thus requiring the train to run in reverse on one leg of the trip."  The Tampa Northern Railroad built a line to Brooksville in 1911 and four spur lines to logging camps were added.  Following the 1929 stock market crash, the railroad business declined and several of the spurs were closed.  Passenger train demand also continued to decrease and the tracks at the depot were gone by the early 1960s.

Influence

The Depot became instrumental in Hernando’s agricultural success since it allowed for rapid shipment of the varied produce being harvested.  Brooksville was dubbed, “Home of the Tangerine” because the “Dancy Tangerine” grown in Hernando fetched the highest price in the market for many years. Adrian Bell, Bell Fruit Company President, believed it was popular because it was uniquely easier to peel.  Subsequent varieties then came along that made it less special.  Daniel Hale (John’s son) was so thrilled with the price he received for his crop that he made copies of the payment check and shared it all around town.  Alfred McKethan credits Daniel with coining the phrase, “Home of the Tangerine.”  And in the 1930’s, Hernando became known as “Eggplant Center of the World” because they shipped more than anyone else in Florida.

The Depot Building

“The Office - Visitors enter in the office area, the front of the depot. This is where passengers came to buy their tickets, arrange for freight shipment, and send telegrams.

The Freight Room - The freight room houses train artifacts and displays depicting historical railroad events.  Two HO model train exhibits delight the kids and adults alike. See original objects used by early settlers as they struggled to survive in the wilderness of  Hernando County.

The Freight Dock - On the enclosed dock of the museum, ring the bell, sound the siren, or take your child's picture sitting in an original 1925 LaFrance Fire Engine; the first fire engine purchased by the city of Brooksville.  Also, on the dock are exhibits of farm equipment, industrial tools, and more railroad apparatus.

Cook \ Utility Box Car - Ron Daniel, while a Southwest Florida Water management employee, discovered an abandoned box car in a swampy area southeast of Brooksville in Sumter County. (12) It was hauled to the Brooksville Train Depot and restored. The work car was originally owned by Cummer Sons Cypress Lumber Company which cut timber in the area of the “Green Swamp”. The work car's normal function was to transport workers to the work site, but the box car could be used to provide space for cooking and eating, sleeping, office work, and machinery operations.”

Nefarious Goings On

Although most history books credit a 1859 duel between two politicians over slavery as the last US duel, newspapers for the next fifty years would continue to record duels across the country.  In fact, Brooksville would host a duel 47 years after the acclaimed “last duel!”  It all started when a black railroad employee told a white customer named Mr. Braswell that he could not load the man’s cargo without first getting permission from Conductor Lee Hicks.  Braswell began threatening the employee with violence if he did not comply with his demands and the employee pulled a gun on him to defend himself.

Julius Higginbotham heard about the incident and, greatly incensed, beat up the railroad employee and confronted Conductor Hicks several times over the next few days.  During the final argument, Hicks stated, “You have your gun and I have mine.  Get ready; we will settle it right here.”  Both fired, with three bullets hitting Higginbotham and five hitting Hicks.  Both men fell, ten feet from the entrance to the train depot entrance, and died quickly.

The railroad employee was sentenced for six months in jail for drawing his gun. 

Duels are still legal in Florida.  In today’s courts, it usually shows up as a Stand-Your-Ground defense.

During the 1920s, Hernando County became a hotbed for bootleggers and for rum running.  A mobster named Sam from Tampa headed up the smuggling operations. Liquor shipments from Cuba were delivered to Bayport and loaded into what looked like Planters Peanut trucks. The trucks transported the cargo to the Train Depot and shipped it as “potatoes.”

CITATIONS/CREDIT: 

(HERNANDO COUNTY FLORIDA 1842-1945 "One Hundred Years or Thereabout" by Roger L Landers)

https://www.higginbothamgenealogy.com/fl/florida_obituaries.htm