Island Pond Cemetery Project

05/25/2026

This post was written last Memorial Day. We have been working hard to restore the final resting place of Lonnie Hayes and Lonnie Woodberry, two young men from our community who served our nation when in need. Please take time to scroll through our page and see the work that volunteer Britt Hayes has been doing. We have a rededication ceremony in the works and Britt has acquired a new marker for Lonnie Hayes that will be revealed then.

05/22/2026

Brian Tucker, a bioarchaeologist from Stantec, explains his role at the Island Pond Cemetery Project as we fence three of the four sides. Why only 3 sides? There are enough signs that indicate graves may extend beyond the property line!

05/22/2026

Volunteer Britt Hayes explains how he is caring for World War I veteran Lonnie Hayes’ (no relation) grave site at Island Pond One. Thank you, Britt, for honoring the legacy of Lonnie Hayes. I will re post Lonnie’s story in honor of Memorial Day.

05/20/2026

According to city officials, ground penetrating radar testing was completed on the property two years ago and it did detect anomalies.

05/20/2026

Please encourage your planning and zoning departments to request this data quarterly so that are able to make informed decisions when approving local permits.

May is Historic Preservation Month. the Florida Master Site File is the state’s official inventory of historic, cultural resources? The Site File has information on more than 261,000 resources including archaeological sites, historical structures, cemeteries and bridges. Learn more about Florida’s Master Site File here: https://dos.fl.gov/historical/preservation/master-site-file/.

Florida Division of Historical Resources

05/10/2026

From cradle to grave, mothers and mother figures make a lasting impact on our lives. This Mother’s Day weekend involved plotting out the graves that were definitively identified through Ground Penetrating Radar.

What’s next on our agenda? Fencing and placing granite markers at each unmarked grave.

04/21/2026

We are so excited to have been nominated for the 'Best Family Attraction' and 'Best Museum' for !

Our goals at the Sanford Museum have been to preserve our local history while also making that history accessible for our communities! Thank you so much to those who support us and helps us accomplish those goals!

Make sure to vote for us everyday until April 24th!

https://www.votecentralflorida.com/

We would also love to thank our friends Sanford Historical Society who do so, so much for us! From purchasing expensive exhibit supplies to promoting local history through fantastic fundraisers, we really couldn't do it without you!

There are so many other friends who have helped us expand our mission! Check out our posts throughout the campaign

Today we are showcasing an old citrus label from our collection! This label was for the 'Palmetto Brand' of citrus distributed by N.S. DeForest's groves! If you want to learn more about crate labels and crate label art - be sure to check out our new temporary exhibit in our lobby, 'Crate Expectations'!!

04/19/2026

Can you hear the Bob White call of the quail?