Melrose, Florida
Encyclopedia
Melrose is an unincorporated community
in Alachua
, Bradford
, Clay
, and Putnam
counties in the U.S. state
of Florida
. It lies approximately one hour's drive from Jacksonville
and one half hour's drive from Gainesville
.
Two Canadian women came to Melrose in 1889 and built a 125 room hotel. Three years later, both women were dead. C.P. Huffman acquired the property and ran the hotel for the next 15 years. The profitability of the hotel is unknown. In 1908 George C. Looney began renting the building and converted it to a military college. Looney owned another such college in Georgia. Its counterpart in Melrose was set to be named Phi Sigma College. 180 students originally enrolled, and things were looking good for the school. Unfortunately, eighteen months after it opened its doors, Phi Sigma burnt to the ground.
In the late 1800s, the citrus industry thrived in the area. Local growers would bring their yearly harvest to Melrose, where it was loaded onto steam ships in lake Santa Fe. The ships would then steam from lake Santa Fe to lake Alto, and then lake Alto to the town of Waldo using man made canals. The citrus was then taken by rail across the United States. Unfortunately, in 1894 two devastating freezes hit the Melrose area and destroyed local groves. Growers then relocated to warmer areas in the central and southern parts of Florida.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Alachua
Alachua County, Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
, Bradford
Bradford County, Florida
Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...
, Clay
Clay County, Florida
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.- History :...
, and Putnam
Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It lies approximately one hour's drive from Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and one half hour's drive from Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
.
History
Melrose was originally known as Shakerag. The name originated from the frequent horse races that took place in the area every Sunday afternoon. The competitors saw no need to waste ammunition in order to start a race, so in stead they shook a large white rag for the signal. Hence the name Shakerag. Around 1882 residents grew tired of the name, and decided to rename their community Melrose after the town in Scotland from where many locals immigrated.Two Canadian women came to Melrose in 1889 and built a 125 room hotel. Three years later, both women were dead. C.P. Huffman acquired the property and ran the hotel for the next 15 years. The profitability of the hotel is unknown. In 1908 George C. Looney began renting the building and converted it to a military college. Looney owned another such college in Georgia. Its counterpart in Melrose was set to be named Phi Sigma College. 180 students originally enrolled, and things were looking good for the school. Unfortunately, eighteen months after it opened its doors, Phi Sigma burnt to the ground.
In the late 1800s, the citrus industry thrived in the area. Local growers would bring their yearly harvest to Melrose, where it was loaded onto steam ships in lake Santa Fe. The ships would then steam from lake Santa Fe to lake Alto, and then lake Alto to the town of Waldo using man made canals. The citrus was then taken by rail across the United States. Unfortunately, in 1894 two devastating freezes hit the Melrose area and destroyed local groves. Growers then relocated to warmer areas in the central and southern parts of Florida.