OUND: the Cusp of History
Regis
Fort Mose is more than the building. Fort Mose represents the people … a diverse group of men, women and children who came to this place to carve a life for themselves out of this wilderness.
-Alma Melvin, Fort Mose Historical Society Re-enactor
Matanzas, the Castillo de San Marcos monument and scores of historic sites present in the state of Florida.
A sense of alignment, harmony and serendipity permeated the air on January 19. As Charles Ellis- founding member and president of the Fort Mose Historical Society, pointed out from the podium,“ 18 years ago, [...] we broke ground for the museum, and it’ s ironic that here we are … today … in [ the ] process of breaking ground for another monument.” Decked out in full 18th-century military regalia, Ellis went on to emphatically remind those in attendance that“ this groundbreaking is a story that needs to be told.” He harkened back to the late Otis Mason, who once also served as president of the Fort Mose Historical Society. The former superintendent of St.
Johns County schools was among those who had a fervent desire to see the story of the courageous men and women who underwent a most perilous journey- zealous for a return to freedom no matter the consequences. Ellis reviewed some of the developments that have helped the reconstruction project come so far. In 2012, the historical society conducted a planning and brainstorming session in which architectural renderings were drafted. Then came a number of fundraising initiatives with the help of grants and local business sponsors. Many of those sponsors came to honor the groundbreaking event. The historical society fostered key partnerships with the Florida Park Foundation, the local amphitheater and County Commissioners.
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