USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia / S a n ta Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 18, No. 23
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
June 13, 2018
1 Section, 8 Pages
Witness Archeology in Action at Arcadia Mill By Rita Johnson
Hidden in the back of the cozy, winding neighborhood of Arcadia Village is Arcadia Mill, what Site Manager Adrianne Walker refers to as “Pensacola’s best-kept secret.” She talks of the lack of knowledge about the historic site, saying that they often get local visitors who had never even heard of Arcadia Mill, even though they have lived in the Pensacola area most of their life. “Much of our programming is aimed towards getting people out to the site and getting the word out,” Walker said. “We don’t want to be a secret!” One program on offer is the Archaeology in Action event happening this summer. The public can visit the University of West Florida field school site and watch Walker and students excavating the site. The event, which runs from May 29 through June 15, offers visitors the chance to witness archaeology in action. In addition to observing the excavation site, on June 6 and 13, visitors can participate in a field lab in the Arcadia Mill classroom, located in the visitor’s center. During these field labs, participants can “rough sort” artifacts that have been excavated, as well as some artifacts from other sites. Walker highlighted these days as particularly good days to come. “It’s kind of unique if you attend on those days,” said Walker. “It’s a way to experience the other side of archaeology—when you get back to the lab and you’re actually looking at the artifacts.” Located next to Pensacola State College’s Milton campus, the site is well worth the trip. The visitor’s center feels warm and welcoming the moment you walk in. The lobby is filled with informational exhibits about the site’s history and the center also features a classroom where events are often hosted. Guided tours are available and there is signage scattered about the property for those who prefer a selfguided approach. Arcadia Mill is home to some fascinating local history. Dating back to the early 1800s, the property
was originally 680 acres, of which the University of West Florida owns only 40. The original owner of the property sold it to Ezekiel Simpson and Company, who helped establish numerous sawmills and textile mills on the property, which turned the area into a booming industrial center. The Simpson family, who still live in the area and contribute to the upkeep of the historic site, established a plantation on the property in the mid-1800s. The plantation house has been dubbed “The Homestead” and it is the site of this summer’s UWF field school, where researchers are trying to learn more about Arcadia Mill’s history through examining the crumbled structures. Currently, they’re looking for the boundary of the south porch of the old house as well as investigating what they believe to have been slave housing. All of the site’s programming events are meant to be educational and kid-friendly. “I think it’s a great opportunity for kids to connect with the history of the place where they live, to learn about history in a hands-on way, and to see that history is an ongoing process,” said Walker. Arcadia Mill also offers a free kids craft day at the end of every month. Parents can bring kids in from 11 am to 2 pm for free arts and crafts. Upcoming crafts include glitter fireworks on June 30 and animal footprint crafts on July 28. More information about Arcadia Mill and the Archaeology in Action event is available on the Arcadia Mill section of historicpensacola.org.