MMHS NEWS - December 2016
EMBRACE THE MANDARIN EXPERIENCE
Dear MMHS Members and Friends,

I'd like to remind you of two special events in December and January - the 17th Annual Winter Celebration on December 3 and the "Fishin' for Funds" special fundraising event at Julington Creek Fish Camp in January. We hope you will be able to attend  both of these events.

Also, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank each of you for your interest and support. This means more that you can ever know. The participation and generosity of our members, volunteers and friends makes it possible for us to engage the community and fulfill our mission of history education. For each of you, we are indeed grateful.

Have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to 2017!

Sandy Arpen


LINK to website for more details about Winter Celebration.

Two special books available at Winter Celebration


 
 
SHOP LOCAL at the Mandarin Museum Gift Shop during Winter Celebration on Saturday, December 3 from 11-4. We are stocked with many books of local and regional interest as well as some local authors.

The first featured book is Harriet Beecher Stowe in Florida 1867-1884 by Olav Thulesius, which has been out of print for years. It is the only book written specifically about Harriet's time in Mandarin. Mr. Thulesius has granted MMHS permission to reprint his book and the new edition will be available starting Saturday. This is very exciting and we are hoping that the author will be able to pay a visit to Mandarin in 2017 and have a book-signing.

The second featured book is June Weltman's beautiful book for children. June, author of "Mystery of the Missing Candlestick", a mystery for ages 9-13 set in St. Augustine, will be selling and signing copies of her book from 2-3:30 p.m. at the museum. (If you buy a book in the morning, come back and have it autographed.)

The book received a special award from the Florida Historical Society. The story features teenage detective Miranda Manning who tracks thieves in the historic city after an antique candlestick belonging to the family of her best friend is stolen.

"The story's a celebration of area history" June said. "I love history and wanted to write a light, suspenseful story that would appeal to kids. My favorite books as a child were Nancy Drew mysteries and that's the kind of book I wanted to write.

June was a member of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society Board for 12 years and participated in the planning for the first Winter Celebration. "It's a wonderful event for the whole family and helps to bring history alive for children and adults."

All proceeds from sales of the book will be donated  to the museum.

Many more books of local and regional interest will also be available  There will be some books on sale as well.

We also have beautiful art from Mandarin artists for sale!


"Mandarin Oaks" by Lucinda Halsema


St. Johns River by Julie Fetzer


Brenda Councill's "Boardwalk"


John Kenning hand coloring a "Mandarin Store and Post Office"


Mandarin has always been a special place to artists and we are happy to display and sell their work in our Gift Shop. We feature: Lucinda Halsema's pen and ink drawings of historic Mandarin locations; Brenda Councill's personal collection of her "Mandarin Series"; Julie Fetzer's colorful maps and scenes; and John Kenning's pen and ink drawings of the Store and Post Office.

These artists make it possible for you to imagine Mandarin as it once was and see it as it is today. Any of these wonderful works of art would make a great gift.
"Mandarin Frogs" will also be available by the dozens at
 Winter Celebration





The phenomenal success of the concrete/painted "Mandarin Frogs" continues at full speed. The "Frog Man" has literally spent hundreds of hours in his shop pouring concrete and painting over 150 of these very popular and fanciful creatures just for this event. They range from simple to very complex paint patterns. There are frogs of all colors and some that were made special for this event.

Due to the number of frogs to choose from, the "Frog Man" will have them all outside next to the museum on Saturday where they can be easily seen. A cashier will be available there for cash/check, and credit cards can be used inside the museum.

These frogs are a true labor of love and the sale of them has had a huge impact on the museum, as the only fund-raising project of 2016. ALL proceeds of frog sales goes directly to Mandarin Museum. This is a very generous gift to us and we will be forever grateful.

Mandarin native, Brenda Councill, holds a very successful art show and sale to benefit the museum

We are very grateful to Brenda for spending Saturday, November 26 at Mandarin Museum. She was visiting her family in Jacksonville over the Thanksgiving holiday and offered to do this special show for us. She brought her personal collection of the "Historic Mandarin Series" and well as some fabulous new oil paintings.

Many people came to see and buy and by the end of the day, Brenda's efforts had donated $600. to the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society for the building expansion fund. This was indeed a very generous gift and we are very appreciative.

Brenda sold one of the three oil paintings (seen here), but the other two were not sold, but will be available through the live auction that will be part of our January 23 fundraiser at Julington Creek Fish Camp. We have a brand new supply of the "Mandarin Series" prints (many are hand-colored) available now.
"Fishin' for Funds"
to keep Mandarin's history alive! 
 
Many thanks to Julington Creek Fish Camp for hosting our "Fishin' for Funds" fund-raiser at the Fish Camp on Monday, January 23 from 6-9 pm.

This evening promises to be fun-filled event. There will be a wine-tasting, heavy appetizers a cash bar, a silent auction and a live auction.

Tickets will be available at the museum on Saturdays  Dec. 3, 10, 17 and Jan. 7, 14, and 21.

A  ticket purchasing site will be established next week for secure on-line buying and a special email will be sent to you with all the details very soon.

Tickets are  available for a $75.00 donation and only 100 are available, so don't wait to get yours. Mark your calendars and watch for a special email. 
SAVE THESE DATES

 
December 3 - Winter Celebration, including Dec. music jam and Meet the Divers, all-in-one day from 11-4
January  23, 2017 Special Fundraiser night at Julington Creek Fish Camp

The "Under the Oaks" music jam is taking a "Winter Break" and will not meet in January, February or March, but will resume in April.

The dates for "Meet the Divers" have yet to be determined for 2017, but will be published in the January newsletter. 

Mandarin Museum and the 1898 St. Joseph's Mission Schoolhouse for African-American Children are open every Saturday (except we will be closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 so our volunteers can be with their families) from 9-4 in Walter Jones Historical Park - (11964 Mandarin Road)
 
NOTE: The Mandarin Store and Post Office (12471 Mandarin Road) will be closed for some repairs in November and December. 

 
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