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This is a photo of the Manatee Crate Company from 1926.
The Manatee Crate Company opened for business in 1920 in
Old Manatee. They made hampers, orange boxes, and celery
and tomato crates. The Crate Company was able to produce
more than 20,000 crates a day. During a lumber shortage,
they switched to making cardboard boxes which were cheaper
to create, transport, and store. The Manatee Crate Company
closed their doors in 1952.
This is a photo of the steam engine locomotive aectionately
nicknamed “Old Cabbage Head.” The engine was constructed in
1913; however, it didn’t arrive in Manatee County until 1948.
Constructed of steel, oak, and yellow pine, this particular engine
had a uniquely shaped smokestack, which lead to its iconic
nickname. While in operation by the Manatee Crate Company,
Old Cabbage Head traveled east, where it collected cut timber,
and then returned to the mill where the timber was used to build
crates. Under the operation of Solomon Williams, Florida’s first
Black train engineer, Old Cabbage Head traveled the rails until it
was retired in 1951.
This a photo from the early 1900s of the gazebo at the
Manatee Mineral Spring Park in Old Manatee. The gazebo
was surrounded by three shell mounds, which were removed
and the shell was used for paving roads.
This photo of the City Dock of Manatee, dated between 1900-
1910, shows a steamboat named H. B. Plant. The Manatee
River was the main transportation route for Manatee County,
but navigation was challenged by the shallow water near the
shoreline. Docks were built to extend out into deeper water to
allow large boats access to Old Manatee.
C
is for Crate mill.
R
is for Railroad.
D
is for Dock.
G
is for Gazebo.
C
is for Crate mill.
G
is for Gazebo.
D
is for Dock.
R
is for Railroad.