Islands of the World, #9: Dog Island, Florida

Dog Island is located in the Florida Gulf coast just 3.5 miles off-shore from Carrabelle, Florida in Franklin County, Florida.

Location
The island is partly sheltering St. George Sound and Apalachicola Bay. It's the eastern-most part of a chain of barrier islands located off the northern panhandle of Florida just offshore from where the Crooked River merges into the Carrabelle River and then into St. George Sound. Other barrier islands in this chain include St.Vincent Island, Cape St. George Island, and St. George Island.

This island is small at 6.8 miles in length, accessible only by boat, ferry or airplane. The Nature Conservancy owns most of the island, while some parts are privately owned residential property.

Origin
The island and its two neighbors were discovered by the French in 1536 and named the Dog Islands, because 1) wild dogs were found on them; 2) the islands resemble a crouched dog, or 3) the early ships put their common sailors - known as dogs - on the islands before docking on the mainland so they could not jump ship. Later, the two neighbors were renamed: St. Vincent, which is a Federal wildlife refuge, and St. George, which has a causeway and is, naturally, a booming resort community.

Indians used Dog Island as a fishing camp, and the 1985 hurricanes uncovered pot shards found on the west end. After World War II, Jeff Lewis, a Florida businessman, saw its potential as a vacation area and paid $12,000 for the island.

History
Dog Island has some evidence of human presence dating back as early as 8,000 years ago. The island also has a rich maritime history. The discovery of a 9th century canoe is a testament to prehistoric mariners on the island. During the 17th century and 18th century the barrier islands became a haven of piracy and smuggling.

18th century
On February 16, 1766, Le Tigre, a French merchant brigantine, was on route to New Orleans and wrecked 300 yards east of Dog Island in a great storm. A survivor, Monsieur Pierre Viaud, chronicled the experience.

In 1799, the Royal Navy purchased the HMS Fox, a 14 gun British war schooner only to see it wreck later that year.

During the Civil War, Dog Island was used by the Union Navy as a base for staging the blockade of Apalachicola.

19th century
As part of the United States, economic shipping greatly increased as St. Marks, St. Joseph, and Apalachicola became major ports on the Gulf Coast. Both sail and steam ships traveled to Dog Island to exploit its resources of lumber and naval stores such as turpentine and pitch products. In 1838, Dog Island Light, was built on the western tip of the island. In 1899, the 2nd hurricane of the season struck the area almost destroying the town of Carrabelle leaving just nine homes. Roughly 6 miles inland at McIntyre only two mill boilers were left. The summer resort of Lanark Inn was said to be "blown in to the Gulf". The Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad was destroyed for a distance of 30 miles and a locomotive on the track was displaced some 100 yards off the track.

Fifteen ships were completely destroyed in a hurricane with 12 loaded with lumber. They were:

American ships
James A. Garfield, a schooner, under the command of Capt. Cottingham.
Mary E. Morse a schooner, under the command of Capt. Densmore.
Benjamin C. Cromwell, a schooner under the command of Capt. McClean.
Grace Andrews, a schooner under the command of Capt. Brown.
Warren Adams, a schooner under the command of Capt. Gibbons
Vidette, a barkentine under the command of Capt. Waldren.
Capitola, a steamship
Iola, a steamship
Albert Haley, a fishing smack.

Norwegian ships
Ranavola, bark under the command of Capt. Edwardson.
Vale, a bark, under the command of Capt. Andersen.
Elsbeth, a bark under the command of Capt. Pedersen.
Jafnhar, a bark under the command of Capt. Tygensen.
Hindoo, a bark under the command of Capt. Madsen.
Russian ships:
Latara, a bark under the command of Capt. Krantman
Italian ships
Corteria, a bark which was split in half
Another 40 ships under 20 tons were sunk or destroyed.

20th century
During World War II, Dog Island was part of Camp Gordon Johnston. Four separate camps comprised the complex: three for regimental combat teams, and the fourth for the headquarters and support facilities. Dog Island was used for amphibious landings and airdrops.

A project, Dog Island Shipwreck Survey, was begun in 1999 by Florida State University to systematically search the waters off Dog Island, using acoustic and electromagnetic devices, to discover historic shipwrecks.