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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 227/340

A History of Columbia County, Florida

operator in Wisconsin before moving to Florida around the turn of
the century. Watertown was virtually a “company town” as the
lumber company owned the bank, the commissary, and many of
the other facilities. The company even employed its own scrip
which was used as currency in the community. This “company
money” was coined from an alloy of tin, copper, and twenty-five
percent silver. The Watertown Bank, formed in 1909, and owned
by the Paul family, was the fifth bank established in Columbia
County, and it lasted for twenty years before falling victim to the
Great Depression. The size of operations of the East Coast Lumber
Company and the life style of the Paul family differed from the
smaller-scale activities of most Columbia Countians. A. G. Paul
was known to charter special Pullman cars for railroad trips to
San Francisco for his family and friends.43
Closely allied with lumber operations was the county’s naval
stores industry. Florida was the leading state in the production of
naval stores from 1905 until 1923. At times Florida produced half
of the nation’s output of naval stores. Pitch and tar from pine-tree
sap was used to caulk the seams of wooden ships, and hence the
designation “naval stores.” During the nineteenth century, when
the industry became established in the county, turpentine was the
primary use of pinetree sap. Its by-product rosin had a more
limited use. About two barrels of rosin were produced for every
barrel of turpentine. In more recent times rosin is used for such
diverse products as soap, varnish, plastics, linoleum, and printing
inks. In 1889 the county had two small naval stores distilleries
located in the northern part of the county and one at Fort White.
The production of naval stores in the county crested during the late
1920’s. At that time more than eight distilleries were in operation.
Some of the larger operators included C. L. Morrison, Brantley

<3Ward Interview; “Area’s Banks,” Lake City Reporter, December 13, 1974;
Lake City Chamber of Commerce, Lake City, Florida, pp. 8-9; Harry G. Cutler,
History of Florida (Chicago, 1923), Vol. I, p. 552.

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