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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 18 August 2008 23:37 |
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INTRODUCTION
This revised edition of Holmes Valley, coming 14years after the first edition was published, is a further  attempt to spotlight the historic role of a community and its mostly religious institutions in molding the character of a region and influencing its development. I{revision and republication is also an effort to direct renewed attention to the need for preserving Moss Hill United Methodist Church both for its pioneer architectural qualities and for its historic significance.
It was noted in the first edition that the American frontier was often characterized by islands of activity in great seas of subsequent movement and change. Later courses of commerce and industry often bypassed such centers, leaving them among the swirls and eddies that form in calmer waters off the mainstream. These early islands often contributed greatly to the growth, stability and the emerging religious, economic, social and cultural patterns of their surrounding areas. Holmes Valley has played such a role.
An effort is made in this volume to illustrate the valley's influence over much of the Florida Panhandle and beyond. The writing effort has continued to be difficult because of a scarcity of documentation, a condition that has added emphasis to the need to fill the regional historic vacuum.
To understand an area, one must get the feel of its environment. It is for this reason that the descriptions of the valley by two early travelers are quoted - and that some space is allotted to Spanish moss, with which the valley has been closely identified. The emphasis on Indian wars, frontier intrigue and border tensions is intended to show how the course of history in west Florida was influenced by events elsewhere.
The history of the valley is most accurately traced through church and family records. The threads of influence radiated from the valley and led to the founding of neighboring communities and churches. Names once familiar in the valley are now found in most west Florida communities and beyond.
A prime objective of this work is to stimulate a growing awareness of the west Florida heartland's history. Until recently, the colorful background of the area was largely ignored by writers. The area's history remains little known to non-residents, and generally appears still to be taken for granted by those who call the region home. Helping to create an awareness of the area's rich history may inspire a greater appreciation of its other assets.
E.W. Carswell |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 August 2008 00:00 |
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