Newberry
The Newberry area was settled in the mid-1860s by families drawn to the rich soils in the area. The discovery of phosphates in the 1890s changed the pace of life with people showing up almost overnight to work the mines. The town was officially incorporated in 1895. Railroads came in to haul out the phosphate, with Henry Plant extending his Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad Line from High Springs to Archer in 1893 and the Cummer Lumber and Phosphate Company completing its Jacksonville and Southwestern Railroad line a few years later. Drugstores, hotels, barbers, photographers, milliners, dentists, and doctors were among the many thriving businesses established in town. Pool halls and an opera house were two popular forms of entertainment. Miners filled the town on weekends and brawls and shootings kept the town’s three doctors busy. W.N. “Doc” Barry, Sr. described Newberry as “a real wild west town in the East.” Boom times ended when World War I cut off Germany, the principal buyer of phosphate. Visitors passed along the edge of town on the Tamiami Trail, paved to serve the new tourist destinations of Tampa and Miami. Agriculture proved the mainstay of Newberry’s prosperity. The annual Watermelon Festival, founded in 1946, pays tribute to this enduring cash crop, featuring beauty pageants, watermelon rolling, seed-spitting and hogcallling, as well as pie and cake baking contests. Today’s Newberry looks to preserve its integrity as a town with its own schools, thriving Main Street, and historic buildings. Surrounding farms continue to grow watermelons, while sports and recreation facilities are bringing in a new form of prosperity. Newberry’s downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Little Red Schoolhouse, above, dates from c. 1910. City Hall is built in a vernacular style of Florida architecture that originated in the area and utilizes local limestone from Newberry and High Springs. Of the many downtown shops and eateries, it is worth mentioning the landmark Backyard BBQ as a local favorite. Owner Rocky Voglio is a major contributor to Newberry’s civic and recreational programs.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: GoNewberry.com additional info: Cityofnewberryfl.com NewberryChamber.com Photos above, Newberry’s main street, the historic Little Red School House, photos by Lois Fletcher; Newberry City Hall, photo by Sean Dowie.
WWW.VISITGAINESVILLE.NET 28 www.FloridasEden.org
Watermelon Festival, held annually in May NewberryWatermelonFestival.com
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