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1925 - The Year in Review

  • Writer: Old Brooksville
    Old Brooksville
  • Jun 30, 2025
  • 4 min read

Updated: Feb 6



Starting our 28th year takes us back 100 years to 1925. 1925 may be the most prosperous year in Brooksville history. The economy was at an all-time high, new towns were springing up around Brooksville, homes were being built, many businesses boomed including citrus and the rock mines, and major roads were being paved making 1925 the high-water mark of the roaring 20s in general and throughout the nation as well. By 1928, the Florida boom had died, a precursor to the stock market crash of 1929.


Thanks to the following for their contributions


John White

George Allen Jr.

Hernando Historical Society

Florida Archives


1925 - The Year in Review


Top Local News Stories


The local economy of Hernando County hit an all-time high in 1925 giving birth to two communities, Masaryktown and Nobleton. Citrus production reached over 20,000 boxes annually and would soon reach over 100,000 boxes, making Brooksville "The Home of the Tangerine."


State Road 5 with funds obtained from previous years of gas sales taxes was able to secure enough money with state help as well to pave it entirely through the county to Floral City. It would soon become US 41 and be paved all the way to the Canadian border, opening up the city to even more tourism and prosperity.


A new expensive American LaFrance fire truck is bought by the city. It would be in operation until the 1970s.



Top 5 Books - The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woolf

An American Tragedy - Theodore Dreiser

The Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Cristie

The Trial - Franz Kafka


Top 5 Movies - The Gold Rush - Charlie Chaplin

Phantom of the Opera - Lon Chaney

The Freshman - Harold Lloyd

Little Annie Rooney - Mary Pickford

Seven Chances - Buster Keaton

The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
Phantom of the Opera
Phantom of the Opera
The Freshman
The Freshman
Little Annie Rooney
Little Annie Rooney
Seven Chances
Seven Chances

Top 5 Songs - Sweet Georgia Brown - Ben Bernie

Prisoner's Song - Vernon Dalhart

St. Louis Blues - Bessie Smith

Tea for Two - Marion Harris

I'll See You in my Dreams - Isham Jones




A new high school in 1925 atop Bell Avenue showcases the entire student body and teachers
A new high school in 1925 atop Bell Avenue showcases the entire student body and teachers

The 1925 Hernando High Graduates


Anna Mae Allen

Oran Ansley

Laurie Arick

Mamie Bell

Irene Blackburn

Robert Clark

Bill Cobb, Jr.

Lucille Dorminy

Anna Hathaway

Alfred Johnson

Clifford Lee

Laura Lowman

James Major

Maurice Mimms

Elna Owens

Carl Schiller

Marcella White



Tourists flocked to Bayport (1925) for the fishing. Visitors traveled from as far as Tennessee, New York and other areas. The Bayport Hotel housed them from the 1860s to 1944.
Tourists flocked to Bayport (1925) for the fishing. Visitors traveled from as far as Tennessee, New York and other areas. The Bayport Hotel housed them from the 1860s to 1944.
A brand new first class American LaFrance fire truck sits majestically in front of City Hall on the corner of Brooksville Avenue and Liberty Street (1925). It would serve the department until the 1970s as part of a team. American LaFrance from Elmira, New York was the Rolls Royce of fire trucks. Photo by A.A. Haskell
A brand new first class American LaFrance fire truck sits majestically in front of City Hall on the corner of Brooksville Avenue and Liberty Street (1925). It would serve the department until the 1970s as part of a team. American LaFrance from Elmira, New York was the Rolls Royce of fire trucks. Photo by A.A. Haskell



The biggest name in sports was Red Grange of the Chicago Bears. In an exhibition game against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in 1925, Grange drew over 70,000 fans, saving the New York Giants franchise from bankruptcy.
The biggest name in sports was Red Grange of the Chicago Bears. In an exhibition game against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in 1925, Grange drew over 70,000 fans, saving the New York Giants franchise from bankruptcy.

1925 Hernando High Football


Charles Cox, Center

Charles Svihra, Guard

Basil Hull, Guard

Jack Endsley, Tackle

J.T. Evans, Tackle

Frank Saxon, End

Anderson Snow, End

Mac Hammond, HB

Art Durshimer, RB

J.A. Sewell, RB

Alfred McKethan, QB

Coach Duvall














The Great Gatsby! Senator Hugh Hale of Brooksville (1925) with two lovely ladies in front of a new 1925 Oldsmobile
The Great Gatsby! Senator Hugh Hale of Brooksville (1925) with two lovely ladies in front of a new 1925 Oldsmobile

Chicken farm east of Brooksville around the Mondon Hill area (1925)
Chicken farm east of Brooksville around the Mondon Hill area (1925)

South Broad Street (1925) heading out of downtown. The abundance of automobiles demanded that new paved streets be built for Brooksville during the 1920s. This is the bridge over the railroad tracks. The building on the right across the bridge would become the City Garage two years later, Brooksville's first General Motors (Oldsmobile) dealer.
South Broad Street (1925) heading out of downtown. The abundance of automobiles demanded that new paved streets be built for Brooksville during the 1920s. This is the bridge over the railroad tracks. The building on the right across the bridge would become the City Garage two years later, Brooksville's first General Motors (Oldsmobile) dealer.

The new Masaryk Hotel opens in 1925. Masaryktown opened in 1925, but a devastating freeze in 1926 wiped out all its citrus and its new settlers either moved away or reinvented themselves with egg production, soon becoming the egg capitol of Florida. Years later, the town lives on.
The new Masaryk Hotel opens in 1925. Masaryktown opened in 1925, but a devastating freeze in 1926 wiped out all its citrus and its new settlers either moved away or reinvented themselves with egg production, soon becoming the egg capitol of Florida. Years later, the town lives on.

Welcome to the machine! Florida Rock Mine Factory, Brooksville (1925). For over 100 years, rock mining has played a vital part in our economy.
Welcome to the machine! Florida Rock Mine Factory, Brooksville (1925). For over 100 years, rock mining has played a vital part in our economy.

Busted! Lawmen find a moonshine still in an attic outside of Brooksville (1925)
Busted! Lawmen find a moonshine still in an attic outside of Brooksville (1925)

Corner of Broad and Main Street (1925) shows the automobile as the main source of transportation. Only ten years earlier, horse and buggies outnumbered automobiles.
Corner of Broad and Main Street (1925) shows the automobile as the main source of transportation. Only ten years earlier, horse and buggies outnumbered automobiles.

Long before mermaids, Weeki Wachee Springs (1925) was a natural pristine beauty.
Long before mermaids, Weeki Wachee Springs (1925) was a natural pristine beauty.

The first local photographed team was this 1925 Brooksville team taking on all comers.
The first local photographed team was this 1925 Brooksville team taking on all comers.

Brooksville lad in turnip patch (1925). Photo by Burgert Brothers, Tampa.
Brooksville lad in turnip patch (1925). Photo by Burgert Brothers, Tampa.


A 1925 grocery ad for Maillis Brothers. Just dial 9 for your deliveries. Maillis Grocery was on Broad Street in the Jennings Building.
A 1925 grocery ad for Maillis Brothers. Just dial 9 for your deliveries. Maillis Grocery was on Broad Street in the Jennings Building.

Rare postcard found was this 1925 Brooksville Sunday outing
Rare postcard found was this 1925 Brooksville Sunday outing


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