Pioneer Homelife. Use the links below to learn more about how folks in the area lived -- their occupations and other things about our ancestor's daily lives.
Animals
3 Chores
Christmas
Cooper
Foods
Gristmills
Jam making
Tools
Turpentining
Shaped Note (Singing)
Music.
Ca. 1874, a
normal school was founded to teach a system based on
a seven-shaped musical note scale (known today as shape notes). This
made it possible for everyone to learn to read music and sing.
It
also provided a
completely different style of harmony and distinct sound. The
songs represent
Christianity and most gatherings were held in churches, these events
were at the
heart of social engagement and entertainment for communities in our
area in the early years. See The
Heritage of Okaloosa County, FL. Volume II for a more
detailed history of this music.
Log Cabin. We now have an authentic log cabin for exhibit and living history programs thanks to the generous donation of previous owner, Danny Hall of Pensacola. Hall is a descendant of several Okaloosa pioneer families and wanted to see the cabin preserved.
Jackson Veneer Mill.
Military Patriots. Click on "Take the Museum Tour" at the top of the page.
General Store. Click on "Take the Museum Tour" at the top of this page. And, when you visit the museum, sign the guest register (attendance supports funding), the General Store exhibit is on the immediate left.
The Jeanette and Charles Henderson Heritage Park.
Why not take a mini-vacation. Pack a picnic lunch. Drive to Baker, FL at the corner of Route 189 and Hwy 4. Tour inside the museum then step outside to the adjacent park and have your picnic lunch. Finish the day by going into the old Otahite Post Office exhibit, the old Log Cabin, the
Jackson Veneer Mill, and more--all are located right in the park, itself.
(see the map in the Contact Us section)
Sacred
Harp singing is another example of this type music.
Known as "FA
So LA" music particiantps sounded out the notes of the song and then
sang the words. Songs were sung a
capella. Participation oriented–
some voices stand out above others and often adjust their pitch as the
group
sounds out their chords.
Later
came Convention
Singing which
was accompanied by the piano and used a series
of songbooks. Each participant bought/brought their own songbook. It is also known as
Stamps-Baxter singing; the Stamps-Baxter Publishing Company sold the books by mail
order. Most often these 'singings' was accompanied with dinner-on-the-grounds -
preaching in the morning, then lunch, then afternoon singing. They also offered "Singing
Schools" in the various communities where children and adults learned to read the music.
A later outgrowth of this was the Gospel Quartets famous throughout the Southeast - the Happy Goodmans, The Blackwood Brothers, The Stamps Quartet, The Dixie Echos, The Florida Boys and many more.
See the Sacred Harp Hymnals, pump organ and other items in the exhibit room.
of songbooks. Each participant bought/brought their own songbook. It is also known as
Stamps-Baxter singing; the Stamps-Baxter Publishing Company sold the books by mail
order. Most often these 'singings' was accompanied with dinner-on-the-grounds -
preaching in the morning, then lunch, then afternoon singing. They also offered "Singing
Schools" in the various communities where children and adults learned to read the music.
A later outgrowth of this was the Gospel Quartets famous throughout the Southeast - the Happy Goodmans, The Blackwood Brothers, The Stamps Quartet, The Dixie Echos, The Florida Boys and many more.
See the Sacred Harp Hymnals, pump organ and other items in the exhibit room.
Log Cabin. We now have an authentic log cabin for exhibit and living history programs thanks to the generous donation of previous owner, Danny Hall of Pensacola. Hall is a descendant of several Okaloosa pioneer families and wanted to see the cabin preserved.
Myrick
House Movers of Baker moved the cabin from its original site on Old
River Road, just north of Shockley Springs Road to the museum grounds
on August 12th. The project was made possible with funding provided by
Okaloosa County and the assistances of Chelco crews and the Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office.
Hall’s cousin Marinell Hutto Turner of Baker has help provide a portion of the cabin’s history. According to Turner, her father, Orbie Hutto was born in the cabin in March 1913 and her great grandfather, Will Helms, built it. Although the exact date of construction is unknown, it is believed to have been in the 1870’s and land records are still being researched to determine as many details about cabin’s origin as possible. “The house holds so much history for many north Okaloosa families including, Barrows, Helms, Cooks, Maddens, Huttos and Halls,” stated Turner.
The single pen cabin is 15 feet by 20 feet with a loft sleeping area and made of split pine logs. The cantilever style construction includes two eight-foot porches on both the front and back of the cabinThe cabin sits outdoors in the Heritage Park. Inside visitors see the fire place for cooking, a 'bedroom' in the rafters and more.
Hall’s cousin Marinell Hutto Turner of Baker has help provide a portion of the cabin’s history. According to Turner, her father, Orbie Hutto was born in the cabin in March 1913 and her great grandfather, Will Helms, built it. Although the exact date of construction is unknown, it is believed to have been in the 1870’s and land records are still being researched to determine as many details about cabin’s origin as possible. “The house holds so much history for many north Okaloosa families including, Barrows, Helms, Cooks, Maddens, Huttos and Halls,” stated Turner.
The single pen cabin is 15 feet by 20 feet with a loft sleeping area and made of split pine logs. The cantilever style construction includes two eight-foot porches on both the front and back of the cabinThe cabin sits outdoors in the Heritage Park. Inside visitors see the fire place for cooking, a 'bedroom' in the rafters and more.
Jackson Veneer Mill.
For
many years the mill processed lumber for sale. The plant started out as
a box mill and they air dried the wood. It was made into
strips
for making boxes. Later they began making plywood. Blocks of gum,
poplar and other trees wer put into the hot water vat to soak. When the
wood was warm and limber they would put the locks on the table saw to
slouse strips down the table - using a kiln. The thin strips
were
made into plywood. About 1/20th of an inch was as thin as
they
could cut it. But they made it varying thicknesses and widths depending
upon demand. The plywood was shipped on trucks to Dothan, AL. via the
Howell Plywood Company.
Military Patriots. Click on "Take the Museum Tour" at the top of the page.
Military
artifacts held in the museum include uniforms, photos, unit patches,
occupation monies, awards, charters and much more.
"World War II -- Letters Home" is a new collection binder for WWII ear letters, souvineers, postcards anything sent, or brought, home by service people of the local area. Consider contributing to this binder. Speak with the staff (850) 537-5714.
Old military records and articles from newspapers are interesting reading. See Bill Lundy's Bible, listing the births and deaths in his family. Bill was the area's oldest living Civil War veteran for many years.
"World War II -- Letters Home" is a new collection binder for WWII ear letters, souvineers, postcards anything sent, or brought, home by service people of the local area. Consider contributing to this binder. Speak with the staff (850) 537-5714.
Old military records and articles from newspapers are interesting reading. See Bill Lundy's Bible, listing the births and deaths in his family. Bill was the area's oldest living Civil War veteran for many years.
General Store. Click on "Take the Museum Tour" at the top of this page. And, when you visit the museum, sign the guest register (attendance supports funding), the General Store exhibit is on the immediate left.
The Jeanette and Charles Henderson Heritage Park.
Why not take a mini-vacation. Pack a picnic lunch. Drive to Baker, FL at the corner of Route 189 and Hwy 4. Tour inside the museum then step outside to the adjacent park and have your picnic lunch. Finish the day by going into the old Otahite Post Office exhibit, the old Log Cabin, the
Jackson Veneer Mill, and more--all are located right in the park, itself.
(see the map in the Contact Us section)