Edward Adam Boehme (pronounced Bayme) was born in Dayton, Ohio on October 26, 1877; one of eight children.  German parents Franz Oskar and Louise Boehme may have instilled an early love for Christmas in him as evidenced by his generosity to the Florida community of St. Cloud.

After retiring as an agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, Edward and his third wife Anna arrived in St. Cloud in 1936.  With Anna’s help, he dedicated himself to bringing happiness at Christmas to children and shut-ins for the next seventeen years of his life.

Topics: St. Cloud, Santa, History, Holiday Cheer

Do you like trying new foods? Are you a fan of unique stores? How about classic vehicles and muscle cars? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Old Town in Kissimmee is perfect for you!

Topics: Old Town, Kissimmee, Outdoor, Oscoela County Historical Society, Business Membership, Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Around Osceola County, Osceola County History, Summer Activities, History, Tourism, Osceola History, Around Osceola

Topics: War Vertrags Memorial, Osceola County Historical Society, History

Celebrate Osceola County's first residents and the pioneering spirit of the late 19th century during the 27th Annual Pioneer Day. Here are some reasons why you won't want to miss this event, 27 reasons to be exact!

 

Topics: 27th Annual Pioneer Day, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Osceola County Historical Society, Outdoor Event, Fall Festival, History, Free Admission, Big John's Rockin' BBQ, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures

The Lanier family, like many others, migrated from another state to the wild frontier of Florida. The patriarch, John Lanier, came from Georgia where he was born in 1805. The exact date when John came to Florida is unknown. However, we do know that it was after his first wife’s passing and preceding his marriage to Margaret Hogan in 1839. It was during his time in Florida that he made a name for himself and his family in the cattle industry.

Topics: Kissimmee, Oscoela County Historical Society, Osceola County, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, City of Kissimmee, Around Osceola County, Pioneer Village, Osceola County History, Educational, History, Shingle Creek, The Pioneer Village, Pioneer Family, Osceola History, Around Osceola

Fair warning—this blog post contains pictures of mouth-watering barbeque food. Be prepared to crave this amazing food!

Topics: Big John's BBQ, Kissimmee, Oscoela County Historical Society, Business Membership, Osceola County, Dine with the Departed, City of Kissimmee, Around Osceola County, Osceola County History, History, Osceola History, Around Osceola

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

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

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

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