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Dunedin reflects the rich American and
Scottish heritage of it founding fathers. This charming
village-like city has the distinction of being one of the
oldest towns south of Cedar Key. Early in its history,
thanks to a dock built to accommodate schooners and
sloops, and the ingenuity of pioneers from as near as
Georgia and as far as Scotland, Dunedin became one of
Florida's chief seaport and trading centers. At one time
Dunedin had the largest fleet of sailing vessels in
Florida. The first land deed was recorded in 1852 by
Richard L. Garrison, only seven years after Florida became
a state. In the mid-1870's, two Scotsmen from Edinburgh,
John Ogilvie Douglas and James Somerville, opened a
general store on Dunedin's waterfront. Directly east of
them, George L. Jones of Marietta, Georgia, had a similar
store. In 1878, the two Scots succeeded in having the
first Post Office installed in their store, officially
naming the town with the name they had chosen, Dunedin,
which is Gaelic for their home town of Edinburgh.
The town became incorporated in 1899, with
only 113 people in the incorporated area. Dunedin became a
city in 1925. In 1900, Dunedin's Main Street, then called
Oak Street, extended only from Douglas Avenue to the
Waterfront. Today over one hundred businesses thrive in
one of the most popular downtowns in Florida. The first
newspaper, The West Hillsborough Times, came off the press
in 1884. (West Hillsborough later became Pinellas County)
It was printed in Dunedin and then sold to A.C. Turner of
Clearwater. In 1892 it was sold and renamed the St.
Petersburg Times. The original hand feed press is on
display at the University of Florida. Noteworthy events in
the new century included the formal organization of the
Dunedin Yacht Club in 1903. By 1910, Dunedin's population
reached 256 and in 1912 proponents for a separate county
for Pinellas was successful and West Hillsborough became
Pinellas County. By 1920, Dunedin's population reached 642
and the great Florida land and building boom was about to
begin. A disastrous hurricane hit in October, 1921,
finishing the separation of Hog Island into two parts,
forming the present Hurricane Pass, and Caladesi and
Honeymoon Islands. In early 1920 the real estate boom got
underway. Biggest of the developments was Dunedin Isles,
involving hundreds of acres in the Cedar Creek and Curlew
Creek watersheds. The Dunedin Country Club and eighteen
hole golf course was constructed during that period.
The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was
organized in 1926. The amphibious tractor, the Alligator,
was assembled in Dunedin and used during World War II,
playing a decisive role in the Pacific phase of the war.
Frozen orange juice concentrate and the 'Pram' sailboat
racer both originated here. In 1938, Clinton M. Washburn
bought what is now Honeymoon Island. Contests were held in
many cities to choose couples to send on honeymoons in
about twenty thatched roof cabins during the summer
seasons of 1940 and 1941. The honeymoon venture came to an
abrupt end with the attack of Pearl Harbor in December of
1941. In 1945 the Professional Golfers Association made
Dunedin its headquarters, where it remained for eighteen
years. During this period many of the country's famous
golfers played the course, and all but three of the
present streets in the Fairway Estates neighborhood were
named for them. In 1950 Dunedin's population was only
3,202. Today the population exceeds 37,000. And in 1999,
the City marked its centennial celebration. Dunedin's rich
history has prepared it well for its bright future.
John Ogilvie Douglas is the son of John
David Wilbur Douglas, born in the Tower of London, 1809,
and grandson of Major James Douglas, 3rd
Royal Veteran Battalion, b1751. |
