The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-08-16
THE OLDEN TINES
ON THE MAlSATEE
Ruins o. OLE BEAasA Castle. on tAs
Riaaasss River.

Way down upon the Manatee river
are stiIl to be found the remains Of two
settlements made nearly century ago.
. in country then full Of Indians, game
and adventure, which, as time has
proven, was destined TO attract much
attention In the years TO come, and, in-
stead Of wild frontier life. we now
have all the conditions of civilization,
which makes IL hard to realize that
only q year ago the last slave of q pio-
neer died in Bradentown.'
In the early part Of 1897 Dr. Braden
found his way to the Manatee and Sc
iected q choice piece of land on the
bank of the river, later to bear his
name, and here he brought his several
hundred slaves aid made great pianta-
ton Of sugar cane, tobacco, rice and
oranges.
A large structure was built on bluff
overlooking the beautiful sylph- winding
waters of the Manatee, which gave a
commanding view of the approach for
miles by water. This house was made
Of concrete, two stories in height, with
seven or eight rooms, while the yards
were inclOsed with boards as a prOtec-
tiOn from the Indians, who were the
constant dread of the slaves. In the
case Of an attack the stone house could
shelter all for time, and good sup
ply Of ratiOns was in store here.
The remains OF the sugar mills show
the machinery to have been of great
size, and in all probability made in
Spain and brought here from Cuba.
The uplantation extended over several
hum ed acres, many acres Of the origi-
nal loves being still in successful cul-
tul At this time.
ADout three years ago q woods FIRE
caught the roof, which was of wood,
and destroyed much of the old building,
which was q fayorite place for lovers,
the stiffness and merry music Of the
birds in the vines round the castle
making It 9 very romantic place to
while the afternoon away undisturbed.
Not far from the ruins Of old Braden
Castle there is another place of note.
for here lived Rev Edmund Lee, half a
century or more ago, trading with the
Indians. The old Lee house still stands,
and under the largest of the towering
oaks has been placed a big sign bear
ing these words:
z'For over fifty years beneath the
shadow Of this oak lived. Rev. Edmund
Lee, pioneer, preacher and philanthrO-
pist"
RAVEN NEST"
Billy Bowlegs, the famous Seminole
chief, who fiKally was drowned crossing
Z creek at Fort Myers, was a regular
trader with Edmund Lee, and many de-
scendants Of Lee are settled here to-
day.
THE PATTEN MANSION AT ELLENToN.
The old Patten. mansion. on the oppO-
site side Of Manatee river, is another
Interesting spot, being in a better state
Of preservation than Braden Castle.
IL was near noon, with the sun over
head, when, with Mr.. G. A. Patten as
guide, was shown over this grand old
relic of the past, and il was like a real
fairy tale to hear the oriole singing in
the vines, while the happy mOcking-
birds were singing and building nests
in the big elm trees which lead up to
the mansion from the bay. As we en-
tered the premises IL seemed as though
we could picture the slaves at work in
the cotton and corn, and the doors
made peculiar noises as the wind blew
past. The red, white and pink clean
ders, here grown to big frees, were
covered with a profusion Of deep-eol-
Ored flowers, the remains of the for
merly carefully kept garden, for this
was once a paradise, where master
loved slave worshiped master.
Many years previous 20 the Civil
War, Robert Gamble, of South Caro-
lima, secured $3.50 acres and bought
some 40o laves to live here.
The md sion was built of brick, made
on the place, and concrete shell, being
one room deep, two stories in height,
with eighteen massive concrete pillars
surrounding the house to support the
porches There are eight rooms, all
1sxls in size. and plastered. with fire
places. Being an old bachelor, Col
Gamble erected this building TO enter
tain his friends, for he was q genial
Southern gentleman of the old aristoc-
racy Of the past.
Two hundred and fifty acres were put
in cane and big refinery erected, cost
ing over $50, 600, the rollers weighing
four tons each, there being three in al,
with fifty yoke Of oxen on the planta-
ton.
The owner, had everything in first
class shape the stables, dairy and
smokehOuSes being made Of concrete,
while the BtorehOuse Ras Of concrete IN
Eve rooms, where enough meat and fish
were kept for 400 people AL the time.
Col Gamble was very careful Of his
slavea, and had all supplied from an
underground cistern Of concrete, con-
tanning 500 barrels Of rain water, and
BE made the slaves use plenty Of lem
onade; thus there was very rarely any
n -. a.,N1