Historical Society Celebrates Silver Anniversary

Wakulla County Historical Society formed 1991, today in 2016, we celebrate our Silver Anniversary on Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 pm. The celebration will be held in the Heart of Historic Crawfordville at First Baptist Church Christian Life Center 3086 Crawfordville Highway.   Tickets $25 prepaid by mail or at Museum. Buffet meal catered by Judi Bunch Featuring barbershop harmony by In-A-Chord of The Capital Chordsmen of Tallahassee.
Doors open at 6:00 pm Membership Registration Only Applications available online http://wakullahistory.org/application.pdf
WCHS Museum & Archives 24 High Drive · Post Office Box 151 Crawfordville FL 32326 850.926-1110

Buy A Brick, Leave A Legacy

Order Your Brick Today!

It is time to take advantage of our exciting project for the Museum & Archives. The brick pavers legacy project is now in full swing. Many of you have expressed interest in leaving a legacy by ordering brick pavers which will be placed in front of the Museum & Archives.  We plan to place an order for the bricks soon, so please get your forms turned in to us as soon as you can.  Many Wakulla County families will be represented here and I know you will want your family to be included.  These bricks can be done for loved ones who are deceased, those who are still living, a business, an organization, or whatever you’d like.  There are 3 lines with 20 spaces per line.  The cost for each brick is $100.  If you need any help or suggestions, just come by or call the Museum at 926-1110 and we will be glad to assist you.    

WCHS features Ouzt’s Too Oyster Bar for Our September 8th Meeting

Learn the history behind Ouzt’s Too Oyster Bar

Visit Wakulla County Historical Society to read more about our first meeting of the new WCHS 2015 year. This special event will feature historic Newport, FL and specifically, Ouzt’s Too Oyster Bar. Read more about it at http://wakullahistory.org/

We hope to see you there. Please call Betty Green, 926-7405 or 766-9305…email bgreen@nettally.com if you would like to have dinner at Ouzt’s Too.

Get Your Tickets For Wakulla Homecoming: A Heritage Event Concert

Our exciting fundraiser is coming this Saturday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. at Wakulla High School. Lari White, descendent of Wakulla County natives, will produce this fantastic evening of entertainment like we have not seen before in Wakulla County. Act quickly to purchase your tickets at http://www.wakullahistory.org.

“Blue Light Special” on concert tickets  $30.00 tickets now $20.00. Contact Murray  McLaughlin at murrmac@comcast.net or 850-519-5063

All proceeds go to support our Wakulla County Historical Society Heritage Village Park project.

FRIDAY EVENING VIP EVENT TICKETS SOLD OUT!!
Friday evening, we are offering you a chance to “meet and greet the stars” at historic Wakulla Springs. The cost is $65 for the evening which includes your concert ticket in the V.I.P. section.

Wakulla Homecoming: A Heritage Event “Blue Light Special”

Special! Get in touch with Murray McLaughlin for the “Blue Light Special” on concert tickets at murrmac@comcast.net

Roof On Moore House Stabilized

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In January we communicated an immediate need for emergency action to preclude further deterioration of the McLaughlin House kitchen and the Moore House as both have developed roof leaks and interior spaces were exposed to water damage. We had tarps to place over the roofs but needed help in finding volunteers to assist. The Moore House work was too dangerous to be completed by using unskilled volunteers on the roof and required a bucket lift.
In February, Bryan Randolph of Best for Less Tree Service volunteered equipment and a “Great group of guys from Wakulla Free Riders used their exceptional skills mastered in their tree service business to make placing a tarp on the entire roof of the Moore House seem routine. Plus, it is how they give back to the community through their motorcycle club,” said Murray McLaughlin. Give Bryan a call the next time you need a tree service and thank them for supporting historic preservation.

Donald L. Tucker, Wakulla Native, March 10, 7:00 PM, WCHS Program

Donald L. Tucker       Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives 1976–1980

Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 PM, Wakulla County Public Library the speaker for our WCHS second Tuesday program is Donald L. Tucker.  We appreciate Don’s faithfulness as a WCHS member and contributor.

The Wakulla County History Society looks forward to another interesting program featuring a Wakulla native whose name is well-known, not only in Wakulla and Leon counties but also throughout the southern states.  Does Donald L. Tucker sound familiar? Of course, there are few days that the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center is not mentioned in the Tallahassee news and activities.  Many Wakulla residents think of the person, Donald Tucker, rather than the Civic Center when we hear the title.

Don, son of former Florida Senator Luther C. Tucker and wife, Grace Spears Tucker, grew up in Crawfordville, graduating from Crawfordville High School in 1953.  Don, senior class president, student body president, and football team captain also attended Florida Boys State where he was elected Governor. After graduating high school, he attended Brigham Young University, enlisted in the Army and after being honorably discharged, served two years as a missionary. After receiving his law degree from the University of Florida, Don began his law practice in Tallahassee and built his home in Crawfordville.

In 1966, Don ran for, and was elected to represent Wakulla, Leon and Franklin Counties in the Florida Legislature.  He was reelected the following five terms becoming Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, the only Speaker in Florida’s history to preside over four consecutive regular legislative sessions.  He was chosen by fellow representatives on two occasions to receive the Florida Times Union Award as “Most Effective Member of the Legislature.”

In 1977, the Legislature unanimously passed the bill signed by Gov. Askew naming the Tallahassee Civic Center “The Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.” Don is also proud that he was responsible for the Continuing Education Center, the Gus Turnbull Building at FSU and the basketball arena at the University of Florida, “The O’Connell Center”.

He was appointed Chairman of the Latin American-Caribbean Commission by Governor Askew and was nominated by President Carter to be Vice-Chair of the Civil Aeronautics Board as well as commissioning him to serve as Special Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

The Tallahassee Democrat had an extensive article about Don Tucker in April of 1976 in which he is portrayed as a savvy politician enjoying the game, but very much playing to win.  Perhaps that is a very appropriate remark for the man whose name is on the Civic Arena.

The public is invited to attend our meeting on the 2nd Tuesday evening of March, 7pm, at the Wakulla Library.  Come to meet and greet Don and to hear from a Wakulla County native that “made it in the world of politics.”

Submitted by Betty Green

Wakulla Homecoming: A Heritage Event Tickets Now Available

Concert to Benefit Heritage Village Park

The Wakulla County Historical Society presents Lari White and Friends Wakulla Homecoming: A Heritage Event featuring Lari White, Chuck Cannon, Bryan Edwards, Rick Ott, Lindsay Sparkman, and Jerry Evans on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the auditorium of Wakulla High School, 3237 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville, Florida. Tickets are $35/$30/$20 each and will be available March 1 online at wakullahistory.tix.com and at the box office during business hours. The event is A From The Heart Studio-Concert Production.
[Read Press Release]

Lari White and Friends Wakulla Homecoming: A Heritage Event

 

Wakulla Homecoming: A Heritage Event

 

Tickets available March 1, 2015.

WCHS to feature Robert Buccellato, author of Florida Governors: Lasting Legacies.

Wakulla County Historical Society Second Tuesday Program
February 10, 7:00 PM, Wakulla County Public Library

The Wakulla County Historical Society’s February 10 program features Robert Buccellato, author of a new book entitled Florida Governors: Lasting Legacies.  This 128 page book with 194 photographs will be released by Arcadia Publishing on February 2.  “Florida has a rich and diverse history, with a wealth of exciting events and colorful characters that form a brilliant narrative for any lover of history,” Buccellato said.  Highlights of this book include a foreword by Governor Wayne Mixon, new insights into forgotten figures of Florida’s past, and 200 years of Florida history covered in one book.  The Historical Society will have these books available for sale at the February 10 meeting and in the Old Jail Gift Shop in the WCHS Museum & Archives.

Robert Buccellato, 28, is a noted historian of the Florida governorship and the authorized biographer of Governor Wayne Mixon.  His second book on the Life and Politics of Florida’s 39^th Governor will be released by The History Press in August 2015.  He is a graduate of Florida State University and lives in Crawfordville with his wife Stephanie.

Wayne Mixon served as lieutenant governor during the Bob Graham administration and became Florida’s 39^th governor in January 1987 when Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate.  Mixon served as governor for three days until Bob Martinez’s inauguration.

For more information contact the Wakulla County Historical Society Museum & Archives, located at 24 High Drive in Crawfordville, at 850-926-1110 or 24research@gmail.com. Business Hours are Thursday/Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.