Williston History Committee formed to preserve the oral and written history of the Williston Florida area.

Williston Area Family History Questionnaire
Alerted by the tsunami of population flooding northward from Central and South Florida, and the death from old age of many leading citizens, Friends realized the importance of preserving the area’s history before all memory is washed away. In 2003, we held a series of receptions for “old timers” to recall and share their stories.	*Click image to see larger*
A committee was formed to take these stories, together with material gathered through interviews and archival research, and write an area history. Williston: Crossroads of Florida, will be published in 2006. You can place your order now by writing Williston History Committee, P.O. Box 878, Williston, FL 32696. and pay when you receive your copy. Prepublication price will be announced later.
*Click image to see larger*	The book will include both a chronological account of the growth, decline, and re-emergence of Williston and a collection of family histories. Current and former residents are encouraged to send their family histories to the committee at the address above. There is no charge. For guidance in what to include, you may print out the form [ PDF LInk] to complete and mail in. Or you may email your family history to willistonhistory@yahoo.com. We are also looking for pictures of your family and of the area’s past—the ones in that box up in your attic. Please call the library, 352-528-2313, to make an appointment to bring them in to be scanned and immediately returned to you. Deadline is December 31, 2005
To promote the book, members of the committee decided to put together a short video of several interviews and dramatized scenes of pioneers Jesse Mercer Willis, and his son, Dr. Jesse Mercer Willis. Early drafts of the video were so well received that the project was expanded and is now available to the public on video tape ($12) and DVD ($15). They can be purchased by sending a check to Friends of the Williston Public Library P.O. Box 265 Williston, FL 32696 As the committee has gathered stories and photographs, memorabilia from the area’s past—ranging from tokens from the company store to Willis’s great grandson’s West Point uniform to soda bottles from the local bottling plant—have been donated. These have been added to the collection the librarian has arranged in the library’s vault (the former bank vault) and in display cases in the main reading room. The History Committee anticipates undertaking a campaign to establish a Williston Historical Museum to house these items, when work for the book is completed. Meanwhile, we welcome donations for display in the library. Call the librarian, Michelle Traylor, 352-528-2313.