Tune in to American Variety Radio next week.

Several local NPR stations will be airing an interview featuring two Pine Castle pioneer descendants: Kelly Kramer Weekley and Billy Morgan.

In Orlando, tune in to WMFE (90.7) this Sunday (12/12) at 4:30pm.

In Melbourne, tune in to WFIT (89.5) this Sunday (12/12) at 7:30am.

And, in Fort Pierce, tune in to WQCS (88.9) next Wednesday (12/15) at 9:30am.

Greenwood Cemetery connections

We are trying to identify all the Pine Castle pioneers who are buried at Greenwood Cemetery in downtown Orlando to prepare an historic tour of the grounds. Following is the list we've put together so far. Can you add to it?

* William R. & Sarah L. Anno
* Isaac & Sallie Aten
* James M. Blitch
* Lizzie Lester Fain
* A.F. & Nancy Hansel (+ son)
* William M. & Sarah Hansel (+ son)
* Will & Mary Harney
* Alice Young Leake
* Paul & Alice Macy (+ son)
* John W. Matchett (+ 3 wives & children)
* James R. & Frances Montague
* Jay Judson Newell
* Frances Pitts
* Daniel W. & Virginia B. Prescott (+ children)
* Dr. O.P. & Jane Preston
* William M. & Mary Randolph
* Benamin M. & Frances Robinson
* James W. & Amanda White (+ sons)

A vintage costume!

Pioneer descendant Susie Hayes Mosholder plans to wear this vintage costume at our next festival . . . and we're hoping she'll give us a preview at our November 4th event at The University Club.

If you are interested in appearing as a living history re-enactor at either event, please email pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com.

Publications committee meeting

Shirley Cannon hosted a meeting in her home this evening to begin planning our next festival magazine.

The theme will focus on the history of the old Pine Castle Air Force Base and the World War II era.

If you have any old pictures or stories that you think would be appropriate for inclusion in the magazine, email pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com.

History Committee meeting

A meeting was held this morning at Shannon's Casual Cafe on South Orange Avenue to work with Commissioner Linda Stewart's office on a series of historical markers in the Pine Castle area.

We are hoping to get these signs fabricated and installed in time for our next festival!

Thanks to Jackie Blake at Commissioner Stewart's office for coordinating this meeting, and to Barbara Knowles from The History Center for lending her expertise!

Sgt. Charles O. Walters, Jr.

Sgt. Walters came to Pine Castle from McKinney, Texas, during World War II. He drowned here during a training exercise on 30 August 1943.

George White Crawford (1840-1920)

Mr. Crawford lived on Lake Conway and represented this area in the Florida senate.

Casey Fadem's replica of the original Pine Castle

Pine Castle in 1906

A view of Orange Avenue at Wallace (looking north).

Charles D. Neff

On this anniversary of D-Day, let us pause to remember one of Pine Castle's own who made the ultimate sacrifice during the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Will Wallace Harney

The man who built the original Pine Castle.

The Macy Wagon Works

George E. Macy's business in downtown Orlando was the largest factory in Florida in the late 1800s.

It produced wagons and buggies that were uniquely engineered to traverse the sandy roadways of the pioneer era.

Mr. Macy was a primary donor to the Pine Castle Union Church building fund in 1900.

Rising to the occasion is a Pine Castle tradition

An oldtimer once told me that Pine Castle is more of a state of mind than an actual place.
I suppose that's because it's so hard to define in terms of physical or geographic boundaries.

The original Pine Castle was a private residence, erected by a fellow named Will Harney who came to this little corner of heaven from Kentucky in the years immediately following the Civil War.

Harney was a poet by nature and training, and composed many tributes to the idyllic virtues of the Central Florida frontier. In truth, though, he endured all of the many hardships that our pioneer settlers encountered in those days. Even worse, he lost his young wife very soon after staking claim to land on Lake Conway south of Orlando. Deeply saddened, but undeterred, this single father tamed his homestead lands and erected a castle using the native pine trees. Dubbing the structure his "Pine Castle," he used it in the by-lines of the various articles he wrote as a correspondent for northern newspapers interested in the area.

Within a matter of just a few years, the name of "Pine Castle" wasn't just being applied to Mr. Harney's home, but to the entire neighborhood. (It was, after all, the most striking landmark between Orlando and Kissimmee!) Basically, that encompassed the modern cities of Edgewood and Belle Isle, and all the pockets of unincorporated Orange County that surround the Conway chain of lakes.

The people who settled the area around the original Pine Castle were a neighborly lot. They came together to work for the common good. Republican and Democrat. Baptist and Methodist. Yankee and Cracker. It didn't matter. The classic example of this community spirit was the old Union Church, erected in 1900. Just about EVERYBODY in Pine Castle had a hand in its construction, and it was used by all congregations.

Many years later, in 1974 to be exact, an annual festival sprang-up in Pine Castle to celebrate that pioneer spirit.

Sadly, the event had to be cancelled last year, and looked like it was going to be cancelled again this year due to financial difficulties of the former sponsor.

But, I am pleased to report that Pine Castle's pioneer spirit is still alive and well. An organizational meeting was held recently, and it was agreed to incorporate Pine Castle Pioneer Days as a non-profit organization. And, a date was even set (the last weekend in February, instead of the traditional October timeframe).

That means we've got less than a year until Pioneer Days comes back to Pine Castle. (Feburary 26 & 27th, to be exact!) So, once again, the folks in this little corner of heaven are faced with a challenge.

If history is any guide, the people of Pine Castle will rise to the occasion!