Speaker Archive DeSoto County Historical Society, Inc.

Frances Pooser and Carl Bradshaw spoke of being teachers in DeSoto County. Mrs. Pooser also spoke of her experiences as a student in DeSoto County. Our February Newsletter can be viewed here.

Retired educators Charlotte and Fred Carter were our speakers. Our March Newsletter can be viewed here.

Bruce Neveau and Dennis Tyson were our speakers. Our August Newsletter can be viewed here.

Chester and Forest Johnson were our speakers. Our September Newsletter can be viewed here.

Potluck Supper and toy drive for the DeSoto County Sheriff's "Toys for Children Program". Our December newsletter can be viewed here.

Our speaker was Carl Sharp, Florida's Cowboy poet laureate and Cracker Cowboy Historian. Newsletter.

Historical Society’s Black History Month Program - Retired Educator Mrs. Verlene Stebbins Hickson and friends will present a Black History Month program for the DeSoto County Historical Society at noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, at the Family Service Center Annex (old West Elementary School cafeteria) on North Orange Avenue. The meeting is free and open to the public. Starting at 11:30 a.m., lunch is available for $5. At noon, Society President Mitzie McGavic will conduct a short business meeting. Afterwards, Program Director John Reynolds will introduce Mrs. Hickson. Her program will be based on Black History Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and the history of multiculturalism. Dr. Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History.” In 1926, he began the celebration of Negro History Week spanning the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Fifty years later, it was expanded to include the month, and during February, the focus on Black History by groups such as the Historical Society is one of Dr. Woodson’s legacies. Resplendent in their African costumes, head gear, and jewelry, Mrs.
Hickson and 27 friends will sing a medley of Negro spirituals, and she will talk about DeSoto County’s African-American history, including the communities in Nocatee, Fort Ogden, and Hull. Mrs. Hickson said, “It is a day to be thankful for the African-
American contribution to DeSoto County. . . . My family is part of this heritage, and I am very proud of it.” Mrs. Hickson is currently working to write down her extensive knowledge of DeSoto County’s “Black History.” Much of that history she
learned in the traditional way by listening to stories told to her by friends and family. She said, “My people talked and that’s how I learned.” Newsletter.

Our speaker was Guy Labree, "The Barefoot Artist". Mr. Labree is an expert on Seminole lore, and spoke on the life, legends and history of the Seminoles. We also had a report on the Grant Committee trip to Tallahassee. Newsletter.

Our speaker was Larry Luckey, Glades County Property Appraiser, who spoke about pioneers and settlements in the area of Glades County which was part of DeSoto County before 1921. Newsletter.

Our speaker was Jeff Moates, archaeologist and historian of the Florida Public Archaeological Network University of South Florida. He will speak on The Archaeological Resources in DeSoto County: Evidence of settlements by Native Americans as well as early pioneers, especially the phosphate mine near the historic town of Liverpool. Newsletter.

This month's program was presented by Mr. Spressard Stone, author of Hardee County: Its Heritage and People, published by the Southern Heritage Press of Saint Petersburg in November, 2007. He spoke about the events, pioneers and settlements of the area that is now Hardee County, but was part of DeSoto County before 1921. Newsletter.

This month's program was presented by Mr. Frank Cline, who served as DeSoto County Sheriff from 1966 - 1980. Newsletter.

This month's program was presented by Mr. Howard Melton and Mr. Coleman Brewer at the Pine Level Methodist Church. Mr. Melton spoke about the pioneer families of Pine Level, and Mr. Brewer spoke about the history of downtown Pine Level - "a first-rate ghost town". Newsletter.

This month's program was "Show and Share our History: Unique Objects and Memorabilia of Arcadia and DeSoto County". Newsletter.

Our speaker was Adrian Cline, who spoke about Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The Man in Public and Private. Newsletter.

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.

Roberta Dunn spoke about the Girls Academy. There are 18 teenage girls in this school.

Leon Arthur, Commander of Camp 1452, The Sons of Confederate Veterans, spoke on the Flags of the Confederacy.

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.

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.

A presentation by Luke Wilson - " A Montage of Memories"; a special treat by Cub Scout pack 98.

Our speaker was Linda Williams, retired DeSoto Correctional Institution Warden, who spoke about doing prison time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our speaker was George Lempenau, owner of the Peace River Campground and the property where the Chautauqua Grounds were located in the 1920’s.

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.

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.”

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.

There was not a monthly meeting. All enjoyed the reunion on Saturday, November 18 at the Family Service Center on Orange Avenue!

Our speaker was Kathleen Ingraham Kuhns, the granddaughter of J. Morgan Ingraham, who spoke about the Ingraham House.

Our speaker was Shasta Grimes, producer of the Hurricane Charley DVD which featured DeSoto County, who spoke about saving photos to DVD.

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.

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.

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.