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Webmaster - Niceville, Florida Online History Center

(Website best viewed on Windows Internet Explorer as a section of the NICEVILLE, FLORIDA - Onlne History Center)

"NOT what we have, but what we use; Not what we see, but what we choose - These are the things that mar or bless The sum of human happiness. Not as we take, but as we give; Not as we pray, but as we live - These are the things that make for peace, Both now and after Time shall cease." ~ Joseph Cullen Root


 Elisa Mitchiner: Accomplishments to uncover and preserve the rich history of Niceville, Florida

  • Volunteers as Niceville historian since 2006
  • Researched and documented the early history of Niceville through the 1940's
  • Provided instrumental documentation that resulted in renaming the Boggy Bayou Bridge to William Nathey Bridge in 2007 for the 150th commemorative anniversary of the Nathey Gristmill built in 1857
  • Wrote articles and furnished historic photographs published by the Baker Block Museum in The Heritage of Okaloosa County, Florida Volume II in 2008
  • Created the educational, not-for-profit website: Niceville, Florida Online History Center (boggyflorida.com) in 2010 to document the early history of the city.
  • Revealed through research that today's name for Niceville had officially been Boggy, Florida. The name changed to Niceville from Boggy in 1910 when it was in Walton County, before Okaloosa County was formed in 1915
  • Presented documentation to the Niceville City Council in 2013 resulting in the addition of the establishment date July 21, 1868 to the City Seal when the Florida Legislature authorized mail service to the community
  • Served as project manager and fundraiser for the Niceville Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Worker Statue project in 2014 by gathering historical documents from 1933-1942 when Niceville was home to two CCC companies. The CCC Worker Statue was delivered May 13, 2021 and culminated with the dedication and unveiling ceremony at Turkey Creek Nature Walk on July 22, 2021 hosted by the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. The Niceville statue is number 77 on the national CCC Legacy Worker Statue Trail across the nation that will bring heritage tourism to our area
  • Served on the 2016 Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Civic Hall of Fame Planning Committee and submitted the nomination for the first Inductee, William John Nathey, to the Inaugural Class
  • Wrote the article "CCC Camp Bigby at Niceville, Florida" published in the Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Journal (January-March 2017)
  • Honored by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), with the awarding of the 2017 Historic Preservation Recognition Award
  • Appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Niceville Charter Review Committee in 2019
  • Received the You Rock Award from the Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in May 2019
  • Appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Niceville Charter Review Committee in 2022
  • Served as project manager for Niceville's first historical markers that highlight Niceville's martime history, lumber industry history and the 1934 downtown fire that culminated with the dedication and unveiling of three markers on October 6, 2022 hosted by the City of Niceville
  • Served as project manager for Niceville's fourth historical marker for the oldest school in Niceville dated from 1938. The dedication and unveiling was May 29, 2024 and hosted by the City of Niceville and the Okalossa County School Board  

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