James Warnke, in "325 Ghost Town Locations in Florida", lists Jane Jay as a ghost town "on RR on south Polk County line off Hy. 27-98. The bar has changed names from "Jane Jay" to "Double J" to "La Edies". Submitted by: Mike Woodfin

Jane Jay was a phosphate strip mine in the early 1900's. Germany was buying phosphate from the operation until the war. There was a sizable community there in conjunction with the mine. There were other mine communities in the area also called the Tillman Mine and Acme. Many of these operations are long forgotten.

I have lived in the general vicinity over 75 years. Our family now owns 200 acres two miles from the correct site. Jane Jay was a land pebble phosphate mine site with houses for the workers and families. I have known people who lived there. The correct site is 1.9 miles north of the Polk County-Hardee County line; that is 1.9 miles north of where you place it. The feed mill and bar used in your listing have no connection with the site except to appropriate the name. It was the maiden name of Mrs. J. H. Tatum, whose family had a considerable interest in the mine. The site is privately owned and some distance off the public highway. I last visited it eight or ten years ago with the owners. There are no structures and haven't been for many years. On the DeLorme maps of Florida two crossings of the railroad by US 17 are shown at this location. Both were actually overpasses. Jane Jay was located east of the railroad at the southernmost crossing, which has been abandoned for years. O. H. Wright ohwright@msn.com

Old Feed Mill
Courtesy Michael Woodfin

Old Feed Mill on RR
Courtesy Michael Woodfin

Former Jane Jay Bar
Courtesy Michael Woodfin

This sump pump and generator were found in the woods abandoned from the old Jane Jay mining operation. They were restored and now are on display at the Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs - Mike Woodfin