Clay County History 

http://www.claycountygov.com/index.html

Clay County, Florida, rich in natural beauty and history, is a water wonderland, where lakes and rivers are in abundance. With its entire eastern boundary defined by the north-flowing St. Johns River it is no wonder that the scenery is captivating. Once a part of Duval County (Jacksonville), Clay County was carved out in December 1858. The county consists of our incorporated municipalities: Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Penney Farms, and Keystone Heights, as well as one unincorporated municipality, Middleburg.

Both regional and national wars greatly impacted life in Clay County. When fighting erupted with the Seminoles in December 1835, Garey's Ferry (the site of present-day Middleburg) was chosen as a supply depot for the U.S. Army on Florida's east coast. In 1836, Ft. Heileman was established and Gary's Ferry was one of the few Florida frontier towns not abandoned during the 2nd Seminole War. As the Civil War was nearing its end, Clay County saw its first battle. In mid-1864, Union forces established a fort at Magnolia Springs on the St. Johns River where they could send troops to apply pressure to Confederate forces located within the county. While Union troops were returning from a successful raid on Middleburg, Confederate forces under the command of Capt. J.J. Dickinson engaged the Union troops and inflicted heavy casualties. The battle lasted 45 minutes with no casualties among the Confederate troops.

After the Civil War, tourism became a vital part of Clay County life. Northerners were drawn to natural springs that promised healing and warm winter climates that offered respite from frigid northern winters. The tourists were delighted by the exotic wildlife and vegetation found along the banks of the creeks and rivers. Dozens of hotels were built to accommodate the visitors who came by steamboat. Hotels such as the St. Elmo, Magonlia Springs, Clarendon, and the Oakland Hotels invited tourists to rest and relax in the sunny climate of Florida. Families along the St. Johns River, such as the Flemings, opened their plantation homes to northern visitors. Among the visitors to Clay County were such famous people as Ulysses S. Grant, President Grover Cleveland (who had spring water shipped to the White House), Buffalo Bill, and Sitting Bull. The height of tourism in Clay County spanned three decades, from the 1870's to the early 1900's. Tourism in Clay County went into decline when Henry Flagler's railroad reached Miami, and south Florida was easily assessable.

There have been several nationally-known Clay County native born residents. Nixon Smiley was a renowned journalist, naturalist, and the author of 15 books. General Roy S. Geiger, USMC, was a famous WWII General. Augusta Savage, an African-American, was an internationally-known sculptor who was part of the "Harlem Renaissance" in Paris during the 1920's and 1930's. Charles Merrill was the founder of Merrill Lynch.

The military has had a very strong presence in Clay County, particularly since WWII. In 1939, 28,000 acres on Kingsley Lake in central Clay County were purchased by the Florida National Guard as a new training site. In heavy use during WWII, Camp Blanding was not deemed a viable permanent post after the war. It is now a training site for the Florida National Guard with over 70,000 acres, and the museum there is the largest in Clay County. During WWII Lee Field, in Green Cove Springs, was a flight-training center. One of the flight instructors at Lee Field during this time was Ed McMann of the Tonight Show/Star Search fame. At the end of the war, the Navy converted Lee Field into a headquarters for the mothball fleet. Clay County residents have contributed greatly to war efforts throughout the nation's history, and the list of those who fought for their country, on both foreign and domestic soil, is indeed long.

There are many museums in Clay County that are wonderful sources of historic information. The Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum, located at 915 Walnut Street in Green Cove Springs, is open on Sundays from 2:00 - 5:00 pm. The phone number is (904) 284-9644.

The Middleburg Historical Museum is located at 3912 Section Street in Middleburg. Office hours are Sundays, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, and the phone number is (904) 282-5357 or (904) 282-5343.

The Black Heritage Museum, located on Longmire Avenue at Hunter-Douglas Park in Middleburg, is open by appointment. Please call Maude Jackson at (904) 282-4168, Mamie Oliver at (904) 282-5223, or Sarah Weeks at (904) 282-5205 for information.

Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park, located at Camp Blanding on State Road 16 at Kingsley Lake, is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The phone number is (904) 533-3100, extension 3196.

A wonderful source of Clay County history are the books, "Images of America; Clay County", by Kevin S. Hooper of Middleburg (2004,ISBN 0-7385-1635-X. Arcadia Publishing) and "Parade of Memories", by Arch Fredric Blakey (Clay County Archives and Historical Resource Center, Clayarch@bellsouth.net . 

History of Orange Park  http://www.townoforangepark.com/index.html

The Town of Orange Park was founded in 1877 by the Florida Winter Home and Improvement Company, with owners and trustees predominantly from Boston, Massachusetts.  As a direct result of hard times following the Civil War, the old “McIntosh” plantation at Laurel Grove was in shambles and changed hands several times.  After purchasing several thousand acres of property in the area, the Florida Winter Home and Improvement Company created a new town and called it Orange Park!  The property was subdivided into building lots and small farm tracts, and the present street system was laid out which included Kingsley Avenue, River Road and Plainfield Avenue. To enhance the sale of the property that was marketed up north, many lots were planted in Orange Trees, a cash crop even in those days. Two years later, following a local referendum, the Town was incorporated by a Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1879.  A large hotel was built at the foot of Kingsley Avenue, along with a 1200 foot  wooden pier which extended well into the river and could accommodate steamboats which attracted the northern tourist trade.

The Town has roots back to the 1780's and 90's during the second Spanish period in Florida history.  At that time, Orange Park was known as “Laurel Grove”, a name that was given by Sarah and William Pengree who had received a land grant from the Spanish Governor.  Following William’s death, the farm and plantation at Laurel Grove fell into disrepair until it was sold to a young energetic planter by the name of Zephaniah Kingsley.   Beginning in 1803, Kingsley established his plantation at Laurel Grove and developed it into a model farming operation that flourished over the next 10 years. 

As a young United States began to grow, it flexed  its’ military muscle along the Spanish border which was also the Georgia frontier. By a secret act passed by the U.S. Congress, President Monroe was authorized to bring Spanish Florida under United States control.  By the summer of 1813, General Matthews, using  volunteers and the Georgia Militia, invaded Spanish East Florida which triggered  the “Patriots Rebellion”.  Reluctant at first, Kingsley and other wealthy planters along the St. Johns River joined  the short lived  revolt against Spanish authority.  Several weeks later, Matthews and his volunteers vacated East Florida and Laurel Grove was burned to the ground by Spanish authorities and their Indian allies.

By 1817 Kingsley had relocated his plantation operations to Fort George Island and had sold Laurel Grove to John H. McIntosh, another local land baron and plantation owner.

Since those early days, Orange Park has grown dramatically and has developed as the northeastern gateway to Clay County.  Commerce and business has flourished, not only in the Town, but in the greater Orange Park area as well. The Town and its government has continued to make a wide variety of improvements in an effort to meet the demands of its citizens and  residents.  The new Town Hall built in 1995 is a tribute to the Town of Orange Park and stands as an outstanding example of the character of residents and the far sightedness of those who call Orange Park home.