The Seminole Historical Society Was Founded To Highlight Historic Artifacts Documents Articles And Buildings In Seminole Its Purpose Is To Ensure That Our Children And Future Generations Will Have A Place To Go To Learn About Stories Of Families From The Past Who Helped Create Our Present So That We Can Carve The Future
Members of the Seminole Historical Society can be individuals, families, institutions, or businesses.
Please see our membership page for detailed information.
Seminole exists because of the dreams and actions of those who came before us. Did you know that in early 1860’s individual settlers with names like Archer, Campbell, Cobb, Duhme, Grable, Meares, Moody, O’Quinn, Sartorius, Thevenet and Tyler were the pioneer settlers in the Seminole area? They were followed by more pioneers with names such as Johnson, Leach, Longley, Repetto, Thurston, and Whittle.
These early settlers found tall pines suitable for building their homes, ample land to raise their cattle, and plentiful wildlife such as turkey, deer, quail to feed their families.
In 1910, the Seminole area was comprised of just 75 people. The 1920 Census shows names of orange grove owners and farmers living side by side next to each other on one very long road. We know it as Duhme Rd, or 113′ Street, or Ridge Road. These families were, O’Quinn, Hinckle, Meares, Johnson, Leach, Brumby, Duhme, and Thevenet.
The Seminole Historical Museum is a gathering place for the dreams of the past and the rich history of our community. The museum is a place for telling stories of those who are no longer here to tell them for themselves.
We welcome you to our website and invite you to visit our beautiful museum to learn about the stories of those “dreamers” from our past who have helped create our present and future.
Podcasts Of Florida History
CMF Public Media History CMFs mission shall be to develop, fund, produce and distribute via the Internet downloadable audio podcasts and on-line audio streaming of program content reflecting issues and voices that matter in Central Florida doing so in a style that first advances those issues and voices rather than advancing CMFs own voice. Podcast Link See also on iTunes
The RICHES : RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore central Florida history and are locally produced. The Florida History Quarterly Podcast Link
Central Florida Memory – Central Florida Memory is a cooperative project begun in 2002 by three institutions: The University of Central Florida Library, The Orange County Regional History Center, and The Orange County Library System. UCF has been the primary technology support and host institution for Central Florida Memory since its inception. Starting in 2002, UCF has been the project lead to secure grants and digitize materials from our own collection as well as selections from partner institutions.
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES AND MUSEUMS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY
| Sanford Museum |
No No Please Interrupt
Have you ever met anybody that you just knew had interesting life stories? I had the privilege to meet two of them yesterday.
Yesterday the main work area was being used for the monthly meetings, so I got to work out there in the middle of the floor. I was sprawled across the floor of the main exhibit hall doing the lettering for the exhibit titles. People were coming and going for the meetings, asking questions, and generally taking an interest in the goings-on. What is this?Are you a volunteer?Are you doing that freehand?? A couple of the local firefighters came through and said hello as they passed by.
Then this couple came in. They came in asking about some information on one of the local cemeteries. Evidently the subdivision they live in was built on land that had been previously occupied by this cemetery. According to one of the neighbors, the headstones had been moved to their current location, but the bodies had not. Add that to the fact that their cat is acting strangely around one particular corner of the living room, and they want to know if this is just a rumor or whether theres a ghost or something there.
Im only half listening to the conversation at this point. One of the other volunteers is helping them. He takes one of them off to see if they can find plat maps or more information based on what they have.
No, no. Please interrupt!
So you understand.
Yep.
I lived in Salt Lake City for a couple of years.
Then he laughed at me. So you know.
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Where History Comes Alive
About the Historical Society
The Seminole County Historical Society is a 501-C-3 non-profit membership organization that raises funds, conducts programs, and supports the efforts of the Museum of Seminole County History. The museum preserves and educates the public about the history of the towns and residents of Seminole County and its rich past.
Organized in 1994, the society has contributed services, funding and expertise for such projects as the building of the Agricultural Exhibits building, the Pole Barn, museum labeling and exhibitions and the publishing of a number of high-quality historical books including a book about the centennial anniversary of the founding of Seminole County.
The society also operates a gift shop located in the museum that offers a unique selection of souvenirs, historic maps, prints, & postcards, and books on Florida and local history.
Become a member!
Support local history and preservation efforts by joining the Seminole County Historical Society! We offer several different membership levels that are sure to fit any budget. To find out more information about how to join our historical society, please click ‘Membership’ on the menu above.
St Lucia Swedish Heritage Festival Returns To Museum Of Seminole County History
SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL Seminole Countys annual St. Lucia Swedish history and heritage festival returns in-person on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the Museum of Seminole County History. After a year-long hiatus, the Seminole County Historical Society eagerly brings the St. Lucia Festival back, face-to-face.
In 2020, the Museum held a virtual festival, reaching 11,000 viewers with videos celebrating Swedish culture, from traditional music to baking recipes. This year, the Museum will provide desserts, play music, and host new areas for traditional games and childrens crafts.
The festival accompanies the Museums special exhibit showcasing the history of Swedish immigration to Seminole County, running through January 5. After founding the City of Sanford in 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford solicited indentured laborers from all over Europe with promises of mild weather and fertile land once their service concluded. Several modern places across the county have Swedish names, such as the community of Upsala on Vihlen Road.
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Museum Of Seminole County History
Sanford, FL 32773
Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Museum of Seminole County History is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Seminole County and its place in Central Florida, and educating the public on its unique heritage.
EXPERIENCE THE HISTORY OF SEMINOLE COUNTY! The Museum highlights Seminole County, the historical gateway to interior Central Florida via the St. John’s River. All artifacts in the Museum are donated by the local community. Exhibits, artifacts, maps, documents, photographs and special events all tell the stories of Seminole County’s inhabitants, their lives, lineages, and heritage. Join us for an engaging look through the past, which includes – The Native Americans of Central Florida – Early Forts and Settlements – Industrial and Agricultural Development – Life in Seminole County towns in the 19th and 20th centuries – The Old Folks Home – County Services – Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, and more! ADMISSION: $3/Adults $1/Children, Students, Seniors, Military Children under 4 admitted free
Faiths Of Our Forefathers
The exhibit opening was yesterday!
While the turnout was a little disappointing, the overall experience was a good one. A couple of the attendants admitted to having forgotten about the opening until the last minute due to the holiday weekend, and I suspect that the other people who sent in RSVPs forgot for the same reason.
That doesnt mean it wasnt worthwhile!
The group was small, but the presentation was wonderful. Jim Sawgrass was amazing. A fair amount of the information he had was stuff that I was already familiar with. Thanks mostly to my interactions with some of the tribes out west, despite the number of years it has been, though the one class at UCF also contributed.
Much of it was obviously brand new to some of the other people, which is the important part. He very willingly shared stories and Muskogee history to a small but highly interested audience. I managed to get a recording of most of it before my phone ran out of memory. Unfortunately it will not upload here. He and his wife were also kind enough to bring some osce , also known as black drink for us to try. It has a surprisingly nice flavor, in my opinion.
The rest of the exhibit finally came together as well. Bennett was still in scramble mode when I got there, after having spent the entire holiday weekend getting all of it together. However, it all went off well.
The exhibit will be up for the next 3 months.
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Goldsboro Was Founded As An All
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. The Goldsboro Museum says it celebrates Black History Month every single day of the year and this month, it plans on highlighting some of the stories that can be found within its catalog.
This is the day that the Ku Kux Klan ran Jackie Robinson out of the Sanford Memorial Stadium, Pasha Baker said as she led a tour around the Goldsboro Museum.
Baker is the director of the Goldsboro Historical Museum and tells just one of little-known facts that can be found within the museums walls.
Incorporated in 1891, the museum tells the tale of Goldsboro, a community in Seminole County that was once a thriving all-Black town founded by one of two brothers.
So Joseph Clark founded Eatonville in 1877, his brother a few years later Mr. William Clark founded Goldsboro and they were actually both businessmen, Baker said.
Goldsboro lost its charter in 1911 after it was stolen by the city of Sanford.
Baker says it left the people of Goldsboro in over $10,000 in debt, and even after the townspeople sued, taking it all the way to Supreme Court.
The city of Sanford won, and the money lost was never repaid.
All of this was documented and saved by Mrs. Francis Oliver, Bakers great aunt, who spent more than 40 years collecting stories and documents.
Entities that come in many forms from the museum to a cultural garden which all fall under the Goldsboro West Side Community Historical Association.
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Youre Going To Get Sued For Libel
I was volunteering at the Museum of Seminole County History yesterday, and there was a fortunate occurrence. One of the local people came in to do some research. She has been writing a book on local history and needed to get just a bit more information. Bennett had told me that she would be a wonderful person to ask about Sheriff Hobby because of the fact that she had done so much research. Which, of course, is a wonderful idea! Not because I want her information or her research results, but because she can direct me toward the better sources to conduct my own research.
She came in yesterday. I asked. What do you know about Governor Kirk and Sheriff Hobby? Where should I go to find more information? I told her that I had transcribed some information for the State Archives of Florida and had run across this information about people trying to resign starting on November 6, 1967 and continuously through 1968, but the county commissioners would not accept the resignations.
That date is in quotes for a reason. As soon as I mentioned that specific date her expression changed. You could see her withdraw from the conversation both physically and mentally. It was pretty obvious she knows exactly what I was referring to and did not want to get involved. However, she did tell me that the Sanford Herald archives had information on the goings-on. Not only that, but I should start my research earlier particularly with Sheriff Hand.
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Battle At Camp Monroe At The Museum Of Seminole County History
Location: Museum of Seminole County History, 300 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773
From: February 4, 2022 at 10:00am
Details:
The Museum of Seminole County History hosts its annual commemoration of the pivotal battle which took place on the shore of Lake Monroe on February 8th, 1837 between the United States and the Seminole Nation.
Visit the encampments of Soldiers and Seminoles and learn about the battlefields right under our feet! Taste soldiers rations, learn about how people lived and fought in the harsh wilds of Florida two centuries ago, and watch musket-firing demonstrations!
State Archives Of Florida
Since Im back on my schedule that means picking right up with this, too!
Poor Josh sounds pretty harried in his recent emails. Hes also been incredibly apologetic for not keeping up with my pace. In all honesty, the only way he could really keep up is to turn me loose in the room with the records with my laptop, an outlet, access to an endless supply of coffee and a rest room, and just watch me go. Maybe I should tell him that sometimes. Hes got a lot going on with his job. Im sure that with budgets being announced and such, hes got more worries than usual. My little corner of whats going on is rather insignificant in comparison to everything else. Its honestly perfectly okay that it takes a little extra time to provide more fodder for my handwriting habit.
With that said there is the possibility that by this point next week, I can have the countys information completed. Then its on to the next one.
MWAHAHA
Ive been finding more interesting things, too. There was the bit from the 60s in which one of the judges and one of the constables kept trying to quit.
This week, it was people just missing.
OK, so its not really people. Its the fact that not all of the county offices were filled off and on for a good decade. What was missing?
It brings up the question: What even was going on with the county???
Maybe the lack of young working men caused a shortage in taxes, so they could not afford to fill all the seats?
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