JANE JAY |
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NAME: Jane Jay COUNTY: Polk ROADS: 2WD GRID: 3 CLIMATE: Fine BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime |
COMMENTS:Local residents. 1.9 miles north of the Polk County-Hardee County line, REMAINS: Private Property - None |
James Warnke, in "325 Ghost Town Locations in Florida", lists Jane Jay as a ghost town "on RR on south Polk County line off Hy. 27-98. Jane Jay was a phosphate strip mine in the early 1900's. Germany was buying phosphate from the operation until the war. There was a sizable community there in conjunction with the mine. There were other mine communities in the area also called the Tillman Mine and Acme. Many of these operations are long forgotten. Jane Jay was a land pebble phosphate mine site with houses for the workers and families. I have known people who lived there. The correct site is 1.9 miles north of the Polk County-Hardee County line; It was the maiden name of Mrs. J. H. Tatum, whose family had a considerable interest in the mine. The site is privately owned and some distance off the public highway. There are no structures and haven't been for many years. On the DeLorme maps of Florida two crossings of the railroad by US 17 are shown at this location. Both were actually overpasses. Jane Jay was located east of the railroad at the southernmost crossing, which has been abandoned for years. O. H. Wright |
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