Photo of Esther C Dickman with her son Lyle Dickman. Picture appears to have been taken on board an unidentified boat.. Note on reverse indicates that picture was taken around 1975

Photo, likely taken in early 1960s according to border note, shows early land deposits on the Ruskin Inlet created by dredged land. As this dredged material hardened it would eventually be built up to create usable land. This process was common in Florida Communities from at least the years just preceding 1920.

Dredging of Ruskin Inlet along west side US 41 in Ruskin. You can see the Coffee Pot Restaurant on the extreme right side of the picture which stood at the SE Corner of US 41 and Shell Point Road. Today's Ruskin Library would be just out of the picture on the right side. Dredging, which was begun by Paul Dickman was used to create additional lands for sale along Ruskin Inlet in several developments created in this manner. Dickman also used dredging equipment to create Bahia Beach. Note on top border indicates 1960s timing. If accurate, likely very early in the decade.

Aerial View of Apollo Beach taken in October 1960. Note the expanded dredging operation on the bay side that doubled the sized of the bay portion of the developement.

This Champions Spark Plug ad was created for inclusion in Farm Magazines in 1954. The ad highlights the significant contributions of the Dickman Farms, well illustrating both the vegetable farming and the cattle ranching aspects of the farm. Very good descriptions on the benefits of prepacking fresh vegetables as well as sourcing of silage for cattle feeding.

T. R. Hovey was a foreman at the Ruskin Farms from 1937 for a number of years (last recorded reference was in 1946 in the newspapers, but this photo is dated 1949 on the reverse side.) More research needed to determine exact length of service.) While with Dickman Farms, although without a college degree, he learned all he needed to know to continually test farm soils in order to suggest what nutrients were needed to keep farms at full capacity. Paul Dickman was complimentary of his work in a 1946 news article in the Tampa Tribune. Later Hovey, who remained committed to agricultural throughout his life, worked for an independent seed company.

Another view of tomato processing plant. Note that the upper level does have a degree of machine processing.

Wide view of tomato processing plant. Note, in comparison, that the majority of work was by hand processing rather than machine processing. Given the more fragile nature of tomato processing is likely one reason that Dickman moved away from tomato processing in the 1950s to concentrate more on prepacked salad vegetables and cattle ranching.

On Reverse side of Photo: "Dickman Brahma Stock: c. 1950s - D - (Bar D Bar Ranch was the brand symbol of Dickman's cattle holding) North side of Little Manatee River (location of one of the ranch locations (Between College Avenue Little Manatee River.)

From note at top of picture: Harvesting Cauliflower