Topics: Osceola History, History, Halloween Traditions, Pumpkins, Halloween, Harvest Festival

The pride of St. Cloud, Florida; in 1925, was the clock attached to the People’s Bank Building located at the corner of Tenth Street and New York Avenue.  The clock first chimed on Monday, July 20, 1925, striking various musical combinations arranged for each quarter hour.  When the bank failed in 1928, the St. Cloud City Commission voted to purchase the clock, offering $250.00 - the amount to be absorbed in taxes owed.

Topics: Osceola County History

Last week OCHS Staff ventured out of our historic zone to see what life was like off I-Drive. We were able to visit WonderWorks and the Outta Control Magic Comedy Show. We enjoyed pizza, salad and our drink of choice all while being wildly entertained. Check out what the staff had to say about their experience!

Topics: Our Team, Tourism, Summer Activities, Oscoela County Historical Society, WonderWorks

When the ten-year-old wooden Osceola High School burned to the ground on July 7, 1908; the headlines read “Pride of Osceola Is Laid In Ashes”.  A committee of citizens was immediately appointed by the School Board to secure plans for the erection of a new school building.  Cooper Contracting Company of Fitzgerald, Georgia was awarded the contract for $17,500 to construct the three-story structure using sand lime brick. 

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

With the opening of our 1800s Replica Historic Church available for Weddings and Vow Renewals, we wanted to take a look into many common wedding traditions still performed.

Topics: History, Educational, Venue Rentals, Vow Renewal, Wedding Traditions, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee, Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Built in 1924-1925, the Interocean Hotel located on Highway 17-92 seven miles south of Kissimmee, Florida; sat empty the year following completion. 

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County Historical Society, Osceola County, Kissimmee

Hi! My name is Audrey and I am an intern for the Osceola County Historical Society’s Marketing and Development Department this summer. I am graduating from college this December and am so grateful for this opportunity to gain experience in marketing.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Osceola County Welcome Center and HIstory Museum, Around Osceola County, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Osceola County, Marketing, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

It was slightly different in design but dating to the same 1890s time period as the replica schoolhouse at the Pioneer Village and two stories have emerged regarding how the school got its name.  Miss Emma Yowell, one of the early teachers refers to it as “Shaker Rag” and stated in a 1940 newspaper interview that it was later known as “Pine Grove” in a 1940 newspaper.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

Imagine transporting a student from the 1890’s schoolhouse at Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek to a heavily populated area in Osceola County, Florida in 1980; where wild turkeys and bobcats once roamed.  What they would see would be startling.  An earth-covered school, the design borrowed from Southwest American Indian tribes; was being built to save energy.  Referred to as “The dirt school, Groundhog or Eskimo Elementary”, the name chosen was ”Reedy Creek Elementary”.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

One of the official actions at the first School Board meeting on August 29, 1887 was to name and number the schools.  # 5 was Shiloh, #7 Cross Prairie, #11 Neallo and #13 was Lakeview, to name a few.  There were a total of twenty-one with #22, Merry Winter, added the following month.  The salary for teachers assigned between ten and fifteen students was set at $20 a month; classes above fifteen students would result in $1.50 per student per month additional payment.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, The Pioneer Village, Educational, St. Cloud, Osceola County History, Pioneer Village, City of Kissimmee, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, City of St. Cloud, Osceola County Historical Society, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Samuel Lincoln Lupfer,, Kissimmee