Picture Courtesy of Seminole County Historical Commission

Picture Courtesy of Seminole County Historical Commission

In 1925, twelve years after becoming a county, the Seminole County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 82 acres of land for $9,020.00 to establish both a County Home for Old Folds and a camp/stockade building for convicts. In 1926 the Board accepted a bid of $33,306.00 to construct "separate quarters and dining rooms for both white and colored residents."

These were homes for people in need and with no one to care for them. Each resident had a private room. They shared in the chores and activities providing a family atmosphere. With a large orange grove, vegetable garden, chicken, dairy cows and pigs, the Home was almost self-sufficient. This "farm home" atmosphere lent itself to another colloquial name for the County Home, "the poor farm."

In 1940 and infirmary was established in the building originally built for the "colored residents." This infirmary stands due west of the Museum. Another building (no longer standing) was added nearly to house black residents. Miss Rachel Lee, a black nurse from Mississippi was in charge of the infirmary. She stayed until 1964 when the Home closed. Records indicate this is the only County old folks home still standing in Florida.

This building served as the County Agricultural Center with offices for not only the County Agricultural and Home Economics Agents, but also the County Agricultural Conservation Service Office Manager, the State Plant Board Inspector and the USDA Fruit Fly Inspector from 1965 until a new Agricultural Center was constructed in 1980. In 1983 the County Commission approved the establishment of the Museum of Seminole County History in the recently vacated building.

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