The Orlando Naval Training Center, which was in operation 1968-94, was where the Baldwin Park neighborhood now sits. The Navy League of the United States 鈥� Central Florida Council is raising money to create the patriotic memorial in the neighborhood鈥檚 Bluejacket Park.

The remembrance will include a Lone Sailor statue and a 20-foot heritage wall exhibiting the history of the Navy in Central Florida. The group is raising funds now and hopes to construct and dedicate the memorial by early next year.

Students of associate professor Rosalind Beiler, director of public history, and military history assistant professor Barbara Gannon earlier this year researched the project and presented the findings to the council, which had asked for help in creating the heritage wall.

Mark Barnes, a graduate student who also made a presentation about the research at an intern showcase this summer at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Public History Center in Sanford, said he was honored to be part of the project that will recognize those who trained at the base and went on to serve our country. This would be the ninth Lone Sailor Memorial Park in the nation, he said.

鈥淭his will be a physical exhibit that I can go to and say that I did something that was a big part of this,鈥� Barnes said.

The 麻豆原创 part of the project is still in progress. The oral histories are being contributed to the 麻豆原创 Community Veterans History Project and, as appropriate, to the Library of Congress鈥� Veterans History Project. Permissions are being sought to use images, and the photos are being uploaded to the 麻豆原创 online RICHES Mosaic Interface.

鈥淢y students learned a great deal in the process of working with community partners on a 鈥榬eal-world鈥� project,鈥� said Beiler. 鈥淎nd the committee seemed quite pleased with the outcome.鈥�

The memorial will serve as a reminder of the Navy鈥檚 legacy in Orlando, and an inspiration to those currently serving and who will serve in the Navy.

鈥淲e could not have been more impressed with 麻豆原创鈥檚 dedication on this,鈥� said Andy Mohler, co-chair of the Lone Sailor Navy Memorial Committee. 鈥淪o much talent and passion. That鈥檚 what really came out.

鈥淭his will forever embody the history of the Navy in Orlando. It鈥檚 not just an academic exercise that will gather dust on a shelf.鈥�

In support of the Public History Center鈥檚 mission to provide hands-on educational experiences for students of all ages, 麻豆原创 history majors also will have the opportunity to help younger students expand their research and critical-thinking skills. 麻豆原创 students will facilitate hands-on learning and develop program activities that connect the past to present-day issues.

This is the nonprofit Freedom School鈥檚 10th year and the first time to be held at the Public History Center.

鈥淭his program shares our goals of providing innovative educational programming that immerses students in the stories of their own communities,鈥� said Rosalind Beiler, 麻豆原创鈥檚 director of Public History.

The program will run Monday through Friday, June 16 to July 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spaces are first come, first serve, and registration forms are available at the Public History Center, 301 W. 7th St.聽聽An open-house registration will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11-13. For more information about the program, contact Gail Choice at 407-687-7185.

The Freedom Schools operate in nearly 90 cities around the nation and this summer hope to serve 12,500 children. The program鈥檚 goals are to boost student motivation to read, generate a more positive attitude toward learning, and connect the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities.

麻豆原创鈥檚 Public History Center serves as a focal point of cultural heritage for the region. The former school building now contains many educational exhibits and is a partnership of the 麻豆原创 and Seminole County Public Schools.

The old-time school bell in the 1902 building聽was rung by associate professor Rosalind Beiler, director of the 麻豆原创 center, and Walt Griffin, Seminole County鈥檚 school superintendent, to symbolize the beginning of the new school year and the collaboration of the two organizations.

To reinforce the Public History Center鈥檚 goal of involving the community, Beiler quoted Benjamin Franklin: 鈥淭ell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” The center provides hands-on educational experiences for students of all ages, serves as a research site connecting local history to global events, and promotes opportunities for learning through workshops and interactive programming.

The center was just awarded a grant to show four documentaries and hold discussion forums about civil rights in America. The first film, 鈥淔reedom Riders,鈥� won an Emmy in 2012 and will be shown 1 p.m. Nov. 2.

Dates will be set later for 鈥淭he Abolitionists,鈥� 鈥淪lavery by Another Name鈥� and 鈥淭he Loving Story.鈥� 鈥淭he Loving Story鈥� and 鈥淭he Abolitionists鈥� have been nominated for Emmys this year.

The films are part of Created Equal: America鈥檚 Civil Rights Struggle, a partnership initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Organizers are asking teachers, staffers and former students of area schools who would like to preserve photos, yearbooks, graduation programs, class projects and other items to bring them to the center for a free scanning event and workshop on how to preserve personal and family collections. Oral histories also can be recorded.

With the permission of the participants, the center will use copies of selected materials to create a new exhibit.

The event includes a preservation workshop at 2 p.m., free refreshments, children鈥檚 activities and exhibit tours at the facility, which is a hands-on museum and educational center.

聽鈥淵ou can harvest history anytime 鈥� as long as it鈥檚 ripe,鈥� said Rosalind Beiler, 麻豆原创鈥檚 director of public history.

The Public History Center is at 301 W. 7th St.

For more about the center and the History Harvest, visit http://www.publichistorycenter.cah.ucf.edu/ or call 407-936-1679.

The family event also will feature the history of Halloween through storytelling, games, crafts and educational exhibits.

鈥淧umpkinFest is a great way for families to learn about the Seminole pumpkin鈥檚 association to Florida history and to interact in ways that are both educational and fun,鈥� said Rosalind Beiler, 麻豆原创鈥檚 director of public history. 鈥淲e think this makes our event unique and serves as a great historical connection.鈥�

Events such as PumpkinFest help support the 麻豆原创鈥檚 goal of engaging the community to learn from and contribute to its own history.

The Public History Center, at 301 W. 7th St., was formerly known as Seminole County Public School鈥檚 Student Museum, an interpretive center and hands-on history museum. The former 1902 school building features an original classroom, pioneer room with a log cabin and tools; Grandma鈥檚 Attic with vintage household items and clothes; and other displays.

PumpkinFest will be 1-5 p.m. and a donation of $5 per person is suggested.

Some gardeners say the Seminole pumpkin is one of the easiest edible plants to grow. The variety is making a great comeback as a summer-season plant. The fruit is sweeter than other gourds, yellow or orange in color, and not stringy.聽It can be baked, steamed, boiled, fried or sun-dried as the native Floridians did.

For more information about PumpkinFest or other programs at the Public History Center, call 407-936-1679 or e-mail publichistorycenter@ucf.edu.

Representatives from the university, Seminole County Public Schools, Sanford, various history groups and the community were on hand as the tower bell was clanged by Rosalind Beiler, 麻豆原创鈥檚 director of Public History, and Walt Griffin, Seminole school superintendent, to ring in the new school year.

Sanford 鈥渋s providing the perfect place for students to learn public history,鈥� said Beiler as she welcomed about 125 people to the school building that still has a picture of President Teddy Roosevelt in the center鈥檚 original 1902 classroom. The center soon will offer community workshops, promote involvement in historic preservation and expand programs for K-12 students.

Tina Calderone, chairwoman of the Seminole County School Board, added that the new collaboration will help students 鈥渨alk the walk of history鈥� by experiencing new exhibits and programs at the center.聽 聽聽

The center began as Sanford鈥檚 first high school, and later became a grammar school in 1911. In 1984 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and became the school district鈥檚 Student Museum and Center for the Social Studies, an interpretive center and a hands-on teaching museum.

麻豆原创 signed a lease on the building in the heart of Sanford鈥檚 residential historic district, and hopes the facility becomes a model for other Central Florida public history centers.

The center has several themed rooms in addition to the classroom. There鈥檚 also a pioneer room with a log cabin and tools; Grandma鈥檚 Attic with vintage household items and clothes; a Timucua room that represents a 1,200-year-old village; Georgetown and Crooms High School exhibits that feature the city鈥檚 African-American community, and other displays.

Behind the museum is a demonstration garden that contains Florida native plants, vegetables and flowers grown at the turn of the last century, antique roses, field crops and other horticultural displays.

A new partnership between 麻豆原创 and Seminole County Public Schools is transforming a 110-year-old Sanford school building into a learning laboratory for education, research and community engagement.

The center at 301 W. 7th St. has been preparing this summer to reopen its doors聽to the public Monday, Aug. 6. The first scheduled activity is 9 a.m. Aug. 13 with Seminole鈥檚 traditional ringing of the tower bell to open the first day of the new school year.

This inaugural event and many additional activities will be planned to fulfill public history鈥檚 goal of engaging the community.

鈥淲e would love to see this become a model for other centers around Central Florida,鈥� said Rosalind Beiler, 麻豆原创鈥檚 director of Public History. 鈥淭he building is a gem. The place has a heart and soul, and anyone who spends time here becomes devoted to it.鈥�

Looking back: The building is one of the few surviving Florida examples of school architecture from the turn of the 20th century. It opened in 1902 as Sanford鈥檚 first high school and became a grammar school in 1911. In 1984 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and became the school district鈥檚 Student Museum and Center for the Social Studies, an interpretive center and a hands-on teaching museum.

Looking ahead: The new Public History Center will schedule classes for 麻豆原创 students, offer community workshops, and promote involvement in historic preservation, while continuing popular programs such as hosting public tours and school field trips. Fourth-grade classes, specifically, schedule visits to the site because of Florida requirements to study state history at that grade level.

麻豆原创 signed a two-year lease for the center in the heart of Sanford鈥檚 residential historic district, whose residents are encouraged to join in the programs and research.

鈥淭he center will enhance the quality of life in our community by bringing to light the history of its most valuable resource: its people,鈥� said Jos茅 Fern谩ndez, dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, which will oversee the center.

Beiler said 麻豆原创 chose Sanford for the Public History Center because the city has a 鈥渞ich documented history鈥� and is committed to historic preservation through the Community Redevelopment Association, Historic Preservation Board, Sanford Historic Trust, and other history-related groups, museums and projects.

鈥淭here are a lot of willing partners in Seminole County,鈥� she said. 鈥淪anford is among the strongest of any Central Florida city for historical preservation.鈥�

To capitalize on that, Ashley Wilt, program coordinator, is focusing a big part of the first semester鈥檚 activities on community outreach, hosting gatherings and enlisting volunteers to assist the center in carrying out projects.

Beginning Aug. 6, the center will open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday. In addition to the Aug. 13 bell-ringing ceremony, the staff is planning an evening open house, neighborhood block party, fall pumpkin festival around Halloween, and an old-fashioned Christmas event. They also are reaching out to scouting and other civic groups to hold activities at the center.

Next spring, the staff and university students will start to offer workshops on historical preservation and topics such as how to interview people for oral histories.

鈥淲e are thrilled with this collaborative effort,鈥� said Tina Calderone, chairman of the Seminole County School Board. 鈥淭his will enhance the educational experiences of our students, allow the center to be open more hours, and benefit the community as a whole.鈥�

The center has several themed rooms: a furnished, original 1902 classroom complete with a portrait of then-President Theodore Roosevelt; a Timucua room that represents a 1,200-year-old village; a pioneer room with a log cabin and tools; Grandma鈥檚 Attic with old household items and vintage clothes; Georgetown and Crooms High School exhibits that feature the city鈥檚 African-American community, and other displays.

Behind the museum is a demonstration garden that contains vegetables and flowers grown at the turn of the last century, Florida native plants, antique roses, wildflower meadow, field crops and other horticultural displays.

The city鈥檚 Touhy Park across the street from the museum contains a historic tree grove, which contains about 70 trees that are associated with people, places and events around the country. There are sycamores, magnolias, maples, walnuts and others from Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Mount Vernon, Ellis Island, the Alamo and elsewhere.

City officials also are pleased that the schoolhouse, which was put on the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation鈥檚 list of the state鈥檚 most endangered historic sites in 2009, has been given new life.

鈥淭his building and project are being looked at statewide as a preservation success,鈥� said Christine Dalton, the city鈥檚 historic preservation officer. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e utilizing the building, site, its collections and the gardens 鈥� resulting in a hands-on learning environment for the students. 麻豆原创鈥檚 partnership with the museum is a great benefit to the community, and will have a positive impact on this National Register site and surrounding residential neighborhood.鈥�

City Commissioner Patty Mahany, who is scheduled to speak at the opening-day ceremony, said: 鈥淭his is so significant because it is a great use for the historic building. It is a wonderful marriage and will benefit students with a much higher purpose.鈥�

The聽building is about 20 miles northwest of 麻豆原创’s main campus, which is part of the plan to reach into the community.

鈥淥ur name 鈥� Public History Center 鈥� means just that,鈥� Beiler said. 鈥淚t is a community resource and we invite Central Florida residents to take an active role and join us as this unique collaboration develops.鈥�

A two-year lease was signed last week with the Seminole County School Board to start classes and programs at its Student Museum in July. The 1902 building in the middle of the city鈥檚 historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

鈥淭he Student Museum building is an ideal site because of its own rich heritage as well as the City of Sanford鈥檚 significant architectural history and grassroots historic-preservation movement,鈥� said Rosalind Beiler, 麻豆原创鈥檚 director of Public History.

The new center at 301 W. 7th St. is intended to foster a close connection between the community and 麻豆原创鈥檚 research projects. 鈥淏y definition, public history engages community partners,鈥� Beiler said.

The university will blend the old and the new with its plans for the museum. While maintaining the museum鈥檚 current offerings 鈥� such as leading 4th graders on field trips through the museum to learn about Florida鈥檚 past 鈥� the university will teach its history students how to use new-media techniques of audio, video and digital technologies to create virtual exhibits, artifact databases, podcasts and other projects.

鈥淭hrough this partnership, we will preserve an important link between today鈥檚 tech-savvy students and how our ancestors lived and worked more than a century ago,鈥� said 麻豆原创 Provost and Executive Vice President Tony G. Waldrop. 鈥淭he museum also is an outstanding laboratory that will prepare our students for careers in a field that helps all of us connect with and learn from our past.鈥�

Beiler said the university chose Sanford because the city is already committed to historic preservation through the Community Redevelopment Association, Historic Preservation Board and Sanford Historic Trust. The university is planning to hold public workshops and seminars at the Student Museum, along with gathering oral histories.

鈥淭his partnership preserves an important part of history for Sanford, Seminole County, students and the whole community,鈥� said Bill Vogel, Seminole鈥檚 schools superintendent. 鈥淭his is so important to the whole preservation efforts of Sanford. Because of 麻豆原创, this could be a centerpiece.鈥�

The Student Museum is one of the few surviving examples in Florida of school architecture at the turn of the 20th century. The 20,000-square-foot Romanesque Revival brick building opened as Sanford鈥檚 first high school and became a grammar school in 1911. In 1984, it was given the title of Student Museum and Center for the Social Studies, and it has since served as an interpretive center and a hands-on teaching museum.

麻豆原创 students will be able to experience the museum鈥檚 1902 classroom with original woodwork and slate boards, a portrait of then-President Theodore Roosevelt and other period artifacts; a Native American room that represents a 1,200-year-old Timucua village; and a pioneer room with a log cabin and tools. The museum also features Grandma鈥檚 Attic, where visitors can handle old household items, try on vintage clothes, learn how to churn butter and make candles; the Georgetown and Crooms High School exhibits, which feature information about the city鈥檚 African-American community; and other displays.

Behind the museum is a teaching garden that provides students the opportunity to plant and identify vegetables grown at the turn of the last century. There also are Florida native plants, antique roses, a wildflower meadow, field crops and other horticultural displays. Across the street from the museum is the city鈥檚 historic tree grove in Touhy Park, which contains about 70 trees that are associated somehow with people, places and events around the country. There are sycamores, magnolias, maples, walnuts and others from Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Mount Vernon, Ellis Island, the Alamo and elsewhere.

鈥淜ids thrive on these historical projects, and teachers are going to flock to the center,鈥� said Anna-Marie Cote, deputy superintendent for Seminole schools.