GAMBLE PLANTATION
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GAMBLE PLANTATION |
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NAME: Gamble Plantation COUNTY: Manatee ROADS: 2WD GRID: 3 CLIMATE: No Problem BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime |
COMMENTS:
Located now in the town of Ellenton. Take the Ellenton exit of South I-75 and go West on 301. the Plantation will be on your right. REMAINS: 1844 mansion (restored), rainwater collection well, 1872 patten home (restored), sugar mill ruins |
| The Second Seminole War ended in 1842 opening the area for settlement. Major Robert Gamble built a sugar plantation resulting in 3,450 acres, 182 Slaves with slave quarters, and a huge sugar refinery. The slave quarters are gone. The mansion walls were built of "tabby" 24 inches thick to insulate and withstand hurricanes. The rainwater collection well, shown in picture next to the house, was the Florida style of getting drinking water since the water table was so high in the area. The ruins of the mill after it burned down during the civil war are 3/4 of a mile from the house. They are not restored and calls for some walking into a jungle but it is not difficult and quite interesting. He worked the plantation from 1844-1872 when he sold it to Major George Patton. Patton's daughter was named Ellen, hence the town name of Ellenton.Ask the park ranger for directions to the mill ruins. They will tell you there is not much to see but I found quite a lot in there. Submitted by: Mike Woodfin |
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