Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum facts for kids
LCCCHM Logo.
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| Formation | 1985 |
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| Type | non-profit |
| Legal status | corporation |
| Purpose | Historic preservation |
| Location |
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Region served
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Columbia County, Florida |
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President
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Kim Estergren |
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Key people
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Sean McMahon |
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Main organ
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board of directors |
| Website | lccchm.org |
The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum is a special place where you can learn about history. It's located in the old May Vinzant Perkins House in Lake City, Florida. This museum helps keep the past alive for everyone to explore.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum is inside a building known as the Vinzant House. Many old records were lost when the Columbia County Courthouse burned down in 1874. However, people at the museum believe the back part of the house, which has one story, was built before the American Civil War. The two-story front part was likely added later by the Vinzant family.
John Vinzant Jr.'s Story
John Vinzant Jr. bought this house for $450. He came to Lake City after fighting in the American Civil War. He was a sergeant in the 1st Florida Cavalry. During a battle in Tennessee, his right leg was badly hurt and had to be removed in December 1864. He was held as a Prisoner of war in Kentucky before the war ended.
After the war, Vinzant returned to Lake City. He became a Captain and was chosen to be the Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court in 1877. He held this job for 16 years. He also worked as the county tax collector twice. John Vinzant helped start the Florida Agricultural College Fund in Lake City in 1888. He married Mattie Futch in 1874, and they had three daughters. John Vinzant passed away in 1907.
May Vinzant Perkins: A Local Historian
May was John Vinzant's youngest daughter. She married Herbert Perkins and they moved to Jacksonville, Florida. After a sad event in 1912, she returned to her mother's home in Lake City in 1922. May began writing poems and stories about her family, friends, and the history of Columbia County.
After her mother Mattie died in 1926, May became an important member of local clubs. She wrote for the "society column" in the Lake City Reporter newspaper for many years. She also wrote a popular article about a historic garden called Aunt Aggie's Bone Yard. Her writings were often printed in the Florida Times Union newspaper. May Vinzant Perkins was a well-known poet and historian in Lake City. One of her poems, The Immutable Bond, was named "Florida Women's Club Poem of the Year" in 1943. Another poem, Renaissance, was published in a national poetry magazine.
May lived alone in the house until she was very old, passing away in 1981 at 102 years old. Even today, the house is still called the May Vinzant Perkins House. In 2000, May Vinzant Perkins was honored as a Great Floridian 2000. This award celebrates people who have made big contributions to Florida's history and culture. A special plaque was placed on the front of the house to remember her.
Saving the House for History
In 1983, the Historic Preservation Board of Lake City and Columbia County worked with the Blue-Grey Army, Inc. to buy the house together. Both groups wanted to fix up the house. Their goal was to make it a center for history and culture, as well as a museum. The Blue-Grey Army renovated the house in 1984. This saved the May Vinzant Perkins house from being torn down, as it was in poor condition.
Lake City hosts an annual Battle of Olustee festival in its downtown area. The Lake City-Columbia County Museum often holds events related to Civil War history during this festival. These events might include showing how wounded soldiers were cared for or performing plays about the Civil War. The museum had to close for a short time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Blue-Grey Army's Role
The Blue-Grey Army is a group that collects items from the Civil War. They also help organize the yearly Battle of Olustee Festival in Lake City. This organization worked with the Lake City Columbia County Historical Society to buy the Vinzant house. One room in the museum is dedicated to the Blue-Grey Army's Civil War items and is called the Blue-Grey Army room.
Gallery
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The Blue-Grey Room at the museum.
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The Vinzant/Perkins collection.
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The early 1900s kitchen at the museum seen in 1992.
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The Patriot Room at the museum.
