History of Vista Camp
The Vista Camp is a remarkably intact hunting and fishing camp which has not been altered since the mid 20th century. It provides a remarkable view of the 20th century Suwannee River life.
The following narrative is excerpted from History of the Vista Camp by Jonathan G. Lammers of James J. Miller PHD LLC which is included in the Historic Structure Assessment Report by Bender & Associates Architects, April 2020
The following narrative is excerpted from History of the Vista Camp by Jonathan G. Lammers of James J. Miller PHD LLC which is included in the Historic Structure Assessment Report by Bender & Associates Architects, April 2020
Things to possibly add to the Timeline on the Friends Role page
- 1923- A race massacre occurs at Rosewood. Florida involving employees of the Cummer Sons Cypress Company.
- The Cummer Company sold the property in 1924 when cedar had been logged out.
- 1973- Christopher B. Cummer dies
- 1977- CR 347 is paved.
Early History of Vista
Vista was first developed at the turn of the 20th century with the founding of a sawmill owned by Thomas J. Yearty (1861-1945). A native of Levy County, Yearty grew up in Otter Creek where he established a large store.
A directory of post office appointments shows the establishment of a post office at Vista on November 16, 1900, with Frank Dexter serving as postmaster.87 In 1905, Thomas J. Yearty was appointed postmaster at Vista, and served in that capacity for nearly a decade. The settlement was connected via a tri-weekly mail stage to Ellzey, approximately 20 miles away.
Yearty's sawmill evidently processed cedar for the pencil industry. In addition to the cedar mill, the Yearty’s also operated a general store for the settlement, which in 1907-1908 had a population of 85 persons.90 The U.S. Census records show nine additional households at Vista with residents who worked at the cedar mill. These included Frank Dexter, who had served as the first postmaster. Unlike most forestry operations in Florida at that time, all of the workers at the Yearty cedar mill were white and had been born in Florida.
Vista was first developed at the turn of the 20th century with the founding of a sawmill owned by Thomas J. Yearty (1861-1945). A native of Levy County, Yearty grew up in Otter Creek where he established a large store.
A directory of post office appointments shows the establishment of a post office at Vista on November 16, 1900, with Frank Dexter serving as postmaster.87 In 1905, Thomas J. Yearty was appointed postmaster at Vista, and served in that capacity for nearly a decade. The settlement was connected via a tri-weekly mail stage to Ellzey, approximately 20 miles away.
Yearty's sawmill evidently processed cedar for the pencil industry. In addition to the cedar mill, the Yearty’s also operated a general store for the settlement, which in 1907-1908 had a population of 85 persons.90 The U.S. Census records show nine additional households at Vista with residents who worked at the cedar mill. These included Frank Dexter, who had served as the first postmaster. Unlike most forestry operations in Florida at that time, all of the workers at the Yearty cedar mill were white and had been born in Florida.
The Vista sawmill operated until 1915. Thomas Yearty and his family remained at Vista for some time. In 1915, the Levy Times-Democrat reported that Yearty was at work in Vista "installing machinery to manufacture automobile tires from palmetto.” Yearty’s partner in the business was Frank Dexter, who took out a patent for a palmetto fiber tire around the same time. As late as October 1916 there were plans to build a new schoolhouse at Vista. World War I Draft Registration cards from 1917 also show at least three men employed as “county road graders” at Vista by Thomas J. Yearty.
Vista remained a small settlement through the 1920's but was nearly abandoned by 1927.
Vista remained a small settlement through the 1920's but was nearly abandoned by 1927.
The Cummer Company in Florida
For more than sixty years, the Cummer family managed one of Florida’s largest lumber and phosphate concerns, operating under various names including the Cummer Lumber Company, W. W. Cummer and Sons, The W. W. Cummer and Sons Cypress Company, the Cummer Sons Cypress Company, and finally the Cummer Company.
The Cummer Lumber Company began operations in Florida during the 1890s by erecting a mammoth sawmill and company town on the banks of the St. Johns river north of downtown Jacksonville. Before 1910, the company primarily cut virgin longleaf pine in Alachua and surrounding counties. To help bring the logs to the mill, the firm built its own railroad, the Jacksonville & Southwestern, which was also used to transport phosphate from company mines near Newberry, Florida. The company likewise operated turpentine camps in various locations.
In 1902, the Cummer family made its first massive purchase of cypress timber lands in the Suwannee River region—including the site of Vista. Around 1910, a new Cummer subsidiary, the W. W. Cummer Sons Cypress Company, began efforts to log the vast tracts of virgin cypress along the lower Suwannee River and its tributaries. A new cypress mill was constructed at Sumner, Florida, and a network of logging railroads were developed to bring the timber out.
As part of these efforts, the Cummers built a railroad bridge across the Suwannee River at Fowler’s Bluff. By the early 1920s, much of the cypress in the Suwannee River valley had been cut out, and the company’s tracts of pine timber were likewise exhausted. To take advantage of cypress holdings further south, the company erected a new sawmill town at Lacoochee in Pasco County, which began operations in 1923. The cutover lands around Vista were sold the following year.
For many years, the Cummers had maintained a profitable business in the manufacture of fruit and vegetable crates. By the mid-1930s, the company was eager to obtain new sources of lumber for its crate operations at Lacoochee, and thus reacquired the area around Vista in order to cut other hardwood species, such as black gum, which had not been targeted in the initial round of cypress harvesting.
In 1936, Cummer Sons Cypress Company repurchased Vista to serve as a headquarters for its forestry operations in the region. Within a relatively short time, however, Vista was developed primarily as a fishing and hunting camp for company officials. This included the construction of a dock and boathouse, as well as outdoor grills, sheds, and kennels for hunting dogs. The camp was used seasonally by executives of the company, as well as for annual company gatherings.
As recalled by Edward C. Roe: Part of this program for Company personnel was the annual party at Vista usually held in the Fall. This party consisted roughly of fifteen or twenty key personnel from the lumber, box-factory and mining operations. These individuals came from the officers, production and sales operations, and the party did much to promote friendship and a spirit of cooperation in all branches of the Company
By 1960, the Cummer Sons Cypress Company had ceased its lumber mill operations. The Vista camp then transitioned into use as a family retreat for company officials. In 1971, nearly 1,000 acres of its riverfront land in the Vista area were donated to the Nature Conservancy, and later History of Vista – Final Report July 24, 2020 incorporated into the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. After 1973, Edward C. Roe, president and CEO of the Cummer Company, became sole owner of the site. in 2011, Edward Roe’s daughters donated the Vista property to the Lower Suwannee Refuge, but continued to maintain a life estate until 2020.
By the middle of the 1950s, the Cummer Sons Cypress Company had likely cut its final trees. It took some time to process all of the logs which had been gathered at the Lacoochee sawmill, but the last cypress timber was finally milled on June 5, 1959.
Cummer operations were winding down in the area and Vista was used for family gatherings instead of corporate functions.
For more than sixty years, the Cummer family managed one of Florida’s largest lumber and phosphate concerns, operating under various names including the Cummer Lumber Company, W. W. Cummer and Sons, The W. W. Cummer and Sons Cypress Company, the Cummer Sons Cypress Company, and finally the Cummer Company.
The Cummer Lumber Company began operations in Florida during the 1890s by erecting a mammoth sawmill and company town on the banks of the St. Johns river north of downtown Jacksonville. Before 1910, the company primarily cut virgin longleaf pine in Alachua and surrounding counties. To help bring the logs to the mill, the firm built its own railroad, the Jacksonville & Southwestern, which was also used to transport phosphate from company mines near Newberry, Florida. The company likewise operated turpentine camps in various locations.
In 1902, the Cummer family made its first massive purchase of cypress timber lands in the Suwannee River region—including the site of Vista. Around 1910, a new Cummer subsidiary, the W. W. Cummer Sons Cypress Company, began efforts to log the vast tracts of virgin cypress along the lower Suwannee River and its tributaries. A new cypress mill was constructed at Sumner, Florida, and a network of logging railroads were developed to bring the timber out.
As part of these efforts, the Cummers built a railroad bridge across the Suwannee River at Fowler’s Bluff. By the early 1920s, much of the cypress in the Suwannee River valley had been cut out, and the company’s tracts of pine timber were likewise exhausted. To take advantage of cypress holdings further south, the company erected a new sawmill town at Lacoochee in Pasco County, which began operations in 1923. The cutover lands around Vista were sold the following year.
For many years, the Cummers had maintained a profitable business in the manufacture of fruit and vegetable crates. By the mid-1930s, the company was eager to obtain new sources of lumber for its crate operations at Lacoochee, and thus reacquired the area around Vista in order to cut other hardwood species, such as black gum, which had not been targeted in the initial round of cypress harvesting.
In 1936, Cummer Sons Cypress Company repurchased Vista to serve as a headquarters for its forestry operations in the region. Within a relatively short time, however, Vista was developed primarily as a fishing and hunting camp for company officials. This included the construction of a dock and boathouse, as well as outdoor grills, sheds, and kennels for hunting dogs. The camp was used seasonally by executives of the company, as well as for annual company gatherings.
As recalled by Edward C. Roe: Part of this program for Company personnel was the annual party at Vista usually held in the Fall. This party consisted roughly of fifteen or twenty key personnel from the lumber, box-factory and mining operations. These individuals came from the officers, production and sales operations, and the party did much to promote friendship and a spirit of cooperation in all branches of the Company
By 1960, the Cummer Sons Cypress Company had ceased its lumber mill operations. The Vista camp then transitioned into use as a family retreat for company officials. In 1971, nearly 1,000 acres of its riverfront land in the Vista area were donated to the Nature Conservancy, and later History of Vista – Final Report July 24, 2020 incorporated into the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. After 1973, Edward C. Roe, president and CEO of the Cummer Company, became sole owner of the site. in 2011, Edward Roe’s daughters donated the Vista property to the Lower Suwannee Refuge, but continued to maintain a life estate until 2020.
By the middle of the 1950s, the Cummer Sons Cypress Company had likely cut its final trees. It took some time to process all of the logs which had been gathered at the Lacoochee sawmill, but the last cypress timber was finally milled on June 5, 1959.
Cummer operations were winding down in the area and Vista was used for family gatherings instead of corporate functions.
1948 Flood
The worst flood in the history of Vista peaked on April 16, 1948. It began with a severe spring storm on April 1st which dropped torrential rains on South Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Heavy rains continued, and by April 6th the Suwannee River was roiling four feet deep across the Highway 90 at Ellaville, where the Seaboard Airline Railroad track was also washed out.120 By April 9, the rising flood forced the State Road Department to stop all traffic approaching the Suwannee River bridges at Branford and Fanning Springs. The following day, the floodwaters covered the bridge at Fanning Springs, effectively closing off Northwest Florida from the rest of the state.121 The Suwannee continued to rise, cresting on April 14 at Branford. On April 16, newspapers reported that that the Suwannee River had begun to recede in most areas as the crest “moved through the sparsely settled flatlands into the Gulf of Mexico.”
The worst flood in the history of Vista peaked on April 16, 1948. It began with a severe spring storm on April 1st which dropped torrential rains on South Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Heavy rains continued, and by April 6th the Suwannee River was roiling four feet deep across the Highway 90 at Ellaville, where the Seaboard Airline Railroad track was also washed out.120 By April 9, the rising flood forced the State Road Department to stop all traffic approaching the Suwannee River bridges at Branford and Fanning Springs. The following day, the floodwaters covered the bridge at Fanning Springs, effectively closing off Northwest Florida from the rest of the state.121 The Suwannee continued to rise, cresting on April 14 at Branford. On April 16, newspapers reported that that the Suwannee River had begun to recede in most areas as the crest “moved through the sparsely settled flatlands into the Gulf of Mexico.”
The waters at Vista doubtless began rising several days before the flood peaked. Both Edward Roe and Bill McKinstry visited Vista during the flood and took a number of photos that are today of immense historical importance. Not only do they demonstrate the level of the floodwaters, but they also document the Vista site at a precise moment in time—including the presence of several structures no longer at the site. (See Historic Structure Assessment Report Architectural Descriptions section for more photos of the flood).
The flood does not appear to have destroyed any of the major structures save for the dock, which was quickly replaced with a larger structure. However, the waters floated the wooden walkway that previously ran between the Main House and the dock. As a result, the path was replaced with a new concrete walkway installed by William Leggett in October of 1948.
The flood does not appear to have destroyed any of the major structures save for the dock, which was quickly replaced with a larger structure. However, the waters floated the wooden walkway that previously ran between the Main House and the dock. As a result, the path was replaced with a new concrete walkway installed by William Leggett in October of 1948.
Conservation Donaton
In 1971, Edward C. Roe and Christopher B. Cummer decided to donate 970 acres of land in the Vista area to the Nature Conservancy, while also lobbying other adjacent large landowners to do the same. The tract encompassed nearly 4.5 miles of Suwannee riverfront. Dr. Thomas W. Richards, president of the Nature Conservancy, stated that, "the Cummer sanctuary is one of the most exciting and significant wetlands yet saved."
In the words of Mr. Roe, the idea was to create a “a large Wilderness Sanctuary and Game Refuge which will be maintained in its wild, wet-land state as a perpetual preserve on the lower Suwannee River. Many kinds of Florida swamp flora and fauna exist on this land and a number of rare species are there such as swamp azalea, spider lily and Suwannee River birch trees”
Later, this land would be included into the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1979.
Months after the Nature Conservancy donation, the Vista camp and its adjoining 14 acres were deeded by the Cummer Company to Edward C. Roe and Christopher Cummer in January 1972.143 Each held an undivided fifty percent interest. The following September, however, Christopher Cummer tragically committed suicide in Ithaca, New York.144 Edward C. Roe and his wife then deeded a fifty percent interest in the Vista property to Wellington W. Cummer III, who remained a part-owner of the site until 1980, when his fifty percent interest was deeded back to Edward C. Roe. In 1988, Vista was deeded to Edward Roe's daughters, Sandra Roe Smith and Linda Roe Alexander.
In 2011, Sandra and Linda donated the 14-acre Vista site to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, subject to a life estate. Cynthia Dohner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Regional Director, stated that donation was “a rare and remarkable gift to the people of the United States. It clearly demonstrates the Cummer Family’s legacy of devotion to the Suwannee River and their history of land stewardship."
Sandra Roe Smith underscored that the donation was something she and her sister felt her father would have wanted.
"Our father was a big nature person, he really liked hunting and fishing and being outdoors. And we always had a feeling that he would have liked to have had this land preserved … We are glad to have it preserved and not developed like everything else in Florida has been. We think it’s important to have some place where young people can learn about what old Florida was really like, just like Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings has done with her house and that property. So we hope it can be something that people can come and see—that there was something else in Florida besides resorts and golf courses."
In 2020, the daughters relinquished their life estate. Friends and the Refuge began attempting to fulfill their wishes.
In 1971, Edward C. Roe and Christopher B. Cummer decided to donate 970 acres of land in the Vista area to the Nature Conservancy, while also lobbying other adjacent large landowners to do the same. The tract encompassed nearly 4.5 miles of Suwannee riverfront. Dr. Thomas W. Richards, president of the Nature Conservancy, stated that, "the Cummer sanctuary is one of the most exciting and significant wetlands yet saved."
In the words of Mr. Roe, the idea was to create a “a large Wilderness Sanctuary and Game Refuge which will be maintained in its wild, wet-land state as a perpetual preserve on the lower Suwannee River. Many kinds of Florida swamp flora and fauna exist on this land and a number of rare species are there such as swamp azalea, spider lily and Suwannee River birch trees”
Later, this land would be included into the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1979.
Months after the Nature Conservancy donation, the Vista camp and its adjoining 14 acres were deeded by the Cummer Company to Edward C. Roe and Christopher Cummer in January 1972.143 Each held an undivided fifty percent interest. The following September, however, Christopher Cummer tragically committed suicide in Ithaca, New York.144 Edward C. Roe and his wife then deeded a fifty percent interest in the Vista property to Wellington W. Cummer III, who remained a part-owner of the site until 1980, when his fifty percent interest was deeded back to Edward C. Roe. In 1988, Vista was deeded to Edward Roe's daughters, Sandra Roe Smith and Linda Roe Alexander.
In 2011, Sandra and Linda donated the 14-acre Vista site to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, subject to a life estate. Cynthia Dohner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeast Regional Director, stated that donation was “a rare and remarkable gift to the people of the United States. It clearly demonstrates the Cummer Family’s legacy of devotion to the Suwannee River and their history of land stewardship."
Sandra Roe Smith underscored that the donation was something she and her sister felt her father would have wanted.
"Our father was a big nature person, he really liked hunting and fishing and being outdoors. And we always had a feeling that he would have liked to have had this land preserved … We are glad to have it preserved and not developed like everything else in Florida has been. We think it’s important to have some place where young people can learn about what old Florida was really like, just like Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings has done with her house and that property. So we hope it can be something that people can come and see—that there was something else in Florida besides resorts and golf courses."
In 2020, the daughters relinquished their life estate. Friends and the Refuge began attempting to fulfill their wishes.
