Published: November 23, 2009 04:17 pm      

FEATURE: Living history

Eric Musgrove keeps track of Suwannee's past - even the parts we'd rather forget

Eric Musgrove pulled a bullet out of an old envelope. The stained, deformed projectile had been removed from the right leg of O.O. Hurst, a Live Oak resident shot in 1937. That bullet, along with several others, killed Hurst, who was forced to pull off that road as he was driving and gunned down in an ambush, according to records.

Musgrove has been recording and preserving the history of Suwannee County for more than 11 years. What started out as an interest quickly turned into a full time pursuit.

"I've always loved history ever since I can remember," said Musgrove.

Some of that history isn't so pleasant. However, said Musgrove, it remains just that - history.

"You can't sanitize history," said Musgrove.

Musgrove is the purchase and records manager for the clerk of courts. He also retains the title of county historian.

"I have a chance now of preserving and protecting Suwannee County history," said Musgrove. "I see that as my main job here. Purchasing, anyone can do, but in 100 years, who's going to care about that?"

Musgrove said Suwannee County is one of a few left in Florida that has been able to preserve most of its records dating back as far as the 1850s. The county was incorporated in 1858.

Musgrove's desk sits in the basement of the courthouse on South Ohio Avenue, an ideal place for old records, and bullets, to gather. His desk is covered in old manuscripts, court documents, slavery records, marriage and death certificates and tax deeds. A dusty book was available for those who wished to peer into the early days of official Suwannee County business.

One document that Musgrove preserved shows the dark past of the county. A mortgage foreclosure dated Nov. 24, 1863, was sought by the estate of Thomas Decker for Boy George, a slave. According to the foreclosure notice, the owner, Jack Smiley, died before he could finish paying the $1,200 that it cost to purchase George.

"History is what it is," said Musgrove. "You can't change what happened, you can only learn from it. That's why I don't mind talking about the history of slavery, murders and deaths."

Musgrove, 31, volunteers his time for projects at the Suwannee Historical Museum once a month, presenting county history based on his book, Reflections of Suwannee County. He also visits local schools and holds presentations during which he displays old documents and artifacts that kids enjoy. He and his wife Sarah have two children, Alex, six, and Abby, seven months.

He is always happy to talk local history to anyone who will lend an ear.

"I'm one of those people that wants to get history out there," said Musgrove.

He says now through his job he "has the whole gamut of stuff."