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    • HOME
    • CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE!
      • DIRECTORS & VOLUNTEERS
      • MEMBERSHIP, BRICKS & MORE
      • Photo Gallery PIONEERS
      • OLD TOWN & NEW TOWN
      • A WALK THROUGH THE MUSEUM
      • REPORT TO THE MEMBERS
    • VIDEOS & LINKS
    • FORMS
    • CALENDAR
      • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • HOME
  • CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE!
    • DIRECTORS & VOLUNTEERS
    • MEMBERSHIP, BRICKS & MORE
    • Photo Gallery PIONEERS
    • OLD TOWN & NEW TOWN
    • A WALK THROUGH THE MUSEUM
    • REPORT TO THE MEMBERS
  • VIDEOS & LINKS
  • FORMS
  • CALENDAR
    • UPCOMING EVENTS

863/285-7474

OFFICIAL Historical Society of Fort Meade FL

MUSEUM CELEBRATES FORT MEADE'S 175 YEARS!

MUSEUM CELEBRATES FORT MEADE'S 175 YEARS!MUSEUM CELEBRATES FORT MEADE'S 175 YEARS!MUSEUM CELEBRATES FORT MEADE'S 175 YEARS!MUSEUM CELEBRATES FORT MEADE'S 175 YEARS!
MUSEUMFM@GMAIL.COM

MUSEUM HOURS

Nothing is better than seeing the Museum in person!

TUESDAY: 10 AM - 2 PM .. EXCEPT ON 2ND TUESDAY OF MONTH, WE OPEN AT NOON. 


WEDNESDAY: 10 AM - 2 PM


THURSDAY: 10 AM - 2 PM


SATURDAY: BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (TEXT 863/804-8691 THE DAY BEFORE)


OFF HOUR TOURS CAN BE ARRANGED BY TEXTING 863/804-8691 THE DAY BEFORE)

CONTACT US

Drop us a line!

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NEED A TOUR DURING OUR OFF HOURS? JUST TEXT THE DAY BEFORE 863/804-8691.

Historical Society of Fort Meade FL

1 Tecumseh Avenue, Fort Meade, Florida 33841, United States

863/285-7474

Hours

Open today

10:00 am – 02:00 pm

FOR OFF HOURS, CALL OR TEXT 863/804-8691 FOR TOUR  APPOINTMENT. 

HAPPENINGS & EVENTS

    * COMMUNITY * HISTORY * MEMORIES * DREAMS * OUTREACH * HERITAGE * LEGACIES * STORIES * FAMILY * PIONEERS * ARTIFACTS * RETURNING HOME * SHARING

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      FACEBOOK GROUP : HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF FORT MEADE FL
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      ** PRIVATE JAMES HENRY MILLS ** POLK COUNTY FLORIDA'S ONLY WORLD WAR II MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

      Fort Meade, Florida Honors Its Hero

      CITATION The Battle of Anzio Italy

                  For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Mills, undergoing his baptism of fire, preceded his platoon down a draw to reach a position from which an attack could be launched against a heavily fortified strongpoint. 

                  After advancing about 300 yards, Pvt. Mills was fired on by a machinegun only 5 yards distant. He killed the gunner with 1 shot and forced the surrender of the assistant gunner. Continuing his advance, he saw a German soldier in a camouflaged position behind a large bush pulling the pin of a potato-masher grenade. Covering the German with his rifle, Pvt. Mills forced him to drop the grenade and captured him. 

                    When another enemy soldier attempted to throw a hand grenade into the draw, Pvt. Mills killed him with 1 shot. Brought under fire by a machinegun, 2 machine pistols, and 3 rifles at a range of only 50 feet, he charged headlong into the furious chain of automatic fire shooting his M 1 from the hip. The enemy was completely demoralized by Pvt. Mills' daring charge, and when he reached a point within 10 feet of their position, all 6 surrendered. 

                     As he neared the end of the draw, Pvt. Mills was brought under fire by a machinegunner 20 yards distant. Despite the fact that he had absolutely no cover, Pvt. Mills killed the gunner with 1 shot. Two enemy soldiers near the machinegunner fired wildly at Pvt. Mills and then fled. Pvt. Mills fired twice, killing 1 of the enemy. 

                    Continuing on to the position, he captured a fourth soldier. When it became apparent that an assault on the strongpoint would in all probability cause heavy casualties on the platoon, Pvt. Mills volunteered to cover the advance down a shallow ditch to a point within 50 yards of the objective. Standing on the bank in full view of the enemy less than 100 yards away, he shouted and fired his rifle directly into the position. His ruse worked exactly as planned. The enemy centered his fire on Pvt. Mills. Tracers passed within inches of his body, rifle and machine pistol bullets ricocheted off the rocks at his feet. Yet he stood there firing until his rifle was empty. Intent on covering the movement of his platoon, Pvt. Mills jumped into the draw, reloaded his weapon, climbed out again, and continued to lay down a base of fire. 

                      Repeating this action 4 times, he enabled his platoon to reach the designated spot undiscovered, from which position it assaulted and overwhelmed the enemy, capturing 22 Germans and taking the objective without casualties. 

      What we're all about!

      OUR MISSION

      OUR DISPLAYS

      OUR DISPLAYS

      Fort Meade is the FIRST Fort Meade and the oldest settlement in Polk County.

      A young 2nd Lt. George Gordon Meade surveyed the site and named it Fort Meade. 

      That was 1849. 

      The Historical Society of Fort Meade FL is dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of our community through education and engagement. Our mission is to Preserve Our Past with Dignity and Our Future with Honor. 



      OUR DISPLAYS

      OUR DISPLAYS

      OUR DISPLAYS

      Our historic building was built in 1885 as the Fort Meade Academy, which was also the site for the community center. Later, it was a boarding house and private home. Now the structure houses the treasures of local pioneer families. Each room holds a reflection of generations past.

        . Do you know what boondoggling is? Remember S&H Green Stamps? Can you imagine making a home in a swamp?


      OUR OUTREACH

      OUR DISPLAYS

      OUR OUTREACH

      The Historical Society of Fort Meade is involved in the community and offers calendared events and programs to interest all ages and backgrounds.  

      From Heritage Day to May Day to rides on our replica of the Turn of the Century trolley to Family History Nights, we welcome all to come share a memory, learn how your grandparents lived each day.

      Come enjoy Museum Park.

      Museum Park is the site of the Fort Meade Museum, the Olma Hendrick Farm Shed & Event Center, and Buford Brown Train

      Contact Us

      Better yet, see us in person!

      Reaching out to the community, sharing the history, and enjoying the visitors is our specialty.

      PLAN A TRIP OUR WAY!

      1 Tecumseh Avenue, Fort Meade, Florida 33841, United States

      863/285-7474

      Hours

      Open today

      10:00 am – 02:00 pm

      Call or text 863/804-8691 the day before to make an appointment for off-hours tour of Museum. We don't want to miss you !! 

      WE APPRECIATE OUR SPONSORS

      Copyright © 2024 Historical Society of Fort Meade FL - All Rights Reserved.

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      HAPPY 175th BIRTHDAY, FORT MEADE !!

      DECEMBER 13, 1849 - 2024

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