Hayes Long Mansion
Built in 1840, the historic
Hayes Long Mansion fronts
State Highway 71 as it leads
north from Greenwood,
Florida.
Built in 1840, the historic
Hayes Long Mansion fronts
State Highway 71 as it leads
north from Greenwood,
Florida.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Sites of Greenwood, Florida
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Historic Sites of Greenwood, Florida
| Great Oaks in Greenwood, Florida The beautiful old Bryan home, long known as "Great Oaks," was built in 1860 and is one of the many antebellum structures to be found in Greenwood. |
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The Erwin House from the Air
Built in the 1830s, the Irwin
House in Greenwood is one
of the oldest standing homes
in the Florida Panhandle.
Built in the 1830s, the Irwin
House in Greenwood is one
of the oldest standing homes
in the Florida Panhandle.
Erwin House in Greenwood
The historic 1830s home is
rich in Florida history and
legend.
The historic 1830s home is
rich in Florida history and
legend.
Greenwood Baptist Church
A Confederate flag marks the
grave of one of the many
veterans buried around the
historic church.
A Confederate flag marks the
grave of one of the many
veterans buried around the
historic church.
Greenwood, Florida - Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Antebellum History in Florida
Generally thought to have been founded as a
community in around 1824, although the
area had been settled even earlier, the
charming community of Greenwood is one of
the most historic and picturesque in Florida.
Settlers from Georgia and the Carolinas,
many of them quite prosperous, had begun
carving farms and plantations from the
wilderness almost as soon as Florida was
ceded from Spain to the United States. The
rich redlands surrounding the site where
Greenwood would grow were ideal for
growing cotton and the lowlands of the
nearby Chipola River produced strong yields
of sugar cane. As these farms became more
established and prosperous, it was logical
that a town or village be established to
provide support and entertainment for the
planters.
The site selected was the intersection of two
important early roads, really little more than
wagon trails in those days. One of these led
from Neal's Landing on the Chattahoochee
River (near the point where Florida, Alabama
and Georgia intersect) to the now vanished
town of Webbville near the modern city of
Cottondale. The other led from a landing
lower down the Chattahoochee west to the
Chipola River and on to Campbellton.
Although it was not immediately
incorporated, Greenwood quickly grew to
become a prosperous antebellum village.
The town boasted Union Academy, one of the
first schools in Florida, as well as
businesses, medical and legal offices,
stores and the "town houses" of many of the
area's most successful plantation owners.
The prosperity of the plantations, of course,
was built largely through the labors of scores
of slaves who worked the fields and carried
out other tasks necessary to keep the farms
operating and successful.
In 1853, Greenwood attracted national
attention when an enslaved man attacked
and injured a plantation owner named Dr.
Franklin Hart and then committed suicide by
throwing himself down a well instead of
accepting a whipping as punishment. The
incident was seized on by abolitionist editors
in the north and was widely publicized as
evidence of the cruelty of slavery.
Greenwood was never attacked during the
Civil War, but many of its men and boys
marched off to fight. The town provided a
regular military company to the Confederate
army, as well as a mounted militia unit
known as the Greenwood Club Cavalry.
Filled primarily by students from Union
Academy, the latter unit fought at the Battle of
Marianna in 1864 under the leadership of
Caption (and teacher) Henry J. Robinson.
community in around 1824, although the
area had been settled even earlier, the
charming community of Greenwood is one of
the most historic and picturesque in Florida.
Settlers from Georgia and the Carolinas,
many of them quite prosperous, had begun
carving farms and plantations from the
wilderness almost as soon as Florida was
ceded from Spain to the United States. The
rich redlands surrounding the site where
Greenwood would grow were ideal for
growing cotton and the lowlands of the
nearby Chipola River produced strong yields
of sugar cane. As these farms became more
established and prosperous, it was logical
that a town or village be established to
provide support and entertainment for the
planters.
The site selected was the intersection of two
important early roads, really little more than
wagon trails in those days. One of these led
from Neal's Landing on the Chattahoochee
River (near the point where Florida, Alabama
and Georgia intersect) to the now vanished
town of Webbville near the modern city of
Cottondale. The other led from a landing
lower down the Chattahoochee west to the
Chipola River and on to Campbellton.
Although it was not immediately
incorporated, Greenwood quickly grew to
become a prosperous antebellum village.
The town boasted Union Academy, one of the
first schools in Florida, as well as
businesses, medical and legal offices,
stores and the "town houses" of many of the
area's most successful plantation owners.
The prosperity of the plantations, of course,
was built largely through the labors of scores
of slaves who worked the fields and carried
out other tasks necessary to keep the farms
operating and successful.
In 1853, Greenwood attracted national
attention when an enslaved man attacked
and injured a plantation owner named Dr.
Franklin Hart and then committed suicide by
throwing himself down a well instead of
accepting a whipping as punishment. The
incident was seized on by abolitionist editors
in the north and was widely publicized as
evidence of the cruelty of slavery.
Greenwood was never attacked during the
Civil War, but many of its men and boys
marched off to fight. The town provided a
regular military company to the Confederate
army, as well as a mounted militia unit
known as the Greenwood Club Cavalry.
Filled primarily by students from Union
Academy, the latter unit fought at the Battle of
Marianna in 1864 under the leadership of
Caption (and teacher) Henry J. Robinson.
Greenwood today is a picturesque and
charming community with an outstanding
collection of preserved historic structures.
Among the best known are the following:
Great Oaks, a Greek Revival mansion built in
1860 by the Bryan family, has been restored
and may be viewed from State Highway 71
South. A historical marker stands beneath
the magnificent oaks that frame the home.
(Private)
Hayes Long Mansion, which can be viewed
from State Highway 71 North, is a stunning
antebellum structure that was built in ca.
1840. A historical marker details the rich
history of the home. (Private)
Erwin House, facing Fort Road near its
intersection with State Highway 71, is the
oldest standing home in the region and was
build in the 1830s. A historical marker on Fort
Road provides an outline of its history.
(Private)
Pender Store, facing Highway 71 around the
corner from the Irwin House, was built in the
years after the Civil War and is one of the
oldest operating stores in Florida. (Open)
Also of interest are the historic Baptist and
Methodist cemeteries and numerous other
historic homes that dot the landscape of the
city. A self-guided tour is available from the
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce on
U.S. 90 in Marianna (open weekdays). Also
nearby is the quaint community of Two Egg.
charming community with an outstanding
collection of preserved historic structures.
Among the best known are the following:
Great Oaks, a Greek Revival mansion built in
1860 by the Bryan family, has been restored
and may be viewed from State Highway 71
South. A historical marker stands beneath
the magnificent oaks that frame the home.
(Private)
Hayes Long Mansion, which can be viewed
from State Highway 71 North, is a stunning
antebellum structure that was built in ca.
1840. A historical marker details the rich
history of the home. (Private)
Erwin House, facing Fort Road near its
intersection with State Highway 71, is the
oldest standing home in the region and was
build in the 1830s. A historical marker on Fort
Road provides an outline of its history.
(Private)
Pender Store, facing Highway 71 around the
corner from the Irwin House, was built in the
years after the Civil War and is one of the
oldest operating stores in Florida. (Open)
Also of interest are the historic Baptist and
Methodist cemeteries and numerous other
historic homes that dot the landscape of the
city. A self-guided tour is available from the
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce on
U.S. 90 in Marianna (open weekdays). Also
nearby is the quaint community of Two Egg.
Battle of Marianna
Two Egg, Florida
Ghost of Bellamy Bridge
Marianna, Florida - Historic Sites
Historic Sites of Florida
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Two Egg, Florida
Ghost of Bellamy Bridge
Marianna, Florida - Historic Sites
Historic Sites of Florida
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
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