GENEVA, FLORIDA

'Geneva' is a community, census-designated place, and an unincorporated area in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census.
Geneva is the home of the Little-Big Econ State Forest, home of the big and little Econlockhatchee Rivers.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

External links

History

The area was once home to the Timucuan tribe.
Naturalist William Bartram explored the area in the 18th Century.
Geneva was once called "Harney Cove" after a military leader, Colonel Harney.
'HOW GENEVA GOT ITS NAME'
The story goes that a lady who was from Geneva, New York named Geneva, Florida. Emma Van Brunt Wilcox is said to have thought that Harney Cove (what the Geneva area was originally called) looked like her native Geneva, New York.
Mal and Mary Jo Martin on one of their camping trips decided to visit Geneva, NY and see what they could find. Geneva, NY is in what is called the Finger Lakes Region of west central NY State and is located on the west shore of Seneca Lake. (The lake is also part of the Erie Canal system.) Geneva, NY is now a much larger city than our Geneva, but it still has a small town feel.
As Lorraine Whiting had found in years past when she visited Geneva, NY, the Martins also found evidence that there were Van Brunt and Wilcox families in Geneva, NY in the second half of the 1800’s. An exiting find was the newspaper clipping about the marriage of Emma Van Brunt and her husband, John Wilcox.
But the most interesting thing they discovered was when they decided to have a picnic lunch at the lake. Standing on the west shore one would have thought that they were looking at Lake Harney. The lake was approximately the same distance across, the shoreline on the other side could have been Volusia County looking across Lake Harney, and the water was nearly the same color.
NOW, THE REST OF THE STORY... In April of 2002 a letter from a nephew of Emma VanBrunt Wilcox surfaced. The letter is dated 24 April 1940 and is from J. H. Wimble of Auburn, NY to Kate Flynt Kilbee of Geneva, FL. The letter is included here in its entirety:
#1001 28th Avenue, North
St. Petersburg, Florida
April 24th, 1940
Mrs. William G. Kilbee
Geneva, Florida.
Mrs. Kilbee;
Your letter addressed to me at Auburn, N.Y. my summer home address, has just been received.
When I was a boy I visited my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin at Geneva, staying with them for about seven months in Geneva and at that time recall Mrs. Taylor came to my Aunts very often.
My Aunts name was Emma VanBrunt Wilcox, she was my mother’s sister, and their birthplace was Geneva, New York; My Uncle was married previously, my Aunt being his second wife, and they had one child, Hayward Sudam Wilcox; there was one child by his first wife, Ella Wilcox, she never lived in Florida to my knowledge. Originally my Uncle and a friend, Adelbert Shipman, came to Florida attracted to that state by the climate, as Mr. Shipman was ill. At that time the country was very wild, no settlements south of Sanford along the St. Johns River; they built a boat I believe at Sanford and went down the river to Lake Harney and south camping out and hunting and fishing. The climate agreed with Mr. Shipman so they bought a tract of land on Geneva Lake, and my Aunt named the lake and also the town. Mr. Shipman was one of the original Gas engine manufacturers with a plant in Rochester, N.Y. Mrs. Shipman came from Newark, N.Y., her father being a doctor, at that point, as I understand, until he came to Geneva to live; and Hermino born in Geneva and she lives at Jacksonville, Florida, her name is Mrs. John Leu. At that time the Shipman’s only wintered in Geneva. Mrs. Shipmans father, the doctor, Heath, did not go north during the summer.
I cannot give you any idea when my Uncle and Aunt died but I think I may have some old letters from my Cousin telling me of his mothers death and possibly in regard to his father’s, these letters are at our Auburn home and when I return this spring I will see if I can give you any further information on that point. We do not expect to leave here until at least the 20th, of May.
I am sorry I cannot give you any information that would be of more value; and would be glad to hear from you as you as to just how you make out in your investigation.
Sincerely,
(signed) J.H. Wimble
In the past there have been many different versions of how Geneva was named. Here are the most frequently quoted versions.
Version #1: The document titled, “History of the Geneva Mail Service”, probably written by Kate Flynt Kilbee, states; “In 1880 Herbert A. Coefield was appointed postmaster and the name Geneva was given to the village by Mrs. Emma Van Brunt Wilcox for her home in Geneva, New York”. (This is what we have found to be true.)
Version #2: The book, Flashbacks, by Jim Robison and Mark Andrews, Orange County Historical Society & The Orlando Sentinel, 1995, states; “Allen Morris’ Florida Place Names says the community was named in 1880 for Switzerland’s lake and city. Local Historians, though, say the community took its name to honor the wife of a railroad man from New Geneva, New York. In the late 1870’s, Mrs. Van Valkenburg built a home at Harney Cove. She is credited with bringing about the change of the community’s name to Geneva.” (We believe this is just an error in remembering the name Van Valkenburg instead of Van Brunt. There was a Van Valkenburg in Geneva, however, no one knows of them naming Geneva. There is also no New Geneva, NY.)
Version #3: The book, Places in the Sun, by Bertha E. Bloodworth & Alton C. Morris, Shorter Printing Co., Gainesville, FL, 1978, states; “GENEVA (Seminole): For the Swiss City because of its similar situation on a lake”. (This would be anyone’s first guess if they didn’t know. This would be a correct statement for Geneva, NY, but not Geneva, FL.)
Version #4: The book, Early Days of Seminole County, 1984, states; “….When in the late 1870s, a Mrs. Van Valkenburg from New Geneva, New York, arrived and built a house, the name Geneva came into use.” (Probably where the original error came from and restated in Version #2.)
Version #5: And the wildest version was overheard at our museum open house on the 4th of July, 2001, when a visitor explained to family members that he was showing through the museum, that there was once a family in the area who had 2 daughters named Geneva and Oviedo, and the towns were named after these 2 daughters!
Based upon the 1940 letter from the nephew of Emma VanBrunt Wilcox and the early writings of Kate Flynt Kilbee, we now know that version #1 is the correct version of how Geneva got its name. Although versions 2, 3, and 4 are from published sources, all of these publications are incorrect. And what about version 5? Well, it might make a good story, but it just ain’t so! (Andrew Aulin named Oviedo after a university city in northern Spain.)
Compiled by Mal Martin
April 2002
'THE NAMING OF LAKE HARNEY'
Lake Harney was named for William Selby Harney who was born in Haysboro, TN on 22 Aug 1800. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the First United States Infantry on 13 February 1818, during the First Seminole War (1817-1818). Harney displayed great prowess against the Creeks and Seminoles and was promoted to First Lieutenant on 7 Jan 1819. On 14 May 1825, he became a Captain, then a Major on 1 May 1833, and a Lieutenant Colonel on 15 August 1836. He was brevetted to Colonel on 7 December 1840 for "gallant and meritorious conduct" against the Seminoles during the Second Seminole War.
There is a very interesting story about Harney on the St. Johns River. He and a company of sixty men were camped near Cook's Ferry on the river while waiting to cross the river on the ferry. It was a beautiful spot with shade trees nearby and a sandy beach on the lake. Harney's tent was pitched at the edge of the campground near the lake. The soldiers were scattered around but none of their tents were between Harney and the lake. During the night, Harney was wakened by someone stumbling over one of his tent ropes. He lay still, awaiting further developments. Soon a large knife was stuck through the cloth of his tent and ripped down to the ground. Harney raised up and grabbed his sword. An Indian stuck his head inside and saw Harney as he ran out the front of his tent with his sword. Harney circled around the tent and ran into three or four more Indians. The Indians chased Harney and the only escape route for Harney was toward the lake. He ran out into the water with the Indians following him closely. He was a very good swimmer and he out swam the Indians and circled toward some oak trees on the shore. The Indians jumped in their canoe and tried to cut him off but he reached the trees first and made his way to camp, dressed only in his soaked underclothes. The Indians reached the trees right behind Harney and went after him on foot. But Harney reached the camp first and gave the alarm. With the entire camp now awake and preparing for battle, the Indians left their canoe and escaped into the woods on foot. All was well.
After the end of the Second Seminole War, Harney served in the War with Mexico (1846-1848) and the Civil War until his retirement on 1 Aug 1863 as a General. After retirement, he married his nurse and lived in Pass Christian, MS for some time. He died on 9 May 1889 in Orlando, FL and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Harney Peak in South Dakota is named in his honor, as is Camp Harney in Zapata County, TX.
Compiled by Mal Martin, Feb 2001
'GENEVA FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH'
The First United Methodist Church in Geneva was organized on November 17, 1877 as "The Lake Harney Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South" with Reverend Selvin L. Smith as pastor. The first meeting was held in a log schoolhouse that stood west of the cemetery toward the E. H. Kilbee home. The first available records of meetings were on October 13, 1879. Names listed in the records were; Judy Cochran, Susan J. Williams, John B. Redditt, Ferely Redditt, Edward M. Faber, Mary Bessie Faber, Emma M. Winegard, Catherine F. Raulerson, William B. Raulerson, Stephen B. Williams, Clara T. Williams and Elizabeth Parrich.
Money for a building was raised in various ways. One lady, Mrs. Mary A. "Grandma" Hart, rode horseback over the entire community to solicit funds. On 13 June 1880, Andrew J. "Uncle Jack" Holder, deeded a building site to three trustees; Stephen D. Williams, Andrew A. Moran Sr. and J. Franklin Jones. A church was erected on the northeast shore of Lake Geneva, (later the home of the Harry Geiger family), and was used until 1912. Lumber for the building came from Jacksonville by barge to Bissett Landing, about 5 miles north of Geneva, and was hauled by ox-team by Mr. S. B. Williams and Mr. Isaiah D. Hart. Until there was money for a musical instrument, Mr. Williams brought his daughter’s organ by ox-team each Sunday that preaching was held. Services were held once a month by the Methodists, and once a month by the Baptists, using the same building.
For many years evangelistic services were held each year, usually in the spring, lasting for a week to ten days. Daily services were held morning and evening and Reverend W. F. McCall is one of the best-remembered evangelists.
As the community grew the church was no longer centrally located. On June 5, 1905, Mr. H. B. Coffee, in a trade with J. P. Musselwhite and William H. Howard, gave a tract of land on 1st Street for a new church and grounds. Trustees at that time were H. H. Baker, W. J. Daniel, T. W. Geiger and J. P. Taylor. In 1911 it was decided to sell the church on Lake Geneva and construct a new one at the present location on First Street. Lumber for the new church was cut at a mill north of Geneva operated by J. T. McLain. This sawmill was near what later would become the Osceola Cypress Mill. J. G. Pomeroy, the contractor, lived in a tent on the grounds until the main portion of the building was completed. The first services were held in 1912, finishing work was done, debts paid, and building dedicated in November 1913 by presiding Elder Reverend Fred Blackburn. The Pastor of the new charge was Reverend A. L. Hope. Reverend Joseph S. Brooke was the last pastor to serve the old church and Reverend D. A. Cole seems to have been the first in the new church. The Church on 1st Street is now the oldest church building in Geneva.
Conferences were held regularly even in the early years, rotating from church to church. Travel was by horseback, wagon or carriage, over poor roads or no roads. Getting from Geneva to Osteen meant fording the St. Johns River near the old steamboat landing north of the Prevatt place. Sermons were conducted morning and evening with basket dinners on the grounds.
The freezes of 1894-95 caused such an exodus from Geneva that it was difficult for the church to survive. The same was true during and after World War I. The depression of the thirties caused the few remaining members to sell two lots in the northeast corner of the church property to Mrs. J. C. Bills in order to re-roof the church. No homes were built on the lots that were sold. When Alice Bryan Coffee Guyton, daughter of the donor of the land, heard of the sale of the church lots, she bought the lots from Mrs. Bills for $1,000 and re-deeded them to the church with a reversion clause in the deed: "If the land is not used for church purposes, it returns to the Guyton family." Mrs. Guyton also helped to establish a park on the lots and donated several dozen azalea plants to help beautify the grounds.
A Fellowship Hall was erected west of the church in 1959 and was used for Sunday School classes and weekly meetings. Later, three more Sunday School rooms were added to the north side of the Fellowship Hall.
In 1968 the church was presented the "Church of the Year" award at the annual conference and was also praised for generous giving to the Methodist Children’s Home at Enterprise. Mr. William E. Myers was instrumental in forming a Boy Scout troop for the area. (In 1982 the Scout program was expanded to include Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H Club.)
For many years the church sponsored an Easter Sunrise Service overlooking Lake Geneva. The church is also noted for its Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. The entire community is invited and it has always been one of the churches favorite and special events.
In 1972, committees were appointed and plans generated to build a parsonage. However, it was not until January 21,1973 that the groundbreaking ceremony was held. Unsworth Builders of Sanford built the parsonage and after it was completed the company presented the parsonage with an air conditioning and heating unit.
In 1976 a bank loan was taken out and a "Youth Hall" built between the Fellowship Hall and sanctuary. This project was completed in 1977. The Youth Hall was opened on Saturday evenings with movies, recreation and devotions for all youth of the community.
The Centennial Celebration was held in 1976 with Bishop Joel McDavid presiding. The occasion of the 100th anniversary was the first time in its history that a Bishop visited the church. There was also a major hailstorm that year, causing more than $14,000 damage to church property. A new roof was required for both the church and the parsonage.
Reverend Isner, the first full time pastor in the church, departed in 1988 after 14 years of service. He was succeeded by Reverend Richard Conner, who served from June 15 until September 11,1988, when he was fatally shot while calling upon families in the community to try and get them interested in the church. A magnolia tree was planted in front of the church in his memory.
Numerous dinners, cookouts and food drives provided contributions that were used to assist transients and needy families. The church opened a day care center in 1991 - the first in the community.
In February 1993, Reverend John Turner, Chair of the United Methodist Church in Northern Ireland, visited us and conducted sermons during the visit. In 1994, the church raised money and sent Pastor Jeanne Davis to the Ukraine. The Moscow United Methodist Church choir performed at the church In 1995, singing in both Russian and English.
The church continues to serve the community through the operation of the day care center, aid to the children’s home, and involvement in the numerous other activities of this small but dedicated community.
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In 2004, the Seminole County Historical Commission placed an historical marker at the Church. It reads:
The First United Methodist Church of Geneva
The First Untied Methodist Church or Geneva was organized November 17, 1877 as the Lake Harney Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The first meeting was held in the log schoolhouse west of the Geneva Cemetery, others in private homes.
In 1880 Andrew J. Holder deeded a building site on the northeast shore of Lake Geneva to three Trustees. A church building was erected. Services were held once a month by the Methodists and once a month by the Baptists.
In 1912 the Florida East Coast Railroad was completed through Geneva. As the community grew, and rail transportation became available, activity focused at the rail center: The church was no longer centrally located.
In 1909 Mr. H.B. Coffee donated this tract of land for a new church. In 1911, the Methodist Conference authorized selling the original church property and constructing a new church here—270 First Street. The building was dedicated in November 1913, debt free. > > > >
The church had difficulty surviving after the freezes of 1894-1895, and WWI when many people moved away. The Great Depression caused the few remaining members to sell two lots on the N.E. corner of the property. When Alice B. Coffee, daughter of the land donor, heard of the sale, she bought the lots, and deeded them to the church with a reversion clause.
1951—Four stained glass memorial windows installed.
1959—Fellowship Hall built west of the church.
1967– Sunday school rooms added on the north side.
1967—Parsonage constructed on the property,
1976—Ward Hall constructed on the property.
1983—Seven stained glass windows completed project.
The churches, school post office, and stores built near the rail center are still in the center of town.
Note: A more complete history of the Church can be viewed at the Geneva First Methodist Church and also in the Museum of Geneva History.
'FORT LANE PARK'
The Park
The area where Fort Lane was located is now Fort Lane Park, owned and operated by the Geneva Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. This land was originally donated by W. A. Whitcomb for a park and was sponsored by the Geneva Garden Club from 1934 to 1961. It was then turned over to the control of the Seminole County Commissioners. In 1962 the Geneva Historical Society requested and received the park from the commissioners. It is supported only by donations and the money-raising projects of the Historical Society. This beautiful park overlooks Lake Harney and the St. Johns River and is open for public use.
The first Seminole County historical marker was erected at the park. The Sieg pavilion, donated by the W. L. Sieg family, was dedicated in 1966 and is screened. There are also restrooms and outside picnic tables on the grounds. The pavilion can be reserved by contacting the caretaker at the park. It is an ideal place for family reunions, picnics, primitive camping and outdoor events. The park can be reached by traveling east on U.S. Hwy 46 from the traffic signal in Geneva, turning left (north) on Jungle Road, then right (east) on Fort Lane Road. For reservations contact Caretaker at 407-349-9639.
The History of the Fort
The Second Seminole Indian War, 1837-1842, was fought by the United States to drive the Seminole Indians from the peninsula of Florida. From his main base at Fort Mellon (Sanford) on Lake Monroe, General Jesup, Army of the South Commander, proposed to send an army of 2,000 men, under the command of General Eustis, to the head waters of the St. Johns River in pursuit of the southward retreating Seminoles. To support this army he established supply depots a day’s march apart (approximately 30 miles) along the proposed route.
Fort Lane was the first depot in this chain. It was established on the west shore of Lake Harney on 18 December 1837 by Companies "F" and "K", 2nd United States Infantry, under the command of Major Greenleaf Dearborn of Maine. Traveling by barges from Fort Mellon, the companies consisted of an average of 125 Florida Militiamen, including a fifer and a drummer, according to Army records (post returns). One of Jesup’s dispatches from his fort was datelined "Headquarters, Army of the South, Fort Lane, head of Lake Harney". Only three months later, the post returns indicate that in March of 1838, having completed its assignment, the Fort Lane detachment returned to Fort Mellon. Other officers at Fort Lane were Major Thomas Steniford, Lieutenant Silas Casey, who was the adjutant, and Lieutenants J. R. D. Bennett, William Alburtis and Hannibal Day.
John Foote Lane, after whom the fort was named, was born in Kentucky on 21 December 1810. He was the youngest of 7 children born to Amos Lane and Mary Foote Lane. He entered West Point at age13 and graduated in 1828, when he was 18. An engineer and mathematician, Lane taught mathematics and philosophy at West Point for some time and is the inventor of the pontoon boat.
Lane was serving as a Captain in the United States Army 2nd Dragoon Regiment, when on 14 March 1836, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and placed in command of the Creek Indian Regiment with 750 Creek Indians under his command. On 20 September 1836 he departed Alabama for Fort Drane, Florida (northwest of Ocala) with 690 Creek Indians and 90 soldiers for the purpose of engaging the Seminole Indians. Colonel Lane and his regiment arrived at Fort Drane in early October of 1836. Soon after arriving at Fort Drane, Colonel Lane came down with "brain fever" (encephalitis). He went insane, and on 19 October 1836, committed suicide by plunging his sword into his head.
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References
Francke, Arthur E., Jr. Fort Mellon 1837-42. Banyan Books, Inc. Miami, FL. 1977.
Konstantin, Phil, September 16th to 22nd in American Indian History. 1997.
'GENEVA'S TURPENTINE INDUSTRY'
Turpentine, which comes from pine trees, contains 75-90% resin and 10-25% oil. The oil of turpentine is the principle product of turpentine, widely used as a solvent or thinner for paints and varnishes. Medically it is a stimulant and diuretic and is capable of destroying various intestinal parasites. An example of the use of turpentine in medicine is Watkins White Cream Liniment, the active ingredients of which are 3% Camphor and 9% turpentine. The remainder of the ingredients is inactive. (Encarta)
The turpentine business was begun in Geneva in the fall of 1899 by James and Arthur Council1 of Council, North Carolina, and was located south of SR 46, approximately 2 miles east of Geneva and a short distance west of where the old canal enters Rudisill Lake. (The land might have been leased for a while as Tax rolls confirm the location but also show that the first property actually owned by James Council was in 1902. In 1900 this initial 80 acre piece of property, where the still and quarters were located, was owned by J. L. Inglis and was sold to W. Burkett in 1901. Burkett sold the property to James Council in 1902.)
Marian (Taylor) Allen remembers riding to the still in the back seat of her father’s old "T Model" Ford when she was a young girl. Evans Bacon, a Geneva volunteer fireman, remembers fighting a woods fire in the area and discovering the old tar pit that contained residue from the distilling process.
Building the Negro quarters and cutting the timber was the beginning of the still area, but the actual operation started in the spring of 1900. The 1900 federal census shows a distiller, a number of chippers and dippers, and a woods rider at the still. The Council brothers built the houses over a period of two or three years. Altogether there were about eighty buildings, five houses for the white workers, dozens of houses for the black workers, a bush arbor church for the black people, barns, etc. (Between 1914 and 1917 approximately 300 black people lived at the still along with their families.) The Council brothers operated the still until 1907 and then sold part interest to Musselwhite and Howard. (Orange County Tax Rolls)
Around 1910-12 Mr. Howard sold his remaining interest to J. P. Musselwhite who was from Orlando. Joe and William Brown bought a half interest from Musselwhite in 1914 and they formed the Musselwhite & Brown Company, Inc. In the fall of 1919, William Brown and James Lester Brown bought the Joe and Wm. Brown and Musselwhite interest and changed the company name to Brown Brothers. (Orange County Tax Rolls)
The distilled turpentine was shipped by river to Commodore Point at Jacksonville until 1913. The location where the turpentine barrels were loaded on steamboats has not been positively identified. However, Mr. Eddie Banks, whose father worked with the turpentine industry in Geneva, and others, have said that it was not shipped from the Geneva Dock but from a landing farther south near the head of Lake Harney. An 1884 table of steamboat landings on the St. Johns River shows another landing on the river four miles south of the Geneva Dock. This steamboat landing in the table was called "Sallies Camp". Bobbie Jo Braddy remembers that there was another landing; however, she did not remember what it was called at the time. She remembers the dock being in a slough near the end of the present Prevatt Road. Looking at a map showing the river channel, there is such a slough near the end of Prevatt Road and just off the main river channel. Mrs. Braddy also recalled that many local fishermen used the landing and she attended fish fry’s there. "Sallies Camp" is most likely the steamboat landing where turpentine was loaded.
After 1913, turpentine was shipped on the Florida East Coast Railway. The barrels of turpentine were loaded on trains at Kolokee, a trainstop on the F.E.C. Railway between County Road 426 and the Econlockhatchee River. During this time the turpentine company had 27 mules and horses, three 4-mule teams, two 2-mule teams and one1-mule wagon to pick up the cups. The business was discontinued in 1927. The Kolokee Hiking Trail now passes through the spot where the Kolokee Station was located. Approximately one-half mile south of where the F.E.C. Railway crossed County Road 426, there is a small road that led to Kolokee. The road is now in the Little Big Econ State Forest, is clearly visible, and is being used as part of the horseback riding trail.
When the still closed, the bush arbor church was given to the Oak Grove Baptist Missionary Baptist Church and was moved to the present Old Lake Harney Road to an area called "Old 100". 2
Evidence of the turpentine industry’s existence can still be seen on a few scattered pine trees left standing in the Geneva area. These trees are scarred from the chipper’s tool that was used to allow the sap to flow from the trees. The marking was often called a "cat face". The tree bark has now grown around the scar on the trees left standing. After the turpentine industry left the area, the timber industry cut down most of the turpentine trees. Those trees left standing were likely too small to be of use. This is evidenced by the fact that the scarring is only on one side of the tree and larger trees were always chipped on two sides.
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1 In the book Treasures Of The Longleaf Pines Naval Stores, by Carroll Butler, 1998, mention was made that the Council Tool Company of Council, North Carolina, (and later Lake Waccamaw, NC) was one of the companies that made and sold tools for the turpentine industry. John Pickett Council started the company in 1886. The compiler of this writing located the Council Tool Company on the Internet, contacted the company in late January 2002 and inquired if there was a connection to Arthur and James Council who started the turpentine industry in Geneva. In the interim, the Council Family genealogy was located on the LDS website and found that John Pickett Council was the youngest of 13 children of Kinchin Kitchen Council and Catherine Ann Sykes. James and Arthur were two of John’s older brothers. A few days later I had a call from Mr. Jack Council who said that John Pickett Council was his Grandfather and Arthur and James were his great uncles. We held a lengthy discussion about the Council family and their involvement in and contribution to the turpentine industry. I gave Jack Council the name and author of the book and he said that Carroll Butler had spoken with him a few years ago. It was suggested to Jack that he might want to locate a copy of the book since it contains many references to the Council Tool Company.
2According to Carroll Butler, author of Treasures of the Longleaf Pines, Navel Stores, the last remaining turpentine still in the entire United States in1998 was located in Baxley, GA. In Feb 2002, I contacted the town of Baxley via their web site and inquired about photographing the still. I was informed that the final product from the plant was in Dec 2000 and that the still is now being dismantled and there is nothing of historic value to photograph. This signifies the end of a long and significant part of Southern history.
Compiled by Mal Martin, 2002
References
Encarta Encyclopedia. 1999.
Geneva Historical & Genealogical Society, Historical Committee. "The Turpentine Industry".
Orange County Tax Rolls. 1900-1912.
Seminole County Tax Rolls. 1913.
Treasures Of the Longleaf Pines Naval Stores. Carroll Butler. Tarkel Publishing. Shalimar,FL. 1998.

Geography

Geneva is located at (28.737149, -81.117726).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 32.2 km² (12.4 mi²). 29.5 km² (11.4 mi²) of it is land and 2.7 km² (1.0 mi²) of it (8.37%) is water.
Geneva is on Route 46 between Lake Harney and Lake Jesup.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,601 people, 914 households, and 747 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 88.2/km² (228.4/mi²). There were 970 housing units at an average density of 32.9/km² (85.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.89% White, 2.27% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 914 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,885, and the median income for a family was $54,074. Males had a median income of $35,438 versus $26,806 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,776. About 3.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

External links

★ Geneva webpage

★ Geneva Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.

★ Geneva School History