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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Donald Albury (talk | contribs) at 19:11, 21 November 2016 (copy edits, with new ref). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Street name sign for the former Bellamy Road at the intersection of US 41/441 south of O'Leno State Park.

The Bellamy Road was the first major U.S. federal highway in early territorial Florida.

Land travel and transportation in Florida prior to its acquisition by the United States was by foot over trails. The Spainish 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 improved 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. John Bellamy of Monticello, with the endorsement of Florida Territorial Governor William Duval, offered to construct the road between Tallahassee and St. Augustine for US$13,500. The Army, which was responsible for constructing the road, contracted with Bellamy, and the Tallahassee to St. Augustine section became known as Bellamy's (or Bellamy) Road.[3][4]

Bellamy built the road using equipment and slaves from his plantation, and completed his portion of the road in 1826. The road was supposed to be 25 feet (7.6 m) wide, with all tree stumps cut low enough to clear a wagon's axles, but 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 were too tall, causing wagons to bump over them (stump knockers).[4]

The original road crossed Alachua County along the route of the Old Mission Trail, a trail widely used by Indians and Franciscan missionaries, running from near Santa Fe Lake through a swampy, forested hammock between present-day O'Leno State Park and River Rise Preserve State Park. It is here where the Santa Fe River disappears underground and travels three miles (5 km) before re-appearing. This area became a perfect natural crossing for the road. It was the first Federal highway in Florida, and opened the interior of north Florida to settlers.

Remnants of the old sand road are used today and part of the Bellamy Road forms the county line between the northwest part of Putnam County and the southwest part of Clay County.

References

  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. Retrieved 21 November 2016. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  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.
  4. ^ a b Hunt, Brian. "The Stump Knocker: Bellamy's Road". Home Living in Greater Gainesville. Retrieved 21 November 2016.


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