Join Judge Nelson E. Bailey on Thursday, May 30 at noon at the Wellington National Golf Club as he recounts stories highlighting Florida’s rich multicultural history and agricultural roots.
The retired Palm Beach County Court judge and longtime resident of Loxahatchee Groves is a famed local authority and popular storyteller.
The only person listed as a teller of exclusively Florida tales in the Directory of American Storytellers, Bailey has a passion for Florida history and a talent for storytelling.
In his performances as a “Florida Cracker Storyteller” of the late 1800s, he shares his knowledge of the state’s unique and largely forgotten history and cultural heritage, seeking to preserve the human stories that go with the land.
The term “cracker” dates back to 1763 and came into use to describe the original Florida frontiersmen and women. The term is still used in an endearing manner to honor the pioneer spirit of the “Cracker” in Florida.
For more than 30 years, Bailey told his stories at outdoor events while mounted on his horse, which had Spanish bloodlines that go back 500 years in Florida. He was always accompanied by one of his traditional Florida cur cattle-herding dogs. His horse has since passed, but Bailey still often brings one of his dogs to storytelling events.
This inaugural Lunch & Learn event is the first in a series, hosted by the Wellington Historical Society and sponsored by Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith PLLC, Attorneys at Law.
Tickets are available for $25 for Wellington Historical Society members, and $35 for non-members.
The Lunch & Learn program will include a gourmet luncheon, catered by the Wellington National Golf Club, and the opportunity to mingle and network with others, as well as admission to the presentation, which begins promptly at noon. Tickets are available at www.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
For more information, e-mail info@wellingtonhistoricalsociety.com.
