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Children's Event, Pioneer Day A Fun Fit

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By CHERYL KUCK, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 24, 2007

PLANT CITY - The annual celebration of the area's heritage had an added twist this year.

For the first time, the annual Pioneer Heritage Day was combined with the Children's Fun Festival, which is usually held in spring. The events were Nov. 17, and the day's activities included children's dance performances, music, food and people in period costume.

"The whole day was just beautiful," said Shelby Bender, president of the East Hillsborough Historical Society, which sponsors the heritage day.

The Plant City Arts Council sponsors the Children's Fun Festival, and both events are longtime traditions in Plant City. The heritage day was celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and the children's festival is in its 25th year.

The events took place at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center. The stately, three-story red brick building was a school from 1914 until the 1970s.

For many years, the building at 605 N. Collins St. was home to Plant City High School. The community center is owned by the city and managed by the historical society.

The joint celebration gave many Plant City residents the chance to "see where their grandparents and great-grandparents may have gone to school," Bender said.

"It was really wonderful to see the expression on the children's faces as they walked the halls of the 1914 schoolhouse. They were amazed and a little awed by the size of the classrooms and auditorium."

The school building includes restored classrooms, museum and the historical society's archives.

Arts Council member Marsha Passmore said she enjoyed the building's collection of school memorabilia, vintage clothing and household items.

"I'm amazed at all the displays from agricultural equipment, antique cameras and photographs, to historic medical items and railroad memorabilia. There's even a working original Morse telegraph system presented by members of the Morse Telegraph Club," Passmore said.

"It creates the perfect atmosphere for our Children's Fun Festival," she said.

Bender noted the building will be 100 years old in 2014.

"As a community center it brings the arts and history to our citizens for their appreciation. We hope to continue it for the next 100 years."

Correspondent Cheryl Kuck can be reached at wkuck@tampa bay.rr.com.

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