The Keystone Heights Heritage Commission met on January 20 to review recent projects and plan upcoming community events, including preparations for the annual fourth-grade field trip and the second annual Chautauqua event.
Inventory Project Advances Museum Planning
Chair Deirdre Murphy reported significant progress on the commission’s inventory project, which aims to catalog and properly store historical artifacts in climate-controlled facilities. The commission completed an inventory of items at the welcome center and an air-conditioned storage unit at the new public works building on Sunrise Avenue.
During the inventory, commissioners discovered a full mockup of Fort 11, a previously unseen artifact that the commission will feature at the upcoming Chautauqua event. Murphy said the inventory process included photographing every item to create a comprehensive database for future reference.
The chair reported that she visited the Flagler Museum to learn best practices for small-town museums. The museum, which operates in approximately 1,200 square feet, took 20 years to develop. Murphy noted that proper lighting emerged as a critical element for museum presentation.
“We’re really fulfilling every single thing that is required to have a museum,” the chair said, explaining that the commission is already engaged in collection, preservation, research, education, and exhibition activities.
Social Media Expansion Planned
The commission discussed expanding its social media presence beyond Facebook to include Instagram. Following a roundtable meeting with heritage organizations from Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, and Palatka, commissioners learned that Instagram significantly increases audience reach.
Murphy said Instagram reaches a younger audience than Facebook.
“We need to capture both audiences,” she told her colleagues. “And even though the Instagram people are not normally the 25- to 35-year-olds, who are not normally our demographic, that are interested in old homes and historic preservation, we do capture some. (One of the other organizations) said that once they started their Instagram…they went from 25 followers to 6,000 in six months.”
Commissioner Kat Glenn agreed to manage the commission’s new Instagram account, which will complement the existing Facebook page.
4th Grade Field Trip Preparations Begin
The commission began planning the annual fourth-grade field trip scheduled for three months away. The program features five stations where approximately 120 students learn about Keystone Heights history and local government.
Stations include the park pavilion for a historical overview, City Hall for a mock council meeting, the Moon Tree, and the welcome center gazebo, where students learn about the Keystone Historic Inn. Murphy said each student will receive a goodie bag containing the book, “Andy the Whooping Crane,” Keystone Heights pencils, arrowheads, Heritage Commission brochures, and wooden city coins.
The commission voted to order new name tags for all current members and approved additional spending for wooden coins and other materials needed for the field trip.
Chautauqua Event Planning Underway
Commissioners scheduled a workshop to plan the second annual Chautauqua event. The festival celebrates the four pillars of the historic Chautauqua gatherings: arts, education, recreation, and religion.
The event will feature a pop-up museum at the pavilion, speakers, music performances, food trucks, and plein-air artists painting live. Murphy said the commission will reach out to local art galleries in Melrose and musicians to participate. The Keystone Heights RV Resort community was identified as a key demographic to target for attendance.
Other Business
Murphy reported that the state historical marker application for Keystone Heights remains in an 18-month backlog due to delays dating to COVID-19. The Christmas wreath project was completed, with all decorations now stored at the public works building.
Commissioner Jenn Samsel proposed creating photo albums to document the police department, fire department, and city events. Murphy said the project would help preserve community history as fewer people print physical photographs.
Murphy reported that she delivered a historic plaque to Rebecca Williams, who operates a business in a historic home. Commission members discussed featuring the property on future historic home tours.
