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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 30/340

A History of Cohnnbia Co-iuity, Florida
ponds and even in a dry season as being almost impassible for
loaded teams.”24
Mail delivery was a constant problem during the territorial
period. Although Alligator did not obtain its first post office until
May 22, 1830, the area was served much earlier. The first regular
service was proposed in 1825 and service was established in 1826.
One route provided for weekly service from Tallahassee to Pen­
sacola. Mail would leave Tallahassee every Wednesday at six a.m.
and arrive in Pensacola Friday by ten a.m. It would leave Pensacola
Friday at two p.m. and arrive in Tallahassee Sunday by six p.m.
The route eastward ran from Tallahassee to St. Augustine via
James Dell's farm and post office (Newnansville), and operated
every two weeks. Mail left Tallahassee every other Thursday at six
a.m. and arrived in St. Augustine on Monday by eleven a.m. On the
return trip mail left St. Augustine every other Monday atone p.m.
and arrived in Tallahassee on Saturday by six p.m.25 The schedules
were often not followed, however, and it might be weeks before the
settlers along the overland routes received any mail.26
The first post office at Alligator did not last long and was
discontinued on October 31,1831. A second one was not established
until February 28, 1833. John W. Roberts was the first postmaster,
and his house served as both the post office and the court house for
the new county.27 Alligator became a junction point for postal
service during the 1830’s, but mails were still on a two week
delivery schedule. One route ran from Tallahassee to Alligator via
Lake Laura, Waukeenah, and Mineral Springs (White Springs),
covering a distance of one hundred and sixty-seven miles. Mail on
this route left Tallahassee every other Monday at six a.m. and was

24 Dancy to Quartermaster General, July 31, 1835, in Carter, Territorial
Papers, Vol. XXV, pp. 163-66.
25Carter, Territorial Papers, Vol. XXIII, p. 283.
26Martin, Florida During Territorial Days, pp. 130-31.
'^Florida, Territorial Acts, 1832, p. 33; Columbia County File, Florida Collec­
tion, Florida State Library.
28

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