Old Florida, Elvis and Manatees

This place is so Old Florida Dreamy! The Bowman House circa’ 1898, located in Crystal River, a two-story farmhouse built by Judge Edwin Thomas Bowman who was also the first Mayor of Crystal River. I read an article about John Bowman, the Judge’s grandson who grew up here. He talked about lazy days fishing in the peaceful crystal river and attending the Baptist Church on Sundays. He was a journalist and historian who loved writing about his beloved home place. He wrote an article about the “real” Crystal River, reciting a memory from his childhood, where at age 5, him and a friend rowed down Citrus Avenue in a canoe after a flood. I’ve seen the river flood even in the past few years but that’s just the chance you take living in this area on the water. John’s Uncle was a boat builder and his Dad was a Jack of all trades.

Crystal River is a popular place where Manatees migrate to from their summer feeding grounds looking for warmer waters to spend the winter. From November to March Manatee sanctuaries go into effect here. Together with the neighboring Homosassa, Crystal River has the largest gathering of Manatees in North America.

In the Summer of 1961, Elvis Presley came to Citrus County to film the Movie “Follow that Dream.” The movie is about a family of drifters who come to Florida and breakdown alongside a newly built highway. It was based on the novel, Pioneer go home by Richard Powell. The King of Rock and Roll was a small town kid at heart and fell in love with the area. He was a hit with the locals and fans came from surrounding cities to see him including 11 year old rocker-to-be Tom Petty of Gainesville. Can you imagine? 🙂