By Susie Scott
mail@floridanewsline.com
The Mandarin Community Club hosted a celebratory event on July 2, the actual anniversary date of its founding 98 years ago in 1923. The fundraising evening had about 70 members and guests in attendance to play Bingo, watch the unveiling of the 1855 bell and celebrate an anniversary that is one year closer to 100 years serving Mandarin.
The 1855 bell was discovered in the club’s bell tower two years ago, and club members immediately launched efforts to relocate and restore it. Club board member Brett Nolan located a bell restoration company in Charleston, SC to evaluate the bell for restoration and preservation. After months of discussion and an initial “Bingo for the Bell” fundraiser, the bell was carefully removed from the bell tower and transported to Charleston for the months-long process of restoration.
The bell is considered to be an artifact of great historic significance and comes with a fascinating backstory. Research by the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society reveals that Harriet Beecher Stowe herself went on a letter writing quest to solicit a bell for use at the then-named Mandarin Schoolhouse. The bell was utilized to call the community together for community meetings, performances, religious services and much more. It is believed from one letter found indicating that Stowe’s efforts were rewarded and she managed to acquire a bell that even pre-dates the building, the Civil War and her years in Mandarin.
Nolan said, “It was a no-brainer to restore this relic of Old Mandarin. It was an amazing experience to see the project come full circle and so many Mandarinites coming together to bear witness to history being saved.”
At the anniversary event, Mandarin Community Club board member and past president as well as current president of the Florida Historical Society Emily Lisska spoke about the history of the club and some of the significant accomplishments since its founding. The club is the oldest civic organization in Jacksonville and is the recipient of countless awards for the work to help the community. The club grew out of the Liberty League that was active in World War I; afterwards, citizens were looking for leadership on community issues so the Mandarin Community Club was formed from that group. There have been 98 years of steadfast service and enrichment to the community — from lobbying for electricity in its earliest days, to the nationally acclaimed Mandarin Players and theater groups making use of the stage, to advocating to preserve and protect the Patriarch Oaks of Mandarin Road, as well as more than 50 years of the annual Mandarin Art Festival. The club is housed in one of the most historically significant buildings in North Florida and owner of the National Register-designated Post Office and General Store next door. It’s a big responsibility which has been met with the support of dedicated members and volunteers and the community.
The final stage of the bell saga will be a suitable location for display for the entire community. The bell will rest on a custom, moveable wooden stand constructed to support the weight for permanent display at the Mandarin Community Club. This display was crafted by Andrew Miller of MBM Woodworking; more of his woodworking skills will be on display at the Mandarin Art Festival in October.
Photo courtesy Mandarin Community Club
The anniversary celebration also included Bingo.
