WELCOME

NAME: Welcome COUNTY: Hillsborough ROADS: 2WD GRID: 3 CLIMATE: Hot in Summer BEST TIME TO VISIT: Fall, Winter, Spring

COMMENTS: Small resident population. Lithia/ Pinecrest Road east to Keysville road and turn south. Welcome Road turns off to the west. Look for the church REMAINS: Welcome Church, River's Grocery 1897

A branch of the Florida Peninsular Railroad created Welcome at the turn of the century. This expanded the original Warnell Lumber and Veneer Company RR that had run from Keysville to Plant City. Most of the shipments were timber, citrus, and vegetables. Now Welcome was the RR terminus. The River's grocery and hardware was also the post office from 1907 - 1911 and again from 1914 - 1916. In 1905 the Seaboard Airline Railroad acquired the line and extended it farther sounth to Bartow. The line was discontinued in 1916 and the tracks were removed in 1930 since the timber was depleted. The grocery remained unti 1980 when Mrs. Rivers died. Submitted by: Mike Woodfin

River's Grocery and Post Office, 1887, was continuously operated by the River's family until the death of Verna Rivers in 1980. Now renovated as a residence. Courtesy Mike Woodfin

BACK