Dear Friends,
When the January 2022 MMHS News came out last year, we truly thought we'd have the Mandarin Museum building complete and ready to reopen by Spring. Well, for too many reasons to even state, that didn't happen. The actual new construction has been completed quite a while, but the renovation of existing areas with all new signage and increased exhibits and a new security system has been the holdup. So, we are not making any promises for when we will have it ready for a Grand Reopening event. But you will know when we know. We have stopped trying to estimate a specific date. All I can say is we appreciate you hanging in there with us - it will happen - and it will be worth the wait.
Sandy Arpen
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Looking back on 2022 - we continue to be GRATEFUL!
Every year has its "ups and downs," that is for certain. And, also for certain, the last few pandemic-impacted years have been hard on everybody. But, we still have SO much that we are grateful for:
1. Probably the biggest thing in YEARS is the completion of our new book, Images of America: Mandarin. This book was a long-time dream of MMHS founder, Board member and author, Susan Ford, who made it happen. The book contains over 200 black-and-white images, most of them old, that tell lots of stories related to Mandarin's fascinating history. It will always be available in our Gift Shop. We are very proud to be one of the Acadia Press books that focus on life in small communities.
2.We could not even open the doors at all were if not for these PEOPLE: our MMHS Board of Directors - the BEST Board in Jacksonville - driven totally by passion and love for this community; Paula Suhey, our Volunteer Coordinator and only paid staff member, who does "whatever it takes" to make our programs happen; those volunteers who are here to literally open the doors of the historic buildings and tell the stories of Mandarin's history to our visitors; also many other volunteers who work hard in the background in a variety of ways, including our Archive team, Winter Celebration Committee, and our Painting Party team.
3. Donald Bowden, our beloved, extremely generous and famous "Frog Man," for his fundraising for this organization over seven years. Don has made and painted over 10,000 concrete frogs and turtles - one at a time - all for the support of MMHS building expansion and operations. You can't even imagine how much time this process takes. These concrete critters have also pulled the community together in a very special way as they have become a "Mandarin thing". And Don has become a Mandarin "legend" AND in 2022 won the "Nextdoor 100 Award" - recognition as one of the best 100 neighbors in America! We certainly agree with that!
4. Our generous and loyal members, who have always been the foundation of our operational income ever since the beginning.
5. The wonderful individual donors who have given to special projects which will help us finish a first class build and renovation and get to the next level of excellence.
6.The City of Jacksonville (COJ), for entrusting us to be stewards of this special place in Mandarin and providing us the opportunity to bring our history alive. And also to COJ and the Cultural Council of Northeast Florida for an annual competitive grant opportunity through the Cultural Services Grant Program. And, to Mandarin Community Club for the long-term partnership that allows us to use their Mandarin Store and Post Office building for a museum exhibit.
7. Mandarin Community Club's "Mandarin Art Festival" and the our "Winter Celebration" were both BACK after a two-year pandemic absence!
8. We had four wonderful Third Thursday Lectures: Adonnica Toler, about Eartha White; Scott Matthews, about Jacksonville's uniqueness; Bill Morrow, sharing personal stories of growing up in Mandarin; and Olis Garber, with images that capture Mandarin's special places through his photography.
9. We now have three gardens: a shade garden, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Kitchen Garden and a butterfly garden. These gardens are all maintained by Master Gardeners from the University of Florida Extension services: George DeMarino, Candice Gerding and Juliet Johnson.
10.We were able to obtain two new original Lee Adams paintings for the collection, thanks to the generosity of John and Leyda Cooksey, Joanne Bellovin, Theresa Alexander, Betty Taylor and Leslie and Stacy Anderson. These paintings (as well as others) are being re-framed with archival matting and glass, thanks to a generous art preservation gift from Rosemary McCorkle.
YES, WE HAVE SO MANY REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL!
THESE 10 ARE JUST A START!
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21st Annual Winter Celebration
December 3 was a beautiful day with a park full of people. Olis Garber took most of these photographs of the event. Enjoy!
THANK YOU to all who participated in making this happen. And to all who brought their families and enjoyed the day!
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This book is in very limited supply and going fast!
Jacksonville Historical Society's (JHS) new book by Wayne Wood - Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage.
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It is so exciting that Olis Garber's photographs of Mandarin landmarks were used for the Mandarin chapter. And, MMHS members Tracey and Sandy Arpen played a part in providing information for the Mandarin chapter as well as proofreading other chapters. We are all proud to have played a small role in such a splendid book.
It is expected to be sold out very soon with no reprinting being planned in the near future. If you want one, we suggest that you call JHS as soon as possible and see if they have any left - 665-0064.
We are sold out of the copies we had at MMHS. We will be featuring Mr. Wood at our May Third Thursday Lecture, so if you have purchased a book you can bring it with you to the lecture and he'll be happy to sign your copy.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Bob and Pheenie Dahl
by Paula Suhey
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"I met Hope Ferrigno when we both worked in the Boutique at Steinmart", said Pheenie Dahl.
Hope, a member of our Board of Directors, often tells people about the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society so it was very easy for her to encourage Pheenie and her husband Bob to become volunteers. That was in 2008.
Born and raised in Lake City, Pheenie was in Sand Island, Wisconsin, one of the Apostle Islands located on Lake Superior with an anthropology class when she met Bob, who was working on the island. Bob’s hometown is Bayfield, Wisconsin, a small town on Lake Superior that is known as the Gateway to the Apostle Islands. Sand Island is one of the 22 islands that are a part of the Apostle Islands. (According to Google, the name stems from the desire of 17th-century Jesuit missionaries to honor the Apostles by naming a beautiful place after them, rather than from an actual count of islands.)
After college Bob and Pheenie met again in Richmond, married, and moved to New Hampshire where their first child was born. After five years they decided to move to Jacksonville closer to her family and much warmer weather.
Bob has always enjoyed history. In fact, he is the co-chairman of the Apostle Islands Historical Preservation Conservancy, and he has authored two books about life on those islands when he was a boy. Local history is important to both Bob and Pheenie. She has enjoyed the museum where she has been at least one morning each month and at the farmhouse, where Bob is one of our expert barn volunteers.
"I am always proud to tell visitors about Mandarin's history", said Pheenie.
And we are always grateful when they say yes to a request to volunteer.
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150th Anniversary:
Palmetto Leaves
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2023 is the 150th anniversary of the publishing of Harriet Beecher Stowe's book about her life in Florida, Palmetto Leaves. The stories in this book were originally published as periodical articles and later complied into this special book. Her descriptions of her life and times in Mandarin enticed northerners to come to Florida for the business and political opportunities, for health, and also for the pure beauty of this area. It was a great place for respite and renewal.
Her feelings about their place in Mandarin are summed up in this letter she wrote - as quoted in Life and Letters of Harriet Beecher Stowe, edited by Annie Fields:
"At last, after waiting a day and a half in Charleston, we arrived at Mandarin about ten o'clock Saturday morning, just a week from the day we sailed. The house looked so pretty, and quiet, and restful, the day was so calm and lovely, it seemed as though I had passed away from all trouble, and was looking back upon you all from a secure resting-place. Mr. Stowe is very happy here, and is constantly saying how pleasant it is, and how glad he is that he is here. He is so much improved in health that already he is able to take a considerable walk every day. We are all well, contented, and happy, and we have six birds, two dogs, and a pony."
If you have yet to read this book, we encourage you to do so this year - or reread it if it has been a while. We have it in the Gift Shop. Also, we will probably have a yet to be defined special event to celebrate this huge anniversary.
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In January, the historic buildings in Walter Jones Park will be open on the FIRST and THIRD Saturdays. The 1875 Webb/Jones farmhouse, 1876 Barn, 1898 St. Joseph's Mission Schoolhouse for African-American Children and Losco Winery log cabin will be open from 10 am - 2 pm on January 7 and January 21.
The "Under the Oaks" music jam plays again on the SECOND Sunday, January 8, from 2 - 4. If you play an acoustic instrument, bring it and join in the song circle and jam. If you don't play, bring a lawn chair and be a "listener" - just sitting out under the oaks enjoying the music.
The Mandarin Museum remains closed for renovation, but the Gift Shop items (all kinds of beautiful Mandarin Frogs, Mandarin-related and authored books, Mandarin History Throws and Mandarin artist prints by Brenda Councill, Julie Fetzer, John Kenning and Lucinda Halsema) are available when the park buildings are open as listed above.
The Store and Post Office will be also open on January 21 from 10am to 2 pm - at 12471 Mandarin Road, just a mile west of the park. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It takes you back to the mid 20th century and is definitely a blast from the past.
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Mandarin Newsline
The January 2023 edition of the Mandarin Newsline is online now.
This free newspaper is our chief way of sharing history stories, events and programs with the public. They are able to publish free papers due to the robust local advertising. Please pay attention to the ads and shop and eat at those businesses that support the community in this way. To read the entire Newsline click HERE and then click Digital Editions at the top of the page and then the January 2023 "Mandarin Newsline" link.
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We are always calling for more volunteers!
We always need more volunteers, as they are the backbone of our organization. This becomes even more important as we move forward. We can not open the doors without them!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram - click logos below.
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Mandarin Cemetery is especially pretty in the winter with the camellias in bloom. This little statue of St. Francis stands by a pink camellia and is glowing in the sunset at the end of a beautiful day.
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Thank you to our community partners |
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MISSION: Mandarin Museum & Historical Society shares the stories of Mandarin's history, culture and natural resources by providing engaging programs that educate, entertain and inspire.
VISIT. JOIN. VOLUNTEER
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
904-268-0784
mandarinmuseum@bellsouth.net
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