Georgia-Florida Plank Road Company
Encyclopedia
The Georgia-Florida Plank Road Company was 1 of 5 such roads authorized by the Florida legislature
in 1850 but this was the only one built. Joseph Chaires and Green Chaires, plantation owners, were granted a charter for the plank road company. The original plan laid-out was for the road to start near Newport
, Florida
and run to near Thomasville, Georgia
with spurs
to Tallahassee
, Monticello
and Quincy
.
By 1852, The Plank Road was completed to Old St. Augustine Road and the spur to Tallahassee was completed by 1855. The Plank Road intersected Old St. Augustine Road and it was near that intersection that during the Civil War
, Captain Patrick Houston's
father, Edward Houston, built the small "Old Fort" with earthworks still to be seen in a small city park in the Woodland Hills subdivision.
The Plank Road was used into the 1890s
, but eventually became disused. Although the "Old Fort" or Fort Houston was built during the Civil War and is associated with the Battle of Natural Bridge
, Captain Houston and his Kilcrease Light Artillery
were nowhere near there during that battle. Rather his artillery was positioned near the center of the Confederate
line at the Battle of Natural Bridge.
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
in 1850 but this was the only one built. Joseph Chaires and Green Chaires, plantation owners, were granted a charter for the plank road company. The original plan laid-out was for the road to start near Newport
Newport, Florida
Newport is a small unincorporated community in Wakulla County, Florida, United States of America, situated where U.S. Highway 98 meets State Road 267.-1840s:...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and run to near Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
with spurs
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
to Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, Monticello
Monticello, Florida
Monticello is a city in Jefferson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,533 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,572. It is the county seat of Jefferson County...
and Quincy
Quincy, Florida
Quincy is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,982 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,975...
.
By 1852, The Plank Road was completed to Old St. Augustine Road and the spur to Tallahassee was completed by 1855. The Plank Road intersected Old St. Augustine Road and it was near that intersection that during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Captain Patrick Houston's
Patrick Houston (captain)
Patrick Houston was a state senator and military man from Leon County, Florida, United States.Houston was born in Savannah, Georgia to Edward Houston and came to Tallahassee, Florida in 1838 or 1839.-Civil War:...
father, Edward Houston, built the small "Old Fort" with earthworks still to be seen in a small city park in the Woodland Hills subdivision.
The Plank Road was used into the 1890s
1890s
The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the "Mauve Decade" - because William Henry Perkin's aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion - and also as the "Gay Nineties", under the then-current usage of the word "gay" which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no...
, but eventually became disused. Although the "Old Fort" or Fort Houston was built during the Civil War and is associated with the Battle of Natural Bridge
Battle of Natural Bridge
The Battle of Natural Bridge was a battle during the American Civil War, fought in what is now Woodville, Florida, near Tallahassee, on March 6, 1865...
, Captain Houston and his Kilcrease Light Artillery
Kilcrease Light Artillery
The Kilcrease Light Artillery was a Confederate army artillery company.Headed by Captain Patrick Houston and Captain Frederick L. Villepigue, it was formed in Leon County, Florida in the spring of 1863 upon the dividing of the Leon Light Artillery. The Kilcrease company was assigned to the...
were nowhere near there during that battle. Rather his artillery was positioned near the center of the Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
line at the Battle of Natural Bridge.