ELLAVILLE

NAME: Ellaville
COUNTY: Madison
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 2
CLIMATE: Fine
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring, Summer 		COMMENTS: Located near the Suwannee River State Park on US 90.
REMAINS: Ruins of the sawmill, and some ruins of the Drew mansion
Ellaville was a boom town of the 1800's where approximately 1000 people lived at one time. The location was at the merging of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers. George Drew and Louis Bucki had a number of business's here including logging, sawmill, turpentine, and railroad car building. On May 19, 1895 two negro men, John Brooks and Samuel Echols were lynched in Ellaville. George Drew became the first Governor of Florida after the Reconstruction. His mansion was 1/2 mile northwest of the Ellaville site. Built in the 1860's the two story mansion was surrounded by formal gardens. The mansion was destroyed by fire in 1970. The ruins are still there. The ruins of the sawmill can be seen on the west side of the Withlacoochee River. The town started to decline in the 1900's and the post office finally sucumbed in 1942 sounding the final disappearance of Ellaville. Submitted by: Mike Woodfin


Drew Sawmill early 1900's
Courtesy Florida State Archives


Drew Sawmill early 1900's
Courtesy Florida State Archives


Governor George Drew mansion in 1932. Burned down in 1970
Courtesy Florida State Archives


This is the abandoned bridge across the Suwannee River at Ellaville. Mike Woodfin


This is possibly remains of Governor Drew's Sawmill. Mike Woodfin


Remains of Drew's Sawmill. Mike Woodfin


This actual flywheel from the Drew Sawmill is on display across the river in the Suwannee River State Park. Mike Woodfin


This is the Suwannacoochee Spring at Ellaville. A structure was built around it during the 1800's. Mike Woodfin


During the Civil War the Confederates built this earthwork fort to protect the important railroad bridge from being destroyed by Federal Troops. The RR bridge was a major transport bridge from Florida to ship Florida cattle to the front lines for food. Mike Woodfin


Deserted Cracker Home. Mike Woodfin


Deserted Cracker Home. Mike Woodfin


Deserted Cracker Home. Mike Woodfin


courtesy of the Florida State Pictoral Archieves The sawmill is on the right. Mike Woodfin


Suwannee River Store Ellaville, Florida courtesy Florida State Pictoral Archieves Mike Woodfin


Ellaville townsite
Courtesy Jim Pike


Ellaville --notice the old style carpentry on the posts
Courtesy Jim Pike

 

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