Additionally, I took a walking tour of the southeast side of town which richly rewards a little walking effort with architecturally interesting and beautiful specimens of the old mansions of the past.
Cedar Key history of course goes way back as evidenced by shell middens of the Timucuans dating as far back as 500 BC. Very little useful material is available to stitch together much of a story until around the time of the first Seminal War which occurred in 1818.
The name to remember around Cedar Key is David Levy Yulee, a wealthy lawyer, entrepreneur and senator who was instrumental in the building of the Jacksonville to Cedar Key Railway. As luck would have it, the fateful line was finished in 1861. The war between the states put a stop to economic progress in the town on Way Key (current Cedar Key) and Depot Key ( now known as Atesena Otie). I wont bore you with all the details, but Cedar Key was a major center for shipping and commerce to points in Cuba, the Caribbean and New Orleans. Goods were trans-shipped on Levy-Yulee's railway and moved aboard ships to distant water destinations.Cedar Key enjoyed a boom between 1865 and 1885. But lost out on the transportation race to Tampa Bay which got its own railroad and boasted a truly world class harbor facility.
Cedar Key was also the home of a thriving cedar lumber milling and slate manufacturing for the pencil industry. So successful was the effort that there are only a few small specimens left to show for the great cedar forests along this area of the Gulf
As I said, the Civil War interfered mightily with the goings on at Cedar and Depot Keys as the Union army blockaded the keys and confiscated and destroyed the salt making industry. They set of a base at Sea Horse Key which was the nexus of their harassing and pillaging of this area of the Gulf. At the end of the war, David Yulee spent some time in prison until he was released in 1866. The railroad once again became operational after Mr. Yulee's release from prison.
Of course fishermen of Cedar Key added a rich history of sponge diving, net fishing and oystering.
Cedar Key's population peaked at 1887 in 1885. In 1890's the population of Cedar Key slowly dwindled due to declining timber and fishing resources.
The great hurricane and storm surge of 1896 destroyed the Faber and Suwannee Lumber Mills of Atsena Otie and heavily damaged the Cedar Keys. The owners chose not to rebuild.
Cedar Key had a brief brush with the manufacturing industries (no pun intended) with the establishment of Standard Manufacturing Company. Their business was manufacturing fiber and a line of Donex brushes. These fine brushes were made of the widely available Sabel Palm which is the state tree. Fiber was sold to brush companies all over the US, Canada Britain and Australia.
I often ponder the realities of life in the 1880's on Atsena Otie as I walk its sun-dappled trails through the thick growth which obscures the buildings and cityscape of those far off years. The small cemetery on the southwest side of the island is intimate and serene with dates posted from those years
Today, Cedar Key is a quaint fishing village catering to the professional and sport fishing industry. In recent years, a fairly large and prosperous aquaculture industry was been gaining popularity with nearly 300 leased oyster beds in the close vicinity.
On a more cultural note, Cedar Key is home to a thriving artist community. Works of Gerald Lindstrom, Jolie Davis, Willie Smith, Mike Segel, to name only a few are to be found in three galleries along Second Street in Cedar Key. These galleries include: Island Arts Gallery, Cedar Keyhole Artist Co-op and there's even one called Barefoot Artists.
The Cedar Key Historical Society Museum
In summary: Cedar Key is in a way, but a shadow if it's former self. At 800 population it is a fragile microcosm, an eclectic mix of citizens. At its backbone, are the workers that keep it going. They live in the scrub of the mainland for the most part. There is a large component of wealthy retires. There also is a strong and thriving artist community. The tourist often consist of art gallery and shop browsing women and families, juxtaposed with brash sport fishermen types. . The commercial element consists of various business ventures, aquaculture ventures and touristy shops. The commercial fishermen are hanging on by a thread mostly due to the 1994 Florida law banning gill netting.
All in all, Cedar Key is a very Eco-friendly village, where conservation of water and energy is practiced scrupulously. People here are friendly enough, but are not ones to intrude into your affairs.
And most if all, every year on the first weekend in may, we have the Small Boat Meet at Cedar Key. That's what keeps me coming back. Unfortunately, I probably won't make it this year (20th). I am heading south on the adventure of a lifetime.
I've been coming to Cedar Key for twenty years now, and I feel like I am just getting to know it. And to know it is to love it.
So interesting! Thank you for this post. I live in Clayton NY and just visited Cedar Key for the first time. I hope to get in at least 20 more years! I really miss it today with sub zero temperatures, drifting blowing snow and bone chilling winds ...
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