NeVaeh Akers-Atkins offered a simple explanation for why she was at a local Juneteenth event last week. “It’s very important to me,” the 11-year-old said. “It shows people that we should be treated the same.” She was with families and friends at the first annual Juneteenth Family Day Celebration in Wesley Chapel’s Union Park community. The event was held to commemorate the end of slavery … [Read more...]
History comes alive at Civil War reenactment
March 11, 2020 By
Civil War buffs, area students and spectators had a chance to get a sense of what life was like during the U.S. Civil War era, at a three-day event at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village in Dade City. The event, held Feb. 28 through March 1, provided an opportunity for school field trips and for museum visitors to immerse themselves in living history displays. Public school, private … [Read more...]
A blast to the Civil War past
November 20, 2019 By
Get ready to travel back in time with the Civil War reenactment, “Raid on the Salt Works.” The three-day event will be held at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. A school field trip will take place on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students and their chaperones can take a self-guided tour at numerous stations, depicting the Civil … [Read more...]
Savor a slice of ‘Old Florida’ beauty
October 2, 2019 By
Residents who live on the eastern side of Pasco County don’t have to travel far to get an idea of what “Old Florida” was like. They can find evidence of that loveliness all around the locale’s corners and bends. Perhaps that’s why those with deep ties to this part of the county fight so fiercely to protect their piece of paradise, and why the area attracts newcomers who want to put their … [Read more...]
Clay Sink remains; others fade away
July 24, 2019 By
Small communities with names such as “Mexico,” “Drexel,” “Ehren,” and “Chipco” appeared on Pasco County maps more than 100 years ago. They were located along the Orange Belt Railway, the first — and last — railroad to cross Central Pasco with a potential for future development. The names of those small towns now are mere footnotes in Pasco County’s history. But, a tiny community has … [Read more...]
Civil War history comes to life at Pioneer Florida Museum & Village
February 27, 2019 By
Civil War buffs had a chance to see history come to life at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village over the weekend. Re-enactors also had a chance to take part in battles and skirmishes on the museum grounds. The sounds of soldiers shouting commands and the smoke from firing guns filled the air. Little ones shielded their ears to avoid the loud sounds of the guns. Besides seeing … [Read more...]
The Civil War visits Dade City
November 14, 2018 By
To all history buffs and those curious about learning more on the Civil War, the Pioneer Florida Museum will be recapturing this American era from Nov.16 through Nov. 18. Entitled the “Living History and Civil War Reenactments,” the event begins with a school field trip on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Accompanied by a tour guide, students will be able to roam through the museum visiting … [Read more...]
Check out Pasco’s history at Fivay.org
August 8, 2018 By
If you are curious about Pasco County’s history, perhaps the best way to become familiar with it would be to check out the website, Fivay.org. Jeff Miller, a recently retired high school mathematics teacher, maintains the website and has invested countless hours piecing together Pasco County’s story. Miller has gleaned information from newspaper articles, old deeds, post cards, photographs, … [Read more...]
A look at history through vintage clothing
December 6, 2017 By
It may not seem apparent, at first, but understanding vintage clothing styles can offer insights into an earlier time. JoAnn (Jo) Hopper and Lana McLaurin share a passion for vintage clothing, and have devoted decades to collecting, studying, displaying and teaching about historical clothing. The pair of dear friends met in 1979, and the Pasco County duo have dressed the mannequins and … [Read more...]
A time to remember military sacrifice
May 24, 2017 By
Our nation is preparing to observe Memorial Day, in honor of the men and women who died while serving in the armed forces. The American holiday, which falls on the last Monday of May each year, originally was known as Decoration Day. It began in the years following the Civil War and was declared an official federal holiday in 1971. To mark the holiday weekend, several events and … [Read more...]
