Fletcher to open history talks series

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Fletcher to open history talks series

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 12 January 2011 00:00

The Osceola County Historical Society will begin its 2011 series of History Talks Saturday, Jan. 29, with a return appearance by former journalist Jovida Fletcher, who will discuss her latest book, “More Reminiscing in the Valley of the Tohopekaliga,” as well as her experiences when she was a journalist traveling throughout the area documenting the lives of many of Central Florida’s interesting and unusual residents.
The program, entitled “A Conversation with Jovida Fletcher, Part II,” will pick up from where Fletcher concluded her first program and visit with OCHS back in 2008. At that time, she was only contemplating compiling her articles into a book. Since then, she has authored and published “Reminiscing in the Valley of the Tohopekaliga” and its sequel, “More Reminiscing…”
Fletcher has had a distinguished career as a historical journalist working in Orlando for 26 years, beginning in 1969. In 1988, the Osceola Sentinel began a column called “Reminiscing,” in which she documented her travels throughout the region along with photographer Richard Shepherd, talking to folks who shared memories of life and experiences of earlier times. Over her career, she has written 396 personal profiles, from the powerful and wealthy who have influenced and shaped Central Florida counties, to the blue-collar working class and poor — all of whom shared a commonality of having pioneering roots in Central Florida.
And like her subjects, Fletcher’s family roots go back a long way: born in a sawmill town called Lacoochee in Pasco County in 1940, her father, Oliver Earl Campbell, worked for the Everglades Cypress Company, and her grandfather, J.O. Campbell, was a preacher. As a child, she and her grandmother would accompany him as he pastored at churches in both Polk and Osceola counties. During these journeys, they were invited into many homes and heard many stories while folks sat around the dinner table and reminisced about the “old days.”
The Jan. 29 Fletcher history talk will begin promptly at 2 p.m., and will be followed with a book-signing. Admission is $10 ($5 with OCHS membership), and due to limited seating, advance reservations are recommended by calling 407-396-8644.