You may have heard of the National Historic Landmark, Maple Leaf, the Union troop transport that was sunk by Confederates at Mandarin Point on April 1,1864. You may have seen some of the Civil War material that was recovered from the ship. If so, you probably wondered what happened to the men who owned those items…Union soldiers from New York and Indiana who were waiting for their belongings in Jacksonville. Well, these men traveled north and were engaged in some important battles during the last year of the war.
In April 1864, the men of the 112th New York, 169th New York, and 13th Indiana Regiments were soon to be a part of bloody campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina. They would be a part of largest amphibious operation the US military would carry out until June 6, 1944 and would observe the largest naval bombardment of the American Civil War - at Fort Fisher, NC. It was the biggest event in US history at the time. Fort Fisher was the largest earthen fortification in the Confederacy. Its guns controlled one inlet into the Cape Fear River, the port of Wilmington, and the railroad. After the savage fighting was over, seventy-two soldiers, sailors, and marines would be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions. One of those Medal of Honor recipients, Private William Freeman of the 169th New York, might have materials still in the hold of the Maple Leaf. At the November Third Thursday Lecture, John Moseley, Jacksonville native and Historic Sites Manager I, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, will give a lecture and visual presentation of the battle that sealed the fate of the Confederacy, aided in bringing an end to the war and the Maple Leaf’s connection to Fort Fisher. The Third Thursday Lecture Series, a joint offering of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society and the Mandarin Community Club, are conducted on a quarterly basis. Programs are held at the Mandarin Community Club. All programs remain open to the public and are free of charge; donations are welcome. Source & images: MMHS Harriet Beecher Stowe was arguably the most famous woman in the English-speaking world when she arrived in Mandarin, Florida. The year 2018 marks 150 years since author Harriet Beecher Stowe took up residence in her quirky Mandarin home, a home encompassed by live oaks and nestled in an orange grove in the village some 15 miles south of Jacksonville. She wintered there until 1884.
The presentation will be made by our club president, Emily Lisska, a Jacksonville native, President of the Florida Historical Society and the former Executive Director of the Jacksonville Historical Society. Harriet Beecher Stowe - Mandarin's Most Famous Resident Thursday, August 16th Doors open at 6:30 p.m., lecture begins at 7 p.m. The Third Thursday Lecture Series, a joint offering of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society and the Mandarin Community Club, are conducted on a quarterly basis. Programs are held at the Mandarin Community Club (12447 Mandarin Rd, 32223). All programs remain open to the public and are free of charge; donations are welcome. The upcoming Third Thursday Lecture will be with local author and artist, Kathy Stark. Ms. Stark offers a unique and family-friendly exploration of the extensive system of natural parks in North Florida. Her book The Wilderness of North Florida’s Parks combines Stark’s lush and expansive watercolor paintings with sketches, notes, historical facts and maps to create a work that is a both a guide and handbook, as well as a tribute, to the great unspoiled stretches of the region. The Wilderness of North Florida’s Parks was published in partnership with the Timucuan Parks Foundation, with a portion of the proceeds supporting that nonprofit, which advocates for North Florida’s parks.
The Third Thursday Lecture Series, a joint offering of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society and the Mandarin Community Club, is conducted on a quarterly basis. Programs are held at the Mandarin Community Club. All programs remain open to the public and are free of charge; donations are welcome. **Correction/update to the guest speaker for the Third Thursday Lecture**
In honor of Black History Month, the February program will feature a lecture by Devan Lesley, Norman Studios Co-Chair. Devan Lesley will show a documentary and discuss Jacksonville’s silent film history and its unique contribution to African-American cinema. Hollywood East: Florida’s Silent Film Legacy explores how the top motion picture producers of the day came to reside in Northeast Florida and why they left for the West Coast. "Founded in 1916 Jacksonville, FL as Eagle Film City and purchased by Richard E. Norman in 1921, the Norman Studios was among the nation's first to produce "race films" starring African American characters in positive, non-stereotypical roles. "On the Norman Studios site, some of the first films featuring all African-American casts were produced more than a century ago. This five-building complex is the sole studio remnant of Jacksonville's heyday as the Winter Film Capital of the World..." (www.normanstudios.org) Third Thursday Lecture Norman Studios February 15, 2018 at 7 p.m. (Doors open 6:30 p.m.) Mandarin Community Club building (12447 Mandarin Road, 32223) The Third Thursday Lecture Series, a joint offering of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society and the Mandarin Community Club, are conducted on a quarterly basis. Programs are held at the Mandarin Community Club. All programs remain open to the public and are free of charge; donations are welcome. NEXT THIRD THURSDAY LECTURE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16th One hundred years ago, in June, 1917, Marion Joseph Losco presented himself to Postmaster Walter Jones, at the Mandarin Store and Post Office, to register for the draft of World War I. He continued to work on his father's farm, having no idea how the war in Europe would impact him and his family. He could not know that in a little over a year later he would be killed in action in France and buried there for all time. Marion's mother, Dometilla, kept all of his letters and postcards as well as the notices and personal items she received from the Army after his death. They were placed in a trunk. Over 95 years later these objects were donated to the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society by David Losco. Marion's grandnephew, Paul Ghiotto, transcribed Marion's letters which are the feature story of this lecture and the book Paul wrote based on the letters and his extensive research. He will give a Powerpoint presentation and his book will be available. Please plan to join us to hear this amazing story of the only local resident that we know died in WWI. This lecture is being held a few days after Veteran's Day, in honor of Pvt. Marion Losco and all who have served in the Armed Forces. Third Thursday Lectures are held at the Mandarin Community Club, which co-sponsors the lectures. Refreshments begin at 6:30, with the lecture at 7. |
Club NewsCurrent & past news and announcements from Mandarin Community Club.
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The Mandarin Community Club is an independent, not for profit organization open to all, especially those who live in the Mandarin area. The Club is dedicated to the preservation and beautification of Mandarin, to providing educational forums and enhancing the cultural and recreational life of the area and to maintaining its three historic properties.
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MANDARIN ART FESTIVAL
Every Easter weekend Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
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Membership is opened to all who wish to support the Club's mission and preservation of historic structures. The Mandarin Community Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations made to our organization is tax-deductible.
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MANDARIN COMMUNITY CLUB | 12447 MANDARIN ROAD | JACKSONVILLE, FL 32223 (MAP) | (904) 268-1622 | CONTACT US | © 2023 Mandarin Community Club, LLC
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIV OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS BY CALLING TOLL FREE 800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION # CH50554
The Mandarin Community Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations made to our organization is tax-deductible.
The Mandarin Community Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations made to our organization is tax-deductible.