This is a story of a town historically important in the development of Florida. By the end of the Nineteenth Century the town appeared to have everything going for it. It was a town which was a major transportation center and generated large quantities of agricultural products such as citrus, ferns, watermelons, naval stores, hardwood lumber, and kaolin from nearby pits. Okahumpka was a stopping off point for tourists from the north and was blessed by a large hotel, which catered to visitors from the north seeking a healthy and warm environment. At one time Okahumpka was as wild as any town in the "Wild West" with Cow Hunters, cattle drives and rustlers, etc. The town was larger, during the mid-nineteenth century, than the communities of Tampa, Leesburg and other present day communities in the area. Yet, by the last half of the Twentieth Century, it had become overrun by nearby Leesburg. Almost all the major buildings would be gone including the depot, stores, post office, schools, taverns, bowling alley and churches. Today, most people know Okahumpka as the name of a rest stop along the nearby Florida Turnpike or the name of an old depot located at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
About the Author: Ray Burhop is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has lived in Florida for thirty years. Prior residences were in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. During his working years, he served as a Project Engineer for a large manufacturing corporation. Upon early retirement he became the President of Burhop Associates, Inc. a project engineering consulting company for the packaging industry. Interest in the Civil War and in American History led Ray to do extensive research and finally led to the publishing of the book on the history of "The Twenty Fourth Illinois Infantry Regiment". His grandfather's experience in the building and first voyage of the Titanic generated Rays interest in this great ship. This led Ray to become the Chief Docent for the Titanic exhibit during the nine month stay at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Fl. Ray continues to provide presentations on the tragedy of the Titanic. The closing of the Titanic exhibit presented an opportunity for Ray to become associated with Cracker Country, the living history museum at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. He served as a tour guide, docent and "unofficial volunteer historian". The objective of this living history museum is to provide the public with the experience of a Florida Cracker community during the period of 1890 to 1910. The railroad depot originally located at Okahumpka is a very dominate feature at Cracker Country and generates many questions about the depot and the town of Okahumpka. Several years ago the author and his wife relocated from Tampa to central Florida, not too far from Okahumpka. The Director of the museum at Cracker Country suggested Ray initiate some research on the depot and the town. This has ultimately led to the publishing of, "Okahumpka, The History of a Florida Cracker Community".