WAY DOWN UPON THE SUANNEE RIVER June 12

Six years ago Jo and I visited Florida’s Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center Sate Park. We returned this year so Jo’s sister, Arla ( who is traveling to FL with us), also could enjoy the park.

Stephen Foster, who died in 1864 at the age of 37, wrote over 200 songs in his brief career. He lived in Pennsylvania and was not a Southerner. One classification of the kinds of his music (with an example) are: minstrel songs (Camptown Races), love songs (Beautiful Dreamer), spiritual songs (Hard Times Came Again No More), popular songs (My Old Kentucky Home Good Night) and civil war songs (Was My Brother in the Battle). His lyrics included the words “Black and Darkie” and some were written in the “Darkie’s” dialect. Displays made the point that he did not glorify slavery; rather his lyrics reflected the word useage of the era – 150 years ago. He was one of the first American professional songwriters.

I remember my grandfather, Jay Black, playing the banjo and singing many of Foster’s songs. Jo has similar memories of her father playing them too. What memories do you have of Foster songs? I suspect that our children and grandchildren are not even familiar with his name.

These pictures were taken in my Motorola cell phone's 10 mp camera. This is the first time I have downloaded them to the computer.

  

This carillon tower plays Foster tunes several time a per day. The  Carillon in the 200 ft. tower is noteworthy because  it has 97 bells. The tubular bells vary in weight from 69 to 426 pounds. It was completed in 1958.

.

Jo is approaching the main museum building. It has a large collection of unusual pianos as well as original sheet music of Fosters songs.

 

Displays in one end of the building. Several unusual pianos are on display.

 

Dioramas illustrate some of Foster’s songs . This one is on “Way down Upon the Suwannee River. A steamboat moves in he background.

This diorama  is on My Old Kentucky Home. Some of the figures move.

 

This one depicts “Old Black Joe”.

This display explains the tragedy of Foster’s untimely passing.

 

 

Our camping spot for the night – a pullthrough with water and 30 amps plus satellite TV from our rooftop antenna. Spanish moss hangs from most of the tree branches.