The Early
Florida Village
exhibit located at the Clay County Agricultural Fairgrounds was
the nest egg of Sarah Lynn Boe, who nurtured it into being from humble
beginnings in 1991 in a replicated cracker-style house constructed by Clay High
School students. She continued with the vision
for this village by obtaining other log/wood style homes donated by local
families and by the second year it was evident that this educational exhibit of
days gone by needed more space. Since that time other exhibits have been added,
as the exhibit outgrew its original area on the actual fairgrounds. “Miss
Sarah” was successfully involved in lobbying for five acres of a 10-acre tract
of land where the exhibit is now located.
Besides the
homes of pioneer Clay County families such as the Baxley’s, Mosley’s,
Padgett’s and Johns’ the exhibit features a barn, grist mill and other typical
structures of the early days in Florida.
These original structures dot the landscape of the Early Florida
Village with the promise
of more to come. Preserving the simple lifestyle of days gone by continues
through the valiant efforts of the Clay County Fair Board, making their vision
a must-see adventure at the Clay County Agricultural Fair.
The Clay County
Fair Board approved the building of a replica of an early church in 2003 at the
end of the village walkway. With the ringing of the bell from the church tower,
visitors are called to enjoy choirs, quartets and stringed instrument groups
singing and playing familiar gospel tunes. From the many religious groups
represented in Clay
County, you will browse
through books, photos and other memorabilia dating back as far as 1850.
In 2004, the latest addition to the exhibit
was the garden/farming exhibit. Master Gardeners from the Clay County Extension
Office have volunteered items for planting a small garden with vegetables and
flowers. Some vegetables are even started from heirloom seeds. Home-grown
vegetables, a variety of plants and an array of flowers are good examples of
what could be found growing in the gardens of early pioneer settlers. Master
Gardeners are on hand each year to
discuss the exhibit or answer any questions you may have during the course of
the exhibit hours and dates each year during the Clay County Agricultural Fair.
Known by visitors
as “the one-room schoolhouse” from Penney Farms, dating back to the 1920s, in
actuality, the barn-like structure was built in the late 1940s or early 1950s
to alleviate overcrowding at the original school. The building, which did house
1st and 2nd grades, was attached to the rear of the existing school by a
covered wooden walkway. The main three-room school housed nine grades, with
three grades to each room. With the activation of Camp Blanding
and the advent of the Naval Base in Green Cove Springs, student population in
Penney Farms boomed, making the addition of the 1st and 2nd grade structure a
necessity. This building was moved to the Fairgrounds from Penney Farms and is
charming, as one is transported back in time to earlier days.
During the Fair,
various educational exhibits are displayed inside making this historic
structure a lesson in history each year at the Early Florida exhibit and a
“must see” stop at the Clay County Agricultural Fair.
The old jail
from Penney Farms is a mystery to most folks with its one cell and missing
history. It is known that at least three people were locked up overnight in two
separate incidents. Two robbers were caught and occupied one cell overnight and
a teenager prankster spent the night there “to teach him a lesson.”
After months of negotiations,
coordination and planning, the Maguire Timber Corporation Commissary – that was
a landmark in the community of Elwood, Florida crossed the St. Johns River via
the Shands Bridge in November 2007 and is now located next to the church at the
Early Florida Village.
The structure, while equally tied
to the history of St. Johns County, is also a historic reminder of the impact the
turpentine industry had in Clay
County.
In 2008, the Maguire Commissary
was officially dedicated illustrating the Clay County Fair Association’s
efforts of highlighting the importance of the turpentine, pulpwood and timber
industry was to Early Florida communities. The “tools of the trade” involved in
this important industry are displayed in this original structure, with more
memorabilia added each year.
Located next to the Syrup House,
an all-purpose pavilion was also dedicated in 2008 in honor of June Reinhold
Myers. Sit in the shade and listen to the music that provided our early
pioneers with relaxation and entertainment.
In 2009, a
“Honey House” was added to the Early Florida exhibit and has already won state
and national awards for being the “Best New Idea” on the promotion of
agriculture education at a county fair. The Honey House venture is a cooperative
effort between the Clay County Fair Association, the Extension Service, and the
Northeast Florida Honey Bee Keepers Association. During the fair, the Honey Bee
Keepers Association staffs and educates fair guests on the importance of honey
bees, displaying the tools of the trade and actually demonstrating the honey
making operation __ from the honey comb to the honey jar.
Also new in 2009
is the addition of an antique car exhibit. Fair visitors are treated to an
educational glimpse into the transportation mode of years gone by. This new
exhibit has become very popular and is growing each year under the leadership
of Al Heyne.
In 2010, an
existing pavilion at Early Florida was expanded and converted into a jelly
making operation. This exhibit shows fairgoers how to make apple jelly from raw
apples. This exhibit is manned by the Knight family – Rene and Don Knight.
Please take time
to visit the Early
Florida Village
exhibit and sample the foods, fun and labors of years gone by.
Edited version/ June 15, 2010/by Ann Williamson
based on the original authored by the late Elaine Williamson, feature
writer / columnist of the Clay
County Leader and Editor
Emeritus of the Clay County
Crescent. It was approved for first publication by
Sarah Lynn Boe, Publisher of the Clay
County Leader in the
mid-1990s]
