By Sandy Arpen
mail@floridanewsline.com
It was a special treat for members of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society to meet Dr. Freeman Allen and his wife Marianne recently. Dr. Allen’s ancestry goes back to Harriet and Calvin Stowe’s youngest child, Georgiana (1843 –1890). She married Rev. Henry Freeman Allen (1838 – 1914), who had a son, Dr. Freeman Allen (1870 – 1930), who also had a son, Dr. Henry Freeman Allen (1916 – 1993).
So, our visitor was the great-great-grandson of Harriet Beecher and Calvin Stowe. He comes from a distinguished line of preachers and physicians on both sides, Stowes and Allens.
The couple thoroughly enjoyed seeing Mandarin for the first time and learning about the significant impact their great-great-grandparents had on Mandarin’s development after the Civil War. They visited the Mandarin Museum to view some Stowe artifacts in the museum’s collection and then proceeded to the Church of Our Saviour, where church and museum board member Anne Morrow gave them a tour of the sanctuary and the beautiful river views from the property. The Stowes were among the founders of this congregation. To finish the tour, they were able to enjoy the beautifully decorated Mandarin Community Club, which was built as a school and church with the help of the Stowes. It is also where the historical marker is placed, although their house was on the river across Mandarin Road.
It is so exciting to connect with Stowe descendants and help them get a sense of this place that was so very special to Harriet and Calvin Stowe between 1867 and 1884.
Sandy Arpen is a volunteer with the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society. Visit www.mandarinmusem.net for more information about Mandarin’s history and Mandarin Museum & Historical Society information.
Photo courtesy Sandy Arpen
Stowe great-great-grandson Dr. Freeman Allen and wife Marianne.
