Page 233 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 222/340

The Early Twentieth Century

made “outings” to the garden on Sunday afternoons. Aunt Aggie
charged no admission, but she usually had flowers and vegetables
for sale, and visitors frequently left freewill offerings. Aunt Aggie
provided seats in shaded corners of the garden where visitors could
rest and talk. For those who showed an interest, Aunt Aggie was
always willing to tell fortunes.34
Additional curiosities were provided to those who ventured
into the modest two-story frame house of the Jones family. A trellis
of bones covered with vines formed an arcade between the front
gate and the house. Gourds, pine-cones, and other natural dec­
orations highlighted the interior. A collection of curios created a
museum atmosphere. Aunt Aggie had jars and bottles of snakes
and other reptiles preserved in alcohol alongside skeletons of
alligators and other animals. To the amazement of many of the
visitors, a human skeleton hung in the hallway which, according to
legend, was the skeleton of an Indian. Aunt Aggie displayed many
Indian artifacts such as arrow-heads, pottery, and feathers. She
also proudly displayed a marble-topped table and silver coffee pot
which had been gifts of her former mistress. A couple of old-
fashioned dolls were happy reminders of her youth.35
A devout woman, Aunt Aggie combined folklore, superstition,
and conventional religion. She believed strongly in magic to cure
disease or insure success. A Bible, a wedding ring, a doorkey, and a
glass filled with water were a regular part of her magical rites. On
special occasions she put on Indian garb and danced an Indian
dance. One of her favorite Scriptural verses, which she recited
daily, was: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart, be acceptable in thy sight, 0 Lord, my strength and my
redeemer.” Although the date of her birth is uncertain Aunt Aggie
was well in her nineties when she died in 1918.36

34Ibid., pp. 2-3.
“Ibid., pp. 6-7.
“Ibid., pp. 12-17.

175

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