RIVER HISTORY FACT SHEET

EARLY USERS OF THE RIVER During the last Ice Age, the The Archaic Period began about During the Safety Harbor Pe- ocean’s waters were frozen in 8000 BC and continued until 2000 riod, 1300-1700 AD , social class huge mountains of ice and the BC. These people continued to was strictly observed. Chiefs, sea’s level was much lower than hunt and gather. They moved headmen, warriors, ordinary today. While a narrow land bridge seasonally and used all the natu- people and slaves belonged to was exposed, the first people ral resources of the coastal and very distinct social classes. came into North America from Si- the interior riverine environments. Temple mounds, large flat-topped beria following herds of Ice Age rectangular structures were built mammoths, mastodons and other during this time. The Timucuan great mammals. The people society that was in place when the moved slowly across the continent first Spanish explorers came to and down into . were from the . Today, the distance from Clearwater to Cocoa Beach is about 145 miles. During Paleo During the Orange Period, Indian times the distance from 2000-1000 BC, people first began coast to coast was approximately to make . 280 miles. The Gulf coast was forty to seventy miles further west. The climate was cooler and drier. Wide grassy areas supported large herd animals that people hunted. At the end of the Ice Age, Safety Harbor Bowl Florida narrowed as the ocean During the Transitional Period, level rose. The climate became 1000-500 BC, a more settled life warmer and more humid. based on agriculture developed. Almost one-third of the known Swamps developed and rivers Regional cultures began to ap- prehistoric sites in Hillsborough flowed even more with increased pear. county are directly associated with water level. lakes, rivers, and creeks. These During the Manasota Cultural provided drinking water transpor- The ’s native Period, 500-800 BC, burial tation, and chert (a flint-like ma- populations before the European mounds were used. terial) for weapons. The streams invasion is discussed as different and springs drew game to drink time periods. The first people to The , and river crossings provided ex- inhabit this area about 12,000 300-1300 AD, saw burial cellent hunting opportunities for years ago were called Paleo Indi- middens with elaborate grave of- the human populations. Plant ans by scientists. They lived in ferings. Societies were strictly communities were richer near small migratory bands with a hunt- ranked. Shell refuse middens are these freshwater sources and the ing-gathering society. typically found associated with a river’s clay was another draw for Weeden Island site. early cultures.

paleo spear point

SUMMER 2000 REVISION THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVERHistory Fact sheet 1 School District of Hillsborough County RIVER HISTORY FACT SHEET

BLOCKADE RUNNERS USE THE RIVER During the Civil War, Tampa The records of John T. Leslie One of Tampa’s most famous Bay was blockaded by federal of Tampa showed that while he blockade runners was the ad- troops hoping to stop the flow paid $4 per head of cattle in venturous Captain James of beef, medicine and weapons 1860, with the start of the Civil McKay. With a steamer named to the Confederate armies and War in 1861 he paid $5 per the Scottish Chief and a sloop, also to gain an economic head and by 1863 he was pay- Kate Dale, Captain McKay stranglehold on the area. Cot- ing $7 per head. made six successful round trips ton and cattle that were usually to Havana through the block- sold to the North or to foreign During the first two years of ade. countries piled up in Florida the war, Jake Summerlin was stores. contracted by the Confederate In the fall of 1863, McKay Army to supply beef at $8 per took the two boats up the Hills- Records show that Captain head. Ship captains who could borough River to a hiding spot James McKay of Tampa make it through the blockade near where Lowry Park is to- shipped 4,016 head of cattle to to Havana, Cuba could sell day. There the boats would be Cuba in 1860 but only 2,000 in their cattle for $14 to $418 per cleaned of barnacles and 1861 after the beginning of the head, (in gold doubloons). loaded with cotton bound for war. There were no records They could then return to Cuba. Northern sympathizers kept for the remainder of the Tampa with a cargo of luxury informed federal Naval officials. war. Imported items like medi- items priced sky-high for eager Federal troops landed at night cine and luxury items like cloth, Tampa buyers. at Ballist Point on Tampa Bay coffee, cigars and white flour and marched upriver. They became rare and were in high Because only small cargoes burned the two boats along demand in Florida’s small were able to slip past the block- with one hundred fifty-six bales towns. ade and because the blockade of cotton on the Scottish Chief runners risked imprisonment and eleven bales on the Kate and total loss of assets, only a Dale. few dared try the blockade-run- ning business. But those that An angry Captain McKay did it successfully became spent the remainder of the war Florida longhorn some of the wealthiest men in running supplies to the Confed- Cuba’s need for cattle and Tampa. erate troops. cotton and Floridians’ desire for luxury items created a situation The remains of these two of high demand while the na- blockade runners were found in val blockade caused a severe the 1960's by a group of divers shortage in supply. These two led by Calvin "Pop" Taylor. Tay- factors drove prices up and cre- lor hoped to salvage the ships, ated the opportunity for huge but the state of Florida claimed profits to be made by anyone ownership. Angered at the who was daring enough to Southern Blockade Runner state's reaction, he refused to break through the federal tell the locations of the wrecks. blockade. SUMMER 2000 REVISION THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVERHistory Fact sheet 2 School District of Hillsborough County RIVER HISTORY FACT SHEET HARVESTING THE RICHES OF THE WATERSHED In the late 1800's the valley The logs were floated out of The valuable cypress wood of the Hillsborough River was the swamps and down the river created a short term economic a land covered by a rich, old- to railroad bridges. boom as the lumbermen cut growth forest. Majestic bald their way through most of the cypress trees soared several riverine swamps along Florida's hundred feet into the air. Some west coast rivers. of these trees were more than 3,000 years old. As the trees were cut some old giants were left behind. Lumber companies in north These were trees which had Florida knew that the wood damage to their tops or interi- from cypress trees was very ors and would not make good valuable. It was highly resis- lumber. tant to rot and decay. Termites who attacked pine and other woods left cypress alone. Cy- A steam powered craine press is easy to cut into boards called a skidder was used to lift and was hand carved to cre- the logs out of the river. ate decorative moldings for houses.

Over time, the lumber com- panies perfected a technique to harvest this rich resource. They sent men into the swamps on foot during the dry As a result of this lumbering winter months. These men activity, most of the cypress used axes to cut a groove com- trees within the Hillsborough pletely around the trees. This are less than one hundred groove caused the trees to die The logs were loaded on rail years in age. and then dry out. cars and taken to a mill. The harvesting of the old cy- In the early fall, at the end presses altered the ecosys- of the summer rainy season, tems they dominated. Trees the trees were cut with two- such as water ash and water man crosscut saws. locust were able to quickly grow in the sun lit spaces created when the cypress was re- moved. The riverine swamp forest we see today has quite a different ecology than the original which had existed along the Hillsborough for ten to fifteen thousand years.

SUMMER 2000 REVISION THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVERHistory Fact sheet 3 School District of Hillsborough County RIVER HISTORY FACT SHEET

HILLSBOROUGH RIVER TIMELINE connect in Ocala with Fort Brooke There have been several Ice Ages over the in what was then the settlement of Tampa. A past million years with the last one ending bridge is built to cross the Hillsborough. about 15,000 years ago. (1830) Congress passes the Indian Removal Geological data suggests that the Hillsborough Act. The American government begins efforts River has been flowing for about 27,000 years. to remove the from Tampa Bay and relocate them to a reservation west of the Humans first made their way to this area Mississippi. Tensions between Seminoles 12,000 - 15,000 years ago. and Americans continue.

(1528) Narvaez, a Spanish explorer, lands (1835) Seminoles burn the bridge at the Fort near Tampa Bay. He and the four hundred King Road’s river crossing. Conflict contin- men with him find the Timucuan culture es- ues. tablished in the area. (1836) Fort Foster is established at the Hills- (1539) DeSoto, another Spaniard, comes to borough River crossing to protect this strate- Tampa Bay and lands at what was probably gically advantageous position. the Hillsborough River. (1842) The Armed Occupation Act promises By the early 1700’s the Timucuan people are one hundred sixty acres of land to any man nearly exterminated. who can bear arms, build a house and culti- vate five acres for five years. (1757) A survey of the Hillsborough River is done by Don Francisco Maria Celi, pilot of the (1846) The first ferry crossing on the Hills- spanish royal fleet. borough River is established. This improves transportation and widens the growth of (1772) A map drawn and sent to the English Tampa to both sides of the river. Lord Hillsborough, Governor of west Florida, shows the river named as the Hillsborough. (1861) Tampa Bay is blockaded by federal troops to prevent goods from leaving Tampa During the mid and late 1700’s, Native Ameri- or from coming into Tampa. cans from the north, mostly Creeks, begin to migrate to Florida. These immigrants become (1863) Federal troops march upriver to a lo- known as Seminoles. cation near the present day site of Lowry Park. There they discover a blockade-running (1821) Florida becomes a US territory. steamer and sloop loaded with cotton. The ships are burned. The skirmish that follows (1824) Construction of Fort Brooke begins at is the only Civil War action on the Hillsbor- the mouth of the Hillsborough River. ough River.

(1828) The Fort King Military Road is built to

SUMMER 2000 REVISION THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVERHistory Fact sheet 4 School District of Hillsborough County RIVER HISTORY FACT SHEET

(1891) The Tampa Bay Hotel, now the Uni- (1992) The Hillsborough River Greenways versity of Tampa, opens with a grand ball. Taskforce is established.

(1895) An electrical dam is built on the river. (1995) The Hillsborough River is designated as an Outstanding Florida Water. (1898) The dam is dynamited by cattle bar- ons angry at the loss of grazing land. (1995) The Hillsborough River is designated as a Florida Recreational Canoe Trail. (1900) The Sulphur Springs property is de- veloped and open to the public. (1995) The Hillsborough River is named a Florida Sesquicentennial Greenway. (1910) Hillsborough Bay is channelized to the mouth of the Hillsborough River with the River and Harbor Act of 1910.

In the early 1900’s the Hillsborough River is heavily logged for its valuable cypress.

(1923) A water treatment plant is built to uti- lize the water supply from the reservoir above the dam.

(1935) Hillsborough River State Park is opened.

(1979) The Hillsborough River is closed to swimming at the state park and a pool is built for public use.

(1986) The Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Hillsborough River Tech- nical Advisory Council are established.

(1986) Sulphur Springs is closed.

(1988) The annual Hillsborough River cleanup begins.

(1891) Canoe Escape is opened and the owners donate canoes and time to bring the Hillsborough River to the public’s attention.

SUMMER 2000 REVISION THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVERHistory Fact sheet 5 School District of Hillsborough County