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Links to stories about Florida history stories currently in the news:
Tampa Bay Times: St. Augustine coming to grips with its
segregationist past, dark role in civil rights struggle
In St. Augustine, blacks and whites confront each other on the beach, 1964
St. Augustine is finally coming to grips with the civil rights struggle that took place there in 1964, which likely prompted the Senate to end the longest filibuster in its history and pass the landmark Civil Rights Act.
Craig Pittman, a staff writer for the Tampa Bay Times, profiles Dr. Robert Hayling, a black densist who moved to the city in his 30s and launched a year-long series of protests against the segregation laws that prevented blacks from eating in the same restaurants, using the same restrooms, swimmng in the same pools and lying on the same beaches as whites.
Hayling's campaign brought the struggle to a boiling point in the city, and served as a beacon that drew in members of the racist Ku Klux Klan and civil rights agitators from across the nation.
They clashed and there was blood. Klansmen firebombed homes in black neighborhoods and brutally beat Hayling and other protestors. Martin Luther King was arrested on the steps of a motel as he tried to enter its restaurant. Whites chased blacks into the ocean as blacks "waded-in" on the sands of a segregated beach. During another wade-in at the swimming pool of the motel where Dr. King was arrested, a manager threw muratic acid into the pool to force the protestors to leave.
St. Augustine has spent decades trying to forget the civil rights clashes. But a new museum and talk of marking locations of the most significant events suggest some of its residents might be ready to remember. Click here to read the story by Craig Pittman, staff writer of the Tampa Bay Times. Click here to see a video about the civil rights clashes in St. Augustine
Craig Pittman, a staff writer for the Tampa Bay Times, profiles Dr. Robert Hayling, a black densist who moved to the city in his 30s and launched a year-long series of protests against the segregation laws that prevented blacks from eating in the same restaurants, using the same restrooms, swimmng in the same pools and lying on the same beaches as whites.
Hayling's campaign brought the struggle to a boiling point in the city, and served as a beacon that drew in members of the racist Ku Klux Klan and civil rights agitators from across the nation.
They clashed and there was blood. Klansmen firebombed homes in black neighborhoods and brutally beat Hayling and other protestors. Martin Luther King was arrested on the steps of a motel as he tried to enter its restaurant. Whites chased blacks into the ocean as blacks "waded-in" on the sands of a segregated beach. During another wade-in at the swimming pool of the motel where Dr. King was arrested, a manager threw muratic acid into the pool to force the protestors to leave.
St. Augustine has spent decades trying to forget the civil rights clashes. But a new museum and talk of marking locations of the most significant events suggest some of its residents might be ready to remember. Click here to read the story by Craig Pittman, staff writer of the Tampa Bay Times. Click here to see a video about the civil rights clashes in St. Augustine
Tarpon Springs' historic Greektown district added to
National Register as Traditional Cultural Property
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Tarpon Springs' historic Greektown district has been added to the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property, according to a story posted on the website Greek USA Reporter.
The Traditional Cultural Property distinction is the first for a Florida community, the story said, and stems from the National Register's search for places to serve as models for ethnic communities. Securing the distinction was a priority of Tina Bucuvalas, a folklorist and the city's curator of arts and historical resources. Bucuvalas conducted the research and wrote the proposal. |
A sponge diver poses onboard one of the Tarpon Springs sponge diving boats in this undated photo from the State Archives of Florida.
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Read the story in Greek USA Reporter: Tarpon Springs Becomes Florida's First Official Cultural Property • National Register's criteria for evaluating and documenting Traditional Cultural Properties
Volunteers come from all over the state to help
clean up Ocala's original cemetery
Responding to an Ocala Post story about neglect of Ocala's original cemetery, a group of volunteers from across the state have been gathering to help restore the site to a respectable condition.
The May 14 story on the website OcalaPost.com described widespread damage resulting from long-term neglect of the city-owned cemetery.
Attention about the neglect of Evergreen Cemetery was raised by a story on the OcalaPost website, then shared to Facebook with more than 1,000 page likes.
The story was shared by Facebook users across the state. One source told the website that only three volunteers are from Ocala. Organizers say much remains to be done, and they are looking for help from owners of landscaping, lawn service or grave marker businesses.
The next cleanup event is Sunday, June 8 at 8 a.m. Volunteers are asked to bring trash bags, rakes, weed eaters, trimmers, yard gloves and able bodies. To sign up, call Catherine Wendell at 352-690-7933 or email her at ocalaghostwalks@gmail.com. Another organizer, John Linnell, can be contacted by email at linnell35@gmail.com.
Read the story in the Ocala Post: Volunteers Begin Clean-up of Historical Cemetery
Read the original story: City of Ocala Allowing Historical Cemetery To Be Destroyed
The May 14 story on the website OcalaPost.com described widespread damage resulting from long-term neglect of the city-owned cemetery.
Attention about the neglect of Evergreen Cemetery was raised by a story on the OcalaPost website, then shared to Facebook with more than 1,000 page likes.
The story was shared by Facebook users across the state. One source told the website that only three volunteers are from Ocala. Organizers say much remains to be done, and they are looking for help from owners of landscaping, lawn service or grave marker businesses.
The next cleanup event is Sunday, June 8 at 8 a.m. Volunteers are asked to bring trash bags, rakes, weed eaters, trimmers, yard gloves and able bodies. To sign up, call Catherine Wendell at 352-690-7933 or email her at ocalaghostwalks@gmail.com. Another organizer, John Linnell, can be contacted by email at linnell35@gmail.com.
Read the story in the Ocala Post: Volunteers Begin Clean-up of Historical Cemetery
Read the original story: City of Ocala Allowing Historical Cemetery To Be Destroyed
Jax Museum of Science & History presents
Megalodon, the largest shark that ever lived
Photo: Museum of Science & History
A 60-foot, 75-ton prehistoric shark donimates a new exhibit at the Museum of Science & History in Jacksonvlle, running through Sept. 14. The exhibit, "Megalodon: The Largest Shark That Ever Lived," was developed by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the National Science Foundation. Sections of the exhibit focus on the shark's prehistoric habitat, modern threats to today's sharks, and how Megalodon has achieved cult-like status in modern culture. The museum is located at 1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville. For more information, click here or call 904-396-MOSH. Read the story in the Florida Times-Union: Megalodon, an exhibit about the largest shark that ever lived, coming to the Museum of Science & History
Museum switch proposal generates anger in St. Pete
A proposal by the St. Petersburg Housing Authority to end its relationship with the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum and replace it with another African American museum run by a separate group generated protests at a recent meeting. The authority may postpone its vote on the matter, The Tampa Bay Times reported. Read the story in the Tampa Bay Times: Some upset by proposed change at St. Pete African-American history museum
Report: Ocala allowed city's first cemetery to fall into ruinA report by the Ocala Post website charges that the city has allowed the community's first cemetery to fall into ruin, with vandalized, decaying gravesites, overgrown shrubbery, broken and missing headstones and purposely destroyed fencing.
"Veterans, civilian citizens, babies and young children now rest in graves that have become nothing more than a pile of rubble," the story said. The Historic Ocala Preservation organized volunteers to clean up and restore the cemetery a decade ago even though it was under city ownership, the website reported. |
Screenshot from May 14, 2014 edition of Ocala Post with report that city of Ocala "allowed historical cemetery to be destroyed"
No upkeep has taken place since then, the report said, adding that questions to the city and its mayor about the cemetery's condition "have gone unanswered."
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New documentary focuses on Florida Jews' military service
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Not all Americans recognize that Jewish people have served with honor in all of the nation's military conflicts. Filmmaker Steve Waxman addresses this in a new documentary debuting this month on WLRN-TV, Miami's public television station. "A Call to Serve: Florida Jews and the U.S. Military" is airing on May 13, 18 and 29 on the channel. Among other heroes, the program features retired Army Air Corps Lt. Irwin Stovroff, 91, of Boca Raton, founder of the Vets Helping Heroes, which provides service dogs to disabled veterans. Read the story in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Film highlights Florida Jews' military service • Read more at WLRN's web site
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Irwin Stovroff, founder of Boca Raton-based Vets Helping Heroes, provides service dogs for disabled veterans. He is featured in a new WLRN documentary about military service by Florida Jews.
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Seventeen Big Bend preservation projects recognized with awards
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Preservation projects in the three-county Big Bend area were honored at a recent awards ceremony that kicked off national Historic Preservation Month in Florida. The projects spanned several years and included restoration of the Historic Capitol Dome, construction of Tallahassee's Civil Rights Heritage Walk, and rehabilitation of one of Tallahassee's oldest structures, The Columns, which is now home to the James Madison Institute. Read more in the Tallahassee Democrat: Event honors those committed to historic preservation
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Restoration of the historic State Capitol Dome was one of 17 projects honored at a recent awards ceremony co-presented by the Florida Department of State and Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation.
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Beating the heat was a chore in the days before air conditioning
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As South Florida was first becoming populated in the late 19th century, rich seasonal residents escaped the heat by escaping South Florida to homes in the north. The less-than-rich had to stay and endure it, using loose clothing, parasols, open windows and hand-held fans. A new exhibit now open at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society shows how residents endured the miserable summers. But perhaps they weren't as miserable as you might think because they didn't know what they were missing.
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In the days before air conditioning in Florida, people had to go to the beach to cool off. Don't these people look cool? When they weren't on the beach, women and men were generally dressed head to toe -- no shorts. Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
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Restoration of Florida's oldest Confederate monument completed
Vandalized several years ago, the first Confederate monument erected in Florida has been restored and unveiled in a ceremony hosted by the Walton County Heritage Association in DeFuniak Springs this week. Read the story at wmbb.com: Florida's Oldest Confederate Monument in DeFuniak Springs Restoration Complete
State turning shipwrecks into parks for education, adventure
The Navy Battleship U.S.S. Massachusetts before it wrecked near Pensacola. Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
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A recent trend in tourism, shipwreck parks, is meant to encourage education and allow for a bit of adventure, The Bradenton Times is reporting. The program began in 1987 with the designation of the Spanish merchant ship Urca de Mima, which sank off the coast of Ft. Pierce in 1715. The newest shipwreck nominated to become a park is the U.S.S. Narcissus, sunk off the coast of Egmont Key in 1866. If approved, it would become the 12th shipwreck park.
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Run-down Dunedin hotel to be rebuilt in same architectural style
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A new hotel will be rebuilt in Dunedin with a look virtually identical to the 1920s hotel it will be replacing. The historic Fenway Hotel, on St. Joseph Sound, is too rundown for renovation. Dunedin's city commission voted to allow its demolition, but only if it would be replaced with a new building that preserves the old hotel's architectural look. And that's what the property's new owner intends to do.
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The Fenway Hotel as it looked in the 1920s. Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
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Juan de Pareja painted by his master, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez. Photo: Wikipedia Commons
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Painting at Ringling Museum leads scholar to discover slavery roots of Spanish painter Juan de ParejaA retired Boston University professor's questions about the history of a 17th century artist led her to uncover the story of a Spanish slave who taught himself how to paint by secret by candlelight. Spanish law prohibited slaves from joining the artists guild and practicing the craft. The only signed and dated painting by Juan de Pareja is called The Flight Into Egypt and is displayed at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Read the story by Vivian R. Johnson, Ed.D. in The Root: Discovering a Slave Artist and His Masterpiece
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Hampton Inn in downtown Bradenton earns preservation award
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The 10-month-long renovation of an 88-year-old hotel on the verge of being demolished is begin recognized by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, the Bradenton Herald reported. Widewaters Hotels of Syracuse, N.Y. spent $21 million on the project, which included careful logging of historic elements so federal tax credits could be claimed, the story said. The renovated hotel opened in November. Read the story in Bradenton.com:Downtown Bradenton Hamption Inn receives Florida Preservation award
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Hampton Inn, downtown Bradenton, is 88 years old. Photo: Hampton Inns
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Civil War re-enactment in Holly Hill neighborhood draws criticism
Not all residents of Holly Hill appreciated a Civil War re-enactment in a residential neighborhood over the weekend. About 9 percent of the 12,000 residents of the East Volusia city are African-American and some weren't thrilled to see a Confederate battle flag at the entrance of the re-enactors' camp. An organizer of the re-enactment reassured the neighbors, however, that the Civil War "had nothing to do with slavery." Read the story from News13: Civil War re-enactment raises eyebrows in Holly Hill
New documentary spotlights Anna Maria Historic Green Village
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Anchored by four 100-year-old homes, the Anna Maria Historic Green Village nonetheless is a model for combining historic preservation with cutting-edge sustainable green technology. The village boasts that it's one of only 100 places worldwide to achieve the highest possible green building standard, known as Platinum LEED - PLUS. The village is the subject of a new PBS documentary that will air nationwide on Earth Day, April 22.
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Anna Maria Historic Green Village. Photo: historicgreenvillage.com
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Tampa-area NAACP launching effort to save Jackson House
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The Hillsborough County branch of the NAACP is launching a campaign to save a 113-year-old rooming house where African Americans visiting Tampa stayed during the segregation era. The group's president told the Tampa City Council that the NAACP would try to raise the $2 million to $3 million necessary to secure and restore the structure, which is in danger of collapsing. Read the story in the Tampa Tribune: NAACP wants stab at saving Jackson House
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Historic train running Sat., Sun., between Ocoee and Winter Garden
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Eight-mile train rides are being offered between Winter Garden and Ocoee aboard a famous 1907 steam-powered locomotive called the Orange Blossom Cannonball. The train, nicknamed "America's Movie Train," has been featured in 32 films, including the 2010 remake of "True Grit" and "O Brother Where Art Thou." Tickets are available online at orangeblossomcannonball.com, by phone 352-742-7200 or at the Ocoee or Winter Garden train depots.
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Photo: orangeblossomcannonball.com
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Read the story in the Orlando Sentinel: All aboard! Cannonball express is ready to roll this weekend
Tampa's historic Kress building set for reimagination
Tampa's old S.H. Kress building, once home to the popular department store chain, attracts almost daily calls from developers looking to redevelop the Renaissance Revival-style structure for today's urban lifestyle. Tampa's mayor says the building should "stir the imagination."
Read the story in 83degreesmedia.com: What's next for downtown Tampa? Keep Your Eye on Historic Kress Building
Read the story in 83degreesmedia.com: What's next for downtown Tampa? Keep Your Eye on Historic Kress Building
Archaeologists identify 67-year-old shipwreck found near Florida
A ship that wrecked off Ponte Vedra Beach 67 years ago has been identified as the Bermuda-based Deliverance, according to a Florida Times-Union story. The ship's 80-foot long hull was revealed during low tide on New Years Day after sitting immersed for decades. Officials of the St. Augustine-based Lighthouse Archaeological Marine Program identified the wreck after combing local history books and Internet archives. Read the story in the Florida Times-Union: Ponte Vedra shipwreck identified
Wanted: Modern images of historic Polk County
Polk County's historic preservation manager is asking photography buffs to send modern photos of historical buildings, cemeteries, monuments and other points of interest for a contest called "Picture Polk History." Read the story in the Lakeland Ledger: Photographs of historic Polk needed
Retired astronaut Bob Crippen
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Historic designation can't save
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Preservationists, developers reach compromise on Tequesta circles
Historical preservationists and the developers of a downtown Miami commercial center have apparently reached a compromise that will preserve ancient architectural finds at the site while allowing construction of the planned hotel and entertainment complex. Two glass enclosures will be erected over two circular areas of carved bedrock believed by archaeologists to be foundations of structures built by native Tequesta Indians 2,000 years ago. Read the editorial in the Miami Herald: Compromise lets developers build while preserving Tequesta history
Tarpon Springs halts Sponge Docks upgrade plans
Years of work planning upgrades to Tarpon Springs' Sponge Docks tourist district were shelved this week following a public outcry and lingering questions about whether some of the planned improvements would be allowed under state and federal regulations. Residents swamped a recent city commission meeting to complain that the planned improvements weren't needed and would make the historic docks look too modern.
Sanibel Island resident recalls building Sears home
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From 1908 to 1937, Sears Roebuck and Co. had houses in its catalogue. That's right, the same catalogue that sold kitchen appliances, furniture, record players and power tools also listed the structures to store the items. The company shipped the building materials as numbered parts along with a leather-bound construction manual. Two such homes remain in the Sanibel Historical Village. Elinore Mayer Dormer recalled how her home arrived and was built in 1924.
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The Verona as it appeared in the 1923 Sears catalogue, is one of two Sears homes in the Sanibel Historical Village.
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UWF helping promote heritage tourism venues in PensacolaWest Florida Historic Preservation Inc. has been rebranded as UWF's Historic Trust as the University of West Florida becomes more involved in promoting cultural and heritage tourism in Pensacola. Read more at the Pensacola News Journal: UWF making history part of Pensacola's tourism charm
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Summer home of Ais Indians
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Also see:
87-year-old Auburndale City Hall building place on Historic Register
U.S. Space Walk Hall of Fame Museum moving to larger building in Titusville
87-year-old Auburndale City Hall building place on Historic Register
U.S. Space Walk Hall of Fame Museum moving to larger building in Titusville
Tom Petty named to Florida Artists Hall of Fame for Heritage Month
Petty
Rocker Tom Petty, who was raised in Gainesville and played there with his early bands before finding global success, was named to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame as part of the Florida Heritage Month Awards program this week. The program is run by the Florida Department of State. With more than 60 million records sold, Petty is one of the best selling artists of all time, the program's website states, adding Petty has made significant contributions to the musical arts in Florida and worldwide. Click here to see a complete list of Florida Heritage Month awards recipients.
Tarpon Springs residents condemn Sponge Docks enhancement plan
Sponge Fleet in harbor at Tarpon Springs. Date unknown. Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
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Angry critics swamped the Tarpon Springs City Commission meeting on Tuesday night to condemn the city's $1.3 million plan to install amenities at the city's historic Sponge Docks tourist district. Commissioners were taken by surprise by the anger, saying the plans had been worked out in several previous public meetings. Read the story in the Tampa Bay Times: Tarpon Springs crowd blasts Sponge Docks plan
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Miami Beach couple flaunts demolition of 1920s mansion
"Real Housewives of Miami" star Lisa Hochstein and her husband Leonard, a plastic surgeon who calls himself the "Boob God" flaunted the demolition of their 1925 Star Island mansion this week. The couple won the right to tear down the house after a long fight with historical preservationists in the city. In its place, the couple plans to build a mansion more than three times the size of the one they are tearing down. Click here to read the story in the Daily Mail.
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St. Petersburg seeks historical designation for
late mayor's unique bungalow community
The recent purchase of two vacant homes by the St. Petersburg Free Clinic is worrying residents of a unique community of bungalow homes developed by one of the city's former mayors. They want the city to designate the area as a historic district to thwart plans to demolish the vacant houses. Read more on WFLA's website: St. Pete community seeks historic designation
Snyder Memorial, former Jax
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Home where Barkers fought FBI
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Visiting descendant of slain Clay sheriff repairing broken headstone
Visiting from Oklahoma, the great grandaughter of a Clay County sheriff killed in the line of duty in 1894 found that his headstone at the Hickory Grove Cemetary was broken. She is working with a monument restoration company to repair it, but hopes that local residents will help protect it for the future. Read the story in Clay Today Online: Family of slain sheriff work to preserve his legacy
Much of what you know about St. Augustine is fake
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So says Folio Weekly writer Ron Word in his new story that scrapes the copper-colored coating off of the "Nation's Oldest City." He argues that to promote tourism, locals haven't come clean about what's actually old and what's been built on old foundations. And don't get him started on the bottled water from the Fountain of Youth. Read the Folio Weekly story: The Fake History of St. Augustine
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Tourists get water from Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine in 1949. Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
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The Bentley Heiress and her Rovers
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An unlikely team of a Bentley auto heiress from Gulf Stream, an underwater photographer and a Boynton Beach historian and archaeology enthusiast formed a company called Roving Photographers and teamed up in 1976 to create a 30-minute documentary on the history of Boynton Beach. Their film comes back to life with a newly digitized DVD release produced by Florida History Network's video production division, Florida Legacy Productions.
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DVD version of Roving Photographers' 1976 film, The History of Boynton Beach Florida, left. At right, Roving Photographers founders James Warnke, Marion Bentley Wall and Roland James Dack
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Winter Park questions modern improvements to historic structures
Commissioner: Do upgrades diminish historic quality? Should city oversee renovations?
As the city contributes public funds to the recently relocated Capen House and Grant Chapel, a Winter Park commissioner wondered whether the city's Historical Preservation Board should have some oversight into how the properties are being renovated, and whether historic structures need so many modern improvements. Read the story in the Orlando Sentinel: Historic preservation comes under the spotlight for some scrutiny
New Naples Canal historical marker is first to include a map
A map denotes the location of the prehistoric Native American-built Naples Canal on a new state historical marker unveiled last month. It's the first historical marker to include a map, and the state's historical marker coordinator hopes to include maps on markers to come. Read the story in the Naples News: New Florida Heritage Landmark Marker 1st of Its Kind In the State
Tequesta circles decisions now
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Sulfur Springs historic buildings
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Orlando Historic Preservation Board votes to protect Tinker Field
Orlando's Tinker Field could be protected with historic landmark status, following a vote this week by the city's historic preservation board. But the city commission has the final say, and Mayor Buddy Dyer has already said keeping the field is not compatible with the expansion of the adjacent Citrus Bowl stadium. Read the story in the Orlando Sentinel: Tinker Field should be protected as landmark, board says