We decided to make our way back to Fort Myers to have more warranty work done on the RV. Suwannee River, White Springs was about a 4 hour drive from Blackwater State Park.
On the way we were reminded how dangerous it is towing a mobile home especially at 70 mph with a cross wind. I searched the internet for motorhome accident statistics. There isn’t much. The passengers were fine.
Suwannee River, White Springs
White Sulphur Spring, was regarded as sacred ground for American Indians because the water was believed to hold curative powers. Located on the banks of the Suwannee River, the spring was promoted as a health resort from the mid-1800s through the 1950s. Some of the spring’s famous visitors included Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Ford. The springs flow into the Suwannee River. The headwaters of the Suwanee River are in the Okefenokee Swamp in the town of Fargo, Georgia. The river runs near the town of White Springs, Florida, and eventually makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Suwannee River runs through White Springs and is popular with paddlers, hikers, bikers, birders and anglers. White Springs is about an hour west of Jacksonville. Big Shoals State Park in White Springs boasts Florida’s largest whitewater rapids. The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park hosts the annual Florida Folk Festival. Downtown there are more than 20 vintage buildings and sites.
We went into an antiques store….although there is absolutely no room in the RV to buy anything.
About a block or two away was Fat Belly’s Grill and Bar. Its popular among the locals. There were 6 State Trooper SUVs parked outside….must be good! The food was outstanding and for a great price. We got the pork sandwich and smoked chicken. We liked that they cook/smoke the meat, then provide different BBQ sauces to put on yourself. We were not disappointed. I don’t know why Michael took this picture with me in it. The pigs were a funny picture.
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
Situated on the banks of the Suwannee River, this center is about the composer Stephen Foster, who wrote “Old Folks at Home,” the song that made the river famous. The museum features exhibits about Foster’s most famous songs and his music can be heard emanating from the park’s 97-bell carillon throughout the day. In Craft Square, visitors can watch demonstrations of quilting, blacksmithing, stained glass making, and other crafts.
In 1931 Josiah K. Lilly, the son of Indiana pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli K. Lilly, suggested a memorial to composer Stephen Foster, whose song ‘Old Folks at Home’ made the Suwannee River known all over the world. The Florida Federation of Music Clubs adopted his idea and obtained contributions of land in White Springs, Florida. The Stephen Foster Memorial Commission administered the development of the park, which opened in 1950. In 1935, ‘Old Folks at Home’ was designated Florida’s official state song. Stephen Collins Foster, born in 1826, composed more than 200 songs during his lifetime.
In the early days of Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, visitors rode on replica paddle steamers up and down the Suwannee River. The boats were named the Belle of the Suwannee and the Glendy Burke.
Other influential people include Lillian Saunders; she worked hard to help acquire the first 100 acres of land for the Stephen Foster Memorial, as well as ‘Cousin’ Thelma Boltin, who was considered the first lady of the Florida Folk Festival, directing the annual celebration for more than 20 years.
Carillon Tower
A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in the bell tower. The instrument consists of numerous cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to produce a melody, or sounded together to play a chord. At noon it played Foster’s hits.
Although Stephan Foster wrote quite a few songs, he is remembered for; Angelina Baker (1850), Camptown Races (1850), The Glendy Burk (1860), My Old Kentucky Home (1853), Oh! Susanna (1848), Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) (1851), Hard Times Come Again No More (1854), Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (1854), Old Black Joe (1853), Willie Has Gone To War (1862).
Dioramas
There are ten dioramas in the museum. Each requires a great amount of planning, research and imagination. Fourteen artists spent two years creating the first eight. Its takes about 1500 hours to complete each. They are built in perspective. Each has a moving part such as horses racing, chickens eating watermelon, and boats on a river.
Its early spring. Its so nice to see trees and flowers starting to bloom.
Dogwood
There are about 30-60 species of Dogwood which are native throughout much of Europe/Asia and North America, with China and Japan and the southeastern United States particularly rich in native species. Dogwood bark is rich in tannin and has been used as a substitute for quinine. During the civil war, confederate soldiers would make a tea from the bark to treat pain and fevers, and dogwood leaves in a poultice to cover wounds. In the Victorian era, flowers or sprigs of dogwood were presented to unmarried women by male suitors to signify affection. The returning of the flower conveyed indifference on the part of the woman; if she kept it, it became a sign of mutual interest….nothing like todays online dating.
Azalea
Azaleas are arguably the South’s favorite shrubs.
Pine
They are everywhere and prefer sandy soil, so it is no wonder that so many species of pine trees are found in Florida. There are seven different pine species in the state: shortleaf pine, spruce pine, sand pine, slash pine, longleaf pine, loblolly pine and pond pine. Their roots are not very deep.
Wisteria
Marco Polo was an early fan. He brought wisteria seeds out of China in the 13th century. Wisteria owes its ability to twine readily around a support to the fact that it is a member of the legume family. Along with its gorgeous flowers, wisteria produces large seed pods. In the early 1800s, collectors imported wisteria seed from China and Japan to the US and Britain. However, plants grown from the seed produced disappointing flowers. When plant collectors later brought home cuttings made from grafting, the plant bloomed abundantly like its predecessors in Asia.
Float
While hiking along the Suwannee River we came across a group of 3 floating all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. They thought it would take about 10 days and claimed they had enough food for 5 people and enough booze to open a liquor store. Hopefully they make it.
We came across a canoe launch that used a pulley and chute.
