History of Spanish Time Period
The Spanish history of this area of Florida goes back 447 years. Panfilo de Narvaez, Spanish explorer, led his party into the Tallahassee area in 1528. They camped on the Wakulla River near St. Marks, built crude ships, and set forth on a fateful trip to Mexico. The entire sea-going party was lost in a storm; however, others reached Mexico by land and recorded the events of history.
In 1539, Hernando DeSoto came through this area in his search for gold spending the winter here on the shores of Lake Jackson. During that next 100 years the Spanish explorers in St. Augustine became familiar with the Apalachee region and began trade with the agriculturally efficient Indians here.
In 1639 the Spanish established a chain of missions to both Christianize the Indians and to protect them from the more warlike tribes to the north. For this protection the Indians supplied food to the Spanish. This trade arrangement was highly successful until Col. James Moore came through here destroying the missions, burning the villages, killing the braves and taking women and children as slaves. Thus the Apalachee area was deserted for more than 100 years.
Meet Our Krewe Chief: Joel Jarrett
Joel was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University, with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Joel started his career in banking, spent 16 years with the Department of Education, working with school districts and managing the Office of Student Financial Assistance. He then spent over 20 years with Hancock Whitney Bank as a Senior Vice President managing all contract and payments and budgets for Cooperate Real Estate and Facilities Management. He is now the Owner/Operator of Conserva Irrigation in Tallahassee. He is a graduate of the Florida School of Banking and Leadership Tallahassee Class 23. He has been involved in the community severing different Board of Directors including the Big Bend Homeless Collation and the Office of the Public Guardian and has served on various committees for the United Way of the Big Bend. In 2019 was chosen to be one of the candidates for Real Men Wear pink for the American Cancer Society.
Joel has two sons Joshua, 30 (2008 Mr. Springtime Tallahassee) a graduate of University of Florida and currently resides in New York City and Jacob, 29 currently resides in Tallahassee and works for Tallahassee Ford. Joel enjoys working on household projects, traveling in the sun and snow, and spending time with family and friends.
Joel has been a member of Springtime Tallahassee since 2005. He started out as a cooperate sponsor, and been a member of W &R then ASK serving as Krewe Chief. He has been on the BOD of Springtime for many years as Board Krewe Representative, Treasurer, President- Elect and President in 2020-2021. He is now serving in the role as Spanish Krewe Chief. He is a member of Governor Staff, servicing many roles and has served as Chairman of the Silent Auction Committee and Golf Committee as well as President of the Springtime Tallahassee Foundation.