Explorer's Guide North Florida & the Panhandle () (Explorer's Complete) by Sandra Friend

Explorer's Guide North Florida & the Panhandle () (Explorer's Complete) by Sandra Friend

Author:Sandra Friend
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Countryman Press
Published: 2018-04-03T04:00:00+00:00


CLAY HISTORIC TRIANGLE

The Hilltop Black Heritage Education Center (904-282-4168), Longmire Road at Hunter-Douglas Park, Middleburg, is a sensitive and thought-provoking view of African American culture during the late 1800s, displayed in a one-room schoolhouse. Call with two days’ notice to arrange a tour with a docent knowledgable in local history.

Built in 1892, Interlachen Town Hall, on the National Register of Historic Places, was the city’s social center in the early 1900s, holding town hall activities such as dances, ladies’ society meetings, and voting. It hosts the Interlachen Museum (inter lachen-fl.gov), 201 Commonwealth Avenue, which provides a picture of this once-bustling winter resort, a major destination in the 1890s, with three hotels on its lakes. Run by the Historical Society of Interlachen, the museum is open every Saturday 10 AM–2 PM. Free, donations appreciated.

The Crescent City Women’s Club takes on a labor of love, filling the Little Blue House Heritage Museum and Art Center (386-698-4711), 602 N Summit Street, Crescent City, with pieces of the past. The former home, dating back to 1871, showcases the history and art of South Putnam. Open Tuesday–Saturday 2:30–5 PM.

Developed as a winter resort and residential community in the 1920s, Keystone Heights had its own hotel, The Keystone Inn, up through the 1950s. It sat on the hill above Keystone Beach (see Swimming), where the historic bathhouse and dance hall, built in 1928, still perches over the ever-shrinking waters of Lake Geneva.

Photographs and displays of the early turpentine, timber, and phosphate industries depict one of the oldest continuous communities in Florida at the Middleburg Historic Museum (904-282-5357), 3912 Section St. Open Sunday 2–4 PM. Donations appreciated.

As you’re driving FL 16 east toward the St. Johns River, a massive troop carrier draws your attention to the Military Museum of North Florida (904-718-5571), 1 Bunker Avenue at Reynolds Park, on the site of Benjamin Lee Field, a Naval air station during World War II. The base was where pilots for the F6F Helicat trained and also where the 600-ship Atlantic fleet was “mothballed” after the war. Support vehicles, uniforms, weapons, and artifacts date from World War II to the modern day. Open 10 AM–3 PM Tuesday–Friday. Fee.

Established in 1921 as a retirement village along the St. Johns River, Moosehaven (moosehaven.org), 1701 Park Avenue, covers 63 acres. The Loyal Order of Moose bettered the community of Orange Park at the same time by donating buildings that became the town hall, fire station, and library.

Founded as a retirement community “for Christian people whose lives had been devoted to Christian service” by department store founder J. C. Penney, Penney Farms (penneyretirementcommunity.org) dates back to 1927. It is centered on the J. C. Penney Memorial Church (904-529-9078), which at the time was surrounded by 98 cottage apartments. Hundreds of Southern magnolias were planted when the community was founded. They now form a spectacular canopy, helping earn that portion of FL 16 designation as J.C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway (see Scenic Drives).

Originally part of Fort Shannon during the Seminole Indian Wars (1832–1845), the



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