Myakka: A Community Portrait

Myakka: A Community Portrait

Courtesy of Melissa Brewer, who obtained it from the Sarasota County Historical Association on June 17, 2003 and transcribed by Spessard Stone. Document is undated. The deaths of some of the people mentioned leads one to believe this was done in early to mid 1980s. Charlotte Tucker stated she came to Myakka City in 1968 and had been there sixteen years; therefore, 1984 is most likely when it was written.

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction

2. History

3. Religion

4. Education

5. Family

6. Community

7. Tradition And Change

Inroduction

Myakka is another Florida, away from the usual vacation spots, crowded beaches, and large, fast growing cities. Myakka is Florida of vast cattle ranches, citrus groves, forests, rivers, and streams. The purpose of this booklet is to present a portrait of the people who live in the small rural communities of Miakka and Myakka City. These communities, which are found along the Myakka River in West Central Florida, are representative of much of the interior of the State, and through this booklet and corresponding slide/tape show the people of the area, express their feelings and concerns on a number of important topics. The project focuses on the unique lifestyles and the values which Myakka residents share and explores aspects of tradition and change.

This project would not have been possible without the full cooperation and willing support of the people of Myakka, especially: Joan Albritton, Larry and Rose Albritton, Maura and Mildred Albritton, Ruth Albritton, Zelda Altman, Amax Chemical Corporation, Tom Bozer, Peter Burkard, Henry Carlton, Mabry and Barbara Carlton, Bill Crowley, Joe Crowley, Fave Delorato, Susan Dodge, Teddy Douglas, Captain Robert Dye, Pam Gibson, Van Glenndening, Olin Hancock, William S. Hancock, Buck Hawkins, Leonard and Nellie Hendry, the James Family, Keith Ludwig, Bobby and Jill Maddox, Robert and Sylvia Mayfield, John McCarthy, the McDonald Family, Bill and Diane McLeod, Les and Mary Murphy, Mike Murphy, Myakka City Baptist Church, Myakka City Church of God, Myakka City Community Association, Myakka City United Methodist Church, Earl and June Ness, Old Miakka Community Club, Old Miakka Methodist Church, Henry and Julia Parrish, Emily Putnal, Pete and Ellen Richardson, Willie Tatum (1), Joe and Libby Warner, Tissie Watson, Fannie Payne Wilcox.

“Myakka Florida: A Community Portrait” is a project funded, in part, by the Florida Endowment for the Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The project was developed by the Crowley Museum and Nature Center, a local museum, with support from Florida Folklife Programs, a bureau of the Department of State’s Division of Archives, History and Records Management established to document folk traditions throughout Florida.

History

Miakka (or Old Miakka) was settled around 1850 by a party of cattlemen. The population in 1885 was estimated to be about 100. Before the turn of the century, Miakka residents had established a school, church, post office, country store, and a telephone service. Miakka has retained its agricultural base, but today only the Methodist church remains from the original town structures. Miakka is now a residential community without stores, schools, or commercial establishments. The old school house is used as a meeting hall for the fire department, and the community club, while one of the old general stores is used as a workshed by the original owner’s descendant.

Many people here are particular about the spelling of Miakka. The common story is that when Miakka was registered on the federal map for a post office, the man who sent in the request wrote so poorly that they couldn’t read it, so the little settlement went on the federal papers as being spelled with a “y” instead of an “i.” Some folk refer to the community as Old Miakka, but others insist on simply Miakka.

Old Miakka is older and less developed than Myakka City which is about 15 miles to the northeast. Myakka City was settled almost overnight as a planned development, designed to take advantage of the new East and West Coast Railroad line. Both the railroad and Myakka City were officially opened April 28, 1915. The town grew fast, and an ad placed in a local newspaper later that year read:

"Where the railroad crosses the Myakka River in the center of the Fruit Farms’ tract of 10,000 acres is located that new wonderful Myakka City.

"Now only 10 months old and growing a pace. Has already three retail stores, a large wholesale warehouse, post office, hotel, schoolhouse, office building, railroad passenger station, garage, livery and 14 bungalows or private residences. East Myakka has two mills and a turpentine plant, furnishing employment to over 100 men.
"These lands with main ditches completed and close to the town can be purchased in tracts of five acres or more at an average of $50 per acre, very easy terms. We will also plant and build up groves on terms." - Manatee River Journal, December 23, 1915.

During the Depression, Myakka City lost some of its population and industry, but it is once again experiencing growth.

"When I first came here, there was only one restaurant and a filling station, no beauty shops; and now we have two restaurants, two filling stations, a feed shop, a hardware store that wasn’t here and we’re going to be getting a new building built for a feed store." - Charlotte Tucker

Numerous other small communities were founded in the area during the pioneer days, but little if anything remains of them except the names. Pine Level, Sandy, Sidell, Verna, Sardis, Edgeville, Midway, Honore, Utopia, and so on.

People in the Myakka River area are proud of their history and enjoy sharing their knowledge with others. Many of the residents are related to the pioneering families that settled this rural area and enjoy recounting the oral history of Miakka, Myakka City, and other nearby places. Visitors to the area may see the historic buildings and artifacts, read the written records and documents, or listen to the stories and anecdotes of the local residents. All of these resources bring the history and folk culture of Myakka alive.

Religion

One of the most important aspects of life that reflects the traditional values of Myakka residents is that of religion. A church was always among the first buildings in a new community, and the congregations would worship at camp meetings, tent revivals, and in brush arbors before the buildings were completed. In the past, circuit riding preachers served a number of churches, and for many years the same preacher served both Miakka and Myakka City. There are several small wooden churches in the area which have been standing since the pioneer days.

"I can see a sense of proudness in our members’ eyes whenever they bring a visitor in to the church and the visitor can see how unique and different our church architectural structure is. They are impressed by the furnishings and the age of the church and they really get a good message while they are out here." - Nellie Hendry

The Myakka City Methodist Church and the Myakka City Baptist Church have an interesting history of cooperation.

"They had two Sundays...which the Methodist Church was the second and fourth Sundays and the Baptist had theirs on the first and third. I was in the Baptist Church as much as the Methodist as far as that. Even today they get together on Easter; when there was just the Methodist and Baptist, we went over to the Baptist Church, the Methodist preacher preached, and if we came to the Methodist Church, the Baptist preacher preached. We’ve done that for years. If it was at the Baptist Church, the Baptist choir did the singing and took the lead and when it got time to preach, the Methodist preacher preached. And we reversed it. And if it was at our church, then we had coffee and doughnuts served afterwards and they did it at their church. So one year our church would take the lead ad the next year the other church would take the lead. It worked out real good. We had one in the park this last year, we had Sunrise Service in the park, and our preacher preached this one. Well the Church of God has just started here, you know... Course with the Church of God, we’ll just probably rotate with them and have three." - Bryan and Irene Carlton.(2)

Each church in the area has its own way of worship and fellowship, but each serves to bring people together.

"We have young people who attend the church, and we have middle aged and older people...Yes, I think there is a variety. I do think that everybody is going there for the same purpose, to enhance their religion and learn to serve God a little better today than yesterday...We especially appreciate it when we see young people, the teenagers especially, are our greatest assets. They are the future leaders of this church." - Nellie Hendry

Religion is important in community life for it defines and passes on traditions and values to the young. The church brings families and friends together through worship and fellowship, especially at events such as baptisms and marriages.

"I think it is important for marriages...and I think maybe makes up the relationship with our own family group, the reason why we can share and have our own family enjoyment that we do, because, not that we don’t make mistakes, but because we’re willing to forgive each other’s mistakes, work from that area. It’s real important, yes. I think we have to love through thick and thin or just any problem we go through. They know we’ll be available. They’ve put us to the test; they know it. So if something comes up that they really need us, they know that if there is any way we can get there, we’ll be there. And I think this is important to them. They’ve got someone there they can turn to. And I think it still goes back to our religious foundation and our religious beliefs because of the training from this era has passed on down the ways. We trained them. Now, I won’t say they’re always there now, but as a family growing up, this was one of the things we expected of them - to be at the church on Sunday morning, to be at Sunday school and at church. And they knew that as long as they lived at our home that this was a requirement. They might have a date even as teenagers and come in late the night before, but they knew that the next morning when it was churchtime that we expected them to be in the House of the Lord, and they respected us for this." - Bryan and Irene Carlton.

In the past, church socials were just about the only type of regular social activity in Myakka. Today there are a variety of community events, but the church-sponsored activities are still important. Each church has its own special events that build cohesiveness within the congregation.

"Along with the church’s activities, we always have the annual Homecoming. It’s usually held in April because we feel like we want to have this big feast before the love bugs descend upon us. So we send out invitations to all the members whether they live nearby in Sarasota or out of town so that they can come to the Homecoming. And see, it’s kind of like a reunion day for families. And then we have two or three hundred people here for the occasion, and everybody brings their favorite pots filled with their choice foods, and we always have swamp cabbage which is provided by a local family every year. And it’s just a good time of fellowship and a good time of food.
"On special occasions, like Easter, we have a service on Good Friday at night. And at Thanksgiving time, we have a Thanksgiving Eve service, at which time the altar is decorated with garden produce and nuts and fruits from your growing. And usually those foods that are brought are shared between the members. The one who brings them shares them and we have the pleasure of looking at them up on the altar. They do look pretty. At Easter time we just have Easter lilies. If a local family is given an Easter lily by their son or daughter or a friend, they usually bring that plant to the church and share it on Easter Sunday and then take it home after service. At Christmas usually the children put on the program for us. And they sing their songs and recite their poems and they look very proud as they stand up there displaying their talents, too. And they are so sweet. You look at the child and think, “Well, ten years from now he’s going to look like a different person,” and so we’re glad we got to see him do this at this age." - Nellie Hendry

"On fifth Sundays they used to have sings, singing conventions in Myakka City, and everybody from all over the area would go to them. Some of them used to come from Orlando. They had big crowds, they’d have dinner on the grounds." - Fleta Carlton

"If you like quartet singing or different part singing where one person sings one part and one another, this is the type of people, most of them are older people. That is what they call the Union Sing, and they’ve held that for years and years and years." - Bryan and Irene Carlton

Education

In founding a new community, the pioneers provided for educational needs as well as the spiritual needs, and schools were established early in the life of a settlement. The school house in Old Miakka was built before 1916, but no one now remembers the exact date.

"They did not have grades in those days, but rather gauged the progress of the students by the number of the book they were in the process of studying-namely book one, book two, or book three. There was only one teacher for the entire school which gradually reached as many as 50 students at one time. The school teacher generally resided with one of the families in the community, sometimes taking turns with each family...Schools in those days only lasted five months out of the year, which gave plenty of time for students to help with the family crops and other chores. Even when school was in progress, they always took a day off for wash day, when all the children stayed home to help with this very important chore." - Jasper Crawley

A favorite story of the people of Myakka is how the school teacher during the Depression would bring a pot of meat to school each day, and all of the children would bring something to add to it: an onion, a potato, or some cabbage. They would put it all into the pot with some water, and put the pot on the wood stove. By lunchtime they had a stew, and that was the first “hot lunch program” in the area.

The old school building in Miakka is now used as a meeting house for the community club and fire department. A fund is being established for its restoration and maintenance as a significant historic structure. In the past each community had its own small school, but now Myakka City has the only operating school in the region. Children in other outlying area are bussed to Bradenton, Sarasota, or Arcadia.

"Right now, just being there for sixteen years, I’m teaching my second generation of students. But what is interesting is to know that your father went there, or your grandfather went there. And I had one little boy this past year who checked out a library book and he looked in the front of the book and his father’s name was in the front of the book. And a lot of children are kin to each other. Of course, we have some new people moving in, but everybody’s kin to everybody else. If you talk to someone and find out a little bit about him, you’ll find out that if they’re old timers (come from families that have been here for a while) everybody seems to be kin to somebody else. And the education that the children gave me! I didn’t realize that Florida was made up of the ranches. They taught me all about that; they brought me in the different kinds of citrus that was growing. And each morning we’d have sort of a sharing time. Now I find that I’m so caught up in the skills and doing this and that."

"But that first year they brought me in sugarcane, they told me about eating the sugarcane. They also brought me in rattlesnake meat to eat and armadillo. They also brought me cane syrup which I’d never tried. Also the first year a little girl (I’d never been much on riding horses) invited me out to her house and took me horseback riding. And those are just a few of the things I learned in the very beginning."
"When I first came, there was a teacherage. To me, that was one of the most interesting things. I think there were only two in the state of Florida. Since the school is so far out and it was hard to get teachers, they had a house for the teachers to live in on the property. I was the last one to live in the school teacherage. They took the teacherage away in 1972 or ‘73, and they moved it down on the river about two miles from the school, maybe a mile and a half. There are people living on the property, but it has a trailer beside it now. The school system sold it for $500, but it was a completely furnished house right down to the dishes. Everything (well, not linens), but a nice home for the teachers to live in." - Charlotte Tucker

Today, school-sponsored events provide a central focus for community interaction in the rural Myakka area.

"The school, since it is geographically isolated, is sort of a center for entertainment. And I think it is one of the reasons we have such a turnout for the programs. We don’t have anything else, and we really do get the support. Now I don’t know if that is one reason they feel the way they do about this little school, why it has such a strong backing. But we really get the support from the parents.

"We have a Halloween Carnival. I know that if it is in any way possible, our PTA will try to help me get something for my classroom. Our PTA has one of the highest amounts of money in their treasury in all of Manatee County. Over in west Bradenton they might be more affluent, but the parents out here, they really support the PTA. And our PTA, when they have their Halloween Carnival, they make something like $3,000, and they use this money to buy things for the school. It also makes a difference in the discipline. I know that parents (the fact that the children aren’t bussed out of the area, and I can get on the telephone and talk with the parents) they’ll support me in every way. And this is one reason that I’ve enjoyed staying at the school. For sixteen years I’ve been here; the only school I’ve ever taught in. But this is the thing that keeps me here, knowing that I’ve had the backing of the parents. Well, we always have Christmas programs, and we have Spring programs. And the Middle School in town, they might not have their graduation, but the difference that I see out here is that the eighth grade graduation is a big deal out here. And to see the reaction of the children when they’re leaving here! I don’t know if I’m really qualified to speak of the difference, having always taught in this school, but it wasn’t that way when I was in Middle School. When these children leave this little school and go into town, they make a big deal of the graduation.

"When I came to Myakka City in 1968, there were less than sixty students in the school, and now there are over two hundred and fifty. They were all combined classrooms. We had no special classes like learning disabilities or speech. Now we have a P. E. coach, and we’ve added quite a few. We’ve added some buildings, four more buildings have been added and a new cafeteria. When I came here, there were only four members to the staff, one worker in the cafeteria, and one janitor. Now there are between twenty-five and thirty on our staff." - Charlotte Tucker

Family

Families were, and continue to be, the nucleus of Myakka society. In the past, large families were common for economic stability where many hands were needed to accomplish farm labor.

"Times were hard during those days, but we all enjoyed each other as a family. We hunted, we fished, we provided. We had rabbits for meals; we had squirrel, quail, we killed a beef once in a while. My dad, he farmed. We just had a joyful time together working as a family." - Larry Albritton

Family life in Myakka continues to be close-knit. Many times three or four generations will live on the same property, reflecting agrarian patterns that continue to flourish in this rural environment.

"This property here, that we are sitting on right now has been in the Carlton family for four generations, my daughters represent the fourth generation of ownership of the land. We have been in the state, my daughters represent the eighth generation to live in the state of Florida. So, we, along with several other families, are the lucky ones that have been here for quite a while. Mr. Longino’s family, let’s see, going back, I think one of his older daughters, I believe now would represent the fourth generation of the Longino family here in Sarasota County, and the same would hold true for Mr. Daughtery, for four generations. Really, the newest addition would be the Waltons, they’ve only been here for eight or ten years, but the Daughterys and the Longinos and the Carltons and the Harrisons have been here for a long time. Well it indicates to me that man and nature have learned to live together in harmony and produce and survive year after year, I think it’s a unique association between man and nature for the same people to be able to live in the same areas from generation to generation, and still be able to have a high quality of life, be able to make a living, produce." - T. Mabry Carlton, Jr.(3)

Family reunions are common in Myakka, and many people are related to each other through the pioneer family lines. Extended families stay in touch even after sons or daughters move away.

"We always tried to do things with the children when they were growing up; we tried to plan things for them. Yet we’ve tried to let them be free, too. We haven’t tried to pin them just to our world. They each have a different type of work area they work in and a different type of life; they each one have a different type of life but yet when they come back home it’s still as if they had just left and all. Their attitudes are still the same, that this is home. And I appreciate the daughters-in-law being this was too and all. When they come in, they make me feel like they’re part of the family, too, and all, and it’s always special to come in. And, of course, we just turn them loose and let them be free, and if they’re living in town this is just the wide open spaces as far they are concerned, and they just enjoy getting out and really playing. They don’t go that far away or do that much, but it’s just the idea that they can get out and really have a good time.

"The first thing our grandchildren want us to do is go for a tractor ride when they get here. Before their visit’s over, he’s either taken them out and taken them for a ride on the tractor or hooked the trailer up and taken them for a ride with the trailer. And this is something they’ve always looked forward to. And I think these are the little things that make it special for them to want to come." - Irene Carlton

Community

Church, school, and family events are augmented by community activities to define the meaning of “Myakka.” Young people would gather regularly. Traditional community events of the past included chicken pileau dinners, sugarcane boiling parties, and quilting bees.

"It was different then from what it is now. Back during that time we had parties; oh, we’d have a party at my house one night, and then we’d have a party at a friend’s house and the young’uns would all gather around for refreshments, we didn’t have it like we do now. We made fudge or syrup candy and pull it, get out and play games.
"I have a friend who taught school at Bethany, and she’d spend a weekend with me sometime and I’d spend a weekend with her. So, we were going to have a party at my house, and she told me, she says: “Well, I’ll tell you what to do. Let’s don’t cook the candy before they get here.” She says: “Let’s, (she was just from town, you know), she says, “Let’s wait until the crowd gathers and half of them can come in and cook the fudge, and then they can go out and play, and the other half come in and cook the syrup candy and then play awhile and, after a while, eat it.” I said, “All right.” I went along with it. Poor Daddy worked so hard, so the next morning (he was always good to me and he never fussed about it), but that time it kind of got to him. He says, “What in the Sam Hill was you all coming in and out of the house all night until twelve o’clock?” I says, “We were cooking the candy.” He says, “Well the next time, you cook it before they get here!” Well, you know, it kept him from sleeping--he worked, and so we didn’t do that no more.
"It was all goold clean, I say, it was all good clean fun. And on Sunday afternoon a lot of times we’d all get together and go to walk and pick Easter lilies and things like that. You know, pick flowers, and sometimes we’d go to walk and take pictures and all. I don’t know, it wasn’t dull. Oh, we’d play “Fishing for Love” and “Drop the Handkerchief” and we had a “Cobweb Party.” A “Cobweb Party,” you know, you have all the strings tied to a tree and then you would run that -- (it would be fixed before the party gathered, whoever gave the party would fix it, them and one of their friends would or somebody) -- they would take that string and run it up yonder and down around about, all around, you know. Then on one end of it they put just a little old prize. They couldn’t afford expensive things, just a little old prize. And then when we went to find the end of the string, we would pull all the girls’ names in a hat and all the boys’ names in a hat and draw names. And whoever’s names matched, that’s the ones that went together. They took that. See, I was with John, now. Me and him would take one of them strings, and he would go up ahead and undo it for me, you know, and I rolled it up on a stick until we got there.
"We all had a lot of fun. There’s enough people here in Myakka City that if they gather together and have parties like we used to, they would have wonderful times. No, they got to get in the car and go to town." -- Lois Payne (4)

Although times have changed, there are numerous community events today, such as the Myakka City Fire Department fundraising dinners and auction, teen dances, and youth groups, such as 4-H, and Scouts. Some of these activities take place at the Myakka City Civic Center. Both Myakka City and Old Miakka have civic associations that represent the community in political and community issues. They sponsor meetings and initiate change.

Tradition And Change

The people of the Myakka area make their living in a variety of ways. Many are retired, whereas others have small family or individual businesses. Some of these trades use skills which were more common in earlier times. Bee keeping is still a source of honey for commercial and home consumption. The blacksmith (ferrier), like the veterinarian, finds a ready market for his skills with the local ranches. Tax preparation, hair styling, machine repairing, and the selling of hay are offered from people’s homes. Of the communities in the area, only Myakka City has developed commercial establishments. Change is especially evident here.

"When I first came here, there was only one restaurant and a filling station, no beauty shops. And now we have two restaurants, two filling stations, a feed shop, a hardware store that wasn’t here, and we’re going to get a new building built for a feed store." - Charlotte Tucker

The young people in Myakka City face a vastly different world from that of their parents and grandparents, many of whom worked cattle in the open range with horses and dogs. The twentieth century has brought increasing complexity and mechanization to ranching and agricultural jobs, and local opportunities on the ranches are limited. Some young people will find employment in the Myakka area, but most will have to look elsewhere. This situation is a major concern to local residents who look forward to the future for their children.

"I led the Civic Center for several years, and most of the people in Myakka City welcome industry. We have a feeling for our younger generation; they need a place to work. We welcome industry in our town, long as we keep it clean and respectful for our kids and watch health hazards. We really welcome such as phosphate companies and the airport. We would welcome it. I, myself, am one that would welcome the airport out here. I really feel it would be a great benefit to the Myakka City area. We just welcome any kind of industry that would help the young people attain jobs when they get out of high school. They wouldn’t have to move off and go out of the county to go to work." - Larry Albritton

Not everyone, however, welcomes industrial growth. Numerous attempts at establishing a convenience store in the Old Miakka have failed because people here did not wish to stimulate further commercial growth. Many people like the isolated aspects of the area and feel that growth would destroy it.

The Myakka area also faces great residential growth. What was once pasture land is increasing being developed into planned subdivisions. The majority of the new homeowners are retired or commute into Sarasota or Bradenton where they hold a variety of jobs. As with other large issues, the community’s opinions are divided. At a recent hearing for a proposed housing development, arguments were presented both for and against the development.

One lifelong resident of the Myakka area, although an advocate for commercial growth, becomes nostalgic when recalling his youth:

"As far as deer hunting, there was a few deer. Turkey, we killed turkey. We lived pretty good. Which alligators that we killed, some we cut steaks off their tail and brought in. And we’d eat the alligator. We often had visitors that would come over and go fishin’ and catch fish. Sunday dinner, we’d fry up fish or maybe venison steak. Dad, he always had hogs, or would catch wild hogs, and we always had wild pork to eat. As time went by and years passed, I got married, raising three kids, purchased land, built a home. Times are different...There are hardly any place to hunt. Back in the old days the pasture was open, there wasn’t too many barbed wire fences. We could take an old cut-down automobile and drive most anywheres, or saddle the old horse up and ride most anywheres we wished to ride. Now everything’s posted,. Nobody wants you to trespass, nobody wants to interfere with any game because it belongs to the landowner in a manner of speaking. The wild game is all...belongs to the landowner and it’s all a thing of the past, what we used to do. We can’t do it. I don’t even have a place to take my young boy hunting." - Larry Albritton

Change is inevitable, but it is alo inevitable that people will maintain traditional values and strive for a healthy environment. Like every other community, the people of Myakka face the future with both hope and fear: hope for a better world to come and fear of losing a passing way of life. Almost all would like their children’s children to experience the Myakka that one woman remembers:

"The most peaceful thing in the world is to get on a good horse and just walk out in the woods and commute with nature, is what you do. You watch the wind in the pines, and blowing the moss around, and you watch it, the palmettos, the color of the palmettos, and how they change, and sometimes you’ll be fortunate enough to see a fox or see him there watching you. It’s just a peaceful time and you can rejuvenate your feelings, and it never failed with me. If I was upset or anything to just get out all by yourself with your horse, and it would work the same if you went for a walk, but it’s more or less that the horse was a silent companion, and a good one was at your beck and call, and you, and you were more or less one. They were so a part of you, you had a feeling for the horse and for the woods, and by the time you got out of there, you forgot all your grievances, and you came back home, and you felt ready to face it, whatever it was." - Libby Warner

Endnotes
(1) Willie McLeod Tatum was born March 17, 1917 and died in February 1995.
(2) Bryan Leslie Carlton was born June 13, 1923; died March 23, 1997. He married Lois Irene Payne, daughter of John W. and Alphia Lois (Jones) Payne.
(3) Thomas Mabry Carlton, Jr., was born January 21, 1935; died June 10, 1989. He married Barbara Blanton. Barbara and daughters, Lisa and Kim, are owners/managers of the Mabry Carlton Ranch, Inc. Lisa is State Senator from the 24th District.
(4) Lois Jones married on September 9, 1923 John Willingham Payne (1899-1984).

Kevin Sullivan, Night in Eastern Manatee County, July 2000