Ichetucknee Memory
Hot Summers
by David L. Smith
| I AM THE FOURTH generation of my family to grow up on land through which Rose Creek flows. I feel a special connection to the Ichetucknee knowing that water that runs through my property ends up in that beautiful river.
I have many fond memories of my childhood and teenage years in the ’50s and ’60s floating down the river with friends during the hot summers. We would float down the river in car tire inner tubes. We put our cold drinks in a metal wash tub filled with ice inside a big inner tube and would try to keep it with us as we floated along. This was before there was an Ichetucknee Springs State Park. We considered the river and land around it to be our natural park and a great refuge for young boys full of energy. It was a great place to cool off before home air conditioning became common. The only air conditioning we had back then was an open jalousie window at night.
Back then we had the energy, even after working all day, to compete trying to dive down to the bottom of the crystal clear springs where the water was bubbling up. The pressure most of the time was too great to swim to the bottom, but we had fun trying.
is a fourth-generation
Columbia County country boy.
My teenage friends and I spent many a hot summer day working in tobacco and watermelon fields. We would work on my farm and then my friends’ farms without pay, just because our parents expected it. We knew better than to try to get out of work our dads told us to do.
We loved swimming in the cold Ichetucknee water after working in the hot sun all day. Back then we had the energy, even after working all day, to compete trying to dive down to the bottom of the crystal clear springs where the water was bubbling up. The pressure most of the time was too great to swim to the bottom, but we had fun trying.
Sometimes I would go to the river with my family. My mom would fix a wonderful picnic lunch of fried chicken, potato salad, biscuits and watermelon for dessert. We would find a spot in the grass by the river and have a relaxing time enjoying the beauty and wading in the water.
I want the river to remain clean and the springs healthy so that future generations can enjoy it like I did.