Stories by Robert Martinez Part 1 of our series entitled Our Greatest Photos - Year by Year. This issue covers the greatest photos from 1885 - 1900 as selected by our readers from letters and comments. We hope you enjoy this special series. 1885 (tie) Hernando Hotel (1885) The new Hernando Hotel (1885) was the best in town. On North Main, it was located where the rear part of Truist Bank is today. Notice the post office on the right. The hotel would burn down in 1899. 1885 (t

We continue our series entitled Our Greatest Photos - Year by Year, a special series that features in chronological order the best photos from our collection for that year. This issue is Part 2, covering the years from 1901 - 1917. Stories by Robert Martinez 1901 Brooksville Skyline Brooksville skyline (1901) - a view from west of downtown. Behind the horse is the original 1878 courthouse (facing). To the far right is the new Jennings Building and other stores. This rare pho

We continue our series entitled Our Greatest Photos - Year by Year. This special series continues with Part 3 - (1918-1931) featuring the best photos in chronological order for each year listed. 1918 One of the most remarkable photos ever (1918) was the burning of the Varnada Hotel. At the corner of Brooksville Avenue and Jefferson Street since 1906, it was at the time one of Florida's grandest hotels. The fire occurred on a Sunday morning, April 28, 1918. 1919 On the first a

Part 2 Stories by Robert Martinez Back in the 19th century and earlier part of the 20th century there were many small hamlets and villages that dotted the Hernando County map. Here is the 2nd chapter of these ghost towns along with their post offices and a few maps to guide you toward their location. You can have fun with this issue exploring the county, looking for these old spots and the ghosts of our past. Also included in this issue is the legend of the baby ghost at the

Part 1 Stories by Robert Martinez This issue covers our local history of ghost towns. Back in the 19th century and earlier part of the 20th century there were many small hamlets and villages that dotted the Hernando County map. Here is the history of those ghost towns, along with their post offices and a few maps to guide your toward their location. You can have a lot of fun with this issue exploring the county looking for these old spots and imagining what life must have bee

Part 4 of our series entitled Our Greatest Photos - Year by Year. This issue covers 1932 to 1945. For those who lived through it, there is no need to explain. For those who didn't, the period between 1930 and 1945 was the most horrifying, devastating and struggling period in our recent history. Not only did the "Great Depression" ruin our economy and way of life, millions were uprooted from their homes, their businesses and jobs, creating a desperate country like we had never

By: Robert Martinez From our vast archives of thousands of photos, we continue our series entitled Our Greatest Photos - Year by Year. A special series that will feature in chronological order the best photos from our collection for that year. This is Part 5 covering the greatest photos, year by year, from 1946 - 1960 selected by the popularity of our photos from over 23 years of our publication by our readers and from letters and comments. For many, growing up or living thro

This issue "Old School" covers the history of public schools in Hernando County. The first school started in 1851 just west of Brooksville in a small Hamlet called Springhill, which was near Citrus Way and W. Ft. Dade Avenue. Small schools were scattered all over the county by the 1880s. Brooksville's first high school began in 1889. Hope you enjoy this issue and thank you Brooksville for keeping our history alive. Thanks to the following for their contributions John White He

Stories by Robert Martinez We all remember what we were doing when we heard the news of his death. Today, his fame borders on mythical proportions. This issue recalls his early visits to this area and all the excitement. We were all shook up! We wish to thank the following who contributed photos and ideas for this issue Beverly Marsh Hughes Bobby and Betty Snow Roger Landers Dennis Rhodes and Frasier Mountain at the 1885 Depot Don, David and Bill Whitehead Leonard Polansky Wh

DEATHDREAM!!! Brooksville's own horror cult movie filmed on location all over town. Time has proven it to be a major influence on movies like The Blair Witch Project and other slash genre film classics. If you watch the movie, it's also a step back to that time as you visit various Brooksville locations. We would like to thank those who contributed to this issue Lou Charity John White 1885 Train Depot Deathdream was filmed in Brooksville during the last three months of 1972.

This issue celebrates the the Greatest Photos of All Time (1961 - 1975) Selected by the popularity of our photos by our readers and from letters and comments, the 15 years represented one of the biggest changes in our American attitudes ever. From the age of blissful innocence to an age of cynical uncertainty. 1961 Who else could it be but Elvis the day he visited Weeki Wachee to a crowd of 2,500 while filming Follow That Dream in Citrus County. 1962 The new Lykes Memorial Ho

A History of Brooksville's Theatres The history of movie theaters in Brooksville began in 1909. Florida actually had movie studios back then with one of the biggest, the Lubin Company, in Jacksonville from 1910 - 1913. A young Oliver Hardy (later of Laurel & Hardy fame) worked there in 1912. The northeast's early movie moguls preferred Florida because of the weather, but soured on that because of the intense heat, rain, bugs and humidity and soon moved to California, where t

Try to imagine a life without radio, TV, internet or your smart phone. That's the way it was before the 1920s. How exciting it must have been to hear a program from far away, a big band or a star-studded show from a big hotel in a big city, or just a man or woman's voice like they are in the same room with you, right here in Brooksville on the radio. These were the exciting early years of radio. We hope we captured that early excitement and how it changed us forever. Thanks t

Old Brooksville Avenue (1913). The Varnada Garage, The Star Theater and a printing business. The house to the far right across Broad Street is Cappleman's Restaurant. Before 1987 and the court house extension project, there was a Street between Broad and Jefferson Street known as North Brooksville Avenue that extended all the way to Ft. Dade Avenue. This issue focuses on the forgotten Street and other old memories along Brooksville Avenue. Hope you enjoy this special issue, "

Building the Hernando State Bank (1905). The first bank in Brooksville since 1897. The Brooksville State Bank opened in 1890, but the citrus freeze drove them under. These are the buildings that have stood the test of time and are one of the best reminders of our past and how it must have been for local citizens living here over 100 years ago. Considering that our local history as an American experience dates back to only about 1835-40, in the scheme of things and compared to

The Hedick family of the Lake Lindsey area (1884) - Smithie Hedick, Lizzie, Franklin M. and Sara h One of the most fascinating things about Old Brooksville magazine is our search for old photos. The older the better. This issue features some of he classic old photos from the 19th century. Directly after the Civil War you began to see more professional photographers as well as local individuals taking up the hobby of photography. Tintypes were popular between 1860 and 1890. Da

This issue covers our local history of baseball. From the very early beginnings before the Civil War and how it spread to the south and ultimately Brooksville. Along the way we'll see the teams and stories that shaped the character of the game and those individuals who succeeded as well. Baseball has been played in Brooksville since around 1900 by various accounts, but it is also fascinating to see how it arrived here. Thanks to the following for their contributions John Whi

Volume 318 - November 2024 of Old Brooksville In Photos & Stories - The Map Book 1680 - 1970. A fascinating visit through the development of Brooksville (and before it was Brooksville) and Hernando County, Florida, plus a few pictures showing the nearby small towns and hamlets, some of them no longer around. Thanks to the following for their contributions John White George Allen Jr. Hernando Historical Society Florida Archives 1853 area map by Thomas Cowperthwait shows the to

Brooksville, Florida, rich in history, showcases a narrative rooted in the lives of the Native American tribes that once inhabited the area. This blog post takes you on a journey through Brooksville's past, highlighting its early inhabitants, the establishment of the town, and the origins of its name. Native American Inhabitants Before European settlers arrived, various Native American tribes, particularly the Timucua and Seminole, thrived in what is now Brooksville. These tr

Our Automotive Scrapbook features a delightful array of old auto ads, photos and Americana that helped shape our Automotive culture which is now a main part of our lives. There are many surprises in this issue. Thank you to the following for their contributions: Sandra Bell Shorter John White Lou Charity Hernando Heritage Museum George Allen Jr. Brooksville's First Car Owners William H. Boswell - June 16, 1908 P.L. Weeks - February 24, 1909 R.N. Chelf - March 1, 1909 William