2007
February 8, 2007:
This is Black History month. Our speaker was Coach
Richard Bowers and he was introduced by Adrian Cline, the
Superintendent of schools. Mr. Cline was the first president of
the Historical Society.
March 8, 2007:
Roberta Dunn spoke about the Girls Academy. There
are 18 teenage girls in this school.
April 12, 2007:
David Bedell spoke about the history of the various
churches of DeSoto County.
May 10, 2007:
Leon Arthur, Commander of Camp 1452, The Sons of
Confederate Veterans, spoke on the Flags of the
Confederacy.
June 14, 2007:
Chaired by Vice President Kay Higley. Our
speaker was Barbara Oehlbeck, who spoke on "The Joy of
Old Garden Roses". Kathleen Kuhns also brought us
up-to-date on the recent grant we received for restoration of
the Ingraham House.
July 12, 2007:
Our speaker was Kathy Slusser of the Manatee County
Historical Records Library. She spoke on the workings, makeup
and funding of the library and how DeSoto County can start our
own.
August 16, 2007:
A
presentation by Luke Wilson - " A Montage of Memories"; a
special treat by Cub Scout pack 98.
September 13, 2007:
- Appointed a Committee to
review/amend by-laws.
- Update on the tribute dinner for
Howard & Velma Melton.
- Discussed Brownville School
repair.
- Discussed the Yard
Sale.
October 11, 2007:
- Review by-laws revision.
- Update on the tribute dinner for
Howard & Velma Melton, with reports on ticket sales.
- Report on Ingraham House grant.
- Discuss the Yard Sale &
Donations for same.
November 8,
2007:
Our speaker was Linda Williams,
retired DeSoto Correctional Institution Warden, who spoke about
doing prison time.
2006
January 12, 2006:
Our speaker was retired Judge William Hendry from
Okeechobee County. His topic was the family of
Charles F. Hendry, an early resident of Joshua Creek.
Judge Hendry's grandmother was born and attended school in
Brownville, Florida, but not in the building we are presently
using.
February 9, 2006:
Our speaker was Mr. Robert
Womack who told us about the building of Smith Brown School and
its history. Robert is a retired educator who grew up in
Arcadia. He help to build and then graduated from Smith Brown
School. He served his country during World War II, attaining the
rank of lieutenant. He is married to retired DeSoto County
School teacher, Ruby Faison.
March 9,
2006:
Our speaker was Nell
Gammage, Honorary member of the DeSoto County Historical
Society. She told us about a "Sleepy Little Village
called Arcadia", circa 1909. Her talk was based on an article
written by Mr. Spessard Stone. Nell is a former Arcadian from
DeSoto County pioneer stock who now lives in Lake Placid,
Florida and is very active in the United Daughters of the
Confederacy in that area.
April 13,
2006:
Our speaker was Coleman
Brewer, former Arcadia pharmacist and long time owner of
Koch's Drug Store. Coleman is from a DeSoto County pioneer
family who has filled his time in retirement by writing his
first book. Mr. Brewer says "Stinging Nettle Tea" is a
celebration of Florida Crackers and the role they have played in
Florida History.
May 11,
2006:
Our speaker was Winnie Duncan. She told us about the
history of the Arcadia All Florida Championship Rodeo (The
Grandaddy of ‘Em All!) Winnie was for many years the wife
of Mr. Rodeo, Jack Duncan.
June 8, 2006:
Our speaker was George Lempenau, owner of the Peace River
Campground and the property where the Chautauqua Grounds were
located in the 1920’s.
July 13, 2006:
Our speaker was Dr. Calvin Martin, who told the story of
“Little Tiger Tail”. Dr. Martin’s Grandfather-in-law, Dr.
Daniel Lafayette McSwain, performed the first surgery ever done
by a white man on a Seminole Indian in 1920. The surgery was
done at Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers.
August 10, 2006:
Our speaker was Aleda (Lee)
Kleckauskas, Patient Family Care Administration for the Venice
Hospice Home Team and Hospice of South West Florida, Inc.
Aleda is a Masters prepared RN with a varied health care
administration background. Before coming to Hospice, she
spent 5 years as Administrator of a group medical practice in
Sarasota. Prior to coming to Florida, she was
President/CEO of Health Management Services, Inc. in
Massachusetts. One of the companies under HMS was the 2nd
largest, as well as oldest, Visiting Nurse Association in the
state. Before her tenure with HMS, Inc. she was the
Executive Director for the Boston subsidiary of IVF America,
Inc., a for-profit infertility clinic which specialized in
in-vitro fertilization. In her current position, Aleda is
actively involved in community relations and activities in areas
served by TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care. Her
subject was “TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care: Past and
Future.”
September 14,
2006:
Our speaker was Lorna Ransom, who
spoke about her research on the Ziba King family, one of the
earliest of the DeSoto County pioneer families.
October 12,
2006:
Our speaker was John Lawhorne,
who works with the DeSoto Sun.
November 9,
2006:
There was not a monthly meeting.
All enjoyed the reunion on Saturday, November 18 at the Family
Service Center on Orange Avenue!
2005
June 9, 2005:
Our speaker was Kathleen Ingraham Kuhns, the
granddaughter of J. Morgan Ingraham, who spoke about the
Ingraham House.
July 14, 2005:
Our speaker was Shasta Grimes, producer of the Hurricane
Charley DVD which featured DeSoto County, who spoke about saving
photos to DVD.
August 11, 2005:
Our speaker was Jan McCormick, educator,
"History out of the Box" and presenter at our 1st annual Pioneer
day, who spoke about how to organize Educational Programs and
Fundraisers.
September 8, 2005:
Our speaker was Larry Roe, son of
A.I. Roe, Sr. owner of the Coca Cola
plant here in Arcadia.
Larry's brother Arthur was scheduled to speak, but was unable to
do so because of ill health. Arthur and Larry ran the
Coca Cola plant after their Dad died
until it was closed in 1984.
October 13, 2005:
Our speaker was Adrian Cline, Superintendent of Schools
of DeSoto County, Mr.
Cline is a descendant of DeSoto County pioneers and was the
first president of the DeSoto County
Historical Society. Mr. Cline spoke about
the beginnings of the DeSoto County Historical
Society.
