Page 13 - Carrabelle

area was established around Coombs Mill, Dog Island, the Coast Guard chose land
close to the mouth of the river. The town west of Carrabelle for the fourth structure.
was incorporated in May, 1893, and during Completed in 1895, the site included two
this time, the area flourished - docks were identical keeper’s houses, one on each
stacked high with lumber and turpentine. side of the tower.
On January 5, 1891, The Carrabelle, The town’s proximity to the coast made
Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad was it particularly susceptible to hurricanes. A
incorporated. It was established to connect series of hurricanes hit the area during the
Carrabelle northward through Tallahassee late 1800’s. On August 1, 1899, the second
to the Florida-Georgia line. The railroad o f the season hit Carrabelle head-on,
was incorporated with a capital stock of destroying the town leaving
$1,000 and a land grant of 206,370.3 acres. just nine homes.
The company owned 3 locomotives and Roughly 6
50 assorted railroad cars. As advertised,
the C.T. & G. also stopped at Hilliardville,
Crawfordville, and MacIntyre before
arriving at Lanark. (In 1906, the C.T. &
G. was sold to the Georgia, Florida and
Alabama Railway)
There was a railroad station from which miles inland
trains carried salted-down mullet and other at McIntyre, only
goods to points north, as well as bringing two mill boilers were left. The
in needed supplies for the residents. summer resort of Lanark Inn was said to
The railroad also brought tourists from be “blown into the Gulf”. The Carrabelle,
Tallahassee to stay at the Lanark Springs Tallahassee, and Georgia Railroad were
Hotel, a luxurious resort. The other side destroyed for a distance of 30 miles, and a
of the station was the steamboat depot. locomotive was displaced some 100 yards
Here people could catch the daily paddle off the track. Over fifty-five ships were sunk
steamer, such as the Crescent City, to or destroyed. The downtown was rebuilt in
Apalachicola and St. Marks or the weekly its present location, and many of today’s
steamships to St. Andrew’s, Pensacola and
points beyond. part of the 1900’s.
The Crooked River Lighthouse guided During Prohibition, much business was
mariners through the treacherous pass done by barter, and there was a brief period
between Dog and St. George Islands in which smugglers from the Caribbean
from 1895 to 1995. After three short-lived unloaded their contraband near Alligator
beacons were destroyed by hurricanes on Point and hid in the nearby forest.
larger buildings were built during the early continued on next page

City of Carrabelle
1001 Gray Ave. • Carrabelle, FL 32322
850•697•3618
850•697•3618
© 2015 Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce 11