Welcome to the Historical Society of Orange Park
Let's make our community a better place!
Let's make our community a better place!
Vision Statement
The Historical Society of Orange Park exists to educate the community about the rich and dynamic history of the greater Orange Park, Florida area including the contributions of those individuals, civilian and military, that shaped our past and enriched the present.
Mission Statement
To accomplish our objective, the Society collects, preserves and displays historical artifacts and relics of the past. We research and document topics of local interest then share these stories with the community. We collect, preserve and display printed and digital materials of historical value. We arrange or facilitate educational and historical tours, field trips, exhibitions and displays for residents of the greater Orange Park, Florida area.
We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. The Society has opportunities for research, community service and leadership, offering the chance to learn and share local history in a variety of ways. Opportunities include digitizing historical documents, helping with podcast creation, live-history re-enactment
We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our vision a reality. The Society has opportunities for research, community service and leadership, offering the chance to learn and share local history in a variety of ways. Opportunities include digitizing historical documents, helping with podcast creation, live-history re-enactment and more. We offer people of all ages a chance to help others tell the story. By joining the Society, even if for just one project, you will be fascinated by what there is to learn.
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you! We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you.
The Clarke House, built in 1912 and located in Clarke House Park, 1039 Kingsley Avenue, is open for tours the second Sunday of each month from 2 PM to 4 PM. Sunday afternoons are the perfect time for a leisurely tour of the house, both upstairs and downstairs.
The Historical Society is highlighting Orange Park businesses each month of 2025. We are sharing stories each month that feature one very old and one more familiar business in the town. This month we feature turpentine camps and Hicks’ Icehouse.
The area around Railroad Ave as well as the area around Doctor’s Lake in Orange Park have had a long history of turpentine production. As old as the town itself, generations of men, mostly African American, hired on to work long hard hours in turpentine camps. There is evidence that a sizable number of Clay County men started up their own turpentine distilleries to produce naval stores from Florida’s trees.
Lawrence Hicks was a self-employed African American businessman- he was Orange Park’s “Ice Man” in the 1940s. He had a small structure on McIntosh Ave., (near the TC Miller Center) to store the ice he sold and delivered around town. In those days, before modern refrigerators, everyone had an “ice box” with a handy tray at the bottom for collecting the water as the ice melted. Hicks’ Icehouse structure is still there though it’s not quite recognizable as an icehouse today.
Join us on Saturday February 15 or Saturday, February 22, for our inaugural Black History Walks at Magnolia Cemetery. These tours, similar to the popular Moonlight on Magnolia tours done in October, will focus exclusively on the fascinating African American history of the town. Tours begin on the hour, 2 pm and 3 pm.
Family members and/or acquaintances of several of those highlighted will be on hand to tell their stories.
The stroll through Magnolia Cemetery will highlight the men and women from Orange Park’s past who helped create the town we have today. All can benefit from knowing their stories and honor their memory at the same time. Bring family and friends. There is no admission fee!
All hands on deck! March 8th is Carrie Clarke Day, our annual opportunity to let the community know just how special Mrs. Clarke was. We need all able-bodied members (and their guests) to help make the event special.
Activities being planned by the Society include historical house tours, tool demonstrations in the shed, old fashioned games, art demonstrations by the Art Guild, selfies with historic hats, the annual Pea-can vs Puh-can name contest and more. The Lions Club will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for the first time in several years! The Garden Club of Orange Park will decorate the Clarke House with a not-to-be-missed collection of fresh floral arrangements.
Help is needed leading tours, sharing Society information, and helping with the activities above. It takes a team! The event will be open to the public from 11AM-4 PM. Help setting up and clearing away would also be helpful. Please email us at info@ophistory.org if you would like to volunteer.
Please join us at 5:30 PM, Tuesday, March 18 at the Orange Park Library for our next Quarterly Member Meeting. Bob Scallan will present "Heroes, Legends, Histories, and Mysteries". Bob will delve into the lesser-known aspects of Clay County's history, presenting intriguing narratives that highlight obscure events and figures. Bob will explore a range of topics, including the enigmatic Humanzee, unsolved sheriff murders, the historical significance of covered bridges, the contributions of Washington Gano Benedict, the founder of Orange Park, and the mysteries surrounding unmarked graves in Magnolia Cemetery. His examination will reveal compelling stories from the community that may be unfamiliar to many residents, inviting them to discover the rich and hidden history of their surroundings. We hope you will join us.
Please click the links below to obtain a copy of our current newsletter or a recent newsletter.
610 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park
428 Park Avenue
372 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park
Historical Society of Orange Park
P.O. Box 08, Orange Park, Florida 32067
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.