Blanton Family Ties to Citrus

by Marilyn Short

Although both cattle and citrus were Florida’s primary industry at the turn of the 20th century, it was the citrus industry that played a major role in the economic development of our area.

Earlier this year, Society member Johnny Adair visited the Feed Store during a Saturday Open House and donated this beautiful sepia canvas print of a ‘cabinet card’ photo which has been in his Blanton family photo collection for almost 100 years. The photo is believed to be of the interior of the John S. Taylor citrus packing house which was built in the “triangle” in 1902.

The history of the Blanton family in Florida goes as far back as before the Civil War when James A. Blanton left his home in Georgia in 1842 and moved his family to Madison County, Florida. By 1850, ten children were born to James and his wife, Catherine; son Luther Lloyd, born in 1846, would eventually venture south to set down roots in what was to become Pinellas County. In 1878, Luther married Mr. Taylor’s daughter, Martha. In 1884, he received a land patent for an 80 acre tract of land not too far from Mr. Taylor’s homestead. Their son, James Gough, was born that year.

James inherited 40 acres of land at the southwest corner of Highland and Belleair which was part of his Grandfather Taylor’s extensive land holdings. He would marry, build a home of cypress, raise his family, and farm
the land. He raised grapefruit and go on to work in Mr. Taylor’s packing house.

On the eve of April Fool’s Day in 1931, Largo’s citrus industry was dealt a terrible blow. Fire trucks racing to the ‘triangle’ came upon Mr. Taylor’s sprawling wooden structure totally consumed in flames. Firefighters managed to save the fleet of trucks and records and equipment in the office; however, citrus, labels, paper wraps, crates, and the railroad boxcar loaded with fruit . . . burned to the ground. Not to be disheartened however, Mr. Taylor entered into an agreement with Barnard Kilgore to use his packing house in Clearwater enabling him to continue to box and ship his fruit. It is said employees lost only one day of work. With embers still smoldering, Mr. Taylor made immediate plans to build a new concrete and steel structure across the street from the ‘triangle’. The packing house was back in business in time for the 1931-32 citrus season.

** Special “thank you” to Johnny Adair for his contribution of family memorandum and photos, and to everyone who helped to bring this edition of the Wise Cracker to fruition! It certainly was a joint effort and I offer my sincere “thanks” Marilyn