It's a Family Tradition

To others, my grandma’s house may seem like an unassuming plot of agricultural land with a comfortable home on it. To me, it’s so much more. It’s a place to disconnect from reality, a place to feel loved, and a safe space that holds some of my dearest memories and traditions.

I grew up riding the four-wheeler with Grandpa to feed the cows, picking blueberries every summer, getting tadpoles from the back pond to bring to class and watch them grow, and eating entirely too much every Christmas – just to lay on the living room carpet and open presents.

To me, conservation is more than protecting wildlife and green space – it’s protecting history, memories, and traditions. I am one of the few who are lucky enough to share memories on the same property as my great-great-grandma, and I hope to one day share them with children of my own.

As a proud ninth-generation Floridian, it’s fascinating to learn more about how my family has witnessed the state evolve from purely agriculture and swampland to what it is now. My ancestors started in St. Augustine during the pre-revolutionary war, then relocated southwest to Starke and Palatka before ending up in Gainesville.

I recently had the honor to sit down with my grandma, Ethel Newmans, for the sole intent of taking a walk through our family history. I had so much fun giggling over stories of her childhood and adulthood growing up in Florida. It is a life well lived and worth sharing. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

Chelsea: How long has this property been in the family?

Grandma Ethel: We are not entirely sure how long the property has been in the family. But we do know my dad was born here in 1906, and he was the youngest of seven siblings. So, we have at least been here since the late 1800s.

Chelsea: Do you know how the family came to acquire the property?

Grandma Ethel: I think it may have been from Mr. Mize selling the property. Mr. Mize was a wealthy man around here and he had a commissary where people would get things on credit. Mr. Mize would cut and sell turpentine trees; I remember being able to see people cutting turpentine trees from the house.

Chelsea: Do you have any historical documents?

Grandma Ethel: I have the deed from the train tracks running through the back of the property (evidence of the train tracks is still there), and I have the census from my dad’s family. He’s listed as Gideon...I always thought his name was just Gid!

Chelsea: What was an average day like growing up?

Grandma Ethel: We would go to school, come home, have a short break, and then work in the field. Lots of hoeing. Hoeing peanuts or whatever we had. Then we would feed the chickens and gather the eggs. I had fun doing that except for setting hens.

They would fluff up so big and be mean. Occasionally, hawks would try to steal the chickens. Mama did not like that and she was not scared to use the 12-gauge. Daddy also had geese, but they would attack you.

Chelsea: What is your favorite childhood memory?

Grandma Ethel: On Saturday afternoons, the whole family went into town. We all had to do our chores first like sweeping the yard, but then we took a bath and got to go to a movie, while Mama and Daddy went shopping. It
was all in the courthouse square at the Lyrics Theater. During the summer, we could get a snow cone from the cart and that was a real treat. I also loved chasing lightning bugs. We would trap them in a jar and just loved it.

Chelsea: You have seen a lot of things change! What do you think is the most drastic?

Grandma Ethel: Oh Lord, I could say everything has changed. First, Grandma’s house had a well but Daddy had it covered because he was afraid we were going to fall in. Grandma also had a hand pump, a bucket, a pan, and a dipper with a long handle on the porch, which was the handwashing station. Of course, we had no electricity and used kerosene lamps. Mama had a wood heater and a wood stove.

Washing clothes is a story in itself. All the linens were white. We had to boil all the white clothes, so you know they were sanitary. Laundry day was always busy. We had to haul all the clothes from our house over to Grandma’s water pump. Clothes were all cotton and had to be corn starched and ironed using irons made hot by the fire.

We had smokehouses for meat – mostly pork – and the meat would not spoil. It was marvelous. Daddy built a house over in the corner of the property. You could see through the roof, almost see the stars, but it never leaked.

Chelsea’s note: My uncle also lives on the property and my great-grandpa built the house he lives in in the 1930s. It still has the original metal roof and has never leaked.

Chelsea: What kind of wildlife do you see out here?

Grandma Ethel: Deer, turkey, and cranes. We used to have gophers, but I don’t see them as much anymore.

Chelsea: As you look to the future, what are your hopes and dreams for this special property?

Grandma Ethel: Well, that is in the works, but I hope it can stay whole and stay in the family. For more generations to enjoy.

Rooted in heritage and legacy, I approach conservation holistically. I want to protect the land that built me, I want to protect my family’s legacy, and I want to know that 100 years from now, there will be Newmans riding four-wheelers to feed the cows and pick the blueberries. I hope this story inspires you to consider the legacy you are living and leaving.

About Conservation Florida:

Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The organization’s conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat.