Bellamy Road: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Latest revision as of 00:51, 21 December 2024

The Bellamy Road was the first major U.S. federal highway in early territorial Florida. It was completed in 1826. Laborers included slaves. It was preceded by El Camino Real.

History

Land travel and transportation in Florida prior to its acquisition by the United States was by foot over trails. The Spanish used existing Native American trails to reach missions established in the interior of Florida. The main route from St. Augustine to the Apalachee Province was known as el Camino Real, the Royal Road.^[1] In the latter part of the 17th century the Spanish tried, with limited success, to improve the Royal Road to allow use by ox carts.^[2]

In 1824, three years after Florida became a United States territory, the United States Congress authorized the construction of a road connecting Pensacola to St. Augustine. The law specified crossing points for the Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek (using the natural bridge there) and the Apalachicola River. From Tallahassee the road was to follow the old Spanish Road (Camino Real) to St. Augustine, crossing the St. Johns River at Picolata. Congress authorized US$20,000 for the project. The Army, which was responsible for constructing the road, solicited proposals to build the eastern portion of the road. John Bellamy of Monticello, with the endorsement of Florida Territorial Governor William Duval, offered to construct the road between the Ochlockonee River and St. Augustine for US$13,500. The Army contracted with Bellamy, and the Ochlockonee River to St. Augustine section became known as Bellamy's (or Bellamy) Road.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Bellamy built the road using equipment and slaves from his plantation, and completed his portion of the road in 1826. The congressional act stated that the road was to be 25 feet (7.6 m) wide, but the contract with Bellamy required that the road only be 16 feet (4.9 m) wide. Tree stumps were to cut as close to the ground as possible, in order to clear a wagon's axles. Travelers quickly complained that the road was not always wide enough to let two wagons pass, that the bridges were inadequate, and that some stumps ("stump knockers") were too tall, jolting passengers and breaking axles.^[4]^[5]

The Bellamy Road followed the general route of the Spanish Royal Road (el Camino Real) or Old Mission Trail, used by Native Americans and Spanish missionaries, running from Mission San Luis de Apalachee near Tallahassee to St. Augustine. It headed eastward through present-day Jefferson County, and then crossed the Aucilla River by ferry into Madison County. The road continued eastward most of the way across Madison County until close to the Suwannee River, turning south into Lafayette County. The road crossed the Suwannee River by ferry into Suwannee County and ran southward close to the Suwannee River. It then passed into Columbia County, running past the Fig Springs mission site on the Ichetucknee River and entering Alachua County using the natural bridge of the Santa Fe River at O'Leno State Park. The road continued across northern Alachua County to near Lake Santa Fe. From there, the route of Bellamy Road forms the current boundary between the northwest part of Putnam County and the southwest part of Clay County. The road then crossed southeast Clay County, crossed the St. Johns River at Picolata, and continued through St. Johns County to St. Augustine.^[5]

Neil Coker, a former slaved interviewed by the WPA, describes the Bellamy Road and its history, including stating that Mr. Bellamy exploited it as a toll road.^[6]

In 1979, the road was designated as a Florida Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers.^[7]

References

^ Hann, John H. (1996). A History of the Timucua Indians and Missions. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. pp. 223–24, 226–27. ISBN 0-8130-1424-7.
^ "El Camino Real". Florida Division of Historical Resources. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
^ Tebeau, Charlton W. (1980). A History of Florida (Revised ed.). Coral Gables, Florida: University of Miami Press. pp. 140–41. ISBN 0-87024-303-9.
^ ^a ^b Hunt, Brian (6 October 2015). "The Stump Knocker: Bellamy's Road". Home Living in Greater Gainesville. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Boyd, Mark F. (January 1936). "The First American Road in Florida: Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway, 1824. Part II". The Florida Historical Society Quarterly. XIV (3): 139–192.
^ Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume III, Florida Narratives.
^ "Bellamy Road Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

External links

29°54′07″N 82°35′02″W / 29.901943°N 82.58383°W / 29.901943; -82.58383

[1] Hann, John H. (1996). A History of the Timucua Indians and Missions. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. pp. 223–24, 226–27. ISBN 0-8130-1424-7.

[2] "El Camino Real". Florida Division of Historical Resources. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2016.

[3] Tebeau, Charlton W. (1980). A History of Florida (Revised ed.). Coral Gables, Florida: University of Miami Press. pp. 140–41. ISBN 0-87024-303-9.

[stump-4] Hunt, Brian (6 October 2015). "The Stump Knocker: Bellamy's Road". Home Living in Greater Gainesville. Retrieved 21 November 2016.

[boyd-5] Boyd, Mark F. (January 1936). "The First American Road in Florida: Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway, 1824. Part II". The Florida Historical Society Quarterly. XIV (3): 139–192.

[6] Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume III, Florida Narratives.

[7] "Bellamy Road Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{for|the road in Toronto|List of north–south roads in Toronto#Bellamy Road}}
-[[File:Old Bellamy Road sign01.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Street name sign for the former Bellamy Road at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 41 in Florida|US 41]]/[[U.S. Route 441 in Florida|441]] south of [[O'Leno State Park]].]]
+{{short description|Improved 19th century road in Florida, USA}}
-The '''Bellamy Road''' was the first major U.S. federal highway in early territorial [[Florida]].
+[[File:Old Bellamy Road.jpg|thumb|Old Bellamy Road, May 2020]]
+The '''Bellamy Road''' was the first major U.S. federal highway in early territorial [[Florida]]. It was completed in 1826. Laborers included slaves. It was preceded by [[El Camino Real (Florida)|El Camino Real]].
+==History==
-Land travel and transportation in Florida prior to its acquisition by the United States was by foot over trails. The [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] used existing Native American trails to reach missions established in the interior of Florida. The main route from [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] to the [[Apalachee Province]] was known as ''el Camino Real'', the Royal Road.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hann|first1=John H.|title=A History of the Timucua Indians and Missions|date=1996|publisher=University Press of Florida|location=Gainesville, Florida|isbn=0-8130-1424-7|pages=223–24, 226–27}}</ref> In the latter part of the 17th century the Spanish tried, with limited success, to improve the Royal Road to allow use by ox carts.<ref>{{cite web|title=El Camino Real|url=http://dos.myflorida.com/historical/explore/el-camino-real/|publisher=Florida Division of Historical Resources|accessdate=21 November 2016}}</ref>
+Land travel and transportation in Florida prior to its acquisition by the United States was by foot over trails. The [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] used existing Native American trails to reach missions established in the interior of Florida. The main route from [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] to the [[Apalachee Province]] was known as ''el Camino Real'', the Royal Road.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hann|first1=John H.|title=A History of the Timucua Indians and Missions|date=1996|publisher=University Press of Florida|location=Gainesville, Florida|isbn=0-8130-1424-7|pages=223–24, 226–27}}</ref> In the latter part of the 17th century the Spanish tried, with limited success, to improve the Royal Road to allow use by ox carts.<ref>{{cite web|title=El Camino Real|url=http://dos.myflorida.com/historical/explore/el-camino-real/|publisher=Florida Division of Historical Resources|accessdate=21 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603024821/http://dos.myflorida.com/historical/explore/el-camino-real/|archive-date=3 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-In 1824, three years after Florida became a United States territory, the [[United States Congress]] authorized the construction of a road connecting [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]] to St. Augustine. The law specified crossing points for the [[Choctawhatchee River]], [[Econfina Creek]] (using the natural bridge there) and the [[Apalachicola River]]. From Tallahassee the road was to follow the old Spanish Road (''Camino Real'') to St. Augustine, crossing the [[St. Johns River]] at Picolata. Congress authorized US$20,000 for the project. The [[United States Army|Army]], which was responsible for constructing the road, solicited proposals to build the eastern portion of the road. John Bellamy of [[Monticello, Florida|Monticello]], with the endorsement of Florida Territorial Governor [[William Pope Duval|William Duval]], offered to construct the road between the [[Ochlockonee River]] and St. Augustine for US$13,500. The Army contracted with Bellamy, and the Ochlockonee River to St. Augustine section became known as Bellamy's (or Bellamy) Road.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Tebeau|first1=Charlton W.|title=A History of Florida|date=1980|publisher=University of Miami Press|location=Coral Gables, Florida|isbn=0-87024-303-9|pages=140–41|edition=Revised}}</ref><ref name=stump>{{cite web|last1=Hunt|first1=Brian|title=The Stump Knocker: Bellamy's Road|url=http://homemagazinegainesville.com/the-stump-knocker-bellamys-road/|publisher=Home Living in Greater Gainesville|accessdate=21 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="boyd">{{cite journal|last1=Boyd|first1=Mark F.|title=The First American Road in Florida: Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway, 1824. Part II.|journal=The Florida Historical Society Quarterly|date=January 1936|volume=XIV|issue=3|pages=139-192}}</ref>
+In 1824, three years after Florida became a United States territory, the [[United States Congress]] authorized the construction of a road connecting [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]] to St. Augustine. The law specified crossing points for the [[Choctawhatchee River]], [[Econfina Creek]] (using the natural bridge there) and the [[Apalachicola River]]. From Tallahassee the road was to follow the old Spanish Road (''Camino Real'') to St. Augustine, crossing the [[St. Johns River]] at Picolata. Congress authorized US$20,000 for the project. The [[United States Army|Army]], which was responsible for constructing the road, solicited proposals to build the eastern portion of the road. John Bellamy of [[Monticello, Florida|Monticello]], with the endorsement of Florida Territorial Governor [[William Pope Duval|William Duval]], offered to construct the road between the [[Ochlockonee River]] and St. Augustine for US$13,500. The Army contracted with Bellamy, and the Ochlockonee River to St. Augustine section became known as Bellamy's (or Bellamy) Road.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Tebeau|first1=Charlton W.|title=A History of Florida|date=1980|publisher=University of Miami Press|location=Coral Gables, Florida|isbn=0-87024-303-9|pages=140–41|edition=Revised}}</ref><ref name=stump>{{cite web|last1=Hunt|first1=Brian|title=The Stump Knocker: Bellamy's Road|date=6 October 2015|url=http://homemagazinegainesville.com/the-stump-knocker-bellamys-road/|publisher=Home Living in Greater Gainesville|accessdate=21 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="boyd">{{cite journal|last1=Boyd|first1=Mark F.|title=The First American Road in Florida: Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway, 1824. Part II.|journal=The Florida Historical Society Quarterly|date=January 1936|volume=XIV|issue=3|pages=139–192}}</ref>
+[[File:Old Bellamy Road sign01.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Street name sign for the former Bellamy Road at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 41 in Florida|US 41]]/[[U.S. Route 441 in Florida|441]] south of [[O'Leno State Park]].]]
-Bellamy built the road using equipment and slaves from his plantation, and completed his portion of the road in 1826. The congressional act state that the road was to be {{convert|25|ft|m}} wide, but the contract with Bellamy required that the road only be {{convert|16|ft|m}} wide. Tree stumps were to cut as close to the ground as possible, in order to clear a wagon's axles. Travelers quickly complained that the road was not always wide enough to let two wagons pass, that the bridges were inadequate, and that some stumps ("stump knockers") were too tall, jolting passengers and breaking axles.<ref name=stump/><ref name=boyd/>
+Bellamy built the road using equipment and slaves from his plantation, and completed his portion of the road in 1826. The congressional act stated that the road was to be {{convert|25|ft|m}} wide, but the contract with Bellamy required that the road only be {{convert|16|ft|m}} wide. Tree stumps were to cut as close to the ground as possible, in order to clear a wagon's axles. Travelers quickly complained that the road was not always wide enough to let two wagons pass, that the bridges were inadequate, and that some stumps ("stump knockers") were too tall, jolting passengers and breaking axles.<ref name=stump/><ref name=boyd/>
 The Bellamy Road followed the general route of the Spanish Royal Road (''el Camino Real'') or Old Mission Trail, used by Native Americans and Spanish missionaries, running from [[Mission San Luis de Apalachee]] near Tallahassee to St. Augustine. It headed eastward through present-day [[Jefferson County, Florida|Jefferson County]], and then crossed the [[Aucilla River]] by ferry into [[Madison County, Florida|Madison County]]. The road continued eastward most of the way across Madison County until close to the [[Suwannee River]], turning south into [[Lafayette County, Florida|Lafayette County]]. The road crossed the Suwannee River by ferry into [[Suwannee County, Florida|Suwannee County]] and ran southward close to the Suwannee River. It then passed into [[Columbia County, Florida|Columbia County]], running past the [[Fig Springs mission site]] on the [[Ichetucknee River]] and entering [[Alachua County, Florida|Alachua County]] using the natural bridge of the [[Santa Fe River (Florida)|Santa Fe River]] at [[O'Leno State Park]]. The road continued across northern Alachua County to near [[Lake Santa Fe]]. From there, the route of Bellamy Road forms the current boundary between the northwest part of [[Putnam County, Florida|Putnam County]] and the southwest part of [[Clay County, Florida|Clay County]]. The road then crossed southeast Clay County, crossed the [[St. Johns River]] at Picolata, and continued through [[St. Johns County, Florida|St. Johns County]] to St. Augustine.<ref name=boyd/>
+[[File:Old Bellamy Road sign.jpg|thumb|Informational sign]]
+Neil Coker, a former slaved interviewed by the WPA, describes the Bellamy Road and its history, including stating that Mr. Bellamy exploited it as a toll road.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12297|title = Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume III, Florida Narratives}}</ref>
+In 1979, the road was designated as a Florida Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=155320 |title=Bellamy Road Historical Marker |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=The Historical Marker Database |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref>
+== See also ==
+* [[First American Road in Florida]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 16: / Line 28: @@
 *[http://heritage.acld.lib.fl.us/1101-1150/1109.html Bellamy Road (Alachua County Library District; Heritage Collection)]
 *[http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=alachua Florida Division of State: Historical Markers (Alachua County, Florida)]
-*[https://archive.is/20130222175608/http://static-71-126-182-50.washdc.fios.verizon.net/Marker.asp?Marker=49506 Site of Pensacola - St Augustine Road (Historical Marker Database)]
+*[https://archive.today/20130222175608/http://static-71-126-182-50.washdc.fios.verizon.net/Marker.asp?Marker=49506 Site of Pensacola - St Augustine Road (Historical Marker Database)]
 <!-- need to fill in the remaining counties here -->
+{{coord|29.901943|-82.58383|display=title}}
 [[Category:Historic trails and roads in Florida]]
@@ Line 32: / Line 46: @@
 [[Category:Roads in Putnam County, Florida]]
 [[Category:Roads in St. Johns County, Florida]]
+[[Category:1820s establishments in Florida Territory]]