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MMHS NEWS
February 2019
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EMBRACE THE MANDARIN EXPERIENCE
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Dear MMHS Members and Friends,
At the beginning of this new year, we wanted to share our Impact Statement for FY 2017-18. We had a great year and we thank all of you for contributing to our success.
Sandy Arpen and the Board of Directors
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Fort Mose Historical Society member, Dwight Swearnigen, at Winter Celebration.
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Third Thursday Lecture in February
is in honor of
Black History Month
February 21
Folks, this is some absolutely fascinating history that we all need to learn about and appreciate. Just down US 1 from us lies the site of Fort Mose.
Established in 1738 in Colonial Spanish Florida, Fort Mose gave sanctuary to Africans challenging enslavement in the English Colony of Carolina. Approximately 100 Africans lived at Fort Mose, forming more than 20 households. Together they created a frontier community - the first free African settlement to legally exist in the United States! Few people realize that the Underground Railroad ran south long before it ran north.
At this lecture, four members of the Fort Mose Historical Society will present a program that tells the whole story. They will present themselves in period dress and enlighten us to this very important history. Please don't miss it!
Third Thursday Lectures are presented by the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society in partnership with and held at the Mandarin Community Club, located at 12447 Mandarin Rd. Refreshments begin at 6:30 pm with the lecture at 7 pm. It is free and all are invited and encouraged to attend and bring a friend.
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Frog Painting Event
Sign-up now!
February 9
Please make a reservation - the best way to do that is to email us at
[email protected] and tell us how many frogs you'd like to paint. Frog Man says there might be a couple of turtles too - but mostly frogs. If you can't email, please call and leave a message at 268-0784.
Please check-in between 9:30 and 10 to avoid a line. The painting lasts until about noon. It happens as planned unless it is raining, about to rain or too cold. If you are unsure, call us that morning at 268-0784.
Frogs are $20. We provide the paint, brushes etc. Wear old clothes. It is lots of fun. Our tremendous gratitude to the Mandarin Frog Man - all proceeds are for the support of Mandarin Museum programs and expansion.
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| Happy painters from the December event. |
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Miss Aggie hard at work at the
Post Office
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Nominate someone for the
2019 Miss Aggie Award!
Agnes Jones was a resident of Mandarin from 1898 until her death in 1992 at the age of 94. "Miss Aggie" was an independent, strong-willed, confident woman who possessed a deep sense of community and a charitable heart. Part entrepreneur, part community activist and part social worker, she had the business acumen to run a successful grocery, the organizational skills to become Mandarin's Postmistress and a reputation for helping her fellow man in time of need. She was the last of her family to live in the Webb/Jones farmhouse which is located in the Walter Jones Historical Park.
Every year since 2003, MMHS has recognized a person in the community who reflects some of the values that Miss Aggie did. We are open to nominations for 2019. Any one can nominate a woman or a man who has contributed to the Mandarin community in the areas of business, civic, educational or charitable accomplishment. The candidate's contributions may be specific deeds or an accumulation of actions over a period of time. Recipients need not be "experts" in any particular area but might be known or recognized for their sense of community, their caring attitude or individual accomplishments. Last year's recipient was Donald Bowden, Mandarin's "Frog Man." - the first male to receive this recognition.
Please click
here for a nomination form. And
please mark your calendars for March 23 - Miss Aggie Day at the Store and Post Office from1-3 when we will recognize the 2019 recipient of the Miss Aggie Award and enjoy visiting while eating Moon Pies and drinking RC Colas - just like the old days!
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Accessions Corner
What is in our Collection?
This object in our collection resides in the parlor of the farmhouse with the sewing artifacts. It is a wooden box designed for storing spooled thread. These boxes first started appearing in the late 1870s. This one was given to us by Josephine Flaherty in 2001. It is very typical of what would have been used during the late 19th/early 29th centuries.
Originally silk thread was made just for hand sewing, but when the sewing machine was invented in 1860 by Elias Howe, a new thread was invented by George Clark. He called it O.N.T. which stood for "Our New Thread" and it was made of cotton, so it was stronger. Clark was one of the first to mass produce threads.
For more information about the history of the Clark's Thread Factory,
CLICK HERE.
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Interesting offerings in the community
We wanted to let you know about a few things coming up that you might be interested in:
Fort Mose in St. Augustine - "Flight to Freedom" special event
February 7th - 9th from 10-1 each day.
For details:
Mandarin Community Club
February 10 - Flag Retirement Ceremony
February 23 - Annual Tree Give Away
and Festival
February 28 - Candidates Forum
For details:
Mark your calendars for the 2019 edition of "Laughs for Charity" which will be held on the April 11 at the Ramada Inn and the Comedy Zone. As you will recall, the Rotary raised $25,000 at their 2018 event for the Mandarin Museum Expansion Fund! Let's show them some love and go again this year. It is a wonderful and fun event - and another deserving non-profit will benefit this year. Details to come in the March newsletter.
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MARCH OF MUSEUMS
In March, the Florida Department of State sponsors "March of Museums," an initiative celebrating the variety and versatility of museums and the important services they provide to our communities.
Mandarin Museum will participate this year by recognizing the 155th anniversary of the sinking of the
Maple Leaf - on April 1, 1864.
On March 16, Dr. Keith Holland and divers from the St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions will be present to discuss the diving operation and recovery of artifacts from the ship during the 1990s and the 70 artifacts that are on display. Also, a special guest speaker will be present that day - name and time to be announced by the next newsletter.
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Thank you to the following local advertisers
Click to Link
These organizations are driven by local advertising, so they give back to the community by including news and information about what's going on in the Mandarin area.
We are grateful for that kind of support and consider them to be business partners.
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Ladies in front of the John Henry Jacks house on Mandarin Rd. Most likely late 1800s. The Jacks family is featured in Brett's article this month.
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Mandarin Newsline
February edition
Just in case you don't get the Mandarin Newsline in your mailbox, CLICK HERE for the on-line edition. It is full of Mandarin news including "Back in Time with Brett" by MMHS volunteer Brett Nolan; a call for MMHS volunteers by Paula Suhey, Volunteer Coordinator; and our news release about the Fort Mose Lecture.
The Newsline allows us to share our events with the community. They are supported by advertisements, so please support those who support this wonderful local paper.
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OUR REGULAR EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY
First Saturday - February 2 - All Buildings Open- READ TIMES
In Walter Jones Historical Park - 1875 farmhouse, 1876 barn, Losco Winery
are open from 10-2.
ALSO - the
historic Mandarin Store and Post Office will be open at 12471 Mandarin Road (next to the Mandarin Community Club) from 10-2.
Mandarin Museum, will be open 9-4, as always.
BUT the St. Joseph's Mission Schoolhouse for African-American Children will only be open from 12-4
this day due to a special visit by the Florida Folklore Society in the morning.
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Find this amazing hand-hewn citrus ladder
in the barn.
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"Under the Oaks" Music Jam - February 3
The "Under the Oaks" music jam will take lace on Sunday, February 3 from 2-4 in front of the Mandarin Museum, weather permitting. Players of all levels are invited to join in the song circle. Listeners are welcome as well. - just please bring a lawn chair.
The museum and schoolhouse will be open during this time for visitation.
This event is co-sponsored by the North Florida Folk Network. - "Connecting Artists, Fans and venues in North Florida.
CLICK HERE to view their website.
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See Gary Garrett's beautiful painting
of the jam
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Meet the Maple Leaf Divers - February 16
Keith Holland and SJAE divers will be in the museum February 16 from
12-4 to tell you all about their exploration of this National Historic Landmark shipwreck.
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Survey of the ship's wreckage in the St. Johns -1990s
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Mark your calendars
- February 2: Historic 1911 Mandarin Store and Post Office open at 12471 Mandarin Rd. from 10 am - 2 pm; 1875 farmhouse, 1876 barn, and Losco Winery open in Walter Jones Historical Park, 10 am - 2 pm; Mandarin Museum open from 9 am - 4 pm and Schoolhouse open 12-4 due to a special morning event.
- February 3: Under the Oaks music jam, 2 pm - 4 pm
- February 9: Frog Painting, 10 am - 12 pm
- February 16: Meet the Maple Leaf Divers, 12 pm - 4 pm
- February 21: Third Thursday Lecture, Mandarin Community Club (12447 Mandarin Rd.), 7 pm in honor of Black History Month, "The Fort Mose Story: A Story That Must Be Told"
- March 2 - Historic 1911 Mandarin Store and Post Office open at 12471 Mandarin Rd. from 10 am - 2 pm; 1875 farmhouse, 1876 barn, and Losco Winery open in Walter Jones Historical Park, 10 am - 2 pm; Mandarin Museum and the schoolhouse open from 9 am - 4 pm
- March 3 - Under the Oaks music jam, 2 pm - 4 pm
- March 16 - Special Meet the Divers Day in honor of Florida's "March of Museums" month.
- March 23 - Miss Aggie Day and award - 1-3 at the Store and Post Office, 12471 Mandarin Rd.
- April 6 - Historic 1911 Mandarin Store and Post Office open at 12471 Mandarin Rd. from 10 am - 2 pm; 1875 farmhouse, 1876 barn, and Losco Winery open in Walter Jones Historical Park, 10 am - 2 pm; Mandarin Museum and the schoolhouse open from 9 am - 4 pm
- April 13 - Frog Painting - 10-12 at Mandarin Museum
- April 20 - Art Festival at Mandarin Community Club - MMHS will have the Store and Post Office open from 10-5.
- April 21 - Art Festival at Mandarin Community Club - MMHS will have the Store and Post Office open from 10-4.
- May 16 - Third Thursday Lecture - Mandarin resident Ann Kenyon, renowned portrait artist and author.
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The Mandarin Museum and the Schoolhouse are open every Saturday from 9-4. All other historic buildings in Walter Jones Historical Park (11964 Mandarin Rd.) AND the Mandarin Store and PO (12471 Mandarin Rd.), are open from 10-2 on the first Saturday. Exceptions to this schedule are listed in the calendar above.
School field trips and youth or adult group tours are scheduled mostly during the week - by appointment. Call 268-0784 or email us at [email protected] to make a reservation.
We always need more volunteers, as they are the backbone of our organization. If you would like more information
CLICK HERE to email Paula Suhey, Volunteer Coordinator and she will give you a call and tell you all about the opportunities we have. Information is also available by clicking
HERE.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and our Tumblr blog by clicking on the logos at the bottom of this newsletter.
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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
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our blog (click icons below).
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
904-268-0784
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