Alexa Duarte
reporter1@riverbendnews.org
Did you know there used to be a school titled Florida Memorial College in Live Oak? Florida Memorial was in Live Oak from 1880 to 1942 and was built on 12 acres of land. Later, after the college's closing, the Suwannee County Hospital was built on the site. But, before it closed, the college boasted beautiful history, and a remnant of this was recently discovered by a Suwannee County resident.
Dale Baker, who works as a volunteer at the Suwannee County Historical Museum, rediscovered an old textbook, which had belonged to the relative of a friend of his from Florida Memorial. He purchased the textbook from a used book sale at the Live Oak Public Library and, soon thereafter, discovered its owner.
One day, Ronald Young visited the museum and signed the guest book. When Baker saw Young's name, he asked, "Are you kin to Susie Young?" He responded, "Yes, that's my grandmother." This excited Baker, and he quickly showed Young the old textbook his grandmother once owned. When Baker opened the book, he pointed out Susie's name written on the inside. The inscription included her address and the date she had attended the Florida Memorial. When he met Young, Baker showed him how Susie had written her name on many pages.
The book Baker bought from the book sale was called "The Laboratory Manual for Human Physiology." The Suwannee Museum holds a catalog of the Florida Memorial from 1923-24. But no other book existed from the college until Baker discovered this manual. The book was considered even more unique because it had been a personal possession and was full of notes and scribblings from Susie Young.
While the college was still operating, it boasted a strict schedule. The rules of the college were as follows: every morning was led in prayer, and everyone was required to go to the Sunday School. Every student was also required to put in one hour of work per day. The students had to cut wood or work in the dining hall. No one was allowed to leave the premises after 7 p.m. without permission.
Courses offered at the college included arithmetic, history, physiology, literature, geography, manual training, penmanship, reading, music, sewing, grammar, spelling, agriculture, Bible classes and cooking. The cost of attending Florida Memorial was $12, with $2 for tuition and $1 for washing clothes.
Be sure to visit and check out the museum to learn more about Florida Memorial College and its diverse and unique history. The Suwannee County Historical Museum, located at 208 Ohio Ave. N, in Live Oak, is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.