Then and now: Bunnell celebrates second annual History Day

The events featured fun activities, historic exhibits, reenactors, a new museum and a new mural being painted as people watched.

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The second annual Bunnell History Day on Saturday, April 11, began in Flagler County’s newest museum, the 1926 Vault Room at the old county courthouse building, 200 E. Moody Blvd. The Flagler County Historical Society used the venue to present $2,000 college scholarships to Sierra Schattner, who is pursing her master’s degree, and Flagler Palm Coast High School senior Aasi Bharucha.

Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson and City Manager Alvin Jackson assisted with the scholarship presentation.

The Vault Room museum was busy throughout the day, historical society President Ed Siarkowicz said.

“Everybody seems excited about the new museum and the content of the exhibits,” he said.

The vault room was where county records were kept from 1926 to 2007. Now it contains seating for 50 on original courthouse benches and exhibits along the walls, including:

  • A women’s rights exhibit, sponsored by the Flagler branch of the American Association of University Women
  • A history ecotourism exhibit
  • A video kiosk showing interviews with community members, Black and white, talking about race relations in the county before and after segregation. The interviews were compiled by local group, Seeking Insights for Solutions.

The second annual History Day was concentrated in downtown Bunnell, less spread out than last year, Siarkowicz said.

“Our [historic] reenactors did a great job. Our vendors did a great job and all of our volunteers worked extremely hard,” he said.

Visitors enjoyed tours of the 1917 Holden House and the Sisco Deen Research Library, Siakowicz said. During the festivities, Brook Page was busy at work on the 1,100 square-foot Welcome to Bunnell mural on the east wall of the former Bunnell Library, which now houses SMA Healthcare. The mural includes a re-creation of a painting by R.L. Lewis of nearby Lake Disston. Lewis, who died this year, was one of the original Florida Highwaymen artists.

Another Highwaymen artist, Curtis Arnett, attended the Highwaymen art show at Poppy’s True Market, down the road. Arnett is one of two surviving membrs of the original Highwaymen.

Siarkowicz thanked the Bunnell Police Department, the city of Bunnell and the event’s corporate sponsors for making History Day a success.     

 

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