Years ago, Bob and I took a day trip through the Ocala area to encounter a part of Florida which was unknown to us. During that time, we had lunch on the edge of beautiful Lake Weir in Ocklawaha, just down the shoreline from the house where the Justice Department (not yet the FBI, though under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover) gunned down two members of the infamous Karpis-Barker gang in their famous raid of 1935. This is touted as the longest FBI shootout in history. The house where this occurred is now called the Bradford – Ma Barker house. The Bradford part is because Ma Barker had rented the Bradford home through a mutual acquaintance. It was to be their summer hideout, unbeknownst to Mr. Bradford who enjoyed it as a hunting retreat and get-away from his main home in the Miami area.

The 2100 sq. ft. house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The kitchen is well-equipped for the day and the living area is spacious.

We tried to get an up-close look at the house that day but could only get as close as the edge of the property along the street. We dared not trespass as that was clearly forbidden by the signage on the property, but months later we saw a news report that the house, which was built in the 1930s, was being moved across the lake to its now permanent residence in the Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area, a part of Marion County Parks and Rec Department. Mr. Bradford had maintained ownership of the house after the shoot-out and had gone back for visits frequently. At some point it was sold, and the new owner wanted to build a new house on the lot. He gave the house, bullet holes and all, along with its entire contents, to Marion County, Florida, who arranged for the moving of the house.

My husband alongside a splay of bullet holes in an upper bedroom.

Most people are familiar with Depression era gangsters and mobsters, even if just through movies or TV. John Dillinger, Al Capone, Ma Barker, and especially Bonnie and Clyde were well-known for their nefarious lifestyles. Throughout my life (even as recently as last year), when introduced to someone new, I have often been asked, “Where’s Clyde?” This is accompanied by laughter from the person asking, as if they were the only one to come up with that great line! It’s the cross that I bear as a woman named Bonnie.

The lifestyle of gangsters was somewhat glamorized by TV and movies. For sure there is good story involved in the lives of these people – lots of suspense and intrigue, but only at the cost of suffering and death of their victims – not to mention the terrorizing of communities across the country.

Where my movie and television viewing preferences definitely lie in the comedy genre, a quality comedic offering can be as hard to find as Ma Barker and her gang were back in the 1930s. So, I often find myself ensconced in one of the many action/drama stories, as that selection is huge. I like a good story that I am totally unable to relate to from the comfort of my cozy, safe living room.

There was a movie made in 1960 that told the story of Ma Barker and her killer brood. It’s aptly entitled Ma Barker’s Killer Brood. It’s black and white and doesn’t hold up well; that is if it ever was any good at all. Still, we watched it as a preliminary study before we went to do the tour. It is tremendously inaccurate, and let me save you some time, don’t bother watching it. Instead, come to Florida and take the tour. The tour guide who enlightened us to the Barker gang was the best docent I have ever had.

Our docent in the middle of a captive audience telling of Ma and her gang while standing in the living room. All the furnishings are original.

It was extremely difficult to get a tour date booked. The Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area, which is part of the Marion County, Florida, Parks and Recreation Department, still takes reservations by phone. You call and get in line, so to speak. They call you back when there is an opening. In our case, it took almost nine months. I could have had a baby in that time! The system may be speeding up by now, so you could possibly get in before the year is out! The tour costs $10 and can be booked by calling 352-671-8560.

Our docent started his “career” by being on the first tour offered by the parks and rec department. He is a gangster junky. When his unfortunate tour guide realized that one of his tourists knew more about Ma Barker than he ever imagined could be known, our docent was hired.

Here’s my version of the tour through photos. Almost all of the furnishings are original. This house is a living museum. We sat on the furniture and put our fingers in the bullet holes. I believe it won’t be long before this place is put on the national historic register, so enjoy it in its relaxed form while you can.

Bob enjoying a rest on the same settee upon which Ma Barker would have sat.

All of the photos on the table (and more) are part of our docent’s personal collection. He told us his wife was happy to have them displayed here.

My friend and fellow blogger, Roxanne, who was my perfect partner in crime that day as she is a huge history buff.

1930s styling! Not bad after a deep cleaning.

original lamp and table

Justice Department picture after their raid, taken on the front porch. They were afraid to go inside the house in case members of the gang were lying in wait. They got the neighbor, Willie Woodberry, a local handyman who did work for Ma, to go in and check out the situation. They gave him a bullet-proof vest and a few bucks. There was nobody left alive inside. Ma and one of her sons were the only ones home and had died in the raid.

A lovely, Florida driveway from the house back to the main part of the park.