[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 120 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF CAMP WALTON SCHOOLHOUSE

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                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2012

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the 
100th Anniversary of Camp Walton School located in Fort Walton Beach, 
Florida.
  Construction on the Camp Walton School began in 1911 by a group of 
local citizens who sought to ensure that their children would have a 
permanent location to pursue their education. Located in historic 
downtown Fort Walton Beach, the school opened in 1912 with 15 students 
and one teacher. The one-room schoolhouse held classes for eight 
grades. In 1927, a second room was added to the schoolhouse for 
students in grades 9 through 12. The Camp Walton School continued to 
serve as a bastion of education until 1936, when a hurricane damaged 
the school.
  After the hurricane of 1936, the local residents decided to build a 
new school for their community; however, the Camp Walton School 
building continued to be used by the local community. During World War 
II, the building served as an apartment house for several families. In 
1974, the building's owners donated the Camp Walton School to the 
Junior Service League to restore it to its original status and preserve 
it as a historic museum. The Junior Service League, in conjunction with 
the Okaloosa County School Board, completed the restoration of the Camp 
Walton School in 1976 when it was reopened to the public.
  The City of Fort Walton Beach assumed operation of the Camp Walton 
School in 1986, and since that time, it has come to serve thousands of 
local students and visitors from across the United States and around 
the world. The Camp Walton School is an important historical piece of 
the Northwest Florida community, and in 2010 it was placed on the 
National Register of Country Schools.
  Education is the foundation for future success, and it has served as 
one of the cornerstones of our nation. The citizens of the Fort Walton 
Beach community realized this important fact and came together to 
ensure that their children had a suitable location to pursue their 
studies. One hundred years later, the Camp Walton School still stands 
as a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together 
to preserve its history.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor 
for me to recognize the 100th Birthday Celebration of Camp Walton 
Schoolhouse. With the dedication and commitment of the Fort Walton 
Beach Community, this historic site will continue to teach future 
generations about their shared history and inspire them to achieve 
great success.

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