By Tracy McCormick-Dishman
editor@floridanewsline.com
For Julia Short, Mandarin isn’t just home – it’s a legacy spanning seven generations of Florida history. As a lifelong resident, Short embodies the deep community roots that make Mandarin special.
“I’m a seventh generation Floridian, which blows people’s minds because they say, ‘well, what was here seven generations ago, other than like swamp and cows?'” Short explains. Her family descends from Florida crackers who built their homes with their own hands using surrounding trees. A proud graduate of Mandarin High School, Short continued her education at Florida State University.
Julia Cuthbertson Short’s connection to her hometown runs so deep that when she met her husband during her freshman year at Florida State University, she made her intentions clear from the start.
“The moment my tassel turns, I’m going back to Mandarin,” she told him. The couple eventually planned a small, intimate ceremony in her parents’ living room, followed by dinner under string lights in the backyard. Fortunately, her Orlando-born husband fell in love with Mandarin’s small-town feel, historic trees, and most importantly, its people.
Short’s love for community and history naturally drew her to the Mandarin Community Club, where she now serves as a volunteer board member on the fundraising team. Founded in 1923, the independent nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving and beautifying Mandarin while maintaining three historic properties that tell the area’s story.
The properties include the old schoolhouse, which has served as both church and school throughout its century-plus existence, and the original post office and general store along Mandarin Road.
“When I saw those buildings in middle school, I thought they’re just gorgeous. They’re in their original state – it’s just incredible,” Short recalls.
Short’s professional background in fundraising serves her well in her volunteer role, where she naturally gravitated toward asking for support. “I was always the person on my sports teams or my school clubs that was kind of pushed to the front to do the asking when we would do our fundraisers,” she recalls.
The Community Club keeps Short busy year-round with events that bring neighbors together. Their largest fundraiser, an art festival running since the 1960s, takes place on Easter weekend. This fall, they’re partnering with a Florida citrus grove for an online fundraiser.
But it’s Short’s passion for local history that truly sets her apart. She’s read local architectural histories multiple times and serves as a graduate of the Leadership Jacksonville Next Generation program.
“We have a wonderful opportunity to embolden the stories of our historic neighborhoods and bring them with us to our next chapter of what our city can be,” Short reflects. “I have a staunch belief that we each have a responsibility to give to our communities.”
With Mandarin approaching its bicentennial in 2030, Short and the Community Club are already looking ahead to celebrate two centuries of history. As someone whose family helped write that history, she’s perfectly positioned to help preserve it for future generations.
For Julia Short, preserving the past while building community for the future isn’t just volunteer work – it’s a calling rooted in seven generations of Florida soil.
