Huge Turnout for the Historic Beekman Egg Roll!

Wow! What fun at the Historic Beekman House on Easter Sunday! The Jacksonville Heritage Society organized a wonderful event of live music, Beekman House Tours, egg decorating and a traditional egg roll and egg toss!

More than 100 people came to enjoy the festivities. Organized by Carolyn Kingsnorth, JHS President, Kerri Hecox, & Christin Sherbourne, the event drew folks from all over town.

The band, a local South Medford High School Group, called the Apple Cider Gang was fantastic – and even had some groupies!

“The White House Easter Egg Roll began in 1878, just three years after Cornelius Beekman moved his family into their new home on California Street,” explains Kerri Hecox, one of the event’s organizers. “Egg rolling on Easter was popular entertainment in the 1870s, and what better way to celebrate this important period of Jacksonville’s past than by having an Easter Egg Roll at the Beekman House!”

For those not familiar with an egg roll, children roll hard boiled eggs over the grass using a long wooden spoon. The first child to roll an egg across the finish line is declared the winner.

Prior to the event, children personalized their eggs with markers, stickers, and other craft items.

Well-known local photographer David Gibb took family photos.

Christin Sherbourne said, “We’ve been wanting the community to see and enjoy this wonderful historical building and space that doesn’t get used enough. I see this as a memory maker for my own family and friends that we can continue from year to year.”

Kerri Hecox echoes that sentiment. “We hope this will be the first year of our own local tradition. The Beekman House can play an important role in building community in Jacksonville—it’s a great venue with historic ties to the past.

The Jacksonville Heritage Society manages four historic properties in Jacksonville—the Beekman House, Beekman Bank, the Courthouse and Jail complex, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Rectory. The purpose of JHS is to preserve, restore, improve, maintain, and manage historical properties in Jacksonville to ensure the continued vitality of these primary elements of Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District designation.