Old Miakka’s name and history are deeply rooted in the ecology of the river upon which the area is located. Native American and European influences reflect complex oral histories and local lore. When Americans of European descent arrived in the 1850s, there were still American Indians living in the area, which was characterized by deep pine forests rich with game. Pioneers felled the tall trees and used them to build cabins and barns. The Homestead Act and a burgeoning railroad industry opened Florida for more settlement. By 1885, at least 100 residents were recorded living in the area by the U.S. Census, according to a historical sign, marking the site.
One of the homesteaders, John J. Crowley, was an Irish immigrant who came to this area from Pennsylvania. He brought his wife Sylvia to the warm climate in hopes of improving her health, a common practice at the time. John, a farmer, blacksmith, and sawmill purchased a large acreage along the Miakka River (presently Myakka River) and built the first blacksmith shop nearby.
In the late 1870s, John Crowley built a two-story, six-bedroom house for Augustus M. Wilson, which included the first post office in a corner of the front bedroom. The Miakka settlement of pioneers and Native Americans now had enough population to qualify as a Star Route office between the main post offices of Manatee and Pine Level, the county seat. Wilson served as the first postmaster, while Henry Locke delivered the mail, making the two-day, round-trip journey from Manatee through Miakka to Pine Level. Thanks to its strategic location, Miakka enjoyed daily mail service, while surrounding areas waited up to three days. Lock was considered a trusted confidante and good listener for residents in every town, thus making his returning tales much more sought after than the letters contained in his mailbag, according to Allen Crowley's article, "Old Miakka History."
Until the 1880s, a small schoolhouse had doubled as a weekend meeting place for religious congregations. Wilson and his neighbor Bill Rawls agreed to donate an acre each from their homesteads for a community church. Wilson provided land for the building, while Rawls designated a cemetery area. Soon, construction began, with Will Stevens supplying yellow pine lumber from his nearby sawmill and contractors George Tatum, Issam Peacock, Jordan Boyd, and John Crowley, along with his sons Jim and Gus, serving as helpers. The primitive lumber was used for framing and siding, but the ceiling had to be hand-dressed in crude planks, often by lamplight. Crowley added "beading" to the walls and ceiling with a special plane. All in all the project took three weeks. The afternoon it was completed, Jordan Boyd celebrated by standing on his head on the ridge of the roof, according to Allen Crowley.
In 1915, Myakka City was developed by Frank Knox, a retired judge from New Jersey, on former farmland. It was one of several towns planned along the East and West Coast Railway in southeastern Manatee County and one of the few that still exists. Knox and his partners altered the spelling to differentiate the new town from the river. As Myakka City grew, the surrounding area remained known as Miakka or Old Miakka. Within a year of its grand opening, which coincided with the railroad's debut, the town boasted three stores, a wholesale warehouse, a hotel, a schoolhouse, a train depot, an office building, two sawmills, and a turpentine plant, according to the Manatee County digital archives.
In 1914, the Miakka School House was built by J.B. Rogers for $1,390. It was the first in Manatee County funded by school bonds authorized by the 1913 Legislature. Augustus M. and Calidonia Wilson deeded two acres to the county school board on July 23, 1914. Professor Lee Hall was hired at $55 a month to teach, with sessions lasting only five months due to agricultural demands on students. The school closed around 1944, with pupils sent elsewhere, and Jasper Crowley, a beloved teacher from 1933 to 1944, left a lasting impact. On July 3, 1986, the Miakka School was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
However, the economic recession of the 1920s and 1930s hit Myakka City hard, keeping it a relatively rural community for many years. Recently, rapid development has started to encroach on its charm, with new residential and commercial projects transforming the landscape. This growth brings opportunities but also threatens the unique character and historical essence that has defined Myakka City for generations.
One such effort was the 191 acres that later became the Crowley Museum & Nature Center after it was recognized as unique and ecologically important. While the land continues to be used for agriculture, its natural beauty has been respected and preserved. Jasper Crowley, the grandson of John Crowley, ensured that Florida pioneer history was integrated with conservation efforts, by promoting early sustainable agriculture. Throughout his life, he supported environmental awareness and preservation, amassing books and artifacts from Florida’s settlement, which are still enjoyed by school groups and visitors today.
As development pressures increase, the area faces a delicate balance between growth and preserving its distinctive heritage. The Crowley Museum & Nature Center stands as a testament to this balance, embodying Jasper Crowley's legacy of integrating pioneer history with conservation efforts to educate and inspire visitors about the region's unique past and natural beauty. Next week, we'll examine other conservation efforts including the establishment of the Myakka River State Park.
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