Wauchula, Fla., September 19--
This village is a regular station on the Florida Southern railroad in DeSoto county, at a point fifty-one miles north of Punta Gorda and twenty-five miles south of Bartow.
It has five general merchandise stores, one drug store, a postoffice, and one excellent shoemaker with shop in operation. It has a most admirably managed hotel, a first class physician, a depot under the control of an agent, who keeps the freight, passeng- er and telegraphic departments in excellent order.
The Missionary Baptists and Methodists have organized churches. The Sunday-school has about one hundred regular scholars enrolled and meets every Sunday.
The public school numbers 120 scholars, under Rev. T. J. Sparkman, principal, and Miss Mary A. Payne, assistant, each of whom is highly esteemed here.
There is also a prosperous Masonic lodge.
Rich lands are in great abundance on the east and west of town, interspersed with orange groves so numerous and well developed as to contribute to constitute the chief basis of wealth, present and prospective.
Wauchula furnishes a vast amount of railway timbers, such as cross-ties and pilings.
The only water-power grist mill in south Florida is located nearby, and is a success.
There is one large saw mill which has been doing business here several years, and another near at hand.
The Scott phosphate works, now in successful operation, give employment to many hands, distribute thousands of dollars, and will long continue so to do.
Nathan Cochran, merchant, recently displayed a bunch of sugar-cane from one planted stalk, having thirty-six stalks averaging seven feet each in height and matured.
This article was published in The Herald-Advocate (Wauchula, Fla.) of September 12, 1991.
May 24, 2001 & links = October 16, 2001