One for the history books: Ormond Beach Historical Society celebrates 50 years

The Historical Society invited the community to enjoy a day of activities and a disco dance-jammed night at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building on Saturday, Aug. 22.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 2:02 p.m. August 26, 2026
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Neighbors
  • Share

A mini-carnival replete with old-school lawn games, Diamond Jim’s balloon animals, snow cones, snacks, and an inflatable sports station took over the front of the Anderson-Price Memorial Building on Saturday, Aug. 22, in celebration of the Ormond Beach Historical Society’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Ormond Beach Historical Society president Jayne Fifer said it was initially going to be a different type of event, but she and a group of volunteers liked the idea of inviting the community to a celebration.

“I thought it would be significant if we had it in August to commemorate the actual first (OBHS) meeting — August 18,” she said. “When everybody said it’s going to be hot (in August), I just said, ‘Well, it’s Florida. It’s always going to be hot.’”

She said they wanted to host an old-fashioned event similar to their summer camp, where kids learned about the Historical Society, founder Lupe Burt, played games popular in the early- to mid-twentieth century, and toured local historical sites.

“We call it the Grammy Camp because the kids play games that we liked to play when we were little,” Fifer said. “They love the games, pick up sticks and jacks, and all the games we thought were fun. They get attention. They interact. They’re not on their phones. They’re doing crafts. They’re learning about the history, and so we wanted to do something similar.”

A pancake breakfast, games galore, a hamburger-and-hot-dog lunch made by Pathways Elementary teacher Matt Coleman, six notable speakers, afternoon bingo, and a nighttime disco dance were highlights of the event. The Ormond Beach Police Department and Fire Station 93 offered tours of their vehicles and handed out hats and stickers.

Fifty years of the historical society, recording the history of the past and into the present, and making way for the future so that we all remember what our wonderful city has done and what we all stand for. — DR. PHILIP SHAPIRO, Ormond Beach Historical Society past president

During the celebration’s presentation, speakers were assigned a decade to discuss, starting with the 1970s, when the Ormond Beach Historical Society was founded.

Lori Campbell Baker, executive director at the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, talked about the ’70s, when the city of Ormond Beach purchased John D. Rockefeller’s home for $500,000 to rescue it from demolition. On Aug. 18, 1976, a group of Ormond Beach citizens stepped up and organized the Ormond Beach Historical Trust.

“Its founding mission was very simple, very urgent: restore The Casements,” Cambell Baker said. “The trust worked tirelessly … they got an Economic Development Administration grant of $449,000, which back then was a lot of money. It was a remarkable feat that required lots of persistence, advocacy, and no small amount of political savvy.”

In 1979, The Casements reopened for business as the Ormond Beach Community and Living Center. The Casement Guild was founded the same year.

Rich Cooper, executive vice president of Halifax Insurance Partners, presented key points from the 1980s, including comedic commentary about hair and fashion; Bobbi Coleman, Ormond Beach Historical Society second vice president, had the 1990s; Lori Tolland, Ormond Beach mayor-elect, wore her 50-year-old nurse’s uniform while she spoke about the 2000s; and Florida Rep. Bill Partington discussed the 2010s.

As the final speaker, Fifer asked everyone to recognize that the presentation’s theme was twofold. First, as a people, we always struggle; second, as Ormond Beach residents and members of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, a nonprofit, we always help each other.

Three Seabreeze freshmen — Andreya Lisle, Jaelyn Hawrylek, and Ariana Broxton — volunteered at the anniversary celebration. Adeline Teate and Taylor Witham, Seabreeze volleyball players, manned the snow cone station.

“It’s a fun new opportunity,” Broxton said. “We didn’t really get to volunteer much back in middle school, so I feel like it’s fun and it’s going to be a new thing. I would say (I chose) the Historical Society because I really like history, like learning about old stuff, and seeing old-time things is cool in the first place. Also, I really like helping kids.”

Fifer said hosting events is an effective way to build community awareness and increase membership. With grant funding decreasing, their focus is outreach, growth, and recruitment. Having people willing to ask for the sale has become a necessity, she said. The anniversary event brought in 14 new memberships.

“We have to let the community get to know us,” Fifer said. “They have to see the value of an organization so that they can get behind it and support it.”

The Ormond Beach Historical Society’s current capital campaign is “50 at 1,000,” a drive to get 50 donors to give $1,000 each. Fifer said they have reached $27,000 of their goal so far. Renting out the Anderson-Price Memorial Building for special events, weddings, and community meetings also generates income along with the annual Tour of Homes.

Dr. Philip Shapiro said he is proud to have served as a past president of the Ormond Beach Historical Society.

“This is an outstanding day in our community,” he said. “Fifty years of the historical society, recording the history of the past and into the present, and making way for the future so that we all remember what our wonderful city has done and what we all stand for.”

 

×

Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.