Recording History of Shadeville and Hyde Park

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.