Embrace the Mandarin Experience |
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Hurricane Ian Spoils
October 1 Activities
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By the time Saturday, October 1 comes, Ian will be well past us. But, what it leaves behind will surely make a mess in the park.
On Wednesday, September 28, a team from COJ Parks came out and boarded up the schoolhouse and the farmhouse. These historic buildings need a little extra care because they are old and the windows are fragile. We are grateful that they came out to protect the buildings.
However, this made us go ahead and make the decision to cancel the scheduled building openings on Saturday, because the plywood will not be removed until next week. And, frankly, we expect the sidewalks and lawn areas to be flooded or very soggy at least.
That means no frog painting, and no visits. HOWEVER, The "Music Under the Oaks" jam was planning to start up again on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 2 - 4. They are waiting a bit longer to see how things are by Sunday. Check at www.facebook.com/mandarinmuseum to see updates on this.
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Dear Friends,
We are expecting our 21st Annual Winter Celebration on December 3 to be a special one for sure. Special because we have been providing this free old-fashioned event for the community since 1999 - in the park BEFORE the museum building was even built.
But also special this year because we missed two years due to COVID precautions.
Was it really 2019 when we last hosted this event...when we honored six World War II veterans on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7? What a great day that was!
Well, we are so happy to finally plan to celebrate another old-fashioned holiday in the park once again with all the historic buildings open and a variety of special activities.
Unfortunately, for reasons beyond our control, the Mandarin Museum renovations will not be complete by then, so we will be planning a Grand Reopening event for the museum in the Spring. However, the Gift Shop will be open on the porch and Mandarin Frogs will be in the yard.
Please mark December 3, 11am - 4pm on your calendars and look more detailed information in the November MMHS News.
Sandy Arpen
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John Foster Books
Available at Mandarin Museum
Harriet Beecher Stowe Historian
If you are looking for some good reads or a special present for someone this winter, don't forget we carry a large selection of books related to Mandarin and regional history. Several are related to Harriet Beecher Stowe - Mandarin's most famous resident ever!
Dr. John Foster and his late wife, Sarah Whitmer Foster, are recognized as premier Stowe historians. Dr. Foster has done a couple of Third Thursday Lectures for us in the past on his books.
These two books, Calling Yankees to Florida and At the Dawn of Tourism in Florida are "must have" books for those of us to want to keep learning more about Harriet Beecher Stowe and her impact on Florida in 19th century. Calling Yankees to Florida is much like Stowe's Palmetto Leaves, as it consists of her own words and descriptions of life when she wintered here in Mandarin. What makes Calling Yankees even more revealing, is that the Fosters put her Florida experiences into context with wonderful commentaries with each chapter.
The Gift Shop is open whenever the historic buildings are open on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays.
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"Images of America: Mandarin"
A last sneak peek at one of the photos we share in the book - due out in January. However, we are very hopeful that we'll have some to sell for Winter Celebration on Dec. 3!
Last year, during COVID, we mentioned to Mandarin artist John Kenning, that there wasn't a pen and ink drawing of the old Loretto Elementary School, c 1950s. John wasted no time studying photos of the school he and his siblings Fran and Pete attended and then he drew this wonderful rendering of it.
The black & white drawing of the school will be in the book. AND, it will also be the image for our annual holiday ornament - for 2022! Many thanks to John for all he has done over his lifetime to document Mandarin landmarks through his art. We carry some of John's prints in the shop.
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Volunteer Spotlight
by Paula Suhey
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"History was far from my favorite subject as I came through high school and college", said MMHS Board member Susan Ford.
"And then I met Jean Morrow", she continued. Shortly after Susan and her husband, Todd, moved to Mandarin and began to go to the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, Susan became friends with the beloved Mandarin native.
"Jean had so many interesting stories and I loved visiting with her."
Susan began to notice that many of the houses were disappearing.
"I didn't want the history to also disappear."
So she went to many garage sales and asked what items people might have that related to Mandarin's past. Soon the Ford home was filled with box after box of memorabilia. When the current home of the Museum was built those items were moved to the archive room (which now is known as the Susan Ford Archive Room). Susan noted that Jean Morrow had helped her in the efforts to gather this information.
"Jean was the historian of Mandarin and she not only had stories she had documentation to back those stories up."
Susan has been on the board since circa 1991. She is an original member of the Museum Board. She and Todd have given their time, talents, and treasure.
Her love for Mandarin can be seen in their home where the work of many Mandarin artisans is displayed.
Soon, Images of America: Mandarin published by Arcadia Press will arrive. Susan had seen this kind of book done for other areas throughout the United States and determined that it might be a good way to share the history of Mandarin. She, Sandy Arpen and Leann Arndt worked diligently on this book for many months.
"It was a lot of work, but we think well worth it," she said.
During the pandemic, Susan began to develop another craft. She now makes jewelry which she will sell. There will be a table with these items at the Winter Celebration and they will also be for sale in the Museum Store.
Rather than accepting accolades for what she has done, Susan has a simple answer,
"Sandy made it grow. I just planted the seed."
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Celebrate Gullah Geechee heritage at the October Gullah Fest on October 15 from 10-5 at 1825 N. Pearl Street.
The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast. There is a corridor of places from North Carolina to St. Augustine that are known to have had Gullah influence and culture - with foods, crafts, language and music.
Mandarin is on that corridor because of the Old St. Augustine Road community that was settled after the Civil War by migrating families who came to Florida to make a better life for themselves. They came from the Edisto Island, South Carolina area and they named their community here Edisto as well.
To learn more, visit https://gullahgeecheecorridor.org
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Zoom Lecture Series Being Offered by the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum |
Former Mandarin resident, Payson Jeter Tilden is now the Museum Director of the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum in St. Augustine. She frequently attends our Third Thursday Lectures and has been a long-time member of MMHS.
Payson has invited friends of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society to be a part of the fantastic lecture series being offered beginning Monday, October 3, 2022 at 7pm.
This four-part ZOOM series, called “Uncovering Black Society in 19th Century Florida,” is being sponsored by the James and Sally Kellogg Foundation and all proceeds will go to the “Save Our Coquina Fund” preservation project at the Ximenez-Fatio House to repair and re-lime the exterior and interior walls of the Museum House (seen in the photo).
They have invited outstanding speakers to share the amazing and little-known history of the Black and Seminole populations who greatly influenced so many aspects of early Florida development. A professor from Vanderbilt University, a retired Curator of the Smithsonian, a retired professor from Florida A&M, and two historic reenactors from Fort Mose will entertain and surprise you with their fascinating stories.
You may register for the lectures at www.ximenezfatiohouse.org/kelloggpromo. The lectures are just $17.98 each (Does that ring a bell? The house was built by Andres Ximenez during the Spanish Period in 1798!) or $60.00 for all four lectures, Oct. 3 rd, 10 th, 17 th, and 24 th. Registration will result in your receiving the proper links to each ZOOM lecture. |
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Mark Your Calendars for MMHS Openings in October
In October, the historic buildings in Walter Jones Park were scheduled to be open on the first and third Saturdays. However, because of Hurricane Ian, we will not be open on October 1, even though it may be a pretty day.
However, we are expecting to be open on October 15.
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 October 15 in Walter Jones Historical Park.
The Store and Post Office will be also open October 15 from 10-2 - 12471 Mandarin Road.
The Mandarin Museum remains closed for renovation - except for frog sales on the front porch and book/art print sales inside any day we are open.
The "Under the Oaks" music jam is scheduled to start again on Sunday, October 2 from 2-4, but we are going to wait until after Saturday to confirm that it is possible to be held. Check www.facebook.com/mandarinmuseum for updates.
We are at the peak of the tropical storm and hurricane season. Please understand that if it rains we will have to close the barn and the winery because we can not bring things outside that are required for visitors to see the inside. And sometimes, if it is a real storm or the paths are covered in water, we have to close all the buildings and nobody should be in the park. You can always call first and check- 268-0784.
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Mandarin Newsline
The October 2022 edition of the Mandarin Newsline will be online soon.
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 October Newsline click HERE
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Until Next Time...
This beautiful rendering of the St. Johns in Mandarin was done by local artist Julie Fetzer.
It is an especially peaceful and beautiful scene of the river. Her work is also for sale in our gift shop.
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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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