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Back in 1856 when settlers first started entering
Polk County they would gather at Fort Meade for a source of protection
from the Seminole Indians. One Indian who of course obviously was playing
both sides of the coin refused to enter the Fort and took his chances
outside of the fort. In 1856 he was attacked and killed by a small band of
Indians at was is known as Fort Meade Monument Park.
But there is also more to this two acre area and park then what the locals realize. It was also the place where a skirmish between federal soldiers stationed at Fore Meade and the Seminole Indians took place. During this battle men were killed and this area is perhaps considered a battlefield. There is a monument that marks the spot where several soldiers were buried at as a result from this bloody battle. In 1878 the Hooker Store was built on this land which was established by Hooker and Snodgrass a firm composed from James N. Hooker and Cyrus Adams Snodgrass. That partnership did not last too long and in a short time the Son Howard Snodgrass bought it out from his father and sold it in 1882 completely to Hooker. The name was changed to Hooker and Company which operated till about the 1890's. Its obvious the store is no longer here but at one time it was not just the site of a bloody battle but a place for locals to shop for goods. Today what you would see if you were to visit here is a memorial park dedicated to honor veterans of all US wars, a very old monument from the Seminole Wars, a few benches and trees. Its a pretty cold, windy, open area you can feel the cries of the dead here. Not to far away from here was the site of Fort Meade which is Heritage Park. © By Rick-AngelOfThyNight
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