Cedar Is King

Cedar Key, FL Another Pencil City

In the recent episode of Conversation Mill Podcast, I spoke to Henry Hulan, one of the owners of Musgrave Pencil. Musgrave Pencil has been in business for 106 years and we discussed the challenges that a business experiences when they have been in business that long. But Henry also shared with us the inventive way his grandfather, the founder of Musgrave Pencil, found the cedar planks they would use to cut the cedar slats, which are the shell of each pencil.

My conversation with Henry reminded me of another, little-known place, that was a large producer of cedar slats for pencil making and cedar lumber. Where the town was named for its #1 export: Cedar Key, FL.

Cedar Key, FL marshes, home to pelicans and migratory birds. Photo credit Rebecca Dehl

In 1865, the first pencil mills were opened in Cedar Key; one of the pencil companies that eventually opened a mill in Cedar Key was, Eagle Pencil. Eagle Pencil was based out of New York, they extended their operation to Cedar Key, FL to mill the cedar slats and ship them to New York. Eagle Pencil would eventually be purchased by a larger brand and then another, finally being part of the Sanford brands.

In 1860, Cedar Key was the southernmost point of the Florida railroad, this with its natural bays and harbors made it a key city in the travel and economy of Florida and beyond. Ships would carry goods to and from Texas and Cuba through the port of Cedar Key.

Seven years later (1867), John Muir would end his Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf, in Cedar Key where he contracted malaria. He wrote about Cedar Key in his book Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf:

“During my long sojourn here as a convalescent I used to lie on my back for whole days beneath the ample arms of the great trees, listening to the winds and the birds…

A few lonely herons of solemn look and wing retire to favorite oaks. It was my delight to watch those old white sages of immaculate feather…”

Historical Marker in Cedar Key, FL. Photo Credit Rebecca Dehl

Cedar Key started to see its cedar trees depleted by non-regulated tree removal for lumber; which began to impact the economy and the feasibility of operating lumber factories and pencil companies. Furthermore, in 1886, the railroad was extended to Tampa Bay and Cedar Key was no longer the port of choice, this caused a serve economic downturn. But what dealt the hardest blow, to the once thriving Cedar Key was a hurricane that made landfall in September of 1896, a 10 ft storm surge put most of Cedar Key underwater and killed more than 100 people.

Cedar Key is now a lazy vacation getaway. Where you can rent a bicycle and tour the town, enjoy kayaking in the harbor and neighboring islands, and enjoy a seafood dinner after a sunset boat cruise.

While Cedar Key is no longer a hub for cedar lumber or pencil slats its history is preserved at the Cedar Key Museum State Park and the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum.