A look back at DeSoto County history as WINK Listens arrives

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — WINK is listening Tuesday at the Turner Agri-Civic Center on Northeast Roan Street in DeSoto County.

The WINK Listens initiative focuses on hearing directly from the community, and the station is beginning its coverage by looking back at the area’s deep roots.

Carol Mahler, the county historian, noted that DeSoto’s history is as rich as it is surprising. Arcadia once went by a very different name.

“One of the early names for Arcadia was Tater Hill Bluff,” Mahler said. “Because of the taters, or potatoes that were grown here.”

The area has deep roots in agriculture, and one Mahler hopes will grow and thrive. She also explained that many people are unaware of the area’s role in aviation history.

“Most people don’t know that we had two aviation training camps here during World War I [and] two,” she said. “Arcadia was so proud of it, they called themselves the ‘Aviation City of Florida.’”

Antique shops line Oak Street, and the historic red-brick courthouse — built in 1913 — remains in use.

DeSoto County’s history also includes unusual chapters.

In a 1987 interview, former county historian Howard Melton described entrepreneur George K. End, who built a business around rattlesnakes.

“Rattlesnakes turned out to be of great profit to George K. End,” Melton said. “Canning the snakes and then using every part of the snake for commercial use.”

The business eventually collapsed after End was bitten by a rattlesnake. Antivenom failed to save him.

Today, DeSoto County spans 636 square miles, roughly the size of more than 400,000 football fields. Before 1921, it was even larger, encompassing what are now Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, and Highlands counties.

At the heart of it all is Arcadia, the county seat.

“Arcadia has always had that small-town feel — most people know each other,” Mahler said.

The Peace River runs through the community, known for canoeing, fossil hunting, and even a connection to the Civil War.

“We did have blockade runners that were up in Peace River as far as Fort Ogden during the U.S. Civil War,” Mahler said.

Two upcoming events: