COFB Bicentennial Celebration

08/27/2024

Let's talk okra!!

Fernandina Beach Market Place

"Okra, a staple in Southern cuisine, thrives in the warm, humid climate of Florida. Its versatility makes it a valuable crop, and it is this week's featured product at the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers' market. Each week, in honor of the City of Fernandina Beach Bicentennial, the Market Place highlights an item that you can find in today's modern farmers market, which would have also been exchanged or sold in a community market or trading post in 1825 Fernandina. Okra is believed to have been cultivated in Africa for thousands of years. During the transatlantic slave trade, okra, along with other African plants, practices, and culinary traditions, was brought to the Americas. With a fusion of African, French, Spanish, and Native American heritages, okra would have been fried, boiled, pickled, or stewed. One particularly popular dish that included okra is gumbo.

The origins of gumbo trace back to Louisiana in the 18th century. By the beginning of the 19th century, it was already a well-known dish in New Orleans, and its popularity quickly spread throughout the region. Around 1817, when our little port town was a hotbed for smugglers and ne'er-do-wells, the infamous pirate and privateer Jean Lafitte came to Fernandina from Louisiana, attempting to profit from the chaos. While I cannot declare with certainty that Lafitte brought with him the recipe for gumbo, it is plausible that the cultural exchange involving Lafitte and his men might have included a few Cajun culinary traditions, like gumbo."

08/27/2024

Have you gotten your Fernandina Beach Bicentennial Passport yet? Get it stamped at the Museum's Community Appreciation Day on September 2nd to earn swag at the 200th Anniversary Celebration on January 1, 2025!

Can't make it? You can still get it stamped at other FB 200 events listed on the City's 200 Page: https://fbfl.us/1075/Fernandina-200-Bicentennial-Celebration

08/21/2024

This week at the Fernandina Beach Market Place:

"In 1825, having a well-stocked market included jellies, jams and preserves, just like you will find in the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market of today. Look for a variety of flavors and textures at Epperson Farms. You will find peach bourbon, peach cherry, blueberry elderberry, and cherry sage jams just to name a few. Kings Kountry Produce also has jams, jellies and preserves, as well as a variety of pickles, chow-chow, relish, and more. The primary difference between jelly, jam and preserves is in the texture. Some are smooth, some are full of fruit pieces, and preserves could retain a full piece of fruit. Talk to Nina or Jane for more information about perfecting these delicious spreads."

08/13/2024

From the Fernandina Beach Market Place. Judie Mackey is a wealth of information!

"As you stroll through the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market, take a moment to reflect on the rich history of Amelia Island. As we continue to draw closer to the City of Fernandina's Bicentennial celebration, it is amazing to consider that in 1825, this coastal town was attempting to find secure footing as part of the new Florida Territory of the United States. Florida was still under Spanish control until 1821. The Embargo Act of 1807, meant to cease American ships from trading with foreign countries. With Fernandina considered a part of Spain, and the United Sates just across the river, our natural, deep-water port, located just a few minutes from the rest of the world via the Atlantic Ocean, developed a notorious, sordid reputation. This time period attracted pirates, privateers, and smugglers, turning our ideal location into one of the biggest smuggling ports in the Western Hemisphere. By 1825, Fernandina was a melting pot of various cultural groups due to its complex history of control by different European powers.

The people living in Fernandina were Spanish, American, British, Minorca, and French settlers. Both enslaved and free African Americans lived in Fernandina, a destination for escaped slaves seeking freedom. Indigenous Timucuan, and some Creek and Seminole Native Americans also remained in the area. Simple, yet engaging activities brought the community together, much like activities of today do the same. Residents entertained themselves with games like marbles, hoop and stick, and Blind Man's Bluff. Stop by the market Saturday and learn some of the games that were enjoyed in a community market then, as they are still enjoyed today, such as hopscotch or checkers. Even the old game of ninepins, where you would roll a wooden ball to knock over pins that were set up in a triangular shape, was a precursor to a similar game played today at Duck Pinz on North Third Street, in Fernandina. This game of bowling, uses balls that are smaller than traditional bowling balls, but you get three attempts to knock down as many pins as you can, rather than two."

08/05/2024

See you Wednesday for August's Brown Bag Lunch!
First arriving on the shores of Florida in 1513, Spain and its colonists were a near-constant presence on Amelia Island for over 300 years.
Their time here on the Isla de Santa Maria was defined by the rise of religious missions, of local diversity, and of Amelia Island’s second of eight flags. August’s Brown Bag Lunch will focus on this compelling Spanish history and will be presented by dedicated docent Kathy Adams. Join us on Wednesday, August 7, to learn more about this fascinating history!
Attendance is free and attendants may bring their lunch. Seating is limited on a first come, first served basis. This program is wheelchair accessible.
To learn more, visit https://ameliamuseum.org/brown-bag/, contact Isabelle at [email protected] or call 904-261-7378 x.102.

See you Wednesday for August's Brown Bag Lunch!
First arriving on the shores of Florida in 1513, Spain and its colonists were a near-constant presence on Amelia Island for over 300 years.

Their time here on the Isla de Santa Maria was defined by the rise of religious missions, of local diversity, and of Amelia Island’s second of eight flags. August’s Brown Bag Lunch will focus on this compelling Spanish history and will be presented by dedicated docent Kathy Adams. Join us on Wednesday, August 7, to learn more about this fascinating history!

Attendance is free and attendants may bring their lunch. Seating is limited on a first come, first served basis. This program is wheelchair accessible.

To learn more, visit https://ameliamuseum.org/brown-bag/, contact Isabelle at [email protected] or call 904-261-7378 x.102.

07/26/2024

From the Fernandina Beach Market Place:

"Summer is hard on local crops today, as it was in Fernandina 200-years ago. Full-time farmers have learned to rotate seasonal crops and Kings Kountry Produce is harvesting yellow squash and zucchini this time of the year. Yellow squash was grown and harvested by Native Americans long before Europeans stepped foot on the shore. They shared their farming skills with the colonists of the New World. Zucchini, closely related to the squash, also originated in the Americas. The popularity of both spread throughout the world thanks to European exploration. The practice of growing squash was part of the "Three Sisters" planting technique, which also included corn and beans. This method was highly effective in providing a balanced diet and maintaining soil fertility."

07/09/2024

This week at the FFernandina Beach Market Place

"Our nod to the City of Fernandina Beach's Bicentennial Celebration is corn, grown by King's Kountry Produce of Starke, Florida. In 1825, when Fernandina officially became a city, corn would have been a staple crop and a significant part of daily life. Farmers in the early 19th century grew different varieties of corn, primarily dent corn and flint corn. Dent corn kernels look like Candy Corn, with a little dent on the crown; and flint corn, is rounder, like the kernels you would use to make popcorn. Both were suitable for growing in our local climate and soil. Pick up an information sheet from the management booth to learn more about this amazing product you will find today, and 200-years-ago, in our seaside community's trading post or farmers' market."

07/03/2024

Have you always wanted to know who resides at Bosque Bello Cemetery?

Domingo Pedro de Los Santos Acosta was born in St. Augustine and was sent to Amelia Island in 1808 as part of the Spanish Militia. You can learn more about Domingo at the Graveside Chronicles Tour taking place on October 12th. (This image is of a Spanish Militia uniform similar to what Domingo might have worn.)

The guided tour at Bosque Bello Cemetery offers a unique chance to learn about the lives and stories of notable past residents of Fernandina.

During the tour, you will be escorted to 8 different gravesites. Here, Costumed Interpreters will share the intimate tales of these individuals who played a significant role in shaping the community surrounding Amelia Island.

Here are some key details about the event:

*Date and Time: Saturday, October 12, 2024, Tours start at 9:00 AM, the last tour departs at 4 pm.
*Duration: The tour is expected to take approximately 1 ½ hours.
*Tickets: Timed tickets will go on sale September 6th and may be purchased online only at www.ameliamuseum.org
*Accessibility: Due to the Bosque Bello terrain, the tour might not be wheelchair accessible or suitable for those using walkers.

06/27/2024

Update: The R.L. Lewis event has been canceled.

R.L. Lewis, an original Florida Highwayman, art event hosted by the Amelia Island Genealogical Society
June 29, 2024 ; Peck Center Auditorium ; 10:00am- 2:00pm
Mr. R.L. Lewis Sr., one of the 26 artists known as, "The Highwaymen", will talk about the famous group of African Americans artists. Mr. Lewis will paint an original piece of artwork while presenting.
*Photo taken from Ocala Star Banner

Christian Heritage Parade and Faith Festival
June 29, 2024; Parade begins at Central Park; 10:00am
This is a parade celebrating the Christian heritage. The parade begins at 10am and follows the traditional parade route. Festival to follow at Central Park from 11-1pm. The Festival will include musical performers, food trucks, popcorn and snow cones.

06/17/2024

We love seeing what the Fernandina Beach Market Place comes up with each week!!

"Tommy King with King's Kountry Produce has the featured bicentennial product of the week, cowpeas, a crop easily found at a trading post or community market in 1825 Fernandina.

This family of beans is popular for the protein they provide, their ease of growing and how they improve the quality of soil. Originally from Africa, cowpeas such as pink eye peas, zipper peas, and white acre peas, have a rich history closely tied to the transatlantic slave trade and the agricultural practices enslaved Africans brought with them. They had invaluable knowledge of farming and food preservation techniques, as well as seeds of their staple crops, including cowpeas, a crop that had been grown in their homeland for thousands of years. The soil and climate of Amelia Island makes them an easy crop to grow. Saturday, at the Fernandina Beach Market Place farmers market you will find three easy to identify varieties at King’s Kountry Produce. Pink eye peas are known for their distinctive pink or purple eye. Zipper peas are named for the ease with which the peas can be shelled, and the white acre pea is a small, creamy-colored pea. Cowpeas naturally replenish soil nitrogen and can be used as a green manure, plowed back into the soil to decompose and release nitrogen, an essential nutrient that supports plant growth."

06/11/2024

We are so happy to announce an exciting addition to our Fourth Annual Island Hop Craft Beer Fest!

January 1, 2025, marks the 200th Birthday of the City of Fernandina Beach. In honor of the COFB Bicentennial Celebration, a few of our local brewers are creating a special beer for our VIP ticket holders! Check out a sneak peak of the label created by Mocama Beer. We can't wait to try it!!!

06/10/2024

Check out this week's feature at the Fernandina Beach Market Place:

"Continuing our Fernandina Bicentennial Celebration this week we are sharing information about what you would find in a community market or trading post in 1825. One of the less pleasant items found at a community gathering 200 years ago would have been the plagues and diseases that afflicted citizens of the area. With our deep-water port and quick access to the Atlantic Ocean, the area was indeed a melting pot of people and their cultures, but also illness and fevers, as well as their ideas and attempts for healing.

After bloodletting and purging, chemicals like o***m and camphor were introduced as medicines. It was the bark of the cinchona tree, quinine, that was found to be a good source for treating fevers, including yellow fever and malaria. Quinine’s bitter taste meant that it was hard to enforce usage, so officials encouraged mixing it with soda and sugar, creating “tonic water.” This tonic water was sometimes mixed with gin to conceal the bitterness, giving rise to today’s gin and tonic cocktail.

The concept of mixing ingredients into medicinal tonics has deep historical roots. Some of the traditional remedies that we use today, began with combining vinegar, honey, and various herbs. Uses and results were well-documented across several cultures long before the modern iteration of this week’s Bicentennial Product, Fire Cider.

Fire cider is a traditional herbal remedy made from a combination of apple cider vinegar, honey, and various herbs and spices. It is often used to boost the immune system, improve digestion, and ward off colds and flu. Fire cider, as it is known today, was popularized by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in the 1970s, but its predecessors were included in Nicholas Culpeper's writings of 1653 that documents the medicinal use of many herbs and plants, including those found in fire cider. Stop by the Empowering Journey Herbals booth to learn more."

06/06/2024

Check out the upcoming events! Also, don't forget the "Brushes with History" event with a Florida Highwayman has been rescheduled to June 29. Event page in the comments.

05/28/2024

We love hearing what the Fernandina Beach Market Place comes up with each week in honor of the Bicentennial!

"Fernandina Beach, located on Amelia Island in Florida, has a rich history, but in 1825, it was still a small and developing area. A local farmers market, or community trading post would have been a trader's market, but also would be a major social event including gossip, sharing of local and regional news, music, and even poetry readings. With the diversity of travelers coming in and out of our deep-water port, located just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, different cultures would bring a variety of music to port.

A town gathering is the perfect place to hear a sea shanty like “Drunken Sailor” often sung during tasks that required a steady rhythm, such as loading and unloading silks, lumber, liquor, and spice. "Spanish Ladies" reflected the journey of sailors returning to England and highlight the various landmarks they pass along the way. The song captures the spirit and camaraderie of sailors during their voyages. Folk Ballads like "Barbara Allen" and "The House Carpenter" were popular among the settlers and traders and part of the rich tradition of storytelling through music, capturing themes of love, regret, and tragedy. Not unlike the music you hear at today’s farmers market, it reflects life’s journey and helps us through the mundane tasks of the day.

Each week we offer a musician in the farmers market to showcase local and upcoming Fernandina talent, this week, Rose Winn will be giving a solo performance. Rose is a student at Full Sail University, where she is pursuing a degree in the Arts. She attended school in Fernandina Beach and Douglas Anderson School of Arts, where she began her journey. She has directed several local productions and is part of the musical trio, The Alley Cats. She is thrilled to add an author to her list of talents, as she recently co-wrote and published a children’s book, “The Adventures of Rose Bud!”, with her father, Frank.."

05/23/2024

This week's Fernandina Beach Market Place Bicentennial feature is fresh squeezed lemonade. Each week we highlight an item that you would find in a community farmers' market or trading post in 1825 Fernandina. Lemon Sensations is one of our most popular springtime vendors in the Market Place.

Lemonade dates to ancient times, and can be traced to Egypt around 1000 AD. In the 1630s, Paris street vendors carried tanks of lemonade on their backs and dispensed the drink into cups for customers. Lemons, sugar, and fresh water were readily available in 1825 Fernandina. In 1817, a group of French privateers took control of Amelia Island. It could have been these French Pirates who brought lemonade to Fernandina. It is also reasonable to conclude that by 1825, Fernandina would have been introduced to lemonade due to its active involvement in maritime trade. Either way, as far as flavored lemonades go, some things really do get better with age. While classic lemonade may have been all the rage in 1825 Fernandina, in 2024, Lemon Sensations brings us classic, blueberry, strawberry, and “The Felix” a mango and pineapple flavored lemonade. Stop by their booth to learn more.

05/20/2024

Upcoming Bicentennial Events!