-
A historical reenactor portraying William Bartram shows Putnam County second graders an alligator head Tuesday during the Bartram Frolic along the St. Johns River in Palatka. -
Robert H. Jenkins Elementary School second grader Ronald Ismon helps William Bartram teach other second graders about Florida wildlife, such as male deer, which Ismon is portraying Tuesday. -
A historical reenactor portraying trader Job Wiggens shows Putnam County second-graders a beaver fur pelt during the St. Johns River Bartram Frolic. -
A historical reenactor portraying trader Job Wiggens teaches Putnam County second graders about trading goods. -
Positively Putnam FL
History came alive Monday and Tuesday as Putnam County second graders learned about explorer William Bartram and his friends, like The Long Warrior and trader Job Wiggens from the historical figures themselves.
The St. Johns River Bartram Frolic is in its eighth year, and students will spend the rest of the week learning at the Palatka riverfront during the immersive history lesson.
“Palatka’s history and heritage, really, it starts here,” Frolic organizer Sam Carr said while standing at the riverfront. “In 1774, (Bartram) was here and he made Palatka famous from there.”
Historical reenactors and local education organizations, such as the St. Johns Riverkeeper and Keep Putnam Beautiful, have been teaching the students about the river, Florida history and native Florida animals, to name a few subjects. They even got to go out on the river with the Riverkeeper to learn about all the animals that live there.
This is the first field trip the students have ever taken and for some of them it’s their first time seeing some of the animals or going out on a boat, Robert H. Jenkins Elementary School teacher Elesha Cox said Tuesday.
“This opportunity at this park … allows all the children to be able to experience what life used to be like and how to save the water,” she said. “I love it.”
When the students met William Bartram, who explored the St. Johns River in the 1700s, Cox said the students didn’t know the historical figure was played by Mike Adams. They were trying to figure out how this man is still alive despite claiming to be hundreds of years old, she said.
“This is something that these children in West Putnam will never see,” Cox said.
Celebrating the St. Johns River doesn’t stop Friday, though.
The Frolic continues Saturday where people can head down to the riverfront and visit multiple booths to learn about Bartram and other Florida history. The Frolic begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with pontoon boat tours leaving from the riverfront, 100 Memorial Parkway.
People can also participate in the frolic’s Passport to the Past adventure where they visit 12 stations across the riverfront to fill out their passports. Meet Bartram and the Long Warrior but also visit the Ft. Mose Historical Society, the Welaka National Fish Hatchery station and others.
The Bartram Symposium is scheduled for Sunday, from 3 - 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Palatka’s Westminster Hall, 126 S. Second St. in Palatka. People will hear from Bartram scholars and experts. Reservations are recommended but not required. A full schedule can be found at bartramtrailsociety.com/2023-bartram-frolic/#_schedule-of-events.
“The St. Johns River Bartram Frolic is to celebrate the St. Johns River and all of its nature using William Bartram as our guide,” Carr said. “That’s what it’s all about.”