Ormond Beach, FL – In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Chief Tomokie monument, Ormond Beach Mayor, Bill Partington, declared the sculpture an official landmark of the city.
In 1955, the monument was created by Fred Dana Marsh with a reflection pool added in 1956. The monument was officially dedicated in 1957. Today, the monument is in disrepair as the bows, arrows, and spears are now gone and the figures are badly damaged.
The area the landmark resides in was once a Timucan Native American village called Nocoroco before it was turned into a British Plantation known as Mount Oswald. Today, the area is known as Tomoka State Park.
According to local author Marian S. Tomblin, the legend behind the monument is that of Chief Tomokie drinking sacred water from a spring, causing a war. Drinking the water made Chief Tomokie unbeatable until a Native American princess, Oleeta, shot a deadly arrow at the Chief to protect the spring. Upon reaching for the cup of water Chief Tomokie was drinking from, Oleeta was killed.
"Tomoka State Park is one of Ormond Beach's natural historic treasures," says Mayor Partington. "It's a hidden gem. I've been visiting the park since I was a young child and I'm proud to do anything I can do to help promote, preserve and protect it."
Photos courtesy Florida State Parks.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
