Union Cypress Company
Encyclopedia
The Union Cypress Company operated a three-story double-band sawmill
in Melbourne, Florida
, built in 1912. The small company town
of Hopkins
(now South Melbourne), named after George W. Hopkins
, the owner, was built at the site. The company built a private railroad, often known as the Union Cypress Company Railroad, west from a connection with the Florida East Coast Railway
in Melbourne across the St. Johns River
to Deer Park
. From there, where the logging operation was based, branch lines fanned out into the bald cypress
swamp
s.
Other stations along the line were Grass Mere or Omega, 1.5 miles east of the county line between Osceola County
and Brevard County
, Agnes, about a mile west of the St. Johns River
, Alpha, just east of the St. Johns River
, Patterson (now June Park
), just east of Interstate 95
(SR 9), and Gagner (now West Melbourne
), a couple miles from the east end.
The Kissimmee-Melbourne Road (part of the Dixie Highway
, later SR 24, now US 192 (SR 500
)), which opened in 1918, was closed in 1923 and 1924 for repairs. During that time, the company carried automobiles across the swamps for $1 each.
The mill burned down in August 1919, following a large fire that February in downtown Melbourne
. A new fireproof
mill was begun but never completed, and the company shut down in 1925 after George W. Hopkins
died.
In 1924, the company received a contract to provide lumber for the first bridge between Titusville
and Merritt Island
.
The Foshee Manufacturing Company took over operations and rebuilt the railroad in 1928, but the Great Depression
hit and put the operation out of business. The buildings and railroad were torn down and sold in 1932.
Many supports from the old trestle across the St. Johns River
remain, as do a few of the old company buildings at the Melbourne end.
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
, built in 1912. The small company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
of Hopkins
Hopkins, Florida
Hopkins, also known as South Melbourne, is a former town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is part of the present-day city of Melbourne.-Town of Hopkins, Florida:...
(now South Melbourne), named after George W. Hopkins
George W. Hopkins
George W. Hopkins was a lumberman involved in the removal of tens of thousands of acres of virgin forests in Michigan and Florida.Hopkins was born in 1844 in Virginia. His father soon moved his family to Michigan in search of farm land. Hopkins became a surveyor and map maker at a young age, and...
, the owner, was built at the site. The company built a private railroad, often known as the Union Cypress Company Railroad, west from a connection with the Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
in Melbourne across the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
to Deer Park
Deer Park, Florida
Deer Park is an unincorporated community in Osceola County, Florida, United States. It is located off US 192, south of the intersection with County Road 419. The community is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-References:...
. From there, where the logging operation was based, branch lines fanned out into the bald cypress
Taxodium
Taxodium is a genus of one to three species of extremely flood-tolerant conifers in the cypress family, Cupressaceae...
swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s.
Other stations along the line were Grass Mere or Omega, 1.5 miles east of the county line between Osceola County
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
and Brevard County
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...
, Agnes, about a mile west of the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
, Alpha, just east of the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
, Patterson (now June Park
June Park, Florida
June Park is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,367 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
), just east of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
(SR 9), and Gagner (now West Melbourne
West Melbourne, Florida
West Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was created in 1959 to stop the area from being annexed into the City of Melbourne. The population was 9,824 at the 2000 census. In 1970, the city's population was approximately 3,050. As of 2008, the estimated population...
), a couple miles from the east end.
The Kissimmee-Melbourne Road (part of the Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
, later SR 24, now US 192 (SR 500
Florida State Road 500
State Road 500 is a major state highway running through Florida as a mostly unsigned route under several US Highways. From Chiefland to Williston it is U.S. Highway 27 Alternate. From Williston to Ocala, it is U.S. Highway 27. From Ocala to Kissimmee, it is U.S. Highway 441. From Kissimmee to...
)), which opened in 1918, was closed in 1923 and 1924 for repairs. During that time, the company carried automobiles across the swamps for $1 each.
The mill burned down in August 1919, following a large fire that February in downtown Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
. A new fireproof
Fireproof
-Track List for Original 2002 Release:# "Fireproof" – 3:46# "Just 2 Get By" – 4:17# "Echelon" – 3:25# "Stay Up" – 3:40# "Behind Closed Doors" – 2:55# "Epidemic" – 3:14# "Hindsight" – 2:57# "Light at My Feet" – 3:28# "A Shame" – 3:17...
mill was begun but never completed, and the company shut down in 1925 after George W. Hopkins
George W. Hopkins
George W. Hopkins was a lumberman involved in the removal of tens of thousands of acres of virgin forests in Michigan and Florida.Hopkins was born in 1844 in Virginia. His father soon moved his family to Michigan in search of farm land. Hopkins became a surveyor and map maker at a young age, and...
died.
In 1924, the company received a contract to provide lumber for the first bridge between Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
and Merritt Island
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
The Foshee Manufacturing Company took over operations and rebuilt the railroad in 1928, but the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
hit and put the operation out of business. The buildings and railroad were torn down and sold in 1932.
Many supports from the old trestle across the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
remain, as do a few of the old company buildings at the Melbourne end.