Fort Atkinson was a United States military post that officially began operation on January 18, 1839 and was established by Company "C" 6th Infantry Regiment under the command of Lt. James Monroe commanding officer. This company had previously been stationed at Fort Jackson, in Savannah, GA. This fort was named after Brigadier General Henry Atkinson who also served in the 6th infantry and was the commanding officer of U.S. forces in the Black Hawk War (and Indian war) although he was criticized for mishandling the operations of the war he was honored by having this fort named after him. By April of 1839 there were 53 men stationed at the fort and it was abandoned on July 6, 1839.

Fort Atkinson was a wood pole stockade fort with a 2-story lookout tower in a corner and a lower story for the garrison of its officers and troops. Fort Atkinson was built on the shore of Lake Atkinson in Lafayette County to counter Indian attacks on the settlers in the area. The Brewer Lake Baptist Church in Day, Florida used Lake Atkinson, in later years, for baptisms when Brewer Lake (which is included in this project as well) was dried up. (Source material from Alfonso "Al" Barrs, Jr. via the Internet)

Although this area did not have an airport it did contribute to the history of aviation by giving new pilots the opportunity to earn their wings as it were before and during the Second World War. Several miles to the west of Fort Atkinson Plantation Airpark soldiers excavated a huge bulls eye into the earth in the middle of San Pedro Bay with hand shovels! This spot was chosen due to its remote and uninhabitable nature. Before they became aces, many airmen were put through the paces to see if they had the right stuff to do battle for the USA. Locals recall how the bombers would come in firing their guns before reaching the target and then drop "dummy" bombs trying to hit that huge bulls eye. To this day that area is still uninhabitable, planted in timber and for the vast majority of the time is used for hunting. As for the MOA that Fort Atkinson Plantation Airpark is situated within, it is used now to practice refueling of helicopters and the newer jet aircraft and as this author has experienced it is quite amazing to watch. If you listen real close on a quiet day you can sometimes hear the roar of the bombers coming in on their bombing runs firing those guns and it just takes you back to that great era in aviation history.

Day, Florida before the turn of the century was a vast expanse of untapped natural resources. When these were discovered a small "gold rush" of sorts brought as many as 3,000 people to this area to harvest the precious bounty the virgin forests had to offer. Over 500 homes, 11 stores, 2 medical doctors, 1 school, a grits mill, cotton gin, turpentine distillery and a train depot most powered by steam engines were operational in this thriving community.

Naval stores and timber companies were the first on the scene to purchase, or take as some see it, these abundant resources. As war loomed and eventually became a reality demand for turpentine harvested from huge virgin pines, cypress and pine timbers, as well as cotton and tobacco was at an all time high. A person's lively hood heavily depended upon these out of town companies and the economic benefit they brought to the area. But the short-term economic development they initiated ultimately contributed to long-term underdevelopment. Therefore, the fewer natural resources, the less people.

Timber companies clear-cut the natural growth on the vast amounts of land in the years before. Soon thereafter reforestation began. These new trees were genetically engineered to resist fire, bugs, fungus and the like in a simple yet effective way by grafting the limbs of superior trees, which survived the natural selection process, to become root stocks of nursery grown trees. This was not easy and pines are difficult to graft, but when they were able to get one to take they planted it in an orchard where it was cultivated and nourished to maturity. Then, when it produced pinecones they were harvested for the seeds, which had the same qualities as the parent tree. These beautiful orchards can still be seen at various locations today throughout Fort Atkinson Plantation Airpark with their naturally swelled butts due to the grafting process that was done many years before. They are all marked on the north side with a metal tag, which gives the trees vital information to the nurseryman. The offspring of these orchards are planted all over North Florida, Georgia, and Alabama and beyond.

The timber companies were able to harvest three generations of trees in the areas clear cut of all natural timber. Once the natural virgin timber was removed they started selling off their land holdings to private individuals and firms and once again, after the natural resources were gone the people left as well.

As the business activity of the naval stores dried up, the population had nowhere to turn. With little to no income persons were forced to make the decision to leave Day. Those fortunate few who had acquired some land during the prosperous years had to make a decision as well and opted to stay. Armed with farm tools and sheer determination they eked out a meager living becoming dirt farmers. Their families still occupy or own land in this area to this very day, and it is this authors opinion you will not find any better people to call, neighbor.