Weather: low 76 degrees, high 97 degrees, partly cloudy skies
I slept much better last night, not waking until just before 0700 hours this morning. I felt much better, well enough to take my normal morning walk.
We had a couple of chores to do around the RV this morning. After those little jobs were finished, we decided to take a drive up to the Gainesville area. Newberry, located about 17 miles west of Gainesville, is the model for a bedroom community. Most of the people work in and around the Gainesville area, but businesses are moving into the town as Gainesville expands closer to them. The most famous ex-resident is probably comedian Steve Martin, as the town claims that he was born there. So, as soon as I read that Steve Martin was born there, it prompted me to wonder if Newberry is a wild and crazy town? Apparently not, as Newberry is one of the few towns in Florida that is debt-free, and has the lowest tax rates in Alachua County. That sounds like a conservative place to me.
Here's a picture of the Newberry town hall. As might be expected with a town of about 3500 people, this is a laid back little town. The main business section is only about four blocks long, and the entire area is designated as a historical area.
This picture is from Wikipedia.
When I did some research on Newberry, I found that the town was formed when phosphate was found and mining began in 1889. The phosphate mining collapsed when World War 1 started, due to the fact the Germans were the primary customers for the phosphate. At that time, the people turned to agriculture and became known for the quality of the watermelons that were produced there. Now, it appears most of the growth in the town occurs because of the nearness of Gainesville.
When we left Newberry, we decided to head back to Ocala by way of Archer, a town of about 1300 people. We love these bustling towns. I think the biggest claim to fame for Archer is that Bo Diddley used to live there. Hmmmm, how do these little towns have these famous people show up there? Anyway, Bo Diddley passed away in his home in Archer in 2008.
After all that history, we decided to head back home, taking the back roads 11 miles to Williston, then US 27 on to Ocala and the RV. It may not seem like we did much, but we love these little towns across the country that seem to be the backbone of our nation.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Archer, Florida: Taking Pride In Our Community
Not all who wander are lost.
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