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Pioneer Florida Museum

Is Dade City poised for a marketing rebrand?

December 1, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

The City of Dade City is in midst of an evolution that undoubtedly will alter the community’s aesthetic  — perhaps for decades to come.

The charming town in East Pasco is poised to see some 14,000 new homes on the books within the next five years, plus a slew of exciting downtown amenities and other unique, adventurous hotspots on the outskirts of town, just outside the city limits.

Drawing attention to Dade City’s past, while embracing it’s future is likely a challenge as the community looks to define its marketing identify. It’s an exercise that’s similar to how Pasco County in 2019 rebranded itself as ‘Florida’s Sports Coast,’ which is intended to capitalize on the county’s wave of youth and amateur recreation facilities. Shown here is The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum, housed within the Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Depot. This was the first site in Pasco County that was be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (File)

It’s longtime moniker, “Proud Heritage and Promising Future,” may no longer be quite apt — because, as it turns out, the future is happening now.

So, city leaders face this looming question: How does Dade City go about rebranding itself as a tourist destination, and what specifically does it want to promote, to best encourage visitors and foster economic growth amid an unprecedented period?

Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director talked about those issues during two city commission workshops, held in October and November.

“We need to decide who we are and what we want to be,” Romagnoli said, addressing the Dade City Commission. “I think the whole thing about the brand is actually having our vision of what we want our future to be and sticking to it. How can we market the city as a destination, like Clearly Zephyrhills, like Florida’s Sports Coast?”

Following the monthly workshops and three-plus hours of discussion, at least one conclusion is apparent —  much more brainstorming is needed, before the city become serious and throws thousands of dollars to a branding consultant to develop an image profile (photos, videos, graphics, logos) to best promote the town’s features.

Built into the city’s budget for this year is $40,000 toward a marketing and advertising plan, promotional activities and other contractual services.

Before that money (and possibly much more) gets allocated, however, commissioners believe additional input is needed from the community and the public, including local businesses, residents and other stakeholders.

The input could take form in charrettes, surveys, monthly forums, and even door-to-door visits.

Commissioners also agreed that it may be prudent to wait until some new amenities throughout the city are established.

In other words, don’t put the cart before the horse.

“I do think branding right now is a little premature,” Mayor Camille Hernandez said. “There’s a lot of things happening, but I think what we need to do is go back to this community (for input).”

She also added: “I think we’re just a few steps away. It’s right under our noses.”

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive likewise was vocal about fostering grassroots community feedback on branding the city for the future.

“I don’t think we have actually talked about a real vision of what we want, or expect from the future, when it comes to development, when it comes to growing the city,” he said. “I think we need to have the public on board with this, especially when you’re talking about branding.”

Commissioner Normita Woodard, too, pointed out that some of the best ideas or designs may first come from a talented local volunteer, which may yield some cost savings instead of hiring an outside branding firm. Woodard also added she’s in “a reserved state” about spending thousands of dollars just yet, as the city is in a transitional period and still navigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

First things first
In the meantime, sprucing up the city’s downtown is necessary before doubling down on a full-scale rebranding effort, commissioners agreed.

Commissioners expressed concerns on proceeding with a full-on rebrand until noticeable improvements are made along the city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) district in the form of wayfinding signage, speed limit and lighting fixtures, façade improvements and filling commercial property vacancies.

Some solutions could come via a commercial minimum maintenance standards ordinance, which staff is drafting — based on a consensus reached by commissioners to proceed in that direction.

If a maintenance standard is approved, it would require upkeep from property owners and business tenants on building paint, signs, window coverings, dumpster enclosures and fencing or security upgrades. Besides the CRA, standards would likely apply to the city’s main thoroughfares along U.S 301, U.S. 98 Bypass, State Road 52/21st Street intersection, and Meridian Avenue.

Emphasizing the importance of cleaning up the city, the mayor said: “Nobody wants to go to an icky, dirty place.”

Also before spending thousands on branding and marketing, another pressing issue is solving the city’s sizeable commercial building vacancy rate.

It presently exceeds 40% just in the downtown area, Romagnoli said.

“What are the vacancies telling our visitors: That there’s not anything going on. You walk down a street and you see a long wall of nothing but empty,” she said. “What makes them want to go to the next store?”

Commissioner Knute Nathe said it’s a “chicken-and-egg” dilemma that can’t quite yet be fully quantified: “You know, it’s kind of hard to market a place as a destination, without a ton of stuff already there; but it’s hard to bring businesses into town when people aren’t going there,” he said.

One way to create more consistent foot traffic is to have the city retain an event coordinator, Romagnoli suggested. The coordinator could host artisan and craft vendors somewhere downtown each weekend.

Commissioners expressed optimism with that idea.

Branding options abound
Aside from blighted areas, Dade City is beaming with opportunity on the horizon.

The city is in the midst of developing a 2-plus acre downtown park on Church Avenue, slated to include a multi-use water splash pad, bike-share shelter, amphitheater, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, open space, concession area and other amenities.

Just a stone’s throw away is a forthcoming event and entertainment center on Seventh Street, known as The Block.

The site of a former car dealership, and spearheaded by development partners Larry Guilford and Melanie Armstrong, The Block will include a wedding and event venue, outside patio, brewer, catering business, space for food trucks and a CrossFit gym.

Also on Seventh Street is the Dade City Center for the Arts, which has begun making inroads to facilitate community art events, as well as indoor and outdoor arts and cultural exhibits.

Other imaginative and creative marketing and branding possibilities seemingly abound.

Possibilities include leveraging the fun, family friendly experiences at Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and Snowcat Ridge, the state’s only snowtubing park, off St. Joe Road. Those attractions are just outside of city limits, but have a Dade City address.

The city also may be able to capitalize on another niche: Its budding reputation for rural, rustic destination weddings.

There are about nine such spots in East Pasco, including several with a Dade City address, Romagnoli said.

The city could consider a branding campaign that hypes local wedding spots, while encouraging other activities nearby, whether it’s biking the local trails and roads, shooting at West Armory’s indoor range, strolling the downtown shopping and dining scene, touring Pioneer Florida Museum, and so on.

The city’s economic director said another opportunity to piggyback on the destination wedding angle, includes attracting photographers, caterers and wedding planners to lease one or multiple empty building spaces downtown.

Yet another branding concept? Promoting the city as a wholesome place to raise a family.

In any case, a challenge going forward will be fighting through some established perceptions and misconceptions, Romagnoli said.

A case in point: Forbes magazine once listed Dade City among “The Best Places to Retire.”

That label no longer fits, or is appropriate, Romagnoli said.

The city’s median age is around 36.

“We’re no longer the best place to retire, but we’re a great place to raise a family,” she said.

Published December 02, 2020

Dade City moves ahead on priority projects

June 16, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Dade City is moving ahead on some city priority projects.

The city’s commissioners have authorized staff to enter into a design-build contract with Borregard Construction Inc., for a design-build of a visitor’s information welcome center, to be located on the south side of Church Avenue near the Hardy Trail multi-use trailhead.

Preliminary plans call for a building of 1,100 square feet to 1,500 square feet, with two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The center will feature an open floor plan — allowing for vendor operations, area attractions, museums and art exhibits to host mobile displays.

Officials said the visitor’s center will not exceed $250,000, which is funded through a grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

The facility will be part of a larger exterior space concept that will feature a bike-share hub with stations for parking, minor repairs, and public resting areas for cyclists and exercising pedestrians.

The public will be invited to provide input on the design of the building, in the coming months. The general idea is for the visitor’s center to help promote some of the city’s attraction to locals and out-of-town visitors, said Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director.

For example, Pioneer Florida Museum would be able to display items to help promote that attraction.

“We want to make sure that the building will fit into the context of the neighborhood, with a contemporary interior that will allow for modern amenities, such as digital display ads and a place for our nonprofit partners and our community partners to have mobile exhibits,” Romagnoli said.

The project passed by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon dissenting.

Also, commissioners approved a motion allowing City Manager Leslie Porter to negotiate a contract with Wesley Chapel-based Magic Bubbles, to pressure wash sidewalks in the downtown area.

The company’s quote came in at $3,050 to pressure wash sidewalks from Church Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and Meridian Avenue from Eighth Street to Third Street. However, the commission also agreed to have the company clean other surrounding areas heavily trafficked downtown, including the sidewalks by Nancy’s Natural Foods, Lori Anne’s, Green Door on 8th, Magnolia Title Agency, and The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, among other businesses.

The request for additional cleaning services came from Commissioner Jim Shive. Given the added work will be at relatively minimal cost, commissioners directed the city manager to proceed without having to return for funding approval. The motion passed 4-1, with Newlon dissenting.

Published June 17, 2020

Dade City event offers sweet and spicy treats

January 2, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

The community is invited to bring an appetite for the annual Raising Cane: A Sweet and Spicy Event, on Jan. 12.

The function will be held at the Pioneer Florida Museum from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A hot Kiwanis pancake breakfast will usher in the event at opening time for $3.

Most folk-oriented events at the Pioneer Florida Museum encourage musical jam sessions. This one, with a variety of strings, performed in the cool weather at last year’s function. (File)

It will also give patrons the opportunity to try free samples for the cane syrup tasting contest.

Throughout the day, vendors will offer arts and crafts, as well as foods consisting of chili dogs, chili nachos and chili cheese fries.

At 11:15 a.m., the venue will be livened with performances from The Sara Rose Band, The Sandy Back Porch and The Barking Dogs.

Attendees will be able to sample various chili from two challenges – one held by city officials and another by local residents.

Ten tickets can be purchased for $5 with a sampling cup – one ticket per sample.

Three free voting tickets will be granted to guests to decide on their favorite chilis.

Cash and trophy prizes will be awarded to those in first, second and third place at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Stephanie Black, director at the museum. “It’s a great food event.”

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free entry for those under age 5.

Patrons are asked to only bring service dogs with a vest and proper documentation.

For more information or applications, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org, or email .

Raising Cane: A Sweet and Spicy Event
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for students; free admission for those under age 5.
Details: The event will offer a pancake breakfast, a cane syrup tasting contest, chili tasting contests and numerous vendors.
Info: Visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org, or email .

Published January 2, 2019

Dade City set to give locals a ‘Spook-tacular’ time

October 24, 2018 By Brian Fernandes

The Dade City Woman’s Club will host its first ‘Spook-tacular’ on the evenings of Oct. 26 and Oct. 27.

The event will be held on the grounds of the Pioneer Florida Museum, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

The public event will take place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., each day, with an admission charge of $8 and free parking.

Guests can attend in costume, and will be greeted with concession stands offering such foods as candy apples, popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.

Attendees will be able to walk through a haunted cemetery, as well as an Indian corn maze and may bump into a variety of zombies.

A “Hocus Pocus” segment will be offered for those under age 12, with a guided tour and history of the Salem witches.

Those age 12 and over can attend the “Jeepers Creepers” area where they can rock around in the Haunted Hayride.

“We’re hoping that this is something they anticipate for years to come,” said Laurie Padavan, president of Dade City’s Woman’s Club.

Proceeds will help support restoration work at the historic woman’s club building in Dade City.

Attendees are asked to bring only service pets.

For more information, contact Laurie Padavan at (352) 457-1409 or .

Spook-tacular
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
When: Oct. 26 and Oct. 27, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: $8 admission
Details: This Halloween-themed event allows visitors to roam through a corn maze, go on a hayride, visit a cemetery and enjoy some food.
Info: Contact Laurie Padavan at (352) 457-1409 or .

Published October 24, 2018

Pasco County proposes 2018 budget

July 19, 2017 By Kathy Steele

Fees for parking at Pasco parks may end

Pasco County’s proposed 2018 budget of about $1.3 billion will be sweetened with an extra $3 million spoonful of property tax revenues.

The extra cash could mean the end of parking fees charged at nine beach and wilderness parks.

Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City is among the locations that charge the $2 parking fee.

Utah Ferris sold his flutes at last year’s annual Silverhawk Native American Flute Gathering at Withlacoochee River Park. County commissioners may end $2 parking fees charged at some county parks. (File)

Final tallies on the total for assessed taxable property increased to about $24.6 billion, a 7.7 percent increase.

Initially, the county was expecting a total of $24.2 billion, which represented a 5.8 percent increase.

The revised numbers account for the county’s unexpected windfall of $3 million.

This data came from the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s Office.

With the good news on revenues, county commissioners voted to put most of additional revenue into reserves, but also to eliminate parking fees at nine parks. However, the $5 fees at boat ramps would remain. The county collects about $75,000 annually from those fees.

Pasco County Commissioners Jack Mariano and Mike Wells Jr., pushed to end the parking fees.

“I think there are folks who can’t afford to go to the parks because of the $2 fee,” said Wells. “That’s reality.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey supported the decision on parking fees. But, she had a caveat.

“I’m not in favor of getting rid of money (parking fees) for parks, unless we give them more money,” she said.

County commissioners agreed to add $320,000 to the parks department’s budget to cover lost revenues from the parking fees. Starkey also wants the county to create municipal service taxing units next year to directly benefit parks and libraries.

At their July 11 meeting in Dade City, commissioners also agreed to leave the property tax, or millage, rate unchanged.

However, some homeowners could see a slight increase of less than $10 in their annual tax bill, based on a 2.1 percent increase in homesteaded property values.

Revaluations totaling slightly more than $1 billion account for some of the increase in property tax revenue projections. Early numbers indicated about $624 million in revaluations.

About $693 million in new construction accounted for about one-third of the increase. That is about $5 million more than last year.

One more item could make it into the budget.

County commissioners will consider giving $25,000 each to the West Pasco Historical Society Museum and Library in New Port Richey, and the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.

“I think reaching out to them would be a good thing,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley.

However, he was asked to provide details on how the money would be spent before commissioners give their approval.

Two public hearings will be held on the 2018 budget, which would be effective October 1.

The first hearing is Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m., at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse in Dade City. The final hearing would be at the West Pasco Government Center boardroom in New Port Richey on Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

If Pasco County’s proposed budget is approved, the following nine parks would no longer collect parking fees.

  • Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
  • Anclote River Park
  • Moon Lake Park
  • RJ Strickland Memorial Park
  • Crews Lake Park
  • RK Rees Park
  • Anclote Gulf Park
  • Key Vista Park
  • Withlacoochee Park

Published July 19, 2017

Festival showcases quilts, horses

February 1, 2017 By B.C. Manion

The Pioneer Florida Museum is hosting a festival that showcases the strength of draft horses, and the beauty and diversity of quilts.

Quilters can make intricate designs with their threads and fabrics, as shown here.
(Richard K. Riley)

The event is slated for Feb. 4 and Feb. 5.

The Southern Draft Horse Pulling Competition will be 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Feb. 4.

Other highlights include:

  • The Hoffman Challenge Quilt Collection on display
  • A show of dolls, quilts and clothing
  • A display of works by local quilters
  • A sale of quilts and supplies
  • A quilt appraisal and trunk show
  • Cane grinding and syrup making, Feb. 4
  • An arts and crafts show; traditional crafts
  • Festival vendors and a concession stand
  • Children’s activities

The museum is one mile north of downtown Dade City, off U.S. 301, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

Farm Festival & Quilt Show
Where: 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Draft Horse Pull competition on Feb. 4, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.)
Cost: $10 for adults on Saturday and $5 on Sunday; $5 admission for children (6-12), both days. Children age 5 and younger are admitted free.

Published February 1, 2017

Festival offers up a sweet and spicy time

January 18, 2017 By B.C. Manion

 

Marcus Copeland, of Dade City, watches as Wilbur Dew, a staff member of the museum, pours the heated syrup into a container to cool and to be bottled for sale at the Pioneer Florida Museum. (Richard K. Riley)

Whether it was tasting cane syrup, riding on a mule, sampling chili, or listening to music, there were plenty of ways to have fun at the seventh annual Raising Cane Festival at the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.

Those attending the festival had a chance to see how sugarcane is turned into syrup. They also could check out the festival’s first chili cookoff, and the syrup-tasting contest, where samples were judged on taste, color, pour and clarity.

Other activities included live entertainment, barrel train rides and a petting zoo, as well as iron skillet and sugar cane pole tossin’.

Amelia Sizemore, 5, of Spring Hill, rides Sam the Mule around the cane-squeezing machine.

Wilbur Dew, who has produced cane syrup for more than 20 years, demonstrated his skills.

Museum experts say cane syrup was a routine part of pioneers’ diets, especially those settled in southern states, like Florida.

The Pioneer Florida Museum gives visitors a chance to step back in time and learn how the state’s early settlers lived.

For more information about the museum, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published January 18, 2017

Sugarcane festival adds spicy twist

December 28, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

For the seventh straight year, the Raising Cane Festival returns to the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.

The sweet celebration, however, now comes with a spicy twist.

The one-day festival, which highlights the traditional method of milling sugarcane into syrup, will include its first-ever chili cook-off.

The event is set for Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

A flat-belt tractor with steel rollers is another way sugarcane stalk is transformed into cane juice. One is shown here during a previous Raising Cane Festival.
(Courtesy or Richard Riley)

The International Chili Society (ICS), an organization that sanctions nearly 200 chili cook-offs worldwide each year, will sanction the cook-off, expected to feature at least 10 professional chili competitors.

The contest was added, in part, to help boost attendance, said event coordinator Brenda Minton.

“I was always looking for something else to add to it that might bring in a different crowd — along with the ones that we had,” Minton said.

Furthermore, she said the cook-off “adds credibility” to the annual Raising Cane Festival.

“People come from all over to participate in it,” Minton said, referring to the chili cook-off competitors. They do that, she said, “because they want to get points, so that at the end of the year they can win prizes from ICS.”

The ICS cook-off includes three categories: Chili Verde, Salsa and Traditional Red Chili. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category.

Local chili-makers, too, will get a chance to display their culinary talents.

They’ll compete in a separate cook-off, battling for the Steve Otto’s People’s Choice Award, where festivalgoers cast votes for their favorite recipes.

Meanwhile, the staples of the sugarcane festival remain.

In addition to a homemade cane syrup breakfast, attendees can partake in a syrup-tasting contest, where samples from 24 different manufacturers are judged on taste, color, pour and clarity.

Other planned activities barrel train rides and a petting zoo, as well as cane pole and iron skillet tossin’.

Also, live entertainment will be provided by the Crackerbillys, the Sara Rose Band and Those Unscrupulous Sunspots.

Yet, the event’s main course is still the old-timey cane-making demonstration, hosted by museum experts.

Wilbur Dew, who’s produced cane syrup for more than 20 years, is one of the scheduled demonstrators.

The 83-year-old said sugarcane is often cut this time of year, because “cool weather causes it to sweeten up.”

Using a technique that dates back several hundred years, the entire syrup-making process takes about six hours to complete, he said.

Sugarcane is first grinded into cane juice, using either a mule or tractor-powered mill.

“We have a mill that looks a little bit like a washing machine ringer,” Dew said. “It’s two or three steel rollers that the cane stalk is pushed through.

“The mill may be a vertical mill that’s powered by a mule walking around in a circle, or it may be a horizontal mill that’s powered by a flat-belt tractor.”

Once squeezed, cane juice is then boiled in the museum’s 80-gallon kettle.

The process usually yields 8 gallons to 9 gallons of syrup, Dew said.

To create a desired texture, Dew noted the ideal boiling temperature is around 227 degrees Fahrenheit.

“The temperature determines viscosity,” he explained. “Whereas maple syrup pours real thin, we want cane syrup to be a little thicker. Some would say: ‘We want it to stand up as tall as a biscuit on a plate.’”

And, unlike some other sugary substances, Dew said cane syrup is “an all-around good sweetener.”

“I much prefer it to maple syrup,” he said. “You can put it on pancakes, your biscuits. It’s really anything that you would use brown sugar on — some people use it in their ham preserving process.”
Museum experts say cane syrup was a routine part of pioneers’ diets, especially those settled in southern states, like Florida.

“In the Deep South, sugar was a commodity that you had to buy,” Dew said, “but you could make syrup and it would sweeten your coffee, or your tea.”

“It was just, in general, a common sweetener,” he added.

Event admission is $5 per person, with free admission for children age 5 and younger.

The Pioneer Florida Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s pioneer heritage. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the event, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org., or call Brenda Minton at (352) 206-8889.

Published December 28, 2016

This festival is more than a little fishy

November 16, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Folks got their fill of fish and festivities at the Pioneer Florida Museum’s first Mullet & Music Festival on Nov. 12.

Mark and Jenny Hanna, of Dade City, are impressed with the generous portions served at the Mullet & Music Festival (Richard K. Riley/Photos)
Mark and Jenny Hanna, of Dade City, are impressed with the generous portions served at the Mullet & Music Festival
(Richard K. Riley/Photos)

The event began at 10 a.m., and continued until 4 p.m.

It featured fried mullet and smoked mullet dinners, musical entertainment and assorted activities, including a smoked mullet competition, a mullet head competition and mullet toss.

For $10, diners could enjoy a plate of fish, grits, greens and hushpuppies.

For those not particularly fond of fish, festivalgoers could purchase hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries.

Mullet smokes on a grill at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village’s first Mullet & Music Festival.
Mullet smokes on a grill at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village’s first Mullet & Music Festival.

There was a beer and wine garden, too.

Admission to the event was included in the admission charge to the museum and village, which features exhibits and artifacts from the pioneer era.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s pioneer heritage.

Published November 16, 2016

Rocco DeSimmon, of Wesley Chapel, takes a photo of the antique fire engines on the museum grounds. 
Rocco DeSimmon, of Wesley Chapel, takes a photo of the antique fire engines on the museum grounds.
Joseph Alexander, of Dade City, provides the alternative, fat-fried mullet. Customers could choose smoked or fried mullet for the same price.
Joseph Alexander, of Dade City, provides the alternative, fat-fried mullet. Customers could choose smoked or fried mullet for the same price.

Ornaments reveal history, raise money

October 23, 2014 By B.C. Manion

When the Dade City Garden Club began selling an annual holiday ornament to raise money for the club, the decoration was simple: a two-dimensional square.

That didn’t matter.

The ornament’s theme — the Historic Pasco County Courthouse — touched a chord among area residents and quickly sold out, recalled Pat Carver, who was involved in getting the ornament sales off the ground.

The Dade City Garden Club sells a holiday ornament each year to honor a local place or organization. Proceeds help pay to maintain the garden club’s facilities and support its community projects. (Courtesy of Dade City Garden Club)
The Dade City Garden Club sells a holiday ornament each year to honor a local place or organization. Proceeds help pay to maintain the garden club’s facilities and support its community projects. (Courtesy of Dade City Garden Club)

When people bought the ornament, they would say things like, “This was the room where I got married,” or, “this was where my mother was a secretary,” Carver recalled.

The garden club didn’t originate the fundraising idea, but it recognized its potential, Carver said. Jackie Preedom, a fellow garden club member, heard about it when she attended a convention. Since then, the ornaments have been popular with the community.

“There are people who anxiously look forward to what the next ornament is going to be,” Carver said.

That’s because Dade City is a place where people still feel a connection with each other, and with the town’s landmarks and institutions.

“We love our community,” Carver said.

Apparently, the idea of selling an annual ornament to raise money for the club has had staying power – the tradition has been going on for two decades now.

Proceeds help pay expenses to maintain the garden club’s building, grounds and botanical garden to support club projects, according to club member Sally Redden. Those projects include floral, horticultural and environmental programs, flower shows, garden tours, and civic beautification projects.

The entire garden club votes on what the ornament should feature. Each is accompanied by a card stamped with a picture of the ornament on the front and contains a brief historic account on the back.

This year the garden chose to pay homage to the Pasco County Fair. Like the garden club, the fair has deep roots in the county. Both got their start in 1947.

Fairs in Dade City date back to 1915, but there hadn’t been any for a long time. The Pasco County Fair evolved from the Pasco’s participation in the Florida State Fair, according to the ornament’s fact sheet, and was designed to showcase county resources.

Rancher D. E. Cannon led the efforts, with the help of Jimmy Higgins, George Nikolai, Bob Williams and Joe Collura. They found a 40-acre tract along State Road 52 and raised $3,500 to purchase the site.

The Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce were instrumental in helping raise the money from local businesses and the community.

The first documented Pasco County Fair began on Jan. 20, 1948.

Ornaments are available for purchase through garden club members and at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, 14112 Eighth St., in Dade City.

The ornaments are $22 each, and checks should be made payable to the Dade City Garden Club.

Here are some of the ornaments the Dade City Garden Club has sold over the years:
1994: Pasco County Courthouse
1995: Dade City Grammar School (Cox Elementary)
1996: Dade City Garden Center
1997: First Presbyterian Church of Dade City
1998: Historic Pasco County Courthouse
1999: Dade City Woman’s Club
2000: Pioneer Florida Museum
2001: Edwinola
2002: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
2003: St. Leo Abbey Church
2004: First United Methodist Church of Dade City
2005: National Guard Armory
2006: Atlantic Coastline Railroad Depot
2007: First Baptist Church of Dade City
2008: Williams/Lunch on Limoges
2009: Pasco High School
2010: Lacoochee School House at the Pioneer Museum
2011: Pasco Packing Plant
2012: Pasco County World War II Memorial
2013: 1913 Pasco High School
2014: Pasco County Fair

Published October 22, 2014

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What’s Happening

08/09/2022 – Butterfly gardening

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a master gardener presentation on butterfly gardening on Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Butterfly gardening

08/09/2022 – Coffee with a deputy

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office will host “Coffee with PSO” on Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Wawa, 25155 Maren Way in Lutz. Deputies will be on hand to answer questions and to get to know the community. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Coffee with a deputy

08/09/2022 – Native Plant Society

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet on Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. There will be showing of the 2018 American documentary, “The Serengeti Rules,” directed by Nicolas Brown and based on the book by Sean B. Carroll. The film explores the discoveries of five pioneering scientists: Bob Paine, Jim Estes, Anthony Sinclair, John Terborgh and Mary E. Power. Popcorn will be provided. For information, call 813-469-9597. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Native Plant Society

08/09/2022 – Transportation stories

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will present story times on the topic of transportation on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10. Toddlers can attend at 10:15 a.m., and preschoolers at 11:15 a.m. The 45-minutes sessions will include songs, stories and movement. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Transportation stories

08/11/2022 – Food distribution

Farm Share, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff Charities, The Gentlemen’s Course, and the Pasco County NAACP will host a free food distribution on Aug. 11 starting at 9 a.m., at the Big Lots parking lot, 4840 Allen Road in Zephyrhills. Food will be handed out rain or shine, on a first-come, first-served drive-through basis, until the items run out. … [Read More...] about 08/11/2022 – Food distribution

08/11/2022 – Yarn for a Cause

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host Yarn for a Cause on Aug. 11 at 6:15 p.m., in the Meeting Room. This group creates projects such as blankets for nursing homes, and more. Participants can learn new techniques and show their own projects. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/11/2022 – Yarn for a Cause

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zephyrhillscity City of Zephyrhills-Government @zephyrhillscity ·
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Learn more about the @ZephyrhillsCity 2035 Comprehensive Plan Update in this detailed presentation at last night's City Council meeting: http://ow.ly/mWhJ50Kg34F

You can also submit your thoughts on the future of #Zephyrhills via this online survey: http://ow.ly/GENo50Kg34I

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Happy #InternationalCatDay!

To celebrate, here's our adorable feline friends who have been featured as our Pet of the Week this year 🐱

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whartonbaseball Wharton Baseball @whartonbaseball ·
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This guy right here! He keeps grinding ⚾️💙💪🏼 @DrewEhrhard @UT_Baseball @WhartonBoosters https://twitter.com/officialccbl/status/1556010951840866307

Cape League @OfficialCCBL

Drew Ehrhard (@UT_Baseball) absolutely crushes the ball to left for a Home Run!

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