History of Shiloh

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge History of the Shiloh Area Introduction The Shiloh area is approximately two miles north of Haulover Canal. This area is within National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The refuge was established in 1963 by agreement between NASA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to manage the non-operational areas of the KSC. The Shiloh area became part of Merritt Island NWR in 1972. Elliott Plantation sugar mill ruins, credit USFWS Sugar and Citrus The Elliott Plantation provides a prime example of early colonial life in Florida. The site is the southernmost and earliest British Colonial period sugar plantation in North America. Dating to the late 1760s, it is unusually well preserved and contains rare remnants of two period slave villages, as well as the features of a sugar factory. Some of the features of the villages include the Child’s grave in Shiloh, credit USFWS remains of the blacksmith’s shop and the overseer’s house. Further investigation is Historical marker - Clifton Colored School, Prehistoric Settlement recommended for these sites. North of Haulover Canal credit USFWS The higher ridges between the marshy areas were occupied repeatedly by In 1843, Douglas Dummitt settled south This homestead became the nucleus aboriginal populations, as evident by of the current Haulover Canal and of Haulover, an African American shell middens and burial mounds. At the planted extensive citrus groves. By 1867, community that changed its name to time of European contact, this area was his groves were the largest in the state. Clifton in 1889. The town’s buildings were occupied by two main groups of Native Dummitt is credited with beginning removed by NASA during the 1960s, American Indians – the Timucua north of the well-known Indian River Citrus however, the cemetery remains. Haulover and the Ais to the south. fruit industry. Remnants of his house foundation and chimney remain extant. The Shiloh community was established Multiple burial mounds associated with during the post-Civil War period. Shiloh village sites exist in the Shiloh area. One In 1872, Butler Campbell, a former became a trade center for citrus in the village site includes a midden and two slave, moved from South Carolina 1880s. The Shiloh community included the burial mounds believed to date to 800-900 and established a homestead several Shiloh Fruit Packing Company, a school, A.D. Other artifacts in this area date back miles north of the Old Haulover Canal church, store, and post office. Remnants 2,000 years. on the edge of Mosquito Lagoon. of the Shiloh community continue to exist today. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Refuge Management North of Haulover Canal Introduction non-native plant species. Shiloh has the The area of Merritt Island National lowest occurrence of non-native plants of Wildlife Refuge (NWR) north of any area on the refuge. Haulover Canal consists of a variety of habitats. Cultivation of citrus and Restoration of Citrus Groves other agriculture, the development The citrus groves in the Shiloh area were of residential communities, and the removed in the early 1980s and various impoundment of marshes for mosquito species of oaks and pines were planted in control had a profound impact on refuge the former groves. As scrub restoration management. The hydrology of refuge techniques improve, the planted trees will lands and waters has been altered be replaced with native scrub vegetation. by the excavation of canals for citrus and residential communities. Some Impoundment Management of these modifications further refuge Approximately 23,000 acres of marsh management goals and objectives, while were impounded to control mosquitos Florida scrub-jay being banded, credit USFWS other modifications have been or will be when NASA acquired KSC. Within the restored to near natural conditions. Shiloh area, 1,500 acres are managed for SRU. This SRU is the only unit not waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds. impacted by current launch operation Control of Invasive Species The Shiloh impoundments attract tens of burn restrictions by the U.S. Air Force Past human activities have caused or thousands of wading birds, shorebirds, or NASA. In addition to prescribed fire, enhanced problems with invasive non- and wintering waterfowl. mechanical cutting and shearing and use native species. The refuge’s feral hog of herbicides are used to manage the population can also be traced to animals Florida Scrub-Jay Management habitat. escaping or being abandoned by previous The continued existence of the landowners. Permitted hog trappers federally-threatened Florida scrub-jay Visitor Services North of Haulover Canal work year-round removing feral hogs (Aphelocoma coerulescens) depends upon Approximately 200,000-300,000 visitors from the refuge. Non-native plants used proper management of the refuge’s large utilize Merritt Island NWR north of for landscaping and windbreaks around tracts of relatively contiguous tracts of Haulover Canal each year. High quality human dwellings and croplands remained scrubland. The Shiloh Scrub Reserve waterfowl hunting is available within and spread after former residents moved. Unit (SRU) is one of four recovery units the Shiloh impoundments. Deer and The Service utilizes fire, herbicides, and for scrub jays on Merritt Island NWR. hog hunting are proposed to open in mechanical treatment to reduce invasive Based on recent surveys, 31 scrub-jay 2015 on 6,000 acres north of Haulover families currently Canal. Hiking is popular on the Pine occupy this unit. Flatwoods Trail and Shiloh Marsh Road. Due to previous, The Manatee Observation Deck receives ongoing, and an estimated 70,000 visitors each year. planned habitat Three refuge boat ramps provide access restoration and to the northern Indian River Lagoon management, and Mosquito Lagoon: Bair’s Cove, this core area Beacon 42, and WSEG. Fishing is the has the potential most popular activity in this area; wildlife to support 77 observation and photography are also scrub-jay families. extremely popular. Prescribed fire is the refuge’s most http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland important tool for managing scrub Printed February 2014 habitat. During 2003-2013, 45 prescribed burns were conducted within the Shiloh Planted oaks in former citrus grove, credit USFWS.

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