HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTYElfers
The following article was last revised on Nov. 24, 2009. The area which became Elfers was earlier known as Baillie or the Baillie Settlement. In a letter to the New Port Richey Press published on Jan. 12, 1922, Mrs. J. O. T. Brown wrote that earlier names for Elfers were the Neck, and Sapling Woods. However, apparently Sapling Woods was a settlement northeast of what became Elfers. See the separate page on Sapling Woods. For an 1889 election the local precinct was called Bailey and school board minutes of July 7, 1892, refer to the area as "the Baillie settlement.” In 1871 Anna Maria Gaines was born in what would become Elfers. Hers was probably one of the earliest births in this area. She died about 1875 and was interred in a private burial plot in what would become Elfers. [Information from Carl Gause] On Jan. 8, 1876, Rev. John W. Wells began serving as pastor of the newly organized Union Church, according to a local church register. This church is believed to be the first Baptist church in western Pasco county. The six charter members were W. F. Baillie and his wife, Allen Hill and his wife, Rosanne Baillie and Mr. Cobb. It was built where the West Elfers Cemetery is now located. (More on this church is in the article at the bottom of this page.) In March 1877, Peter Karr Baillie died. His burial was the first in what would become West Elfers Cemetery. A list of Hernando County schools for 1877-78 includes the Baillie School. A history of the Elfers schools is here. In Tales of West Pasco, Ralph Bellwood lists some of the early residents of Elfers: The Baillies, Old Man Bill and Uncle John, as they were affectionately called; Capt. Jack Brown and his wife, whom the writer shall always hold in affection and remember as "Grandma"; Grandma’s two brothers, Mode and Ellis Sheffield; Grandpa and Grandma Hay, parents of Mrs. J. M. Mitchell, whose husband, the late Senator Jesse Mitchell will come in for comment later. Also the large Sawyer family, of which a book could be written; the Butlers and Pittmans, John and bill, the Andersons, the Eikels, the Swartsels, the Bakers, the Stevensons, and the Hendersons. Other families that figured in the development of this entire area were P. L. Pierce and Professor J. H. St. Clair, both connected with our school system. On Dec. 14, 1909, the Elfers post office was established. The first postmaster was Levi D. Eiland, whose wife ran the post office and chose the name for it. Her mother’s maiden name was Elfers. In October 1911 Jesse M. Mitchell became the postmaster, according to the recollection of his wife, who also recalled that Spivey Woddy succeeded Mitchell as postmaster. In 1913 railroad service to Elfers was established by the Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad to accommodate the shipment of citrus. The depot at Elfers was closed in November 1972, after the Elfers packing house had burned down. On May 9, 1913, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported:
Elfers is a village about midway between Tarpon Springs and Port Richey. The building of the railroad put new life into that section, and the way the little place has grown in the past year is astonishing. A good depot, church, store and several dwellings have been built around the railroad station, and there is every evidence of prosperity and a promise of continued rapid growth. The store is operated by Mr. J. M. Mitchell, and is well stocked with goods. The famous “Seven Springs” are near here. In 1918-19 Elfers Methodist Episcopal Church was built at the corner of Pine and Orange Streets, during the pastorate of Rev. Henry E. Partridge. [This church closed in 1940, merging with the Episcopal church in New Port Richey.] On April 10, 1920, the Elfers Citrus Growers Association was chartered at Tallahassee. The first officers were President, C. Johnson; Vice President, C. M. Brown; Secretary, N. M. Swartsel; Directors, H. S. Rothera and G. S. Barker. A packing house was built later in 1920, equipped with modern machinery for washing, sizing, coloring, waxing, and preparing fruit for shipment. On Nov. 25, 1920, the New Port Richey Press reported, "On Saturday last the fine and commodious new packing house of the Elfers Fruit Growers, in connection with the Florida Citrus Exchange, was opened for business. ... It is upwards of 12 months since the grove owners of Elfers and New Port Richey decided to join up with the Florida Citrus Exchange, and through that channel market their own fruit packed in their own packing house. ... The new packing-house has an 80 by 120 feet floor space, and in height is 10 ft to the wall plate and 27 feet to the peek. ... The machinery forming the packing plant is all new and entirely up-to-date. It has been made and installed by the Skinner Manufacturing Company, of Dunedin, Florida, and is capable of meeting any demands which may be made upon it within the next few years.” On Aug. 24, 1921, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported, "It is estimated that within three miles of the village of Elfers there are twenty-five hundred acres of young orange grove, most of it just getting into the full bearing stage. There are a half dozen large groves, consisting of from one hundred acres to two hundred acres each, and in addition to these big acreages there are dozens and dozens of smaller groves ranging from five to forty acres.” On Jan. 26, 1922, the New Port Richey Press reported, “Rev. C. W. Cotton has been appointed pastor of the Elfers Methodist Church for the ensuing year. He and his wife arrived last night.” On Feb. 2, 1922, the Elfers West Pasco Record began publication. The publisher was Arthur Ray Nason. According to a Tampa Tribune article, after 45 issues the newspaper folded and Nason moved back to Tampa. According to a newspaper column by John W. Parkes, the maximum circulation was 150. An article in the New Port Richey Press on Dec. 22, 1922, reported that Nason had sold the newspaper to the Dade City Banner, which would discontinue the paper but would instead include a section in the Banner devoted to western Pasco County. In an advertisement in the Elfers West Pasco Record on Mar. 30, 1922, the Gulf Utilities Co. of New Port Richey offered to extend its lines to give service to the residents of Elfers if the citizens of Elfers would subscribe for and purchase fifteen $100 eight percent first mortgage bonds, part of a larger bond issue. On June 9, 1925, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported, "An act incorporating Elfers as city passed both houses of the legislature last week, and today only awaits the signature of Governor Martin to become law. City officials have already been selected to fill the offices temporarily until an election can be called, and will assume their duties as soon as the bill is signed. The last census gave Elfers a population of 300.” According to Florida Cracker Days, it was State Sen. Jesse M. Mitchell who introduced the bill to incorporate Elfers. On Dec. 11, 1925, the New Port Richey Press reported that Sen. Jesse M. Mitchell was elected to a one-year term as the Mayor of Elfers, and that the city council would consist of E. P. Campbell, R. E. Bailey, J. W. Saunders, P. L. Pierce, and T. J. Hill. [Information on Rev. Mitchell, the only mayor of Elfers and its leading citizen in this period, is here.] On Jan. 1, 1926, the New Port Richey Press reported: "Plans for a state bank in Elfers became actuality the past week when a group of influential citizens of New Port Richey and Elfers applied to the capital for a charter. The new institution is to be capitalized for $15,000 and Warren E. Burns is to be president. Work will be started at once under the direction of Mayor J. M. Mitchell of Elfers on a building for the new financial home. The building will be erected on a site opposite the packing house on the Dixie Boulevard and will be of stucco and modern construction under plans which call for an expenditure of $25,000.” It is believed that the bank never opened. On Jan. 29, 1926, the New Port Richey Press reported the city councils of Elfers and New Port Richey appointed committees to study a possible merger of the two cities. The newspaper reported that "some months ago" an earlier plan to unite the two cities was rejected at a public meeting of New Port Richey residents. On Dec. 31, 1926, the New Port Richey Press reported election results. For mayor: J. M. Mitchell, 29; C. W. Weddle, 22. For council: Tom Hill, 24; John L. Williams, 23; Lawrence Anderson, 22; A. R. Twitchell, 19; and J. W. Saunders, 3. According to West Pasco’s Heritage, on Mar. 6, 1927, the Kissimmee Inn opened in Elfers, with L. E. Rousseau as manager. On Apr. 8, 1927, the Dade City Banner reported that the incorporated city of Elfers covered seven square miles, with 2.5 miles of Gulf frontage, and that it had a population of 400. A census completed on May 9, 1927, showed 303 persons living within the corporate limits of Elfers, all of whom were white. The Elfers voting precinct had a population of 554, of whom 21 were black. On Dec. 16, 1932, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported: J. M. Mitchell was chosen for his fourth two-year term as mayor of Elfers without opposition in Tuesday’s municipal election. He has held the office since Elfers was incorporated as a city in 1925. Tom Hill and J. L. Waddy were re-elected to the city council, also for two-year terms. Hill is president of the council. Hold-over members whose terms expire in January, 1934, are Arthur Chamberlin, R. L. Moore and P. L. Pierce. The council will meet and organize January 9. A record vote of 88 was cast in the election. C. A. Walters and L. B. Edenfield were defeated candidates for the council. According to Florida Cracker Days:
But the taxes were too high for the depression years and many residents were on the verge of losing their property. A group of grove owners got together to back a candidate who would oppose Senator Mitchell and incorporation. Samuel W. Getzen of Bushnell carried the banner for the grove owners against Senator Mitchell. On winning the election, Senator Getzen introduced a bill in the Legislature dissolving the incorporation of the city. On April 28, 1933, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported that the bill introduced by Sen. Samuel W. Getzen to abolish the City of Elfers had been passed by the Senate and that passage by the House was expected before adjournment later today. According to the article, the bill would become effective on July 1. On March 6, 1966, the Elfers Citrus Growers Association packing house was destroyed by fire, causing an estimated $250,000 loss. A newspaper article quoted Harvey Snell, manager of the plant since 1948, as saying that about 25 to 30 per cent of the loss was covered by insurance. He said that 75 local persons were employed at the plant and about 100 were employed as pickers in the field. No one was injured but a nearby home and restaurant were also destroyed.
The Baptist Church in ElfersThe following is a somewhat confusing compilation of statements from various sources. On Jan. 8, 1876, Rev. John W. Wells began serving as pastor of the newly organized Union Church, according to a local church register. This church is believed to be the first Baptist church in western Pasco county. The six charter members were W. F. Baillie and his wife, Allen Hill and his wife, Rosanne Baillie and Mr. Cobb. It was built where the West Elfers Cemetery is now located. The church apparently became the Anclote Baptist Church. In 1910 the little block church was sold and another was built on an acre of land in Elfers donated by J. M. Mitchell. On Oct. 13, 1950, the New Port Richey Press reported, “The Anclote Baptist church has completed an addition to the church as a Sunday school. Baptism was held for 15 persons of the church at Anclote river.” A 1953 article about the First Missionary Baptist Church of Elfers indicated that the church was founded in 1876. An article in the Tampa Tribune on March 4, 2001, reported that the First Baptist Church of Elfers would celebrate its 125th anniversary, having been founded in 1876 on the site of West Elfers Cemetery. According to the article, "A building was erected but was lost to fire in 1888. The congregation then moved to a school on State Road 54. In 1889, the present property was purchased and a building completed shortly afterward. A new sanctuary followed in 1912 and another in 1964. The sanctuary was expanded in 1983 and the present sanctuary built in 1987.” On August 25, 1890, William J. Baillie and Sarah A. Baillie sold property to B. B. Baillie and John M. Baillie, trustees of the Anclote Missionary Baptist Church, for one dollar. The deed was recorded April 20th, 1892. This property would be located off S. R. 54 approximately where the entrance of the Tanglewood Terrace subdivision is presently located, according to an Internet web page. In a 1978 interview, Peter Joseph "Uncle Joe" Baillie recalled that his father, William John Baillie, purchased 80 acres of land and donated one acre to the Anclote Baptist Church as a site for a church building. He recalled that when Elfers began to grow, the church moved to Elfers and returned Baillie’s land to him. According to the History of the First Baptist Church of Tarpon Springs: "On September 26, 1892, a little band of Baptist Believers in Christ met for worship in a small school house in Anclote, Florida. Bro. A. L. Randall conducted the preaching service and Bro. T. M. McGill, acting as moderator called the body to order, stating the purpose of the meeting was to form a new and independent church, where upon three brothers and five sisters presented letters for that Purpose. Thus, the West Anclote Baptist Church came into existence. After prayer, Mrs., Sarah Thompson presented herself for Baptism. The charter members were Brothers E. A. Hill, W. A. Cobb, A. Z. Dekleand Sisters Eunicie A. Hill, Mary T. Hill, T. Gause, Lettie Dekleand Sarah A. Meyer. On September 16, 1894, the West Anclote Church was dissolved and reorganized as the Baptist Church of Tarpon Springs.” An article in the Tampa Tribune on Sept. 1, 2001, reported: "Founded in November 1876, Riverside Fellowship will celebrate its 125th anniversary in November with groundbreaking for a new building on Perrine Ranch Road. The congregation first met as a Baptist church on the site of the Elfers Cemetery, then moved to a building on Trouble Creek Road. Currently, services are held at Seven Springs Middle School.” According to an Internet web page, the Westside Baptist Church organized with six members in 1876 at the site of West Elfers Cemetery, and later moved to this location. Its first pastor was Rev. R. E. Belle. The first church burned in 1886, and a second was built on Orange St. in Elfers in 1912, called the Elfers Baptist Church. That building was sold in 1963 to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, and the congregation moved to this location. The following is taken from Methodism: Growth and Glory by Mary Lou Knight and Helen Irene DeCoudres: There was no organized religious life in the area until Mary Brown, wife of Jim Brown, a cattleman from Central Florida, started a little Sunday School in her home on Sunday afternoons. Catching the enthusiasm of the children, the parents soon began attending the services also. As the desire and need for the gospel grew, a small building for worship was erected where the West Elfers Cemetery is today. This house of worship became known as Union Church, and was attended by all the scattered families in the area. Since the Florida Methodist Conference records for this area do not go back beyond 1886, we do not know if any Methodist ministers were appointed to this Union Church. However, we do have a register of the Methodist ministers who began serving this area in 1876. The first minister listed is Rev. John W. Wells who served from January 9, 1876, until January 15, 1877. In succession for the next eight years the following list of ministers from the Clearwater Circuit is recorded in this register: W. H. F. Roberts, George W. Mitchell, J. A. Castell, T. A. Branch, O. A. Hiscock, W. A. Philips and H. S. Miller (2 years). The historic marker at West Elfers Cemetery has, “As part of the Baillie Settlement, a congregation of Methodists and Baptists established a Union Church and cemetery on this site, ca. 1876. In March 1877, the church conducted the first burial with the interment of Peter K. Baillie, pioneer settler and Seminole Indian War veteran. When a fire destroyed the church in 1885, the Methodists established their own church and a cemetery, now known as East Elfers Cemetery. In 1891, the Baptists relocated to become the Anclote Missionary Baptist Church.” See also an article on the Sapling Woods Methodist Church here. |
