HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTY

Fort Dade

Activities of Old Fort Dade Told by
Editor of First Pasco County Paper (1931)

This article appeared in the Dade City Banner on Dec. 4, 1931.

By D. H. MOSELEY

Fifty years of by-gone days may seem to some to be a long time for recalling to memory social and business conditions as they existed in old Fort Dade at that time. There are but few of us left to tell the tale of our sorrows and joys, disappointments and surprises, but there are many descendants of those old pioneers living in Dade City and other sections of Pasco county who will relish being reminded of the trials their forbears encountered in blazing the way for succeeding generations to live in a country inhabited by a prosperous and enlightened people.

Fifty years ago some of the people living in the eastern part of Hernando county (which is now Pasco county) were unacquainted with Brooksville and its inhabitants and did not care to form such acquaintance; they did not violate any of the state laws and were never molested by a sheriff in pursuing their even tenor, therefore they had no business at the county seat and were not invited to participate in the social or political functions of the elite of Hernando's capitol. Yet there is the friendliest feeling between the people of Hernando and Pasco county, connected by blood and life-long friendship, and to cast aspersions upon one you have offended the other.

We marvel at the wonderful changes wrought by those who have made Dade City one of the state's handsomest little cities, a town of lovely homes, splendid business concerns and backed up by profitable orange and grapefruit groves and a vegetable industry unexcelled in many sections of the state.

Fifty years ago Dade City was not on the map; it was old Fort Dade, with two business houses, both of which did not have a combined investment, including buildings and stocks of merchandise, that would inventory more than three thousand dollars. Today there are stores in Dade City that carry stocks of goods valued at more than ten times that amount.

Toney Sumner, who has gone to his final reward, was proprietor of one of the general merchandise emporiums, carrying in stock anything from hairpins to mule gear, and D. H. Moseley, the other, who was also connected in the publication of the Fort Dade Messenger, a weekly paper that boasted of having the largest circulation in Hernando county, with a paid-up subscription list of 87 and delinquent only 13; all of whom were loyal and progressive citizens, but they never had their names erased from the black list, and if any of them are living and will ask for a receipt for the release of the obligation it will be promptly given in order to relieve a harassed and guilty conscience.

The Fort Dade postoffice at that time was conducted by a Mr. Carter, at a point on the Brooksville road four miles west of Dade City. A star route from Wildwood via Brooksville brought the mail and other things that the heart and appetite craved—twice a week—Tuesday and Friday. Six or seven letters were considered a big mail, but the carrier's buggy was never empty, all available space under the seat and other places of the vehicle contained jugs and bottles of “joy producing fluid.” The mail carrier would notify the anxious recipients of mail of the proximity of the old gray horse and buggy, as he never failed to give his old trumpet a blast when he reached a hill about a mile west of Dade City. All activities in old Fort Dade ceased without further warning and everybody in the village fell in line and gave the carrier a royal welcome. Those were “good old days,” gone but not forgotten by a few of the old guard now living to relate the story—Jesse Roberts, who after a few years of buffeting around the different stores of Dade City as a salesman went behind the counters of Coleman & Ferguson, where he has been the past twenty-five or thirty-five years, and where he will probably remain until old age or death issues ...

Local Intelligence

Yancey McMinn is convalescent.

Buy your Grits and Meal at R. B. Jones' store.

Miss Maggie Thrasher has been sick with fever.

Corn, Oats, and Hay at R. B. Jones' store.

Jackson Wilson wears the belt for the boss jumper.

Call at R. B. Jones' and get a glass of Soda Water, it is first-class and don't you forget it.

Commercial travelers are numerous on our streets nowadays.

Choice Groceries of every variety at R. B. Jones store.

Grady & Garner are at work on their stables.

Go to the Fort Dade Barber Shop for a neat hair cut and shave.

Draughts seem to be the only amusement for the boys. Too warm for base ball.

Mr. Lofton, at the Fort Dade barber shop, is a first class tonsorial artist and will give his customers the worth of their money.

David Lofton has the sympathy of the community over the loss of his fine horse.

Mr. A. C. Sumner attended the regular meeting of the County Commissioners at Brooksville Monday.

Rev. R. E. Bell gave us a most excellent discourse last Sunday, and from the attention paid him, it was appreciated by all.

Rev. M. H. Outland is agent for “The Well-springs of Truth,” a very valuable book, and one's library is scarcely complete without it.

Dr. Cochran has been getting the deeds for the right of way for the Florida Railway and Navigation Company between the Withlacoochee river and Long Prairie. The property owners have freely given the right of way.

In looking over the old files of the MESSENGER, we notice the noms de plume of various correspondents who have at different times favored the paper with their communications. We wish they would come to the front again, and let us hear from their respective sections. When we fail to hear from the old friends [illegible] banquet hall deserted.

Mr. R. D. Lofton has one of the best equipped barber shops in the county. When you come in town Saturday, give him a call.

Last night the ladies of the Baptist church gave a grand supper, and festival, which was one of the most pleasant entertainments of the kind we ever attended. The church realized over one hundred dollars from the supper.

We were pleased to see Dr. Wallace, of Ellerslie, yesterday. The doctor is looking well, and reports things booming in his section. He says that work is being pushed on the railroad at that place, grading being already commenced.

We thank our Chipco friends for the alacrity with which they responded to our call for a correspondent from that growing town on the occasion of the picnic on the fourth. We hope that the people of the other sections will soon cease keeping themselves concealed, an use the columns of the MESSENGER to let the world know that they exist. The MESSENGER is for the whole county, and not simply for the lot on which the office is built.