Special to The News

Interviewer Joyce Jefferson with Shadeville graduate Jennie Jones.

Do you have memories of the old Shadeville High School? Do you or your relatives have stories about the Hyde Park community? The Wakulla Historical Society wants to hear from you!
A new initiative seeks to record and document the history of Shadeville High School, the only high school for Wakulla County’s black students during segregation; and Hyde Park, the community surrounding the school.
Leading this effort is Joyce Jefferson, who works with the Florida Memory Project team, a program of the State Library and Archives of Florida. Ms. Jefferson is a current graduate student in Museum Education at Florida State University, and a Wakulla County native, herself. In her work with the Wakulla Historical Society, Ms. Jefferson is conducting oral history interviews with individuals in the community who lived in Hyde Park, and/or attended or worked at Shadeville High School.
The first such oral history interview was conducted with Jennie Jones, a Shadeville High graduate, on Saturday, June 19 at the Wakulla Historical Society Museum and Archives.
Mrs. Jones graduated in the Shadeville High class of 1963, and brought photos and a Shadeville High reunion program, which the Museum scanned for digital preservation.
Participants in the project are always able to keep the originals of any materials they choose to share. The ultimate goal of the project is to showcase documents, mementoes, and oral histories for the public to view online, and at the museum. Says Jefferson of this new initiative with the Wakulla Historical Society: “Oral history is such important work overall, and it’s very important to preserve the stories of African-Americans here in Wakulla County.”
The Wakulla Historical Society is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization operating the Wakulla County Museum and Archives. The Museum is located at 24 High Road in Crawfordville, in the old Wakulla County Jail, across the street from the historic wooden Courthouse. The Museum is open to the public Thursdays and Fridays 10-4pm, and Saturdays 10-2pm. Membership in the Wakulla Historical Society is available to all, at $25 per year. Visit the website at wakullahistory.org to learn more.
Anyone with stories about Shadeville High School or the Hyde Park community is encouraged to contact the Wakulla Historical Society at (850) 926-1110. The Historical Society asks that you leave a detailed message with your name and a return phone number, so that volunteers may contact you. You may also email the Historical Society directly at mailbox@wakullahistory.org.

Due to the recent spike in Coronavirus cases, we have decided to cancel our annual Christmas Open House at the Museum.  However, our Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, December 5 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for anyone wishing to do some Christmas shopping. 

We ask that everyone wear a mask and we will let only one person or group in at a time.  Doors, etc., will be sanitized after each group exits.  We are trying to keep everyone as safe as possible as we provide this opportunity for Christmas shopping. 

The Museum will be closed for the remainder of 2020.  If you wish to purchase something and cannot make it by during those hours next Saturday, please let me know and we will arrange for someone to meet you at the Museum another time.

Everyone stay safe and healthy.

Arlene Vause, Secretary

Wakulla County Historical Society

Phone: 850-926-1110

Shadeville High School was the only high school for blacks in Wakulla County. Since blacks could only get an elementary education in Wakulla, the school board was approached and approval obtained for a high school. The local community assisted by donating the land and building materials in addition to county funding. In 1934 the school awarded diplomas to three students in its initial graduating class.

The graduates were Versie Farmer, Andrew Joshua “Bubba” Hargrett, and Lucy Bertha “Maude” Farmer of the Hyde Park community. It is noteworthy that Dr. Hargrett went on to become the first of several Shadeville graduates to earn a PhD.

After providing instruction to black students for thirty-six years, eleven students graduated in the last high school class of 1967 when the Wakulla school district was integrated.

The ornaments can be purchased for $10 at the Museum Gift Shop, located at 24 High Drive in Crawfordville. The Museum and Gift Shop are open Thursday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you have questions, you can reach the Museum at (850) 926-1110 or by email at mailbox@wakullahistory.org.