Plant City can point with pride to its civic clubs and organizations for all the good works done in the name of the community. Stadiums, parks, playgrounds, the library, special events and more all were put together by the civic clubs and organizations in Plant City, many of which had their beginnings in the early […]
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PAST & PRESENCE: Albert Schneider: Festival’s first president
For the onset of Florida Strawberry Festival season, we decided to take a look back at the beginning of the festival. As noted historian D. E. Bailey Jr. wrote, “Harvest festivals have long been traditional with every country in the land.” Plant City was going to have one. The role of strawberry production and sales […]
Continue ReadingEarly Plant City leaders and the Knights of Pythias
Plant City was first chartered in 1885, and as Plant City historian, David E. Bailey, Jr., wrote, it was an “instant town.” By 1902, the town had progressed to the point that Philander Allen Merrin, then editor of the Plant City Courier, wrote, “Plant City’s future was assured.” Merrin wrote of the many different businesses […]
Continue ReadingPAST & PRESENCE: Examining Plant City’s black heritage
A historical marker was dedicated to the Bealsville community May 13, sponsored by the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council. Bealsville was founded by freed slaves in 1865, after the end of the Civil War. Let’s take a look at two significant black communities in the Plant City area. We have recently come across a 2005 […]
Continue ReadingPAST & PRESENCE: The story behind HCC’s Plant City campus
The story of the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College begins in July 1967, when officials decided the new Hillsborough Junior College would consist of multiple campuses. The master plan for the creation of junior colleges throughout Florida was developed by the state government in 1957. The intent was to alleviate some of the […]
Continue ReadingPAST AND PRESENCE: Mary Jane Jackson Parolini: A real queen
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about Mary Jane Jackson Parolini. Looking back to 1956, Mary Jane Jackson Parolini said it was an incredible year. It was her senior year at Plant City High School, and she was busy that year being a class officer, homeroom officer, a thespian, a Kiwanette, […]
Continue ReadingPAST & PRESENCE: Wilbur Fisk Burts’ impact remains (Part 2)
By Gil Gott | Plant City Photo Archives & History Center Editor’s note: This is the second part of our series chronicling the life of early settler Wilbur Fisk Burts. Click here to read Part One. In Part One, we wrote about Wilbur Fisk Burts and his various activities, closing with some of his business […]
Continue ReadingPAST & PRESENCE: Meet early settler Wilbur Fisk Burts (Part 1)
By Gil Gott | Plant City Photo Archives & History Center To some, the name Wilbur Fisk Burts conjures up the story of The Tropical Hotel. But there is much more than that. Here is a man of many talents, who played interesting roles in the progress of the early town of Plant City.
Continue ReadingPAST AND PRESENCE: We remember Raiford ‘Shorty’ Brown
By Gil Gott | Plant City Photo Archives & History Center It was a year ago in July that we lost Raiford “Shorty” Brown, a pharmacist whom everyone seemed to know. He was active in community affairs — fundraising with the Plant City Lions Club and president of the Plant City Rotary Club.
Continue ReadingPAST AND PRESENCE: Meet Plant City’s first queen
By Gil Gott | Plant City Photo Archives & History Center There are many good stories about Plant City, its religious life, social life, civic life, business life and more. On the business side, which now has become social as well, is the honoring of the strawberry. Before the strawberry, the agricultural products included cattle, […]
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