Owensboro
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 28° 26.759 W 082° 11.341
17R E 383573 N 3147183
Located at the southern terminus of the Withlacoochee State Trail.
Waymark Code: WMGC6V
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/13/2013
Views: 9
Once the intersection of two competing railroads, the South Florida Railroad (part of the Plant System, later Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, built in 1884-85) and the Florida Railway & Navigation Company (later the Florida Central & Peninsular Railway and eventually Seaboard Air Line Railway) crossed here in 1887. A school existed here, as did a post office from 1886 to 1899 and 1902 to 1906.
Lutz Brothers Shingle Mill was located nearby, ca. 1895. With the discovery of clay deposits, a brickyard and kiln began operating about 1907, making bricks which sold at six dollars per thousand. Mickler & McLeod quarried rock and crushed limestone in the 1920s.
Until the advent of modern rail technology, a two-story frame switching station was located at the intersection of the two railroads. An overpass was built over the switching station and rails in 1948-49 when the federal highway was re-aligned. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Seaboard Air Line Railway merged in 1967 to become Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (now CSX Transportation) and removed the Atlantic Coast Line tracks in the late 1980s, resulting in the demolition of the overpass.
In 1989 the State of Florida acquired the former rail right-of-way and developed the Withlacoochee State Trail as a linear recreational greenway. Owensboro became its southern terminus.
Marker Number: None
Date: 2007
County: Pasco
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners and The Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee
Website: Not listed
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