9 minute read
Exploring with Edwin McCook
EXPLORING THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL NORTH FLORIDA
By Jeweliana Curtis
What comes to mind when you think of old Florida? Do your thoughts immediately go to sweeping pastures and simpler times? Maybe you imagine beautiful land ready to be explored or seeing friendly faces on your weekly trip to town. Nostalgia of years past may arise, whether it be the distinct scent of your mother’s homemade biscuits baking, or memories of riding your bike to the local neighborhood market for a soda on a hot summer day. These are two special memories that Edwin McCook shared with us from his childhood that still stand out in his mind today. Edwin and his family have a long history in North Florida, and the love of this land has been passed down for many generations.
It all began with Edwin’s greatgrandfather, William A. McCook, who likely operated two ferries on the upper part of the Suwannee. Through various documents, the McCook family identi ed one of these ferries to be up near the Florida Sheri s Youth Ranches at the end of Foxtrail Road, and the second to be just above the Suwannee River State Park. William enjoyed the outdoors and passed on that love to his son.
“My grandfather and my father grew up near the river, and of course they both shed and hunted along the river. My father and I shed the river growing up, and then my son and I got to sh it as well,” Edwin shared. “Back then, we had open access to the properties. As my son grew up, he and I enjoyed the lands along the river under Suwannee River Water Management District land because those were all open to the public. Now, my grandsons and I get to do the same thing.” As a young boy, Edwin enjoyed bonding with his father on shing trips and outdoor adventures. His dad would take him and his brother to the bank of the river where they would sit for hours and sh.
“We would sit on the bank and catch cat sh, and we spent many an hour having a good time doing that together. He would also carry us squirrel hunting along the river periodically. I remember one story, on a Saturday morning my father took us cat shing and he shaved before he went. He ended up catching the most that day, and he told us that the reason he caught that many was because he shaved that morning. I was probably 10 or 11 years old at the time, and I remember thinking, ‘Well, maybe I should have shaved, too!’” Edwin laughed. “We had a good time on the river. It wasn’t about what we caught, it was about spending time together.”
Born in the early 1950s, Edwin expressed that he really enjoyed the rural lifestyle of North Florida. He was raised in Live Oak and spent much of his time around family. His grandfather on his mother’s side farmed, so he spent many days on the farm with him, learning how to crop tobacco and pick cotton, along with learning how to grow a garden.
“One year when my grandfather was sick, I actually grew his corn crop for him. I was a freshman in high school at the time and it was really ful lling,” Edwin shared. “My father taught me how to grow things as well. I never understood why my father worked his full-time job then came home and worked in the garden each day. My father was a foreman for a company that made poles for electric utilities and he worked out in the hot sun all day long, then he came home in the afternoon and went right to the vegetable garden. I never understood that until I became an adult. I really enjoy growing vegetables. For him, it served a twofold purpose. It put food on our table, plus it was like therapy for him. He was able to escape the pressures of work.”
Edwin took a page from his father’s handbook and learned how to grow a garden in adulthood as well, enjoying the fruits of his labor and the peace it brought him.
“I built a raised bed a few years ago, and I told my wife that for the money I had into it I could have bought a lot of vegetables at the grocery store, but it would have only paid for a few hours of couch time at the therapist,” Edwin said. “It’s really great therapy to go out and work in the garden, get your hands dirty and just watch things grow.”
Aside from a love of shing and gardening, Edwin shared that his mother and father instilled many values in him that he still honors today. They were family-oriented and adopted the philosophy of God rst, family second and everything else third. If you keep God as your rst priority and family as your next, everything else will fall into place.
“I had a great childhood. The things we learned on the farm… Those are things I learned that I wouldn’t take a million dollars for, but I’m also not sure I’d pay 50 cents to learn them again,” Edwin laughed.
The legacy of family continued for Edwin when he met and married his sweetheart of over 45 years, Carolyn. The couple married and ve years later welcomed their son, Adam. Edwin and Adam continued the traditions of exploring Florida and spending quality time together as he grew up. Now, Adam has a family of his own with his wife Jenny. They have two sons, Peyton and Landen, who also have a love for the outdoors.
Along with his personal interests, Edwin has always pursued his passion for serving others and has been working with the public for the entirety of his professional career. At just 13, Edwin began working at a local furniture store, Scott Furniture, in Live Oak where he continued to climb the ladder. In his early thirties, Edwin decided it was time for a career change. He soon took on the role of executive director for the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce where he worked with the community for 10 years. Many of his passion projects began at this time, including his involvement with Suwannee Bicycle Association and the Suwannee Bicycle Festival. An avid outdoorsman, this partnership was a match made in heaven as he could help bring tourism and business to the area through an activity he enjoyed. During his time as executive director, Edwin also played an instrumental role in bringing Live Oak’s beloved holiday festival, Christmas on the Square, to life.
Edwin’s next adventure brought him to the Suwannee River Water Management District where he serves as the Public Use Coordinator. This position allows him to play a role in maintaining the district land and help preserve all that beautiful North Florida has to o er. The stars aligned when Edwin joined the team as he brought all of his knowledge of the area to the table all while making a career out of his passion for conservation.
“Working at the Suwannee River Water Management District has been a godsend. I was looking for something like it, and the door opened. It’s truly like working with one big family,” Edwin explained. “Because the Suwannee River Water Management District owns land in this area and it is open to the public, I can continue those traditions that my grandfather did with his father, my father did with his father, and I did with my father. Now I get to continue that legacy with my son and my grandsons.”
Edwin’s passion for conservation and community resources is evident in his work. Over his career, Edwin has been involved with a number of the rail trails around the area, including The Suwannee River Greenway of Branford, O’Leno to Itchetucknee, the Four Freedoms Trail in Madison and the Woodpecker Trail at Big Shoals. He also worked on the bike trails with the Suwannee Bicycle Association both on the private side and now professionally with the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Aside from his passion for nature, Edwin also has found ful llment in community service and hobbies over the years. He is an avid conservation photographer of over 30 years and enjoys being a member of the Branford Camera Club. His photography is often utilized professionally by the Suwannee River Water Management District for social media, publications and the like. He is also an advocate for exercise, sharing that he meets up with his walking buddy each morning, ve days a week to walk three miles. Additionally, Edwin is a member of the Florida Trail Association and often utilizes his knowledge of the area to take interested groups on guided hikes, rides and paddling trips.
“Everytime you paddle or hike, you experience something new. Di erent seasons cause a change in scenery, and of course the weather changes things, too,” Edwin stated of his adventures. Whether the sun is shining in the middle of August or there’s an April shower brewing, there’s always a new sight to see in North Florida.
“My life motto is this: Every day is a good day, some are just better than others,” Edwin shared.
From his appreciation for farming and old Florida to his passion for conservation and preservation of the land, it’s clear to see that Edwin McCook is crafting an important legacy. His family ties in Florida run deep, dating back to his great-grandfather who operated a ferry to his father who passed on a love for shing, gardening and exploring. Edwin continues to pour those same values into his family and his community, creating a bright future for our part of the beloved Sunshine State.
“That’s the advantage of living in a small town; there are so many times that I am able to involve my son and my grandsons in things that we couldn’t do in a big city,” Edwin said. “I love where I live and I am blessed to be able to make such great memories here.” ■
