Historical Society event postponed
SAINT AUGUSTINE – The St. Augustine Historical Society continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of the community’s health. In response to COVID-19, the 2020 Herschel E. Shepard Award reception party has been postponed.. At the end of the summer, the society will make an announcement regarding the date and time of the event.
The Fort Mose Historical Society: African American Community of Freedom, Inc. is the 2020 recipient of the Herschel E. Shepard Award for the group’s initial and sustained efforts in protecting and preserving the site of Fort Mose and the creation and operation of educational programming that preserves, protects and interprets African-American history.
Every year, the St. Augustine Historical Society bestows high honor to a person, organization, group or project that makes an extraordinary contribution to the preservation of St. Augustine’s historical legacy. The tribute is named for preservation architect Herschel E. Shepard in recognition of his distinguished career and outstanding contributions to the design and preservation of historic structures in St. Augustine. Herschel’s sphere of influence is national and international in scope but nowhere else has his generosity of spirit, exemplary dedication and extraordinary service been witnessed more than in Saint Augustine.
The award seeks to recognize others who, like Herschel, have put forth extraordinary efforts in preserving Saint Augustine’s storied past and have been inspirational examples of public citizenry. Recent award winners include archaeologist Kathleen Deagan for her extensive and distinguished work in uncovering Florida’s colonial past, ACCORD for their work in preserving the stories and places of the Saint Augustine civil rights movement and activities which played a key role in passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Junior Service League of Saint Augustine, Inc. and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc for their work to restore the fire-ravaged Keeper’s House and create and a Maritime Museum and the St. Augustine Light Station.
The Fort Mose Historical Society is a grassroots organization, composed of volunteers and assisted by the Florida State Park Service. The group worked with local and state entities to save the site of Fort Mose, the first black settlement, from being sold and developed.
The Fort Mose Historical Society continues to protect the site of Fort Mose and offers educational programming on African-American History. Recently, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recognized Fort Mose as a “Site of Memory.” Fort Mose Historical Society’s annual “Flight to Freedom” event recreates the experience of hundreds of slaves as they traveled to Fort Mose in search of freedom is yet another outstanding accomplishment.
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