Florida Frontiers

 Ellen Call Long, eldest daughter of former territorial Governor Richard Keith Call, died in Tallahassee on this date. Born in 1825 in Tallahassee to Mary Letitia Kirkman Call and Richard K. Call, she split her childhood between her family’s plantation in Tallahassee and the Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Plantation in Tennessee. Ellen married lawyer Maricus Long in 1844 and had two children who survived into adulthood. By 1851, her father had deeded his plantation in Tallahassee, known as The Grove, to Ellen and her growing family. Richard K.

 The town of LaCrosse in Alachua County was incorporated on this date. Located about 15 miles north of Gainesville, LaCrosse was founded as an agricultural village in the mid-19^th century. Major crops included cotton, velvet beans and corn. LaCrosse has remained a small rural community of just over 360 according to the 2010 census. 

The home of John Ringling opened to the public on this date. Ringling was one of five brothers who owned and operated the Ringling Brothers Circus, known as “the greatest show on earth.” John Ringling became one of the wealthiest men in America and decided to build a grand palace in Sarasota in 1924. The 36,000 square foot home, known as the Ca’ d’Zan, cost an unprecedented $1.5 million to complete. John and his wife Mable began collection famous pieces of art from European masters and eventually opened a museum on the property in 1931.

 Industrialist and cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor died in Tampa on this date. Born in Valencia Spain on September 7, 1818, Ybor moved to Cuba in 1832 and by 1856 had founded his own cigar manufacturing business there. During the Ten Year’s War in Cuba, Ybor moved to Key West to continue his cigar operations. By 1885 Ybor again moved his operations, this time to Tampa on Florida’s west coast. After receiving a subsidy from Tampa’s Board of Trade, he and his business partners began work on a company town that would become known as Ybor City.

Col. David Lang, Confederate veteran from Florida, died in Tallahassee on this date. Lang was born in Camden County Georgia in 1838 and attended the Georgia Military Academy, graduating in 1857. Lang joined the 1^st Florida Infantry in early 1861 and later served with 8^th Florida Infantry during the Civil War. He was involved in some of the major battles of the war including Antietam, Gettysburg, the Battle of Cold Harbor and was leading the Florida brigade when they surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the oldest church in Palatka, was established on this date. Construction on the church was completed by 1854. One of the church’s earliest members was Florida’s first governor William D. Moseley. Prior to the Civil War, services were performed by visiting vicars and only during the winter months. During the war, Union troops occupied the church and extensive renovation was required in the late 1860s. The original structure remains intact, although it has been modified and expanded upon over the years.

Renowned horticulturist Lue Gim Gong first arrived in DeLand on this date. Best known for his contributions to the citrus-growing industry in Florida, Lue was originally from Canton China. He moved to the United States in 1872 and became a citizen in 1877. Lue began cross-pollinating oranges and developed a cold-resistant grapefruit variety. The Lue Gim Gong variety of orange (now commonly known as the Valencia) is still grown in Florida today. Lue lived in DeLand for 40 years and is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery. 

Captain Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. became one of the first American casualties of WWII after Pearl harbor, flying bombing raids against the Japanese in the Far East on this date. Capt. Kelly was a native Floridian born and raised in Madison. He graduated from West Point Academy in 1937 and became the first Army Officer to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress in the Far East. Capt. Kelly heroically piloted his damaged B-17 bomber until his crew had safely bailed out of the aircraft, sacrificing his own life.

Dale Van Sickle, right end for the Florida Gators was voted to the First Team College Football All American squad, the first UF player to receive the honor. Van Sickle was born in Eatonton Georgia but grew up in Gainesville and began his academic career at UF in 1927. Along with football, Van Sickle played both varsity baseball and basketball, although he is most famous for his post-collegiate Hollywood acting and stuntman career, which spanned over 30 years.  

Apollo 17, the final manned mission to the moon, and the first night launch of a U.S. manned spacecraft, lifted off from Cape Canaveral on this date. Astronauts Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt spent 12 days in space, three of which were spent on the surface of the moon. The crew conducted a number of unique scientific experiments while on the surface of the moon to help scientists better understand the properties of this celestial object. All three astronauts landed safely back on earth on December 19^th.