Evinston and McIntosh

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Evinston was part of the Arredondo Grant of 1817. In 1884, the station at this location of the Florida Southern Railroad was named "Evinston" and a general store/post office was built.

Until the 1890s, orange growing was important, but cold weather ended this pursuit.

The town contains a site on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the Evinston Community Store and Post Office.

The community of Evinston, Florida, situated on the Alachua-Marion County border, is part of the Spanish Arredondo Grant of 1817. In 1882 the present country store and post office were established. The community once consisted of two other stores, a schoolhouse, 3 churches, a blacksmith shop, 2 packing houses and a grist mill. This area was known for orange groves until the 1890's freezes. Other agricultural crops and cattle are still raised here. In 1956, the original railroad depot was moved and the railroad discontinued passenger service. Freight service continued until the tracks were removed in 1982. The Evinston community store, originally a warehouse, was built of heart pine in 1884 by W.P. Shettleworth. it was bought by Joseph Wolfenden, who first operated it as a store. The post office, established in 1882 was later moved into the building. The present store sits 100 feet south of its original location. It was moved in 1956 because of road paving. Located across from the railroad depot, it was a meeting place then as now. In 1909 H.D. Wood and Robert Evins bought the store. The later partnership of Wood and Swink, in 1934, is still indicated on the store front. Fred Wood became postmaster of Evinston in 1934 and served for 44 years, longer than any other postmaster in Florida. Still containing original post office boxes and equipment, this is one of the few remaining country store-post offices.

McIntosh dates to the early 1800s, when John H. McIntosh "squatted on property here" and thus would lend his name to a town not yet born. McIntosh really is like going back in time! Victorian and Florida cracker homes set among century-old live oak trees.

During an early Florida land boom, the railway brought in so many winter visitors to hunt and fish that a 19-room hotel was built in McIntosh in 1895. It closed in 1964. Today all that remains of the train service that ran from 1883 to 1973 are the depot and a few feet of track.

Both these little towns are fun to visit and take a look back into Florida's past.

GPS Coordinates

1) Evinston
29.4868, -82.2264

2) McIntosh
29.4487, -82.2224

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Please Visit Our Fine Sponsors During Your Visit to the Evinston/McIntosh area
Pure Water Wilderness
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