A History of Cedar Key.  Part 2

Cedar Key has its own unique and interesting history. An island city once accessible only by boat and located primarily on the island now known as Atsena Otie, it is now accessible by road, water and air. But the city is no longer located on Atsena Otie. That beautiful island with its time-worn and scavenged remnants of homes, a pencil mill, a hospital and a post office, a windmill, cisterns and war-time cannons is now owned by the state and federal governments and is open to the public. A cemetery at the east end is a point of great interest.

Photo on Left: Atsena Otie as seen from the airport area of Cedar Key. Photo on Right: City of Cedar Key on left with Atsena Otie on the right.

After people moved off the island, it was owned by the Dr. Edwin Andrews family until acquired by the government on March 6, 1997 for 3.1 million dollars. Son Rex Andrews recounted many tales of history related to this outer island prior to his death in 1996.

His father owned a big black bull that was used in the cabbage palm fiber business. When not needed, the bull was dropped off at Atsena Otie. That was not satisfactory to the bull, which swam across the channel to Cedar Key where, I was told, he walked the streets with great abandon.

The United States Army occupied Atsena Otie at one time and built a military hospital there.

Photo on Left: Atsena Otie from the Cedar Key Airport area. Photo on Right: View of Atsena Otie from 1st Street, Cedar key

The fiber factory closed down sometimein the 1890's and , according to Rex Andrews, the last residents of the island moved to Cedar Key in the early 1900's. His aunt was in that family and was eight years old at that time.

The  tidal surge of 1898 was very destructive to Atsena Otie. I've been told the story of one mother who tied herself to the top of a cabbage palm with a child in each arm and was found after the storm still tied to the tree with her children. All three were battered to death by the storm. At least one decendent cannot to this day hear wind blowing through palms without growing uneasy and declaring that the trees must be cut down.

This is the second sample of Cedar Key History as I am learning it.  Come back again for another installment.

For additional information on the history of Cedar Key, visit the Cedar Key Historical Society web site at CKHS