In the early 1920s, before the stock market crashed, the state of Florida and, by extension, Homosassa and Citrus County were undergoing a land boom.

When hard financial times dried up money supplies, growth plans for Homosassa were abandoned -- yet pieces of the county’s early, progressive planners’ dreams remain with the county to this day.

Such is the case in the heart of Homosassa Springs, where nine-foot sidewalks, poured during those heady land boom days, still stand. It is at the convergence of two sidewalks that a state-approved historical sign was unveiled today by civic-minded members of the Homosassa community, historical preservation enthusiasts, State Rep. Ron Schultz and all five county commissioners.

“It’s something we can leave to our kids,” said County AdministratorBrad Thorpe, who emceed today’s activities. “and we’d like to have moreof these throughout Citrus County to designate historical sites.”

State Rep. Ron Schultz said the historical sign is an importantreminder of a gentler time. “I hope that we can go ‘back to the future,’” Schultz said. “The historical marker is not just a decorobject, but something to teach us that there is another way of life -- there is a better way of life. There is a way of creating a community where people meet their neighbors, stroll, talk and enjoy each other,” Schultz said.

“I hope this is just one step in that direction.”

Citrus County Commission Chairman Gary Bartell pulled the traditional cloth away from the marker to unveil it to the public for the first time. “On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners , we’re very proud of Citrus County, and extremely proud of Homosassa and what you all are doing.”

The wide sidewalk is an artifact from the height of the Land Boom inCitrus County in the 1920s, when the Florida West Coast DevelopmentCompany bought thousands of acres around Homosassa Springs to createthe “city beautiful” that would be called New Homosassa.

The plans were laid out for a 700-home town with 80- to 100-foot-wide streets, and nine-foot-wide sidewalks among the plazas, parks and boulevards envisioned for the town.

Only a small portion, however, was built before the boom went bust. Today, the remaining pieces of the sidewalks hearken back to that unfulfilled dream of what was then very progressive urban planning.

The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners approved sending the application for the historic marker to the state after the county’s Historical Resources Advisory Board (HRAB) reviewed the text for the marker.

Those attendeing today’s ceremony included State Rep. Ron Schultz, Citrus County Historical Society and HRAB, Homosassa Civic Club, Homosassa Garden Club, Hernando Heritage Council and Floral City Heritage Council and other groups concerned with historical preservation .