Florida Frontiers: The Weekly Newspaper Articles of the Florida Historical Society is a weekly newspaper article covering history-based events, exhibitions, activities, places and people in Florida. The newspaper articles premiered in January 2014. We explore the relevance of Florida history to contemporary society and promote awareness of heritage and culture tourism options in the state.
Every Fourth of July, Floridians celebrate Independence Day with cookouts, hometown parades, and of course, fireworks as America’s victory over the British in the American Revolution is commemorated. Not all American colonists supported the war, though. Many remained dedicated to King George III and England. As the American Revolution progressed, these Loyalists became refugees and were forced to...
Florida Today 22 Florida Frontiers “Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, and Zora Neale Hurston” Ben Brotemarkle We recently lost two significant contributors to our culture. Poet, author, and performing artist Maya Angelou died on May 28, at the age of 86. Actress, playwright, and activist Ruby Dee died on June 11, at the age of 91. These strong, influential, and talented women were both significantly...
Florida Today 21 Florida Frontiers “Cemeteries as Living History Symposium” Ben Brotemarkle After the loss of a loved one, a cemetery can be a place of quiet reflection, private mourning, and feeling more connected to the person who has passed away. As years, decades, and centuries go by, cemeteries become outdoor museums, reflecting the values, beliefs, and attitudes of the societies that created...
Florida Today 20 Florida Frontiers “Florida Cattle” Ben Brotemarkle Even where urban sprawl has enveloped large portions of the Florida landscape, Florida cattle are never too far from view. Traveling the major interstates, highways, and particularly rural roads throughout the state, herds of cattle can be seen grazing on even small patches of land. White birds called cattle egrets often stand on...
Florida Today 19 Florida Frontiers “St. Mark’s Episcopal Church” Ben Brotemarkle Today, parking in downtown Cocoa can be at a premium when services or special events are held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. When the church was first built in 1886, many in the congregation would arrive by water, mooring their boats on the banks of the Indian River. It’s just a few steps from the river’s edge to the...
Florida Today 18 Florida Frontiers “The Peter Demens Story” Ben Brotemarkle Peter Demens lived in Florida for only eight years, but his time here is memorable. While living in Longwood, just north of Orlando, Demens constructed buildings on the campus of the state’s oldest private college, established a railway connecting Central Florida to the Gulf Coast, and gave the city of St. Petersburg its...
Florida Today 17 Florida Frontiers “The John H. Sams Homestead” Ben Brotemarkle Life in Eau Gallie just wasn’t working out for John H. Sams and his family. Sams and his wife Sarah had followed other family members from South Carolina to Eau Gallie, establishing their own homestead in 1875. The 36 year-old Sams built a cabin for his wife and five children near the home of his cousins in the LaRoche...
Florida Today 16 Florida Frontiers “Jules André Smith and the Maitland Art Center” Ben Brotemarkle Artist, architect, writer, and World War I veteran Jules André Smith intended to move from Stony Creek, Connecticut to Miami, Florida, to enjoy a peaceful retirement. As he traveled through Central Florida in 1932, Smith saw a beautiful sunset on Lake Sybelia in Maitland and decided he needed to go...