Georgia-Florida Plank Road Company
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The Georgia-Florida Plank Road Company was 1 of 5 such roads authorized by the Florida legislature in 1850 but this was the only one built. Joseph Chaires and Green Chaires, plantation owners, were granted a charter for the plank road company. The original plan laid-out was for the road to start near Newport, Florida and run to near Thomasville, Georgia with spurs to Tallahassee, Monticello and Quincy.
By 1852, The Plank Road was completed to Old St. Augustine Road and the spur to Tallahassee was completed by 1855. The Plank Road intersected Old St. Augustine Road and it was near that intersection that during the Civil War Captain Houston built the small "Old Fort" earthworks still to be seen in a small city park in Woodland Hills subdivision.
The Plank Road was used into the 1890s, but eventually became disused. Although the "Old Fort" or Fort Houston was built during the Civil War and is associated with the Battle of Natural Bridge, Captain Houston and his artillery were nowhere near there during that battle. Rather his artillery was positioned near the center of the Confederate line at the Battle of Natural Bridge.