A reporter from WUFT and I took a stroll from the site of the Town of Ellaville in Madison County, Florida, onto the Historic Hillman Bridge, to Suwannee County. Also the US 90 Bridge, the CSX Railroad Bridge, and the Withlacoochee River Confluence.

For who the bridge is named after, the millionaire Turpentine King, Captain Winder Josephus Hillman (1857-1931), see previous post.
https://wwals.net/?p=67489

Andrew Sheridan, WUFT News, 2025:04:22 09:57:39, 30.3866911, -83.1752520

The sign says, according to The historical marker database, starting on the other side:

Drew Mansion Site

Located approximately one-half mile to the northwest is the site of the Drew Mansion, home of George F. Drew, governor of Florida during the difficult period of readjustment following Civil War Reconstruction, 1877-1881. Built in the late 1860’s, the two-story mansion with its beautiful color-matched oak parquet floors was surrounded by formal gardens and was one of the first homes in the area to have modern utilities. This once elegant landmark of Florida’s past was destroyed by fire in 1970.

And on the pictured side:

The Town of Ellaville

Closely related to the career of Governor George F. Drew was the sawmill and manufacturing complex of Ellaville, established by Drew in the mid-1860’s. The present Route 90 led through this town of several hundred people. The ruins of the sawmill are on the west bank of the Withlacoochee River near its confluence with the Suwannee. Ellaville flourished as long as the yellow pine lasted. It declined after 1900 and ceased to exist when the Post Office closed in 1942.

F-200 SPONSORED BY THE FAMILY OF ROBERT L. MILLINOR
IN COOPERATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE 1972

Sign, The Town of Ellaville, 2025:04:22 09:57:52, 30.3866911, -83.1752520

HB

Deadfall on Hillman Bridge, 2025:04:22 09:59:29, 30.3862787, -83.1750305

Deadfall and grafitti on Hillman Bridge, 2025:04:22 09:59:52, 30.3862787, -83.1750305

PT

Picnic table and benches next to Suwannee River, 2025:04:22 10:01:31, 30.3853505, -83.1746860

HB2

Grafitti on Hillman Bridge, 2025:04:22 10:03:29, 30.3848346, -83.1746295

US90

Downstream to US 90 Bridge, 2025:04:22 10:03:32, 30.3848346, -83.1746295

CSXRR

Upstream to CSX Railroad Bridge, 2025:04:22 10:03:37, 30.3848346, -83.1746295

WRC

Withlacoochee River Confluence, 2025:04:22 10:05:11, 30.3846382, -83.1746565

HB3

Suwannee County (south) end of Hillman Bridge, 2025:04:22 10:05:21, 30.3846382, -83.1746565

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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