Turtle Woman and the Spanish Conquistador

The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center

1425 N.E. 58th Avenue

Ocala, Fl

(352) 236-5401

http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/district/srm/index.cfm

www.floridastateparks.org/silverriver/

All photos by "Molly" Marston

The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is a program of the Marion County Public School System. The Center is located within the Silver River State Park and works in close cooperation with the Florida Park Service.

Many programs are offered throughout the year.  Steve is a volunteer there with over 100 hours (probably, by now over 200) of service.  He is a first mate often on boat trips that are offered to classes of school children throughout the school season.  Jerry is the narrator and finds and explains various animals that he sees.  On most trips, the students are treated to alligators.  And, on rare trips, the Rhesus monkeys appear at the water’s edge.   Always birds, many, many kinds.

To see how the Rhesus monkeys got here www.silversprings.com/heritage.html

Anyway, after Steve’s most recent First Mate outing, he brought home a flyer about this past Saturday’s event Spanish Conquistadors and the De Soto Expedition of 1539.

Every event of which I have attended at Silver River has been a good experience.  This was no exception.  It was a wonderful presentation.

Steve and I wore our “volunteer shirts” which gets us through the gate.  I was not sure what we were going to do there.  If I had known that we truly were volunteering, we would have arrived a lot earlier.  As it turned out, we waited in a very long line of travel at the park’s entrance.

We parked, walked to the place of presentation, and immediately went to work unloading chairs.  The chair carts hold fifty chairs.  One had been unloaded before we got there.  Ricki started the assembly line from the next cart.  He opened chairs as fast as he could.  The volunteers placed them strategically.  Three more full carts.  I think the response may have overwhelmed the staff and volunteers, but more is better.  The chairs were quickly filled and even more people showed up.

The flyer said “Join re-enactors portraying Spanish conquistadors and a local Native American (Timucuan Indian) for a step back to the year 1539.”

We learned that the Timucuan Indians were wiped out as a tribe about twenty years after the white man stepped ashore.  There is, however, probably some Timucuan blood running through the veins of some Native Americans through marriage, etc.  The woman, who portrays herself as “Turtle Woman,” was excellent.  She is a descendant of Pocahontas (not an Indian tribe native to the current southeastern states).  But, she has studied information available, tribal legends and stories and anthropology relics.  She demonstrated various items used in daily life of both the male and female.  War time weapons. Lances, Spears of various types—different spears had different heads depending on what one was going to hunt, Arrows.  Blow Guns (which she demonstrated). Trade items (this area had a good supply of flint). River Cane (a Florida reed similar to bamboo). Cooking pots—from clay to woven pine needle baskets (these were used by heating stones and immersing them into water within the baskets that had been waterproofed by use of a corn process).  A very unique cooking pot made of metal (a Conquistador’s helmet, which she called her “head kettle.”) Various animal pelts. How tanning was done.  How life’s chores were distributed among women and men.

She was not only EXTREMELY informative, but she also has a great sense of humor.  I love puns, and she dropped several in her presentation.  For instance, she told us that a conch shell was used in this time period for long distance communication.  She had several, one of which was on a long piece of leather.  She called it her “shell phone with her long distance carrier.”

When she did the original lecture part of her presentation, she stepped out of her tent. As a re-enactor, I know how expensive the items in her tent are.  I also know that most people are honest and trustworthy; but there are some with sticky fingers.  So, I hopped her fence and stayed with her tent and belongings while she spoke.  When she returned, I tried to anticipate what she needed and tried to hand it to her as she spoke and answered questions.  If I were grading my helpfulness, it would be a good solid “C.”  I was getting better as the day wore on.

After her presentation Bill Boston and his horse “Dixie Girl” were the next guests.  He portrays a mounted (the predecessor of the later cavalry) soldier.   He spoke about weapons and life for the Spanish at that time.  One of the things that he said was that the average Spanish male of that time was about twenty in age, five-four in height, and about one-hundred thirty five in weight.  Dixie Girl is one of 800 registered “Cracker” horses.  They are smaller than most horses, but are very muscular and sturdy.  Cracker horses are descendants of the original Spanish horses left behind.

In addition to his speaking and display of artifacts, Bill and Dixie performed a riding demonstration of early Spanish military maneuvers on horseback.

Both Turtle Woman and the Spanish Conquistador were available for questions for a very long time after.

The day was worth wearing my volunteer shirt.

We helped fold and replace chairs on their carts and went home happy.

 

Both the National Park Service and Florida have pamphlets about deSoto and his expedition.  The NPS presents a really super brochure that maps a trail through Florida.  Florida has two counties named for him…Hernando (West Coast of Florida between Pasco and Citrus Counties) and DeSoto (center of the state…Hardee to the north, Highland—east; Glades—southeast; Charlotte—south; Sarasota—west and Manatee—northwest…most of which were carved from the original DeSoto County).  Shopping centers.  Schools.  Roads.  All named for DeSoto.

Turtle Woman
 

 

Dixie Girl

Shell and stone implements

Tu



Local Teacher "Volunteer" in Chain Mail (sic) portion of uniform.  She said it was HEAVY

 

Turtle Woman's Head Pot

 

Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln

My friend Sue B. recently emailed me a flyer about a presentation at the Dunnellon Library that featured President and Mrs. Lincoln.  It was held Saturday, September 22.  We were headed to visit Bev in Hudson for a late lunch.  So, we headed south and stopped in Dunnellon.  The room was SRO, but we had gotten there early enough to get a good seat.

William and Sue Wills perform a wonderful two person show.  He has done the research on the Presidents and the First Ladies.  She has designed the costumes.  They have performed in thirty-five states, including many Presidential Libraries.  Thirty-three Presidents and First Ladies.  Their current set of venues are Florida Libraries.

http://www.Presladies.com

As the Lincolns, they started their presentations individually talking about their early lives.  They moved on to their courtship, marriage, lives together--including their children's births and deaths.  It continued on telling of the various offices he held. The Presidency. The President's death. Her life after the President's assassination--including the death of their third son.  And, eventually of her own passing.

Lots of Lincoln's stories.

The presentation was slightly over an hour.  It was very riveting and emotionally charged.  I don't think I was the only one in the audience who had a tear or two in their eyes.  Even Steve said, "It was almost a tear jerker."  Steve, it was not "almost;"  it was a tear jerker.

If you get a chance to see them perform, put it in your schedule.  There was no admission fee at this particular venue, but one might check, first.  The do sell DVD's.  I went without my wallet.  Therefore, no cash, check or credit cards.  I will be ordering in the near future, however.





Lincoln before his beard



Lincoln did not have a beard until after his election as President when a young lady named Grace wrote to him and suggested that he grow one.  She thought it would name him look more distinguished.  He had grown a beard before he was inaugurated on March 4, 1861.

 

 

 

 

The President was the calm one of the union.  Mary had both a temper and a jealousy streak.  She also liked to spend money.

 

 

 

As re.enaactors, Steve and I have seen many Lincoln portrayals.  We have also seen a handful of Mary Lincoln's.  This performance, by far, was my favorite.

 

And, We Got to Number 24

Augusta, Maine State House

Address: 230 State Street, Augusta, ME 04333 Hours: Mon, Wed-Thu 9am–6pm Tue 9am–7pm Fri 9am–5pm Sat-Sun Closed Phone: (207) 287-5600 Architect: Charles Bulfinch, Greek Revival $145,000 original cost Hallowell Granite exterior

Number 24—Augusta, ME

Email/website:

Senate:  35

House/General Assembly: 151

Both houses “term out.”  Two years later can run again, but no seniority is given

Date Complete: 1832, addition 1910 (other renovations 1852, 1869, 1890, 1998)

Getting there:  Fairly easy, Maine Turnpike

Parking:  Free (two hour limit) and easy.

Liberty Bell:  

(Each state and most territories have been gifted at least one replica of the liberty bell.  Each bell is numbered.  Missouri has two—one of which is located at the Harry S Truman Library (#54) in Independence, MO, given by the city of Annecy-le-Vieux to the city of Independence.  My guess would be that this choice was made as Truman was President at the time of the gifting.  The second one was given to the State of Missouri and resides on capitol grounds (#20).

http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/exhibits/statebells/index.htm

The fifty five full-sized replicas were cast in 1950 by the Paccard Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France and shipped as gifts to states and territories to thank the United States for its part in France’s liberation.  They were funded by a savings bond drive.

In some states, the replica bells are located outside on the grounds of the capitol; some states have located them in other prestigious places such as state historical societies; some states don’t seem to have a clue where it is.) 

Maine (#40) has placed its bell on a knoll between the Capitol Building and the State Office Buildings—a nice setting.

Cornerstone:  Could not find it, but did read later that it is somewhere near or behind step five or seven. The building’s cornerstone was laid on the 4th of July, 1829, amid impressive Masonic ceremonies.

Dome/Rotunda/Dome topper:  Lady of Wisdom (121/2 feet tall, copper and gold leaf)

Art:  Oil portraits of Governors and other Statesmen and women.  In a prominent position is a full length (almost life size) portrait of Margaret Chase Smith…first woman to be elected to both the House of Representatives and US Senate.  A handful of bonzes including Lincoln and Henry Knox.  In the center of the Rotunda is a bronze bust of Governor Baxter (see more information below).

Tours:  Guided or self-guided tours.  We used the guided tour...the first time we have availed ourselves of this perk in a very long time.  Another couple and their two extremely intelligent youngsters were the only other folks on our tour.

Quarter:   Pemaquid Point Lighthouse; the schooner Victory Chimes at sea

 

Entered Union:  Number 23 (March 15, 1820)

What’s unique:

1.       Like many other New England and other early colonies, the Capitol building is called the State House.

2.       Fairly small in size.  Very “New England.”  Windows are all clear (no stained glass anywhere).  Very utilitarian.  Very Charles Bulfinch.

3.       Governors for many years were elected for only two years.  Oil portraits are arranged in order of serving with the current governor in a prominent place.  Eventually, the governor’s picture will go into storage after he/she continues through the entire rotation.

4.       Legislature is “part time.”  First session meets January thru June; second session meets January thru April.  Most Legislators have other jobs.

5.       Only the central section is original.  Walls were knocked out to make additions.  Floor in original is tiny Italian marble tile.  The wings have Vermont marble floors and Vermont black limestone as decorative edging. It is said that there are various fossils imbedded in the limestone, but I did not see any as I read about this later in a neat little pamphlet called “Maine State House Fossil Hunt” and our guide did not mention it.

6.       The House has a rather unique system for communicating.  Each desk is numbered.  Representatives are only allowed to their seat mates on either side of them.  If they want to communicate with any other member of the house, they write a note which includes both his/her desk number and the number of the desk in which the person with whom the communication will take place.  A button is touched.  A board in the front of the house lights and a page goes to the writer of the note.  Communication is outside the doors of the Chamber, so they get up and go there.  The four-year old who was on our tour asked lots of questions…some of which I knew the answer, some of which I would never have thought to ask; and some, I might have felt too stupid by asking.  He was a great experience.  Learned a lot from his quest of learning.

7.       The State Library is housed in the Capitol Building and open to the public (some Capitols restrict usage). Bronzes of full length (not full-size) Lincoln and Henry Know adorn windows.  Knox is in his fitter younger days.

8.       The Senate has special  wall of oil portraits which include:

a.        Lincoln’s first Vice President Hannabel Hamlin, Maine Governor;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_Hamlin

b.      Joshua L. (“Don’t call me Lawrence”) Chamberlain of Civil War fame as an “older” man when he was Governor.  He was chosen to receive the surrender of arms from fellow Masonic brother John B. Gordon.  His  controversial "Present arms" salute to the Confederate soldiers is believed to have started a healing process for the Country;   

http://www.civilwarhome.com/jlchamberlainbio.htm

http://learn.bowdoin.edu/joshua-lawrence-chamberlain/

c.       Henry Knox, a quiet bookshop owner and native of Boston.  Maine claimed him as a resident after the American Revolution.  Knox was Washington’s Chief of Artillery and later his Secretary of War.  He and his men captured the cannon at Fort Ticonderoga in New York.   With the help of oxen teams dragged the cannon from New York to Boston, surprising the British as it was placed on hills overlooking the city during a night. Sixty cannon and other armaments, 300 miles during the winter presented a challenge through paths and forests.  A large part of the “trail” used by Knox and his men follows (generally speaking) the Massachusetts/Connecticut border and cuts through the “Hill” towns of Otis (where the Knox Trail Inn still exists) and probably Granville, Southwick, etc.  Both Fort Knox and Knoxville, TN were named after him.  An active Mason, a Lodge was constituted in his name on “Old Ironsides.”

http://www.generalknoxmuseum.org/

http://www.history.army.mil/books/Sw-SA/Knox.htm

9.        The hall of flags is full of reproduction flags of various regiments of Maine during many wars.  The original are housed at the museum and are displayed periodically.

10.   The guide allows children to sit in the Speakers seat and hold his/her gavel (which is huge).

11.   Maine does not have a Lieutenant Governor.  The President of the Senate is next in line.

12.   Governor Baxter, one of the most beloved of Governors, became governor upon the death of his processor and then was elected again.  Baxter bought over 200,000 acres with his own funds and donated the land to the State of Maine as a wilderness to be preserved (Baxter State Park in approximate central Maine).

13.   The motto, “Dirigo” translates to I direct or I lead.

August 2012

 

( more pictures later)

August has proved to be a very busy month for traveling.

 

Baseball game

Early in the month we had the opportunity of joining a group from St. Marks Church in Hudson.  A group of thirty went by mini bus to Tropicana Field to see the Rays play the Jays.  This was quite an experience for us.  I, the sports fan in our house, had not been to a baseball game in probably thirty years.  We have been to the (old) Yankee Stadium and the (old) Shea Stadium.  And, of course, to my favorite—Fenway Park to see my beloved Sox.  Our third or so date (1969 or ’70) had been to Yankee Stadium to see the Sox play against their long=time rivals.  The Yanks won that game.  The Red Sox will forever and always be my FAVORITE (yes, I am shouting!).  But, since we have lived in Florida for more than twenty years, the Rays have been given a special place in my heart.  They are my number two team with Detroit as number three (except when Cal Ripkin was still an active player). When I was very young, the Dodgers used to be my number one team until they moved out of Brooklyn.  I tell everyone that I don’t care where they moved (people always have to tell me when I say this).  But, they disappointed me and moved.  So, I truly don’t care that they are place other than Brooklyn.  Since one cannot be a Brooklyn Dodger and a Yankee fan as well, it was easy to move my allegiance to my Dad’s favorite team…the Red Sox!

We drove down to Hudson and met the bus.  It was not air-conditioned, and it was a rather warm day.  But, I’d rather be hot than cold.  However, the guy behind me complained over and over and over.  And did I mention and over again.  I was really happy to get off that bus just to stop listening to him.

A regular reader of this blog will know that I have a mission to visit all this country’s capitols (fifty states plus the big one in DC).  Well, when I finish that (or maybe here and there in between) I would like to see a baseball game at each of the team’s playing fields.  How many do I have to go?  I guess all but two (I would like to add the new Yankee and Shea Stadiums to my list).

I have never been to a domed stadium before.  We found it quite interesting.  We paid particular attention to the size of the air conditioners.  WOW!  The place was comfortably cool (I hope the guy on the bus was happy).  One is allowed to bring in one liter of water and a soft pack 16x16 cooler with sandwiches and snacks.  The food was extremely expensive. STICKER SHOCK to the max (remember, I have not been to a bb game in thirtyish years).

The game was scheduled to start at 1:00 pm, but for some reason we thought it was two.  We were pleasantly surprised.  We started by singing “Oh, Canada.”  Now, I know the reason why we sang it since the Jays are indeed home based in Canada, but we found it quite weird that there was not one Canadian player on either team.  The birth place of each player is given along with other vital stats the first time he comes to bat.  Not one Canadian.  In my goofiness, I decided that the one person born in Stockton, CA must be THE Canadian.  (Yeah, yeah, I know that really is California, but it seemed close enough for me!).  We continued by singing our own very special National Anthem with the words blazing across a huge screen.

The Jays got the first hit and first run in the first inning.  That was the end of their scoring.  Final 7-1—the Jays!  Kane’s furniture has a neat promotion.  If the Rays strike out ten from the opposing team, ones ticket stub can be brought to the nearest Kanes for a certificate for a free pizza.  At the start of the ninth inning, there had been seven strike outs.  With the score so one sided, therefore, I begun cheering for the pizza.  I had several people in the row in front of me also pulling for the pizza.  But we lost our chance with the first out in the ninth, a pop out.  Too bad!

This was the first time I ever saw a Ground Rule Double.  We thought it was a home run, but the ball hit a railing.  It had to be reviewed.  That was kind of exciting.

I was really impressed with the beauty of an indoor (domed) field.  I think I like the “real” field better, but in the hot climes, this type is much more practical.

The only people we knew were my friends Beverly’s friends Ron and Ruth.  They said that they did not know very many others themselves.  St. Marks is a very big church.  

 

Other comings in the future (I hope):

                OES Multi State (separate blog)

                Trip to New England

Virginia (on the way heading north).  This will be a separate posting under the blog about Forts, etc.

                                Rhode Island

                                Connecticut

Maine—including my twenty-fourth capitol which will be a separate posting.

Rhode Island

Connecticut

                No, I’m not being redundant…this is the way the trip went!

 

Laura Plantation

Laura Plantation

http://www.lauraplantation.com/

2247 Highway 18 (Great River Highway)
Vacherie, LA 70090

(888) 799-7690 Toll Free US only
(225) 265-7690

Ticket Office opens at 9:30 AM.

First tour of the day begins at 10:00 AM.
Final tour of the day begins at 4:00 PM.

Admission:     

ADULT: $18.00
CHILD (AGES 6-17): $5.00
CHILD (AGES 0-5): FREE
AAA, NAT’L TRUST, MILITARY and WE SAVE-- ADULT: $16.00

Even though we thought our main focus for our recent trip was New Orleans, we spent much more time on the outskirts.    We had looked at various brochures about many of the upriver plantations and decided that exploring one would be fun and interesting.  Many of them had sort of the same look…pillared porches, oft painted white.  One stood out from the rest.  It was a “creole” plantation which had a totally different look.  Since we had decided that we were only going to visit one on our own (none of those high priced tours for us), we chose the one that appeared most unusual.  We chose Laura.  We drove approximately fifty miles north of New Orleans and had a wonderful tour with an excellent bi-lingual (French/English) guide named Bryan.   He said his name of Bryan did not sound very Creole, but his last name left no doubt. He started our tour in French.  But, when he got an entire group that shared the doe in the headlight look, he immediately switched to English.

Guillaume DuParc & his wife Nanette Prud'homme
He had a rather racey past in France and came to America about the
time that Lafayette abnd Rochambeau offered their services
to a struggling infant county.  He and other family members
maintained property in France.

Elizabeth, the next President.  Her husband
owned property in France.  She added wine
making to the inventory.  Sales were quite
good.

Some artifacts

Bryan, our wonderful guide

Louis de Meziere DuParc & wifw Fannie Rucker

The tour started on the front porch and then moved to the area under the house.  There were life-size cutouts of some of the original inhabitants.  The house was full of artifacts…most original to one or more generations of the family.

The permanent name of this huge sugar plantation was named for its last President.  In the Creole world, the control (President) did not necessarily pass to the eldest son as is common in British Common Law.  Louisiana law and rights of passage came through the heritage of French law.  The President of a plantation usually chose the person believed to be the most competent (and probably the smartest) as the successor.  Therefore, there were both males and females who became President and, thus, ran the plantation.

The plantation house was where business was conducted.  Most of the Presidents had their “home” in the French Quarter in New Orleans.  Originally, traversing the fifty-ish miles by river—2 hours to go downstream—6 to 8 hours to return upstream, they “commuted” later by train, which took about ninety minutes. 

I found the construction of the house particularly interesting.  It was elevated.  As one faced the front of the house, the entrance for conducting business with the male President was on the left; the female President, on the right.  Each room had a desk and a bed.  When there was a female President, the Creole business folks did not find it unusual to have a bed in their “office.”  However, as time moved on, and the Yankee, particularly New England traders and businessmen, were appalled at doing business with a woman in which there was a bed.  Bryan explained that the desk was moved into a separate room, thus the Creole gave up a bit of their culture.  Of course, all their business was done in French.  Again, more of their culture was forfeited as the language of business moved toward English, eventually much of the early Creole culture was absorbed into the American way. 

The floor-length windows between the male and female side were not used as a doorway.  The picture at the top show both the windows and the doors.  The two outer are the entrance doors.  When the windows were open, a chair may have been placed in front of them so that one would know that it was not the entrance.  The entrance would have been the next set of what looked like the same type of structure, but were to be the doors.  The two on the inside are the brazees (or windows for breezes...I am not sure of the spelling and spell check burbed, but did not give a good spelling)

The main building was built fairly high above ground.  Trees were planted from the river to almost the front door.  The breezes were forced through almost like a funnel.  So, even without modern air conditioning, the house was somewhat cool even on the hottest days of the summer.  There are four live oaks--all named--which are between 160+ years and well over 200 years old.

We were told the difference between “Creole” and “Cajun.”  Creoles were early settlers when Louisiana was still owned by the French –long before the sale of the Louisiana Purchase to the US under President Thomas Jefferson in 1803.  Cajuns were those folks (and their descendants) who had been relocated from Arcadia (Nova Scotia) in the 1750’s.  They had been placed in what we would call internment camps for many years.  Although both are descendants of the French, they came to Louisiana in two totally different ways.  The Creoles came by choice.  Many of the Creoles still maintained property in France.  The Cajun population, however, was forced to relocate and are/had been descendants of the French through many generations in Canada.

The Creoles plantation owners were Catholic and, by law, all slaves had to also be Catholic.  Bryan explained the way slaves were valued.  He also mentioned that it was a maternal society and a slave was a slave through his/her mother's line.  A slave owner could father a child who would still be a slave as his mother was.  Some of the slave quarters have survived. After the Civil War, most of the slaves stayed with the plantation. Of course, now they received wages. The original slave houses had only one room. After the War, many added more space by adding a porch and perhaps another room or two.

Back portions of the house had been torn down by the owners that bought the plantation from Laura’s family. There are many original buildings…some in great need of restoration.  But each one has its own story and the partnership will eventually be able to accomplish their goals in refurbishing.  The building in which the rest rooms are housed complement the architecture of the other buildings

 

The grounds are beautiful.  A vegetable garden had been planted.  Lots and lots of hundred gallon cast iron kettles lounge around the grounds.  Today they are filled with various plants, but they were originally used in processing sugar. Sugar cane is still grown as the facility is owned by the St. James Sugar Co-op—bought in 1992.  Thirteen acres are leased to Laura Plantation Co., LLC, a for-profit partnership created to save and open the property as a cultural and historic tourist attraction.

A fire in 2004 and Katrina the following year presented a great many challenges to its operation, including the loss of many jobs.  Many employees have been able to return (some as volunteers who feel a great loyalty to their heritage).

We found two resident cats that seemed to care less that all these people that came to visit them.

The web-site has a great FAQ section and does answer many questions that normally arise.

Like any place that has good marketing, one buys ones tickets in the gift shop and must pass through the same gift shop as the means of exit.  I bought the book of Laura’s memoirs from which most of the information from the history of the plantation was gleaned.  Laura’s family and neighboring plantations were able to furnish local history and artifacts. 

I also bought a mix for a lemon bread pudding which I am saving for company and some postcards.  The shop also has a great selection of books, local music, local food items, local craft items.

I was happy we chose this plantation as it has a bit of a different history than many of the other.  Learned a lot.  Enjoyed it tremendously.