~ Historical Markers ~
The Florida Historical Marker Program is one of the Division of Historical Resources’ most popular and visible public history programs. It is designed to raise public awareness of Florida’s rich cultural history and to enhance the enjoyment of our historic sites by citizens and tourists. These markers allow us to tell the stories of the places and people who created the Florida that we all enjoy today, by identifying the churches, schools, archaeological sites, battlefields and homes that represent our past. (Florida Department of Historical Resources)
Vernon, Florida
In the 1820s, settlers arrived in the area around present-day Vernon. One of the earliest was Stephen J. Roche who built a trading post on Holmes Creek and called it Roches Bluff. The town of Vernon developed near the trading post. On December 9, 1825, Washington County became the third county in west Florida. In 1851, Vernon was named as the first permanent county seat of Washington County. Located at the intersection of a military road and Holmes Creek, Vernon became a natural crossroads for travelers and commerce between Tallahassee and Pensacola. Stagecoaches and small steamships transported passengers, mail, and merchandise through Vernon. When a railroad was built across the northern part of the county, Vernon lost its prominence as a center of business and government. In 1927, the county seat was moved to Chipley. Vernon played a significant role in the history of northwest Florida and, today, remains an important link in the network of towns that serve the citizens of the area.
Identified by the Florida Department of State with the marker number F-507. this monument was installed in 2004 on the City of Vernon town square on State Road 79. The square is the site where the original Washington County Courthouse stood. The monument was placed by the Vernon Historical Society, Inc., and the Florida Department of State.
Shady Grove Elementary School for African American Children
Side One: In the 1950s, there was a broad effort in the South to expand African American education and preserve the dual school system. To centralize the education of African American students in Vernon and the surrounding area, the Washington County School Board purchased six acres of land from Roland and Ida Pompey for a new school. The school board allocated $58,185 for the building of a new schoolhouse. Construction began in 1952, and was completed in time for the 1953 school year. Named Shady Grove Elementary School, the school offered grades 1-8. Students who completed eighth grade were bused to Roulhac High School in Chipley. Although the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision declared public school segregation unconstitutional, school integration did not immediately go into effect. It was not until May 28, 1965, a year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that the Washington County School Board voted to end segregation in the county’s publicly funded schools. The resolution gave all pupils the freedom to choose to attend any school in the county, regardless of race, color, or national origin.
Side Two: Following the Washington County School Board’s resolution, the 1965-66 school year saw two major changes. The dual school system in Washington County public schools ended, and the segregated transportation of African American high school students in Vernon to Chipley to attend high school ceased. The school board deactivated Shady Grove Elementary in 1969. The building was cut into sections and moved. Portions of it were used as classrooms in the newly built Vernon Elementary School. In 1991, the Washington County School Board transferred ownership of the Shady Grove Elementary property to the City of Vernon for use as a recreational space in perpetuity. This marker stands as a silent reminder of the role that Shady Grove Elementary School played in the education of African American children in Washington County. Shady Grove Teaching Staff Principals: Thomas J. McDougald, James McNeil, George Vann; Teachers: Alma K. Jenkins, Delores G. Jenkins, Mildred McDougald, Martha Barge, Maudlynn C. Johnson, Elenor Powell, Bobbie Moultrie, Elaine Smith, Benjamin Williams, Kay Frances Houston, Margaret Dotson, Mamie Roulhac Jackson, Dorothy Mae Slayton, Joseph Williams, and Alma Vann.
Identified by the Florida Department of State with marker number F-1087, the monument was installed in 2019 on Shady Grove Road just east of State Road 79, on the left when traveling south. The monument is located at the Shady Grove Ballpark, where the original Shady Grove School for African American Children was located. The marker was placed by Vernon Historical Society, Inc., the City of Vernon, and the Florida Department of State.
Vernon Old School
In 1931, during the Great Depression, Vernon High School was constructed for white students in grades one through twelve with eight classrooms, offices, and an auditorium. In 1947, four junior-high and nine elementary classrooms were added, which centralized education and ended the need for one-room schools in western Washington County. Reflecting the community’s school spirit, the site became the home of the Vernon Yellow Jackets. Following public school integration in 1965, the addition of the new Vernon Elementary School and Vernon Middle School along with Vernon High School resulted in three educational facilities in the local area. In 2006, the high school relocated to Moss Hill Road, and the City of Vernon took ownership of the old building from the Washington County School Board. Renovation of the main structure allowed it to be used as a city hall and community center. Numerous organizations occupied offices there, including the Vernon Historical Society, Washington County Council on Aging, WIC, Literacy Program, and the Sheriff’s Department Annex. Made of red brick, the “Vernon Old School” has stood the test of time ensuring its continuation as a notable community resource.
Identified by the Florida Department of State with marker number F-1116, the monument was installed in 2020 at the intersection of Court Avenue and Yellow Jacket Drive, on the right when traveling west on Court Avenue. The marker was placed by Vernon Historical Society, Inc., the City of Vernon, and the Florida Department of State.