GUIDE TO THE

GEORGE W. HASTINGS PAPERS

1882-1926

.35 cubic feet

MSS 2003

PROCESSED BY

MIMI KLUG

JUNE 2003

Biographical Note

George William Hastings was born in Connecticut on Jan 4, 1827. At an early age he came to Ohio. For several years he studied the printing trade in the office of the "Oberlin Evangelist". In 1852 Hastings moved to Springfield, Ohio where he purchased a printing establishment and began the publication of a journal known as the "Dollar Weekly Nonpareil", which became a daily paper the following year. Mr. Hastings and his partner, C.M. Nichols, purchased another paper, the "Tri Weekly Republic" which later became the the well known "Republic". The firm continued to prosper and acquired other daily papers in the course of time. The story of Hastings’ success is told in the fact that for 30 years he was the leading publisher of Springfield.

In 1884 Mr. Hastings moved to Interlachen, Florida because of ill health. He operated several orange groves and established a citrus nursery. Hastings began purchasing many parcels of land until he had bought up the east end of the present town of Interlachen.

George Hastings died at Springfield, Ohio in 1916. His son, Harry G. Hastings, established the H.G. Hastings Company, which became one of the largest seed houses in America. Harry also published "The Ruralist" which later became the "Progressive Farmer", the South’s most prominent agricultural bulletin.

Scope and Content

There are approximately 100 deeds, including some mortgages and leases, that pertain to Interlachen, Florida. Many of these are handwritten and date from 1881. Included in the collection are various plat maps and lists of Hastings properties. The collection also includes old photographs of people and places, correspondence with the Land Office in Gainesville, Florida, some personal papers, and a copy of Hastings’ 19 page autobiography.

Organization

The collection consists of 11 folders arranged in numerical order. They are contained in one box.

Provenance

The collection was donated in 1993.

Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Subject Headings

Hastings, George W. - Archives

Interlachen (Fla.) - Early history - 19th century

Interlachen (Fla.) - Photographs - 19th century

Florida - History - Legal Documents

Putnam County (Fla.) - Land Titles - 19th century

FOLDER 1

Family History

Item 1 Autobiography - "Sketch of the Life of George William Hastings"

Item 2 Genealogies - Hastings

FOLDER 2

19th Century photos of Interlachen, Florida and family photos.

FOLDER 3

Same as folder 2

FOLDER 4

Hastings’ correspondence with the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, and the U.S. Land Office in Gainesville, Florida. (Hastings was contesting the claim of the Florida Railway to a certain tract of land.)

FOLDER 5

Plat maps of Interlachen, FL.

FOLDER 6

A Schedule of Florida Property. Also, listings of various properties owned by Hastings. Most are undated.

FOLDER 7

Deeds dating from 1882. Warranty Deeds and other legal papers.

BOX 2

COCOA-MERRITT ISLAND BRIDGE SERIES

FOLDER 1

1913. Handwritten letter from Otto Grosse pertaining to a mass meeting to discuss a bridge from Cocoa to Merritt Island.

FOLDER 2

1915. "Method of Procedure". Handwritten and signed by Rogers.

FOLDER 3

1915-1917. Soundings, test borings, and dredge fill.

FOLDER 4

1915. Requests from various companies to furnish lumber, reinforced concrete & steel, and draw bridge. Itemized estimate of total cost $95,172.00.

FOLDER 5

1915. More requests from companies interested in bidding.

FOLDER 6

1916 Feb-May. Correspondence with Gus Edwards and local businesses concerning approval of bonds and type of bridge. A six page draft of the bridge specifications.

FOLDER 7

1916. Advertisement for sale of gold bonds to finance bridge. Gives a glowing account of Cocoa and "Merritt’s Island".

FOLDER 8

1916 July. Notice To Bidders.

FOLDER 9

1916 Aug. Inquiries & proposals from various companies.

FOLDER 10

1916 Sept. More inquiries & proposals.

FOLDER 11

1916-1917 More inquiries & proposals.

FOLDER 12

Handwritten list of contractors and payments to them.

Cocoa and Merritt Island Roadwork Series.

FOLDER 13

1915, 1916. Estimates on paving Cocoa roads. Notice To Bidders.

FOLDER 14

1917. Cost of bridge and connecting roads on Merritt Island. Also a letter from A.A. Buck suggesting using "shell from convenience of using mounds" to resurface the marl roads.

FOLDER 15

1918-1920. Includes 5 letters from Gus Edwards on the different routes across Merritt Island to New Found Harbor.