TOUR AMERIA 2023 – CASEY JONES RV PARK, LAKE CITY FLORIDA

August 25, 2023

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

I’ve been wanting to visit this park for a long, long time. Well I finally got to check off another box of my want to visit attractions.

The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center.

Here’s the odd thing about this center, Stephen Foster never set foot in the state of Florida. The closest he ever came to it was a visit during his lifetime to New Orleans. So why is this Center here in Florida?

I’m sure most are aware that Foster was a successful song writer. Moreover, most of his songs have the South as their theme. Yet, history tells us that he had little first hand knowledge of the actual South. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, lived briefly in Cincinnati and at the time of his death was living in New York City. Considering that he had so little knowledge of the South, it is remarkable that his song’s portray that part of our nation with such accuracy and sympathy.

But back to our original question, Why is there a culture center in the state of Florida that honors Foster?

It’s because of the song depicted here in this Diorama entitled Old Folks at Home or also known as Way Down Upon The Swanee River.. There’s a verse in the song that goes like this: Way down upon de Swanee Rivr, Far, far away.

The reference in the song is to the Suwannee River that begins in the Okenfenokee Swamp in southern Georgia then flows southward through Florida into the The Gulf of Mexico.

How the Suwannee River ended up in the song is quite interesting. I’ve gleaned the following information from the phamphlet The Swannee River written by Fletcher Hodges, Jr.

It seems Foster was at his brothers home in Pittsburg and writing the before mentioned song. However, he was stumped as to the name of a river to use. The first draft of Old Folks at Home read: Way down upon de Pedee ribber. However, Foster was not satisfied with the name. His brother suggested The Yazoo River, also rejected by Foster. So, the two turned to a map of the United States and began searching for a Southern river with a musical, romantic name. His brother stumbled on the Suwannee River in Florida. That’s it, that’s it exactly, Foster exclaimed in delight. Foster then shortened the name to Swanee and changed the verse in the song to read: Way down upon de Swanee River. Thus Old Folks at Home was written.

According to Hodges: It (meaning the Suwannee River)has become a half -legendary stream, encircling the earth. It flows through the soul of humanity. It has become the symbol of all mankind’s vague, lost wordless dreams, of joys that have vanished, of untrainable longings. of homesickness and timesickness.

The song achieved immediate fame. Again, according to Hodges: . . .it was sung throughout the entire English-speaking world, and was translated into other languages.

It also brought fame to Florida. In gratitude the Florida Legislature in 1935 adopted Old Folks at Home as the State Song. Furthermore they established The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center and Memorial Museum on the bank of the Suwannee River, The memorial was dedicated on October 4, 1950. It is the building in the picture above.

That is how, dear friends, The Center came about even though the man it lifts up never stepped a foot in Florida.

Now, let’s go inside and see what we can find.

This is the one wing to the right as you enter. There are several interesting artifacts in here. The one that catches your eye immediately is the huge painting over the fireplace.

Also in this wing I found two other interesting items.

Moving over to the other wing, the one on your left as you enter we discover another painting by Christy.

Also in this wing is the third and final painting by Christy.

Throughout the center there are many Dioramas of Foster’s songs. However, there is this word of caution regarding them.

On one wall in the center I also came upon a small sheet of paper entitled Trivia. From it I learned, among many things, that:

There is a railroad car and a naval ship named for Foster.

A movie entitle Swanee River was produced starring Don Amechi and Al Jolson

In 1936 a 50 cent coin was minted with the name Stephen Foster

There is much more in the center to see and experience but there is one more impressive piece to this park that we need to see. And it is:

The Stephen Foster Memorial Carillon. What better way to keep alive the music of Foster than by having his music played daily on the quarter hour or at special concerts on this magnificent instrument. The 97 bell tubular bell tower was completed in 1958 at an original cost of $120,000. Unfortunately, at this time it is silent since it is undergoing a much needed restoration.

The inside of this tower is made up of

granite obtained from a quarry in Tennessee. It is absolutely breath-taking.

Now, regarding the bells. The unique feature of this musical instrument is that it is made up of

tubular brass bells rather than the typical cast iron bells commonly used in towers such as this. According to a sheet at the center the tubular bell is a more efficient design for the production of musical tone than the cast bell of the old world.

The bells are sounded by powerful electric striking actions activated from a piano type electric console when manually played or

from carillon-playing devices which are fully automatic and under clock control.

We so wished that the bells were working and perhaps when they are completely restored and operational again we will return to hear them.

So, we’ve crossed off yet another item from our bucket list of attractions that we would like to someday see. It was a wonderful place to visit and if you are ever in Florida in the vicinity of the center do plan to stop and see the it for yourself.

Thanks again for spending some time with us.  It’s always great to be able to share our story with family and friends. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish every moment of every day that God gives you and live those moments to the fullest.

Just a quick note in conclusion, we visited this center before Hurricane Idalia struck Florida. We left the area and returned home well before the hurricane tore through the area.