Page 30 - PGA Community News- March '22

Page 30, PGA C.A.N.! March 2022 March 2022
Loxahatchee River Historical Society Celebrates 50th

Anniversary With Proclamation Presentation From

Palm Beach County Board Of Commissioners

Telling The Stories From on Sundays. Gravett told
how the mail would come to
Oil House Museum To her at the Coast Guard site,

Outstanding Natural Area addressed to “The Girl at the
Lighthouse.”
Palm Beach County
On a breezy deck, below the restored 1860 Jupiter Inlet Commissioner Marino
Lighthouse, a small group of dignitaries and supporters greeted the audience and
gathered on Thursday, Jan. 27, to celebrate a historic enthusiastically read the
milestone in the community. The date marked the 50th proclamation, recognizing
Anniversary of the Loxahatchee River Historical Society the historical society for 50
(LRHS) – five decades of historic preservation and years of accomplishments
educational programming for the local nonprofit. The in preservation of the iconic
historical society was deeply honored to be presented with a Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
proclamation from Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria and other historic buildings
Marino of District 1 that afternoon. as well as service to the
Jamie Stuve, president and CEO of the LRHS, welcomed community. Commissioner
guests and began by briefly telling the story of pioneer Marino then presented the
descendent Bessie Wilson DuBois and her love for history and proclamation to Jamie Stuve,
collecting artifacts from Jupiter’s multilayered past and from president and CEO, who
her time living on the Jupiter Inlet. Stuve then introduced the has been at the helm of the
original founder of the Loxahatchee River Historical Society historical society since 2002.
and longtime local resident, Ethel Gravett. The society’s historian
Gravett recounted the pivotal moment that sparked an and collection manager Josh
idea and that would shape the future of the Jupiter Inlet for Liller gave a brief overview
generations to come. As a den mother, she decided to take of the accomplishments and
her sons’ Cub Scout troop (her scout is now 57 years old) key moments of the historical Matt Pazanski, Town of Juno Beach; Dr. Robin Sykes; Dan Comerford, mayor, Jupiter Inlet
to earn their history badge by visiting Bessie DuBois at her society’s 50-year journey. Colony; Jamie Stuve; Palm Beach County Commissioner Marino, District 1; Ron Delaney,
home in DuBois Park. “We’ve had many wonderful council member Town of Jupiter; Peter De Witt, Bureau of Land Management
Bessie shared tables and walls full of remarkable historic people volunteer for over
artifacts and photographs, and later asked, “What is going 20 years. Many staff members also have been with the communications and efforts that this area’s history was
to happen to all this?” This was Gravett’s “ah-ha” moment. organization for more than 10 years and that means something extremely important and worth preserving.” He observed
Active in the Junior Women’s League and other local … stability!” related Liller. Some notable docents mentioned that there were always “the right people at the right time” to
organizations, she galvanized local community members for their contributions to the society were John Walker, Red further the society’s mission work. Liller pointed out that the
like Bill and Judie Wood, Anna Minear, Rose Meyerowitz, and Marylou Shirar, Evelyne Bates, and acknowledged LRHS has stood through storms both figurative and literal,
Pat Magrogan and others, to form a group dedicated to the posthumously were “Saint” Joan Hudiburg, historian Chuck persevering and overcoming obstacles with the dedication
area’s historic preservation and the Loxahatchee Historical Milhauser, “Lighthouse” Bob Boyd, and Jim and Molly of volunteers and staff.
Society was born. Sparger. Jamie Stuve once again took to the microphone to recognize
As the fledgling society took shape, the new organization “The LRHS have been community advocates and fierce a few key supporters and partners present at the ceremony.
consulted with museums and individuals such as Judge Knott, watchdogs of history and historic preservation,” Liller Notably, Peter De Witt, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding
with experience on how to operate and properly protect the added. “The LRHS has always made it clear through their Natural Area, Bureau of Land Management; Ron Delaney,
important cultural heritage of the Jupiter Inlet area. councilor with the Town of Jupiter; Joe Chaison, executive
Many people contributed to the success of the Loxahatchee director of the Jupiter Inlet District; and author and former
River Historical Society over the years. Gravett expressed board chair James D. Snyder for his remarkable history book
how excited she was to see what the LRHS has grown to Five Thousand Years on the Loxahatchee. Also recognized
become. Early on, the U.S. Coast Guard told Gravett that the was Robert Carr, executive director of the Archaeological
lighthouse was difficult to maintain and happily agreed for and Historical Conservancy, for his important site work at the
the LRHS have the Oil House as a museum, opening only lighthouse, uncovering the location of the original lighthouse
keepers’ house and cistern among other discoveries.
From the original Oil House Museum in 1973 to the
RIDEDIRECT spearheading of the 2008 Congressional legislation to create
Your Private Driver the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, to
safeguarding the nationally significant historic site, the
for riders who prefer appointments LRHS has helped to transform the former military site into
Based in PGA National a keystone heritage destination for Palm Beach County and
Call/text William the nation.
561-306-5187 Stuve capped the ceremony by touching on an expanded

email - driver@uberdirect.us Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino, District 1; new vision to create much-needed new facilities to better
serve the needs of the community and our history.
! Credit Cards Welcome Jamie Stuve, president and CEO, and Dr. Robin Sykes, both Loxahatchee River Historical Society on page 31
Cut and save
with the Loxahatchee River Historical Society

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