East Florida Seminary facts for kids

The East Florida Seminary was an important school in Florida's history. It was created by the state in 1853 to help prepare students for higher education. In 1905, it became part of the new University of Florida. The seminary first operated in Ocala from 1853 to 1861. It closed during the Civil War. After the war, the school reopened in Gainesville, Florida in 1866.

How the Seminary Started in Ocala

In 1851, the Florida Legislature decided to create two special schools. These schools were called "seminaries of learning." One was for students living east of the Suwannee River. The other was for students living west of the river. Each county could send students for free. The number of free students depended on how many representatives the county sent to the State Assembly.

Both Alachua and Marion counties wanted to host the eastern seminary. Alachua County offered $5,000 to build the school. Marion County offered $1,600, land worth $5,000, and buildings from a private school. This private school was called the East Florida Independent Institute. In 1852, the legislature chose Ocala, in Marion County, as the site for the East Florida Seminary.

The East Florida Seminary opened in 1853. In its first year, it had four teachers and about 60 students. Both boys and girls could attend. The school taught regular subjects like math and reading. It also taught art, Greek, and Latin. Marion County did not support public schools until 1857. So, the Seminary was one of the main places for education in the county. By 1858, the school had 65 students. It closed in 1861. Many male teachers and students left to fight in the Civil War.

The Seminary Moves to Gainesville

The East Florida Seminary in 1891. Epworth Hall is on the left. The dormitory is in the middle and right.

The East Florida Seminary did not reopen in Ocala after the Civil War. In 1866, the Florida Legislature decided to move the school to Gainesville. For the next twenty years, the Seminary mostly served as a local public school. Most students were from Gainesville. Their ages ranged from four to twenty-four. Few students from other counties came. This was because the state paid for tuition, but not for room and board.

The original wooden building used by the Seminary burned down in 1883. People in Gainesville voted to approve money for school improvements that year. The Seminary received $6,000. This money was used to build a new two-story brick Academic Building. This building was later used by the new University of Florida in 1905. It was used until new buildings were ready on the university's campus. In 1911, the building was given to what is now the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville. Today, it is known as Epworth Hall.

A wooden dormitory building for the East Florida Seminary.

The East Florida Seminary started giving out diplomas in 1882. These were for students who finished English, business, classical, and science courses. The seminary also had a department for training teachers. This was called a normal department. It operated until Florida created a separate state normal school in 1887.

Starting in 1883, the Seminary had a military program. The U.S. Army provided a training officer. In 1886, the Florida Legislature gave $10,000 to build a wooden dormitory. This building was also called a barracks. They also gave $1,000 each year in 1887 and 1888. This money helped run the Seminary.

In 1885, the State of Florida paid Ocala $5,400. This was to settle claims for the money Ocala spent on the Seminary in 1853. It was a payment because the school had moved to Gainesville in 1866.

By 1887, the East Florida Seminary had a clear grading system. The minimum age for students was raised. By 1889, no students under thirteen were enrolled. The Seminary was now working as a preparatory school. This meant it helped students get ready for college. The school's library had between 800 and 1,000 books. Students from 21 of the 28 counties east of the Suwannee River attended the Seminary.

East Florida Seminary Football

Early Football Games

The East Florida Seminary had football teams from 1902 to 1904. In their first season (1902), they played two games against Stetson College. Stetson had one of Florida's first college football teams. The Seminary and Stetson each won one game. But the East Florida Seminary claimed a state championship. They said this because they scored more points overall in the two games.

In 1905, the East Florida Seminary joined with other schools. These included the Florida Agricultural College in Ocala. Together, they formed the modern University of Florida. This happened because of a law called the Buckman Act. The new University of Florida started its own football program in 1906. The university does not count the games played by its older schools in its official records.