Seminoles, Floridians, Historians Commemorate New State Park at the Okeechobee Battlefield Site

By Susan Etxebarria

OKEECHOBEE, FL — “I didn’t know what ‘hallowed ground’ meant until I went to Gettysburg,” said Tribal citizen Willie Johns. “As I was standing here I understood this is what it meant. This is our hallowed ground. And, we are looking over the battlefield.”

Johns was present at the Press Conference held May 25 on the grounds of the 145 acre site where Seminole warriors made their heroic stand against the armed forces of General Zachary Taylor on Christmas Eve, 1837. Stretched out before him was a large prairie of grasses surrounded by a perimeter of tree hammocks.

“All the major players were here,” he said. “Alligator, Aripeka, Coacoochee. Everyone, but Osceola. In my mind I can see the battle and I can hear it. This was the pivotal moment where our leaders showed their force. Most of us are here today because of them. We are their descendants.”

Joining together to celebrate the creation of the new state park that will forever memorialize the fiercest battle of the three Seminole Wars was a mix of people, all of whom were involved in some small and large way in accomplishing an almost impossible feat–convincing the state to purchase the land for posterity before it was sold for housing development.

The press conference was arranged by Shawn Henderson of President Moses Osceola’s office and she eloquently introduced the guest speakers, many whose elation and emotion was evident.

“On this property here many soldiers gave their lives on both sides,” said Okeechobee City Councilman Dowling Watford. “This place is an important part of Seminole history and State history. A project like this doesn’t happen overnight. There have been many hurdles and I can’t say enough, and I am so grateful, for the leadership of the Seminole Tribe in this effort.”

In the audience were many true believers in the creation of the park. State officials, Okeechobee city and county officials, Tribal officials, economic developers, archaeologists, educators and historians came to celebrate this great victory.

From Betty Williamson, long time president of the Okeechobee Historical Society to 9-year-old Skyler Burke of Brighton–all who shared this thrilling moment could feel something important was taking place.

“There aren’t too many times in our lifetime we have the opportunity to participate in something that will live on forever,” Watford said.

The leading elder of the historical society sees the opportunity to preserve the past; the young Seminole girl will have a sacred place for her and all the Seminole youth to point to with pride.

All seemed to share a feeling a miracle had taken place. According to Willard Steele, the Tribe’s historic preservation officer, the public effort to locate and preserve the site of the Battle of Okeechobee started as far back as the 1930s and one of the notable people to bring public attention to the site was Billy Bowlegs of Brighton.

“What a great day it is today in Okeechobee,” said Representative Richard Machek, whom Henderson thanked for the role he played in the preservation. “This started in 1837 and comes to closure today.”

He added: “This 145 acre purchase here is just the beginning.”

Henderson credited Representative Machek for convincing the state to approve the purchase of the land from the Rowland Foundation. For years many worried that the historic land would be sold for development and lost forever.

“Rep. Machek never wavered in his support,” she told the audience. ”We truly thank him for his commitment.”

Henderson invited others to speak.

Okeechobee Mayor James Kirk, said: “I hope we will create something that will forever honor the Seminole Tribe and what happened here.”

Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Mitchell Cypress told the audience: “This will be an educational place for our children. They will come here and they will learn how we got here and how the Seminoles became one and how we became citizens of the United States. Thank you for the wonderful job you have all done to make this happen.”

President of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. Moses Osceola spoke in a solemn tone.

“There’s a rich history here. All of Florida was once our home. We called it our homeland,” he said. “Then he brought a round of laughter and applause when he jokingly said “Now we are one and I am glad we are. Instead of fighting with guns we make our deals under the table.”

Brighton Council Representative Andy Bowers said he remembered as a kid reading the monument on Highway 78 that memorializes the battle of Okeechobee and wishing he could explore the property. He said he was afraid he would get caught trespassing and arrested. Now the site will be accessible.

Bowers said he wanted to thank Okeechobee County, the Okeechobee City Council and the members of the Brighton community for all they have done to preserve the land.

“It was a true community effort” he said. “He said many of the former council representatives had lent their support to this project.”

Brighton residents were recognized by Shawn Henderson for their special work creating several reenactments to draw attention to the need for preserving the site. They are members of the organization, Friends of the Okeechobee Battlefield, including Kevin and Sandra Osceola and Lorene Gopher.

Willard Steele told the audience that the park will be an economic and historic benefit to the county. He outlined the work done over the years to bring attention to the site and spoke of the findings that got the ball rolling 21 years ago by archeologist Bob Carr of the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy.

Because of Carr’s work the site was registered as one of America’s most endangered historical lands, a critical factor that led to the State’s purchase. Steele brought large representations of historic maps and a letter written by Zachary Taylor himself that described the conditions of the battlefield that he had used to find the exact location.

Special thanks were also given to Gary Ritter of the South Florida Water Management District, the artist Guy LaBree, Mark Glisson of the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, and Jack Williamson.

In closing, Henderson said: “I would like to offer special thanks to Rep. Machek for calling this commemoration press conference, Chairman Mitchell Cypress and President Moses Osceola for the great lunch we are going to partake in and also for the tents and tables, Sheriff Paul May for assisting us with parking, [the South Florida Water Management District] for providing the drinks, Florida Department of Corrections for the mowing and trimming, Councilman Watford and Gary Ritter for their assistance in coordinating this event.”