Partridge Drones

A Survivor of Pensacola’s Past. I love seeing things that were built so long ago and how they were built.

Standing along Scenic Highway in Pensacola is one of the last reminders of an industry that once dominated this shoreline — the Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill Chimney.

The steam-powered mill operated here during Pensacola’s booming lumber era of the 1850s. But in March 1862, as Confederate forces evacuated Pensacola during the Civil War, orders were given to destroy machinery and sawmills that could potentially fall into Union hands.

The Hyer-Knowles Mill was burned — but its massive brick chimney survived.

More than 160 years later, it’s still standing, a solitary reminder of Pensacola’s industrial and Civil War history.

Pensacola has a deep connection to the sea, and seeing a ship like this in port feels like stepping back into another era.

This large ship parked at Palafox Pier is the Tall Ship ELISSA, a three-masted ship originally built in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1877.

These old brick silos on Hwy 29 near Andalusia, Alabama in Rome always catch my eye. Anyone know anything about them? I searched online and can’t find anything.

The Old Steel Bridge — Milton, Florida

Tucked away along Coldwater Creek in Santa Rosa County are the remains of the Old Steel Bridge. Once a crossing over the creek, today only the weathered steel trusses and concrete piers remain, surrounded by the forests and clear water.

Today, paddlers and explorers passing down Coldwater Creek can still see the old structure rising above the water.

Does anyone here remember when the Steel Bridge was still open, or know what year it was built and when it finally closed? I’d love to see any old pictures of it when the roadway and bridge deck were still intact.

These red clay cliffs are one of my favorite places to hike to. ❤️