Though in this case, it wasn’t from lack of trying. Settlement in the Withlacoochee forest began shortly after the Orange Belt Railway was built in the late 1800s.
This whistle-stop, which the railroad optimistically named Richloam, was marketed to settlers as fertile farmland (hence the name). But just because the land had been clearcut by lumbermen didn’t mean it was suitable for crops.
Nevertheless, the community slowly grew. In 1922 Sid Brinson built a post office and general store. Though I wouldn’t call it civilized at that point, it was still remote and a bit lawless. Once, while residents were fighting over a dog, they shot the local sheriff (at least they didn’t shoot the dog).
In 1928 the Richloam General Store and Post Office burned down during a robbery. Sid rebuilt his store but it didn’t last much longer. Making a living in the area was a struggle since the timber was gone and it was difficult to get crops to the faraway markets.
The Great Depression exacerbated the situation. To the point that in 1936 the US Land Resettlement Administration bought out many of the families and helped them relocate to more prosperous areas of the state.
Over the next few decades the forest slowly erased much of the settlement. In 1973 John Brinson (a relative of Sid’s) acquired the old storefront. The family reopened the general store in 2016. A year later the Richloam General Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the town’s only remaining building.
The day I visited, my car was the only one in the parking lot. It looked closed but the sign said open so I ventured in. It was like stepping back in time, the store sells a little bit of everything (as a good general store should). I purchased a couple household items, a gift, and an ice cream cone (hey, it was summertime and it was hot outside).
The cashier said the family is expanding the store and will have a little cafe soon. Might be worth a return trip next time I need to get away from civilization!
3rin's View... 