The 1980s were a time of economic expansion as President Reagan’s “Reaganomics” shifted into high gear around the country. The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park was opened to the public in 1983-1984 by the Suwannee County Development Authority after being owned by the county. Bought by the Cornett family in the 1990s, the park now attracts tens of thousands from around the United States and provides a great economic boost to the county as it continues to expand. Some of the biggest hits in country, folk, bluegrass, rock, among others, come to the park every year.

After three decades of destroying downtown Live Oak’s historic structures, a group of local citizens banded together as Pride in Action to move and save the Union Passenger Depot located just south of the Freight Depot on US 129. Raising $85,000 for the move and $25,000 for property a few hundred feet away between old City Hall and the Freight Depot, Pride in Action had the Passenger Depot cut in two, moved, and then put back together. The railroad donated both the Passenger Depot and Freight Depot to the newly-created Suwannee County Historical Commission. After restoration, the Freight Depot became the location of the Suwannee County Historical Museum. Due to funding issues, renovations to the Passenger Depot took longer, and were not completed until 2011. Sadly, this community spirit to preserve the past was too late for many buildings that had been lost in the previous 30 years, including many historical ones like the Suwannee Hotel, the Parshley Building, and a number of historic homes.

In 1986, the State of Florida began construction of a State Farmer’s Market off I-75 outside of Wellborn, allowing broader marketing access for farmers.

Many local banks changed ownership during the 1980s. The Commercial Bank of Live Oak, which had been established in 1917, became Nations Bank. It later became CNB Bank, Mercantile Bank, and is now TD Bank.

The First Federal Savings and Loan Association became First Federal Savings Bank in the 1980s and continues to operate today in multiple locations in not only Suwannee County, but the entire region.

The First National Bank, established in the first years of the Twentieth Century, was sold to Barnett Bank in 1986. It became NationBank in 1998, which merged with Bank of America in 1999, and is now Ameris Bank.

In 1988, The Citizens Bank of Live Oak opened in a trailer just south of City Hall. A brick structure was soon built, and in 1993, it merged into Community National Bank (now TD Bank). After the Commercial Bank was purchased and CNB staff transferred there, the original CNB Building south of City Hall was bought by the city for use as the police department.

Suwannee County’s sports and academics have done well over the years. The Suwannee High Bulldogs, under coach Mike Pittman, were the 3-A state football champions for four years straight, between 1987 and 1990. The Suwannee High Brain Bowl Team (of which I was a member of the championship team during my high school years) has won more state tournaments than any other academic team in Florida.

Next week, the 1990s.

Eric Musgrove can be reached at ericm@suwgov.org or 386.362.0564.