The Wandering Disciple

Stonework and some machinery are all that remain to give us a glimpse into the past of the plantation of David Levy Yulee.  Once a prominent political figure, Yulee owned 5,00 acre plantation that raised sugarcane, citrus and cotton.  The plantation was destroyed during the Civil War.  Today the ruins are preserved by the National Registry of Historic Places and is now the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Park operated by the Florida Park Service.  (Photo: November 11, 2009)

A tabby foundation and steel machinery is all that remains of a once thriving sugar plantation once owned by David Levy Yulee, a member of the US Senate and eventually of the Confederate Congress. The plantation encompasses over 5,000 acres and was used to produce sugar, syrup and molasses. During the Civil War, the plantation was destroyed and the ruins are now a state historic site operated by the Florida Parks System. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

Homosassa, Florida: This small state park in Homosassa sits on what was once a thriving sugar plantation during the Civil War era. The plantation and mill were owned and operated by prominent Floridian David Levy Yulee. Today the park has what remains of the sugar mill along with picnic facilities. Yulee practiced law in St. Augustine and became the delegate to the United States Congress for the Florida Territory prior to Florida becoming a state. Once Florida was admitted to the Union in 1845, Yulee became the Democratic representive for Florida in the United States Senate. Yulee served one term in the Senate before being voted out of office in 1850. He was later reelected in 1855 and served until 1861 when Florida seceded from the Union. Once he was voted out of the Senate, Yulee began a 5,100 acre sugar plantation in Homosassa, Florida. The plantation in which Yulee called Margarita, was operated by over a thousand slaves and produced sugar, syrup and molasses. In 1851, a su...