MUSEUM HOURS

Monday – Friday

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

1st Saturday

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

CURATOR

Richard “Ted” Waterfall

TRUSTEES

Charlie Bagg

Louise Carter

Jim Gillies

Melanie Blankenship

Kim Winn

OFFICERS

Timothy Totten

President

Bob Marks

Vice-President

Cindy Satur

2nd Vice-President

Danyel Moulden

Recording Secretary

Anita Ezelle

Corresponding Secretary

John Blankenship

Treasurer

APPOINTED

Louise Carter - Historian

Regina Heffington - Website

JoAnn Bobbitt - Refreshments

Eustis Reflections

A Monthly Publication of the

Eustis Historical Museum & Preservation Society, Inc.

Volume VII, Number 6 – June 2011 www.eustishistoricalmuseum.com

EVENTS CALENDAR

June 23 Monthly Meeting

Thursday at 7:00 pm - The Clifford House

July 1 First Friday Street Party

6:00 – 10:00 pm

Downtown Eustis

Featuring Fireworks!

26 EAST MAGNOLIA: Part of the Eustis Historic Commercial District since it

was constructed in 1913, this building originally housed the Citizens Bank of

Eustis. Most recently, it served as a law office for longtime Eustis lawyer,

Robert Stebbins. This photo collage was created by blending a recent

photo with a black-and-white photo from the building’s early years.

CURATOR’S CORNER by Ted Waterfall

After both Eustis Elementary and Eustis Heights Elementary had toured our museum the annual contest winners can be announced. From Eustis Elementary, all winners came from Mr. Skinner’s class. The votes were so close between the two leaders as to qualify as dead even, so two First Place awards were given. The winners are Matt Baugh and Raelin Treves. In Second Place was Colby Raley, and finishing Third in a dead heat were Ylina Ramirez and Trevor Eshom. Eustis Heights Elementary had submitted no essays by the time this newsletter was submitted.

I was so impressed with one or two of them that I was given permission to create a brand new award to be given on an as-appropriate basis. It is a medallion like the rest but with a distinctive ribbon and is called The Curator’s Award. My background is in history and I really like it when history is seen as something that is living, instead of just facts found on the pages of a text. And when an essay seems to indicate that a young person has made that connection, I am thrilled. This award is intended for that student. It may, or may not, go to the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place award winners. The Curator’s Award is based on different criteria. And it was, in fact, inspired by one of Mr. Skinner’s Eustis Elementary School’s students. His name is Matt Baugh who researched the R.D. Keene House, where he currently resides. He wrote:

“I have enjoyed doing research on the home I live in. Growing up in the same house that my Dad grew up in is very special to me. I really like it when he talks about things that he did when he was a kid like walking to Eustis Elementary School, going downtown to the drugstore and shopping for clothes at Ferran’s, Russel’s and Harper’s. It is also neat that he used to entertain his friends at the pool and ride his skateboard in the same pool, house and sidewalks that I now call home. In doing this project, I was introduced to the history of my great great grandfather William Schmidt who came to Eustis in 1885. I look forward to doing research on my family history one day.”

Congratulations Matt, I hope you develop an interest in history.

I recently received an email from a Dr. Susan MacManus from Land-O’-Lakes, Florida, informing the various museums of Florida that the estate of Elizabeth Riegler MacManus desired to give away rooms full of historical collections on a first-come-first-served basis. The first day was reserved for Tampa area museums so I was forced to wait until Friday, June 3 (day 2 of the giveaway) to see what was left. Of course, most of the really desirable items were claimed but I did bring to our museum a few items which I have catalogued and will either store in preparation for future exhibits or display immediately. Included are a wicker wheel chair which will need some inexpensive renovation to make it presentable, some citrus-related items, and several other small items. Overall, the trip was well worthwhile.

Well, that’s it for this month, so until next time…

Keep you powder dry.*

Ted

* Keep your power dry was an expression wishing good luck when black powder was the major propellant in hunting rifles. Wet or moist powder = no food.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST Visit our friends at these other museums

for more history of Lake County.

Please call the specific location

for hours of operation and directions.

Groveland Historical Society Museum 243 S. Lake Avenue Groveland, FL 34736 (352) 429-0771 www.grovelandhistory.org

Historical Society of Tavares 121 Alfred Street Tavares, FL 32778 (352) 343-7252

Lady Lake Historical Society Museum 107 S. Old Dixie Highway Lady Lake, FL 32159 (352) 259-4359 www.ladylake.org

Lake County Historical Museum 317 W. Main Street Tavares, FL 32778 (352) 343-9890 www.lakecountyfl.gov

Leesburg Historical Museum 111 S. Sixth Street Leesburg, FL 34749 (352) 315-1800 www.leesburgflorida.gov Mote-Morris House 1195 W. Magnolia Street Leesburg, FL 34788 (352) 728-9898 www.leesburgflorida.gov

Mount Dora History Museum 450 Royellou Lane Mount Dora, FL 37257 (352) 383-0006 http://www.mountdorahistoricalsociety.com

South Lake County Historical Society Village 480 West Avenue Clermont, FL 34711 (352) 394-6611 www.southlakehistoricalsociety.com

The museum couldn’t operate without the

financial support of companies like those listed

here. Please consider using their services and

shopping in their stores.

EUSTIS HISTORICAL MUSEUM & PRESERVATION SOCIETY 536 N. Bay Street, Eustis, FL 32726 (352) 483-0046

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL

Date: [ ] New Membership [ ] Renewal [ ] Other Donation

Student $10 Individual $20 Family $25

Business $55 Life Member $500 Other Donation

Name / Business Name:

Address: City, State, Zip:

Email Address:

Newsletters are delivered by email unless you check this box [ ] for postal delivery

PHONE: ALTERNATE PHONE:

Areas of Volunteer Interest:

The Eustis Historical Museum & Preservation Society is a non-profit 501c3 organization. All donations are tax deductable.

It’s Time to Renew Your Membership!

The 2011-2012 Eustis Historical Museum & Preservation Society

Membership year started June 1st. Please complete the

membership renewal form on this page and use the enclosed

envelope to mail the form back with your membership dues.

Change in address or new phone number? Please be sure to include

these updates on your renewal!

Sincerely,

Cindy L. Satur, 2nd Vice President, Membership

June 14, 1777 - Congress Adopts the Stars & Stripes

June 12, 1812 - Battle of 1812 Begins

June 25, 1876 - Battle of Little Bighorn

June 17, 1885 - Statue of Liberty Arrives in NY

June 4, 1942 - Battle of Midway Begins

June 6, 1944 - D-Day Invasion

June 27, 1950 - Truman Orders US Forces to Korea

June 9, 1973 - Secretariat Wins the Triple Crown

THIS

MO

NTH

IN H

ISTO

RY

This photograph shown above was

found attached to an article in the old

Fountain Inn Newsletter and had no

other caption or information. Courtesy

of museum member Betty Ann McClellan.

The members of the Eustis Flower and Garden Club will be at the museum at 9am on Tuesday, June 28th to start a Victory Garden exhibit. They will be planting a 4’x4’ raised bed on the grounds to demonstrate the gardening techniques used to provide food “on the home front” during WWII.

The program is designed with kids in mind, with weekly 1-hour classes to teach all volunteers (young and old) proper gardening practices. There will be two classes each week covering the same topic, so you can fit the Victory Garden around your schedule.

To sign up, please email your request to us at eustismuseum@gmail.com or call Ted at the museum at 352-483-0046.

As part of our annual planning, I sat down with a few other members to compile a short list of our accomplishments from this past year.

Imagine my surprise when the list kept growing and growing! When it was done, I was impressed by how many wonderful and truly beneficial events, exhibits and tours this group has done in just a 12 month period!

SPECIAL EXHIBITS

“A Salute to Heroes” “All Dolled Up”

“Christmas Toys” “Eustis Black Heritage”

“The Civil War in Florida” “Tea Pots”

TOURS All Fourth-Grade Classes in Eustis

100+ homeschooled students 150 Members of Horseless Carriage Club

??? Other Visitors

MAJOR EVENTS Installed the New Sign Hired a New Curator

Reopened the Citrus Museum Two Appraisal Fairs

Mother’s Day Tea Party 25th Annual Christmas House

Cookies with Santa 2nd Annual Parade of Trees

Clifford House Artisan Market

GUEST SPEAKERS Shane Matthews, Clifford Family Member

Smiley Merry, Longtime Downtown Merchant Mike Graham, Local Citrus Historian

Carla Mitchell, Lifelong Resident and Organizer of Eustis African American Heritage Festival Don Porter & Family, Downtown Merchants

Tour of Historic State Theatre by David Clevinger, Artistic Director for Bay Street Players

OBITUARY: Annette Bruce

BRUCE, ANNETTE JENKS, (26 Dec 1918 - 29 May 2011) Died peacefully at 92. A native of Eustis, she is pre-deceased by husband John M. Bruce and survived by daughters Bette and Barbara; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous extended family. Mrs. Bruce was a Florida author and storyteller and a founder of the Florida Storytelling Association.

BUSINESS MEMBERS Please consider supporting those businesses which support the work of your Preservation Society.

Bay Pharmacy (352) 357-4341

Forever Ballroom (352)742-9461

Merry Jewelers (352) 589-4321

Bronson Ace Hardware

(352) 357-2366

Harden – Pauli Funeral Home (352) 357-4126

Rick Howe’s Auto Repair (352)357-9991

Coldwell Banker

Tyre & Taylor Realty, Inc. (352) 357-4100

Premier Pet Solutions by Dana Ellerby (352) 460-7409

Paulhamus Produce, Inc. (And catering service)

(352)357-6284

Inspired Designs by Sue Hooper (352) 589-0867

Classic Tents & Events (352) 357-7920

Steve’s Heating & A/C (352) 636-2064

www.stevetheacguy.com

Double Take Pizza (352) 483-0222

Jack & Andy’s Electric (352) 357-4459

Tom’s Color Bar (352)483-4247

Bills Prestige Printing

(352) 589-5833 Party Source of Eustis

(352) 357-5700 United Southern Bank

(352) 589-2121

Eustis Historical Museum

& Preservation Society

536 North Bay Street

Eustis, Florida 32726

Phone: 352-483-0046

eustismuseum@gmail.com