2025 Ormond Beach Historical Society Speaker Series
All programs are held at the historic Anderson-Price Building, 42 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach
* All programs are on Saturdays from 10-11 a.m. (unless otherwise noted).
* Coffee and refreshments start at 9:30 a.m.
* All programs are FREE
* Plenty of free parking in lot adjacent to building
* Handicap entrance is at the rear of the building
January 25, 2025 ~ Historic Pacetti Hotel Museum
Felipe De Paula, Curator of the Historic Pacetti House Museum, will share the fascinating history of the Pacetti Hotel, located across from the Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station. From its origins in the mid-1860s to its restoration and grand reopening in 2024, discover the rich legacy of the Pacetti family, whose influence helped shape the fishing industry in South Volusia County.
February 22, 2025 - Britains Loyal Colonies Lost: The American Revolution in Florida
Dr. David Head, Associate Lecturer at UCF, will uncover the often overlooked history of Florida during the War of Independence, highlighting the Florida colonies that remained loyal to the British Crown.
February 26, 2025 - 2 p.m. - Sharing Patriot Stories
Hosted by Will Ashborn, Sons of the American Revolution, hear accounts from local Sons of the American Revolution members, whose ancestors helped form a new nation.
March 1, 2025 - Women of the American Revolution: Lost Voices of America’s First Generation
Roger Smith of Flagler College will share inspiring stories of courage and resilience from women across the colonies—of all races, both free and enslaved—who defied the norms of 18th-century society to stand up for their beliefs and rights, inspiring women throughout American history.
March 2, 2025 - 2 p.m. - Hamilton Reenactment
Acclaimed reenactor Joe Vetter brings Alexander Hamilton to life, recounting his remarkable journey from orphaned youth in the Caribbean to Revolutionary War hero, first Secretary of the Treasury, and ultimately his tragic death in a duel with Aaron Burr.
March 29, 2025 - The Barefoot Mailman
In the 1930s, post offices served as community hubs where neighbors gathered to catch up on the latest news. Between 1937 and 1943, 16 new post offices were built in Florida, each featuring murals or relief sculptures funded by the Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture. Dr. Keri Watson, Associate Professor of Art History at UCF, will explore the post office mural project, focusing on the iconic “Barefoot Mail Carrier” in West Palm Beach.
April 19, 2025 - Florida Noir: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem
Florida Noir traces the rise of crime fiction in Florida, beginning in the late 19th century with a successful self-published novelist. As American writers reinvented detective stories inspired by Poe and Conan Doyle, Florida writers began exploring the genre's potential. Maurice “Socky” O’Sullivan, professor at Rollins College, explores how Florida’s unique environment and characters shaped the evolution of crime fiction and its influence on modern mysteries.
May 24, 2025 - We Make It Here! History of Volusia County Manufacturing
Who would have thought that in the heart of the Birthplace of Speed, manufacturing has been thriving since the 1700s? From rum production and citrus goods like jams and jellies to products that have ventured to the moon and the oceans, local manufacturing has played a key role in the area’s development. Jayne Fifer, retired President/CEO of the Volusia Manufacturers Association, will take you on a journey through Ormond Beach’s rich manufacturing history and explore how these industries shaped its growth and success.
September 27, 2025 - HOB Talk - Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery
Meet the dead as they come alive at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building. Reenactors from the Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery tours bring to life the stories of those who lived in Ormond Beach long before us.
October 25, 2025 - Writers in Paradise
Jim Clark, Senior Lecturer at UCF, will begin with a poem from around 1560 that introduces the Florida story, one that has been told and retold over centuries. This presentation highlights the journeys of more than two dozen renowned authors—past and present—who found inspiration and refuge under Florida’s sun, including Ernest Hemingway, Judy Blume, Tennessee Williams, and many others.
Some funding for these programs is provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
