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Listen: The Bluegrass & Old-Time ProgramKoreshan Unity president Hedwig Michel opening presents during her birthday party at the Koreshan State Historic Site park in Estero, Florida.
Image Number
Date Note
Rights
Collection
N2009- 3, Papers, ca 1887-1990; Box 6, folder 10
Subject Term
Personal Subjects
Corporate Subject
Physical Description
General Note
Dr. Cyrus R. Teed's utopian community of 200 followers began relocating from Chicago, Illinois to Florida in 1894. Dr. Teed took the name "Koresh," the Hebrew translation for Cyrus, meaning shepherd. The colonists believed that the entire universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere. The Koreshans built and operated a printing facility, boat works, cement works, sawmill, bakery, store and hostelry. After the death of Dr. Teed in 1908 at the age of 69, membership of his religious group began to decline. In 1961, the four remaining members deeded 305 acres of their land to the state of Florida as a park and memorial. The Koreshan Unity Settlement Historic District, a.k.a. Koreshan Unity State Park, was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Accompanying handwritten note on back: "3-27-66 pre-dated birthday in hut".
Biographical Note
Hedwig Michel was born in Frankfurt, Germany on March 29, 1892. She later became president of Koreshan Unity in 1960 upon the death of president Laurie Bubbett. She died on August 5, 1982 in Estero, Florida.
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