Page 8 - Talk of Tequesta - March '22

Page 8, The Talk Of Tequesta

in Your CoMMuniTY

Loxahatchee River Historical Society Celebrates 50th

Anniversary With Proclamation Presentation From

Palm Beach County Board Of Commissioners

Telling The Stories From Oil House Museum To Outstanding Natural Area

On a breezy deck,
below the restored 1860
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, a
small group of dignitaries
and supporters gathered on
Thursday, Jan. 27, to celebrate
a historic milestone in the
community. The date marked
the 50th Anniversary of the
Loxahatchee River Historical
Society (LRHS) – five decades
of historic preservation and
educational programming
for the local nonprofit. The
historical society was deeply Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino, District 1;
honored to be presented with Jamie Stuve, president and CEO, and Dr. Robin Sykes, both
a proclamation from Palm with the Loxahatchee River Historical Society
Beach County Commissioner
Maria Marino of District 1 that at the ceremony. Notably, Peter De Witt, Jupiter Inlet
afternoon. Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, Bureau of Land
Jamie Stuve, president and Management; Ron Delaney, councilor with the Town of
CEO of the LRHS, welcomed Jupiter; Joe Chaison, executive director of the Jupiter
guests and began by briefly Matt Pazanski, Town of Juno Beach; Dr. Robin Sykes; Dan Comerford, mayor, Jupiter Inlet District; and author and former board chair James
telling the story of pioneer Inlet Colony; Jamie Stuve; Palm Beach County Commissioner Marino, District 1; Ron D. Snyder for his remarkable history book Five Thousand
descendent Bessie Wilson Delaney, council member Town of Jupiter; Peter De Witt, Bureau of Land Management Years on the Loxahatchee. Also recognized was Robert
DuBois and her love for history Carr, executive director of the Archaeological and
and collecting artifacts from Jupiter’s multilayered past Bates, and acknowledged posthumously were “Saint” Joan Historical Conservancy, for his important site work at
and from her time living on the Jupiter Inlet. Stuve then Hudiburg, historian Chuck Milhauser, “Lighthouse” Bob the lighthouse, uncovering the location of the original
introduced the original founder of the Loxahatchee River Boyd, and Jim and Molly Sparger. lighthouse keepers’ house and cistern among other
Historical Society and longtime local resident, Ethel “The LRHS have been community advocates and fierce discoveries.
Gravett. watchdogs of history and historic preservation,” Liller From the original Oil House Museum in 1973 to the
Gravett recounted the pivotal moment that sparked an added. “The LRHS has always made it clear through their spearheading of the 2008 Congressional legislation to
idea and that would shape the future of the Jupiter Inlet communications and efforts that this area’s history was create the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural
for generations to come. As a den mother, she decided extremely important and worth preserving.” He observed Area, to safeguarding the nationally significant historic
to take her sons’ Cub Scout troop (her scout is now 57 that there were always “the right people at the right time” site, the LRHS has helped to transform the former military
years old) to earn their history badge by visiting Bessie to further the society’s mission work. Liller pointed out site into a keystone heritage destination for Palm Beach
DuBois at her home in DuBois Park. that the LRHS has stood through storms both figurative County and the nation.
Bessie shared tables and walls full of remarkable and literal, persevering and overcoming obstacles with Stuve capped the ceremony by touching on an expanded
historic artifacts and photographs, and later asked, “What the dedication of volunteers and staff. new vision to create much-needed new facilities to better
is going to happen to all this?” This was Gravett’s “ah- Jamie Stuve once again took to the microphone to
ha” moment. Active in the Junior Women’s League and recognize a few key supporters and partners present In Your Community on page 9
other local organizations, she galvanized local community
members like Bill and Judie Wood, Anna Minear, Rose
Meyerowitz, Pat Magrogan and others, to form a group
dedicated to the area’s historic preservation and the
Loxahatchee Historical Society was born.
As the fledgling society took shape, the new
organization consulted with museums and individuals
such as Judge Knott, with experience on how to operate
and properly protect the important cultural heritage of
the Jupiter Inlet area.
Many people contributed to the success of the
Loxahatchee River Historical Society over the years.
Gravett expressed how excited she was to see what the
LRHS has grown to become. Early on, the U.S. Coast
Guard told Gravett that the lighthouse was difficult to
maintain and happily agreed for the LRHS have the Oil
House as a museum, opening only on Sundays. Gravett
told how the mail would come to her at the Coast Guard
site, addressed to “The Girl at the Lighthouse.”
Palm Beach County Commissioner Marino greeted
the audience and enthusiastically read the proclamation,
recognizing the historical society for 50 years of
accomplishments in preservation of the iconic Jupiter
Inlet Lighthouse and other historic buildings as well as
service to the community. Commissioner Marino then
presented the proclamation to Jamie Stuve, president and
CEO, who has been at the helm of the historical society
since 2002.
The society’s historian and collection manager Josh
Liller gave a brief overview of the accomplishments and
key moments of the historical society’s 50-year journey.
“We’ve had many wonderful people volunteer for over
20 years. Many staff members also have been with the
organization for more than 10 years and that means
something … stability!” related Liller. Some notable
docents mentioned for their contributions to the society
were John Walker, Red and Marylou Shirar, Evelyne