Special Projects -- The Florida Quest (Florida's Ghost Town Trail)

The Hideaway Times

Half-Moon Hideaway

At the very top of the Inlet house is an attic, the Trackers’ official clubhouse. When Zack first opened the creaky door at the top of the stairs and discovered the long, dark room on the other side, he knew it was perfect for them to use. It was private, and there were shelves along the wall for their tools and supplies: maps, globes, binoculars, flashlights, a tape recorder, a television, a chalkboard and many books and newspapers for doing research. Read more...

Introduction

One day while the Trackers are exploring New Smyrna Beach, Zack buys a map marked with an "X", which supposedly shows a spot where treasure is buried. Are there really buried treasures in the area? Check out these articles, then form your own opinion.

1. Old safe surfaces again to tantalize road workers
2. Tales of treasure-laden chest pique interest, but cache remains elusive
3. Archaeology park named after 'psychic' who found artifacts
4. Scouts dig for treasure, merit badge
5. Fourth-grade class digs at 'shipwreck site'

Chapter One

1. While exploring the history of New Smyrna Beach, the Trackers meet Penny, a descendent of the settlers from the Turnbull Colony. Penny tells the Trackers about an archaeological "dig" she took part in. Read about a real-life New Smyrna "dig" some teens participated in recently. What did they find?

2. The Trackers are always interested in artifacts that help to shed light on mysteries from the past. Read this article that highlights several interesting artifacts along the Volusia County's beaches, uncovered by a series of recent storms.

3. Some accounts of the Turnbull colony indicate that settlement was badly planned; others disagree. What do you think? Draw your own conclusions as you read the article.

4. For each ghost town they visited, the Trackers decided to make a list of what remains could still be seen. Check out this article about the Turnbull Colony and other British endeavors to help the Trackers with their list.

5. Much has been written about early which European settlers, such as Andrew Turnbull, but what kinds of written records exist that chronicle the contributions of black Americans? Find out by taking a look at this article, part of a series about blacks in Southeast Volusia.

Chapter Two

1. At one time, steamboats carried passengers and cargo up and down the St. Johns River. Now that the day of steamship is over, what kind of traffic uses the river?

2. Want to see the history of West Volusia come alive in front of your eyes? Painted wall murals along DeLand's main thoroughfare tell the story of Africa, a black neighborhood once nestled along the train tracks, amid hotels, freight yards, sawmills, and other small industries. Take a look at the article to learn more.

3. The Trackers learned about one possible origin of the term "Cracker." What do you think a "Cracker" Christmas may have been like? Read the article for a few clues.

4. Where can you find a ghost town on an island? Check out this article and learn about some ghosts from the past.

Chapter Three

1. In St. Augustine, the Castillo de San Marcos protected the city against attack by enemy soldiers - but it had one weakness. While it guarded the city against assaults from the front, ships could still attack from the south. What was the Spaniards' answer to this problem?

2. The Freemanville Settlement Historical Marker was recently unveiled to commemorate the men and women who settled in the Port Orange area shortly after the Civil War. How do descendants of the original Freemanville feel about the new marker?

3. What was daily life like in the early settlement of Freemanville? According to this newspaper article, life must have been pretty hard.

4. What do New Town, Silver Hill, Waycross, and Midway have in common? They're all ghost towns from Daytona Beach's not-so-distant past. Take a look at the stories of some African Americans who remember what life was like in those settlements - after blacks were declared free and equal to whites, but before they were actually treated that way.

5. What's the connection between gospel hymns, quilts, and the Underground Railroad? Check out this article for some clues.

Conclusion

1. The Trackers are interested in many aspects of history. According to this article, history isn't something that's stored in books; rather, history is made every day and witnessed by the people who live through it. How can you learn more about your own history?

2. According to a prominent member of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, "Our state is such an incredibly beautiful, culturally right place. We are steeped in history... When the Spanish landed in Florida in the 1500s and met the Timucua peoples who inhabited northeast Florida, it was not really the discovery of the 'new world'... It was, instead, the meeting of two worlds, worlds with vastly different cultures and experiences. Florida was changed forever." Read the article to find out what these changes mean for the generations that followed, and why historic preservation is so important for those generations yet to come.

3. Ghost research in Florida's ghost towns? Check out what the Central Florida Ghost Research group found one dark night at the Espanola Cemetery.

4. How can a city be a thriving settlement and a ghost town at the same time? According to the newspaper article, "The rush of biker cash a few weeks a year makes Main Street both a gold mine and a ghost town." Read the article to learn more.

5. In their quest to learn about the Treasures of Florida's Ghost Town Trail, the Trackers also learn the importance of preserving historical artifacts. How many such artifacts have been lost over the years? No one will ever know, but take a look at one piece of history that had a "happy ending."

1. Ex-church now houses important pieces of past
Mary Harrell's work tending a historic museum is helping to cultivate the black community's experience today.

2. Paper Paradise
A black eye on Florida from decades ago — the sale of swampy, undeveloped land to unsuspecting buyers — returns with a vengeance via the Internet.

3. Yacht club blends past with future
New clubhouse will be steeped in long history.

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