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Keystone Heights Heritage Commission promotes, educates city’s rich history

By Natalie Gilstrap For Clay Today
Posted 8/3/22

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – The City of Keystone Heights was established as a vacation destination in 1923 by J.J. Lawrence. It was originally called Brooklyn, but it was renamed Keystone Heights to attract …

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Keystone Heights Heritage Commission promotes, educates city’s rich history


Posted

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – The City of Keystone Heights was established as a vacation destination in 1923 by J.J. Lawrence. It was originally called Brooklyn, but it was renamed Keystone Heights to attract tourists.

Thanks to the Keystone Heights Heritage Commission the city’s history has not been forgotten.

The organization was started by Steve and LaDonna Hart in 2007 ito preserve the city’s history. The goal is to preserve the city’s heritage by presenting plaques to historical homes that are 50 years or older and meet their requirements.

Currently, there are 111 historic homes in Keystone Heights and only 12 have been honored by the Heritage Commission.

“There are only 12 homes here that have the plaque and the Commission has been going on since ’07,” said Nina Rodenroth, commission chairwoman. “I see no reason why we can’t have 80% of them (with plaques).”

To encourage other owners of historic homes and to increase the number of plaques given to historic homes, the committee plans to host plaque workshops. The workshops are planned to provide owners with networking, information regards to the historic homes and the city, and information about the plaques.

In addition, Keystone Heights Heritage Commission is working on several projects that will share the city’s history with its community. This November the committee is planning to make historical wreaths for 50 businesses. They also plan to expand the Tour of Historic Homes next year by including more houses to the tour, adding a shuttle, and providing food trucks.

Lastly, the committee is working towards reaching out to the students.

“Each year I want us to increase the education with our kids here,” Rodenroth said. “I think they deserve the right to know about what really happened here in the day.”

The group plans to educate fifth graders and eventually high school students regarding the history of Keystone Heights through a field trip to the Keystone Beach Pavilion while providing lunch and mementos.