Owens Community School
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 27° 10.823 W 081° 56.030
17R E 407495 N 3006758
Located at the intersection of Owens School Rd and Thigpen Ave in the Owens community.
Waymark Code: WMPZQW
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/18/2015
Views: 9
The Owens Community School was built 1916-1918 in the once thriving community of Owens. The community and school were named for Owen H. Dishong (1850-1902), the first sheriff of DeSoto County, serving 1887 to 1893 and 1897 to 1901. He was a charter member of the first church and donated land for the first schoolhouse. The community was situated between the Peace River and Horse Creek. It flourished through the mining of pebble phosphate. The community consisted of a post office, general store, railroad, citrus packing house, Owens Community School, and Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church. The frame school is the only remaining building of the original structures of Owens. It was last used as a school site in 1946, but some original school furnishings remain intact. It has continued to be used as a polling place over the years. In 2000, the School District of DeSoto County refurbished the school and began using it for school district training and recognitions, and historical society and humanities presentations.
Marker Number: F-525
Date: 2004
County: DeSoto
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: School District of DeSoto County and the Florida Department of State
Website: Not listed
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