Okahumpka: The History of a Florida Cracker Community (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781484160268)

Ray Burhop is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has lived in Florida for thirty years. Prior residences were in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. During his working years, he served as a Project Engineer for a large manufacturing corporation. Upon early retirement he became the President of Burhop Associates, Inc. a project engineering consulting company for the packaging industry. Interest in the Civil War and in American History led Ray to do extensive research and finally led to the publishing of the book on the history of "The Twenty Fourth Illinois Infantry Regiment". His grandfather's experience in the building and first voyage of the Titanic generated Rays interest in this great ship. This led Ray to become the Chief Docent for the Titanic exhibit during the nine month stay at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Fl. Ray continues to provide presentations on the tragedy of the Titanic. The closing of the Titanic exhibit presented an opportunity for Ray to become associated with Cracker Country, the living history museum at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. He served as a tour guide, docent and "unofficial volunteer historian". The objective of this living history museum is to provide the public with the experience of a Florida Cracker community during the period of 1890 to 1910. The railroad depot originally located at Okahumpka is a very dominate feature at Cracker Country and generates many questions about the depot and the town of Okahumpka. Several years ago the author and his wife relocated from Tampa to central Florida, not too far from Okahumpka. The Director of the museum at Cracker Country suggested Ray initiate some research on the depot and the town. This has ultimately led to the publishing of, "Okahumpka, The History of a Florida Cracker Community".