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Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Florida Historic Marker

Side One Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Orange City, Florida Historic Marker

Road sign for Sparkman and Rhode Island Avenues in Orange City, FL. This is the location of the Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Florida Historic Marker.Located at the intersection of S. Sparkman and W. Rhode Island Avenues in a growing section of Orange City, FL is the Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Florida Historic Marker. This Marker commemorates important moments in both women’s history and the history of flight in Florida.

This is a two-sided marker. The marker is set back a bit from the intersection. Use caution when visiting. There is no close parking so you will be parked on the side of the road. There are sidewalks close by to make the short walk easier.

                                                                                                                                                                     

Florida Marker Program

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.

If you wish to learn more about this state program, including qualifications, how to apply, the application, costs, and more, please use THIS LINK.

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Side One Betsy Ross Airfield for Women Orange City, Florida Historic MarkerSide One:

On May 9, 1931, the land beyond this sign was donated to the Betsy Ross Air Corps, a pre-World War II organization of female pilots. Designated the Betsy Ross Airport, the airfield was the only airport in the nation entirely owned and operated by women. Its purpose was a place for female pilots to learn to fly and improve their skills. In the northeast corner of the 160-acre site was Arawana Lodge, used as the Corps regional headquarters and a place for the pilots to vacation. The vision, gift, and construction were all realized by Orange City’s Dr. Frances Dickinson. She was an educator, woman’s rights advocate, ophthalmologist and club woman. A flyer herself, Dickinson noted female pilots were not provided equal opportunity in the growing field of aviation. By 1932, Dickinson completed construction of one 1,000-foot runway and a 600-foot central axis designed to serve seven more runways. On January 13, 1932, the Betsy Ross Air Corp’s National Commander, Opal Kunz, and Lt. Commander, Lillian Perkins, assumed operations and continued development of the airfield.

Betsy Ross Airfield for Women side two Orange City Florida Historic MarkerSide Two:

The Betsy Ross Air Corps’ period of existence was short-lived (1931-1933), and never formally recognized by the U.S. Military. Dickinson secured funding to complete the airport construction from Florida’s Federal Emergency Relief Administration in December 1934. By 1935, Volusia County signed a five-year lease to use the airfield as an emergency landing field. After World War II, the airfield was renamed to the DeLand-Orange City Airport. In January 1945, J. Wade Coleman of the Orange State Flying Services leased the airfield to operate an educational facility. Coleman contracted with Stetson University to provide flight training supplementing the university’s existing aviation ground school courses. Before Dickinson’s death on May 19, 1945, four women earned their solo pilot’s licenses from her airfield. The field remained an active private airfield until a television tower was constructed over the western edge in the mid-1960s. Portions of the former airfield are now home to Manatee Cove Elementary and River Springs Middle School. The Compass Landing Subdivision pays tribute to the legacy of the Betsy Ross Airport and Dr. Frances Dickinson’s vision to advance women fliers.

A Florida Heritage Site

Sponsored by the City of Orange City, and the Florida Department of State

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You may learn more about the Betsy Ross Air Corps using THIS LINK.

 

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Civil Rights in Florida New Smyrna Museum of History

Civil Rights in Florida published by Arcadia Publishing

Civil Rights in Florida published by Arcadia PublishingJoin me at the New Smyrna Museum of History on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at either 4:30p or 6:30p for a discussion of my newest book, Civil Rights in Florida. Admission to the museum and talk are free for members, or $8 for future members.

Published in November 2023 by Arcadia Publishing, this book covers woman’s suffrage, the Tallahassee Bus Boycott, Jackie Robinson, St. Augustine in 1964, and women’s rights pioneer Roxcy O’Neal Bolton.

Civil Rights in Florida is a subject that is under constant watch. Learn about some of the past struggles the state has played a part in.

Learn about how Major League Baseball honors Jackie Robinson each year at this post on my blog.

This post may contain affiliate links including links to Amazon. 

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Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri: Library Additions

Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri book cover

Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri is a new release from Arcadia Publishing. Learn more about this book in my post below.

 

Lady Rebels of Civil War MissouriWood, Larry, Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing. 2022. 154 pages, 129 pages of text. Bibliography, notes, index, b/w photos. ISBN 9781467150095, $23.99.

Thank you to my good friends at Arcadia Publishing for providing a complimentary review copy. A more detailed review will be forthcoming.

Although war was traditionally the purview of men, the realities of America’s Civil War often brought women into the conflict. They served as nurses, sutlers, and washerwomen. Some even disguised themselves as men and joined the fight on the battlefield. In the border state of Missouri, where Southern sympathies ran deep, women sometimes clashed with occupying Union forces because of illegal, covert activities like spying, smuggling, and delivering mail. When caught and arrested, the women were often imprisoned or banished from the state. In at least a couple of cases, they were even sentenced to death. Join award-winning author Larry Wood as he chronicles the misadventures and ordeals of the lady rebels of Missouri.

You may review other blog posts related to Arcadia Publishing by clicking HERE.

To learn more about the military role of Missouri in the Civil War I recommend The Civil War in Missouri: A Military History written by Louis S. Gerteis.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence the views and opinions shared on this blog.

 

To keep up with some of the best current writing on the Civil War, I strongly recommend a subscription to Civil War Monitor I have subscribed for several years and the content is always top notch. Every other month you will get articles written by some of the most knowledgeable historians in the field. These articles are not written for academics but rather for a broader audience. The book reviews will guide you to some of the best in Civil War scholarship from a variety of academic and trade publishers. Click the link or image below for exclusive savings.


Civil War Monitor

from: Magazine Values