Torreya State Park is located in sunny Florida and plays a crucial role in sustaining unique species of plants and animals. Two other critical roles the park is known for are; essential communities that are of regional importance; and the water quality of the Apalachicola River, which flows into the productive Apalachicola Bay. Torreya State Park and the Apalachicola River are historic and rich in history.
To find the beginning of the history of Torreya Park, you have to go back to the civil war. This is the time when the high cliffs were called home by two hundred Confederate soldiers. As you walk through this park, you can still see where the cannons were placed. It was in the 1840s that plantation owner Jason Gregory and his family called home. Jason Gregory’s estate was three thousand square feet and originally located on the west bank of the Apalachicola River. However, in the late 1930s, Gregory’s house was turned over to the Civilian Conservation Corp. On the other hand, this donation came with a stipulation that the house be dismantled and moved. Civilian Conservation Corp workers began disassembling the house brick by brick and board by board. These boards and bricks were then loaded onto a barge which brought these items to the east bank. It is here that the reconstruction of this old house began and where it stands and can still be seen today.
One of the most populated sites in Florida was located in the Apalachicola region. Along the lower part of the Apalachicola River valley, you will find a large number of ancient sites along the former and current banks. Scattered along the watercourses and river marshes are mounds of clam and oyster shells that are remains of the first inhabitants. In the 1700s, Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama began to settle along the Apalachicola River. The word Apalachicola comes from the Indian word meaning “people from the other side.” In 1816 one or more fights occurred between the American Forces and the Creek Indians and their black allies. “Bloody Bluff” may be the site of these skirmishes. Black allies of the Creek Indians occupied “Negro Fort,” which is now known as Fort Gadsden and is located in the vicinity of Prospect Bluff. During this time, cotton was shipped by steamboat from inland plantations to Apalachicola for export. However, during the Civil War, Union Forces formed a barrier in Apalachicola Bay that prevented steamboats from traveling. When the war ended, timber became the new commodity for shipping. Sawmills began to spring up along the Apalachicola River. Passing through the port of Apalachicola were millions of board feet of lumber. This wood came from the longleaf pines and cypresses. The pines served a secondary purpose, their sap. The sap was distilled into resin and turpentine, which together were known as naval stores.
Torreya State Park opened to the public in 1935 and is one of Florida’s original state parks. Credit for the creation of this park goes to the Florida Parks Board and the Civilian Conservation Corp. No matter what you like about Torreya State Park, whether it be the Civilian Conservation Corp’s prowess in rebuilding the original house of Jason Gregory or by entering one of his barracks, or by the fascinating stone bridge. Today, Torreya State Park has become one of Florida’s scenic spots due to its high cliffs that overlook the Apalachicola River. The name of the park, Torreya, comes from one of the oldest and rarest trees. These trees grow only in the ravines and on the cliffs of Torreya State Park. The Torreya Tree became so popular that it almost caused its destruction. In the 1800s there were approximately six hundred thousand of these trees living in the Apalachicola Valley, but today only about two hundred remain. Around 1835, botanist Hardy Bryan Croom identified the Florida Torreya. Croom gave it this name in honor of a well-known scientist, Dr. John Torrey. The tree was known to locals as the “stinking cedar” because when cut or bruised it gives off a strong odor. The park is known for its hiking, camping, picnicking, and bird watching. More than a hundred species of birds have been seen here. The hardwood trees in this forest display some of the best fall color in Florida. You can also find the park offering daily tours of Jason Gregory’s reconstructed house.
With respect to the Apalachicola River, it now separates the Eastern and Central time zones. In mid-April or May, if you paddle through the calm creeks and marshes, you’ll see a variety of trees and shrubs, including Tupelo, Black Gum, and Titi. Another of his senses that will be activated is his ears when listening to the loud and constant buzz of the honey bees. The only place on earth where Tupelo Honey is made is right along the Apalachicola River Valley. In Conclusion, you can now see why Torreya and Apalachicola River State Parks are historic and rich in history.
