Death of Ma Barker at Oklawaha, Florida

Oklawaha, Florida - Where Ma Barker Was Killed

One of the most notorious outlaws of the 1930s met her fate in a two-story lakeside cottage at Oklawaha, Florida.

Ma Barker, born Arizona Donnie Clark, was portrayed by the media of the time as one of the leaders of the Barker/Karpis gang.  This group of outlaws carried out murders, kidnappings and robberies from Minnesota south to Arkansas during the early 1930s.  They were contemporaries of and as well known as such infamous 1930s outlaws as Bonnie & Clyde, John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson.

Ma Barker
Courtesy of the FBI

The FBI got on their trail after a kidnapping in the upper Midwest and the gang splintered, with different members going in different directions. Ma, who some gang members later claimed couldn't plan breakfast without help, headed south to Florida with her son, Fred Barker.

After a brief stop in Miami, they ended up in the charming lakeside community of Oklawaha.  Located just south of Ocala, the village sits on the northern shore of Lake Weir, a beautiful body of water that is popular for boating, fishing and other outdoor activities.  There they rented a lakeside cottage and quietly tried to wait out the manhunt that was sweeping the nation for them.

Weapons captured after shootout with the Barkers

They didn't make it.  On the morning of January 16, 1935, the Barker hideout was surrounded by FBI agents. A call to surrender was answered with a hail of machine gun fire and a massive gunfight, known today as the "Battle of Oklawaha," erupted.  When the smoke cleared, Ma Barker lay dead in an upstairs bedroom, her deadly "Tommy Gun" still in her hands.  Fred Barker lay dead nearby.

The Ma Barker House still stands in Oklawaha, but is in private hands today.  To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/mabarker.

Juniper Springs Recreation Area - Ocala National Forest, Florida

Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Ocala National Forest, Florida

One of the most beautiful historic sites in the nation, Juniper Springs is the centerpiece of a recreation area in Florida's Ocala National Forest.
Just 28 miles from I-75 at Ocala, Juniper Springs was one of the first recreation areas completed east of the Mississippi River by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression. Its original CCC features are beautifully preserved, as is the semi-tropical landscape that is unlike any other national forest recreation area in America.

Juniper Springs Recreation Area

Perhaps the most unique feature of Juniper Springs, aside from the spring itself, is the unique CCC-built millhouse. Completed in 1935-1936, this structure was the result of innovative thinking that overcame the problem of getting electricity to the park. When Juniper Springs was developed, the nearest source of electric power was then miles away. Without the money to pay for running electric lines to the recreation area, the CCC generated its own.

The charming millhouse was built at the point where the water from the spring basin flowed into Juniper Springs Run. Its undershot waterwheel powered a small generator that provided electricity for the park. The beautifully preserved millhouse is a favorite with photographers and now houses an exhibit about the development of the recreation area and the history of the CCC.

In addition to the millhouse, the park features swimming, camping, nature trails, picnicking and an access point to Juniper Springs Run, one of the most beautiful and unique canoe and kayak trails in the nation.

To learn more about scenic and historic Juniper Springs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/junipersprings.

Ocala Historic District - Ocala, Florida

The Ocala Historic District in Florida covers 173 acres and includes more than 200 noteworthy structures, making it one of the most fascinating historic districts in the South.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and has been the center of beautiful preservation and restoration efforts. With its oak-shaded streets, large lots and stunning architecture, it is a wonderful place to spend some time walking the sidewalks and exploring.

The development of this residential area in Ocala began after Silver Springs achieved worldwide note as a tourist destination. The booming economy of the Central Florida city prompted Joseph Caldwell to develop his land on what was then the outskirts of town. The development was platted in 1880 and soon became "the" place to live in Ocala.

With the Victorian styles of architecture then in vogue, the district saw the construction of huge homes in the Queen Anne Revival and other styles. Over the years other types or styles were added in the Frame Vernacular, other Revival and bungalow styles. The district was home to the son of a Confederate general, leading Central Florida businessmen and even the man who is thought to have been the first to introduce Lt. Col. Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt as the "future President of the United States."

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ocala2.

Silver Springs & the Silver River - Ocala, Florida

One of the most beautiful places in the South, Silver Springs is a massive natural spring on the outskirts of Ocala, Florida.

Along with 24 other springs, the main or Mammoth Spring at Silver Springs feed the crystal clear Silver River, which is beautifully preserved in its natural condition thanks to the opening in 1987 of Silver River State Park. Silver Springs is also now owned by the State of Florida, but is operated as a theme park by an entertainment company which leases it from the state.

The main spring has been featured in 20 movies over the years, including such famous ones as Rebel Without a Cause and the popular James Bond film Moonraker. Pouring out an estimated 550 million gallons of water a day, Silver Springs has long been one of Florida's most famous tourist attractions. Untold hundreds of thousands have peered into its depths from glass-bottomed boats since they became a fixture there in the 1870s.

The water from the spring is joined by water from 24 other springs to form the Silver River, a major tributary of Florida's Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Virtually the entire length of the stream is now preserved in Silver River State Park, which provides the general public with affordable access to the beautiful river and the unique ecosystems that surround it.

This area was a key point of ignition for the Second Seminole War, in which the warriors of Florida's Seminole Nation waged desperate resistance against the U.S. Army in an effort to avoid removal west to what is now Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. The war started in 1835 at Fort King (now Ocala) when the famed Seminole warrior Osceola led an attack on U.S. Indian Agent Wiley Thompson. It would last for seven years and and considering the budget of the Federal government at the time, was one of the costliest wars ever waged by the United States.

To learn more about Silver Springs and the Silver River, as well as other places of interest in the vicinity, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/silversprings.