TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Community Center May Get New Owner

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2008

PLANT CITY - PLANT CITY - The distinctive brick building that exudes history and houses it within its 94-year-old walls may soon get a new owner - its longtime caretaker.

A proposal by the city would deed the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center to the East Hillsborough Historical Society, the primary tenant there since three years after its 1974 founding as a nonprofit organization.

Government spending cuts necessitated by passage of Florida's Amendment 1 brought the plan to the forefront recently. Plant City's preliminary municipal budget includes a proposal to save $64,410 annually by transferring responsibility for the ancient building, including maintenance and costly property insurance.

The historical society president said she is optimistic the plan is doable and would "be a good opportunity" for the nonprofit organization, which houses its many archives there.

"The society has been a basic managing partner in the day-to-day operation since the building was acquired by the city" in 1977, said Shelby Bender, president of the society for the past four years and a member of its board for 18.

"The historical society has been talking with the city since the first of the year about turning ownership over to the historical society," she said.

The city's contribution toward building expenses has decreased annually, she said.

State Division of Historical Resources grants have helped fund ongoing maintenance, including a major project replacing a majority of the windows in the three-story building.

Anticipated future state grants will allow replacement of ground-floor windows and, hopefully, those in the auditorium, Bender said.

The 34-year-old historical society's primary fundraiser is the shortcake booth volunteers operate at the annual Florida Strawberry Festival. Additionally, the society regularly rents the auditorium or banquet space in the building, grossing about $8,000 to $10,000 annually, Bender said.

"Every penny the society ever owned has basically gone back into the building" at 605 N. Collins St., Bender said. "With all the dollars we've put together for the last four or five years, we've been able to have a net profit at the end of the year," raising about $20,000 annually earmarked for building upkeep, she said.

The society already pays the telephone and electric bills for the building; the city provides water.

City Manager David Sollenberger said property insurance for the building runs $29,000 a year. City water for the building, including irrigation of the nearly 1-acre grounds, costs $9,000 annually but will be reduced through a "water budget," individual conservation plans being formulated for each municipal building.

Insurance costs are among the expenses the society has been exploring, conferring with a local agent about coverage options, Bender said.

"The one thing that is kind of out of reach is wind and hail coverage" for the sprawling building, she said.

The society is seeking bids for another expense, an annual maintenance contract for the elevator, installed with a state grant to make the facility accessible to all.

The historical society receives a monthly $100 contribution toward expenses from the other major tenant in the 1914 building, the H.B. Plant Railroad Historical Society.

The building is also home to the Quintilla Geer Bruton Archives Center and 1914 Plant City High School Museum.

The society moved into the building soon after it was deeded to the city by the Hillsborough County School District in 1977 for a community center. A verbal agreement in June of that year authorized the society to restore and manage the building.

The picturesque 30,000-square-foot landmark known locally as the 1914 High School is on the National Register of Historic Places. The iconic structure represents "a big contribution to the historical and cultural aspect of the community," Bender said.

Additionally, the building holds sentimental value for many residents who as students walked the halls of the former school, where classes were held from 1915 to 1972.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT