Golden Hill Elementary set for Seward Day

FLORIDA-The Florida Historical Society will celebrate William Henry Seward's birthday with its annual program on Saturday, May 14. Seward, an American statesman, was born in Florida, N.Y., on May 16, 1801. He was known for his staunch opposition to the spread of slavery and for his handling of foreign affairs as a member of Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet during the Civil War. Seward was wounded by a would-be assassin on the same night that Lincoln was murdered. He recovered. The Golden Hill Elementary fourth-graders jump-started the celebration with a visit last Thursday from two members of the Florida Historical Society. Charter members Robert Scott and John Kimiecik discussed the life and times of the noted statesman and exhibited a large display of Seward memorabilia from the society archives and a private collection. The events on May 14 will begin at 10 a.m. with a wreath presentation at the Seward Monument on North Main Street. Then program will then move to the Seward Institute Cafetorium. Golden Hill's fourth-graders and Seward's seventh-graders will present skits and the historical society will trace the roles of Samuel S. Seward and his son William H. Seward in the development of the S.S. Seward Institute. Society president Gary Randall offers an invitation to the entire community to join in this annual cele