Fall is here, and it’s time to get out and about to enjoy the great weather. And, what better to kick off fall than to take in another fun and exciting weekend of food, fun, and learning about our local history. With several historically related events planned throughout Pasco County in September, it’s once again time to pack up the kids, the coolers, and head out to some good old-fashioned fun This week, we highlight the many historically oriented events around the county that everyone, young and old, can enjoy. Pioneer Florida Museum Tractor Pulls When: Saturday, October 13, 2012, 10a.m.-2p…

n the past few weeks, Angelo Liranzo, librarian with Dade City’s Hugh Embry Library, has been working to inform the community of an important project the library has been undertaking. That project, the digitization of their micro-fiche and micro-film collections of the historic Dade City Banner newspapers dating all the way back to 1914. While I seldom share the resources which I use to research, compile, and write about our local history, it’s not often that we get the chance to celebrate a local research resource crossing over into the digital era. So, this week we look back at what made …

The entertainment world lost a legend with the passing of Phyllis Diller. According to TMZ.com, the 95-year-old comedian died in her sleep at her Brentwood home in Los Angeles, where she was surrounded by family. While most sources cite Diller as being survived by her son, Perry; her daughters, Sally Diller and Suzanne Mills; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter, she also had a large extended family which spanned the United States and even reached places like Pasco County. Among that extended family is our very own local connection to the Queen of Comedy, Realtor Steve Diller, who …

Following a Patch reader inquiry, this week I’ve taken a step back from my regular weekly column to give some background on a well known fixture at the Sims Park playground—the lion in the park, more commonly known as Leo the Lion. OK, so it’s not a real live lion, but if you have children or have visited the playground, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the brave little youngsters sticking their head in the mouth of this beast to get a refreshing sip of water. So, where did this unique and well-known drinking fountain come from and why a lion? Simply put, this was a project kicked off by the …

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases, lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacterium. Spread through the open air when people with the active infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit their saliva, the TB disease typically attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, TB caused the most widespread public concern as an endemic disease of the urban poor. And, after finding it contagious in the 1880s, this fatal disease was added to the list of notifiable diseases in Britain and other countries…

Covering 157,479 acres and spanning four counties, including Pasco, most in the Bay area are familiar with the vast tract of land now known as the Withlacoochee State Forest. Acquired from private landowners between 1936 and 1939 under the U.S. Land Resettlement Administration, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Withlacoochee State Forest is currently the third largest forest in Florida. And, with its extensive trail systems for hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing, and camping, in recent years the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) even declared the …

As city leaders mull ideas relating to the redevelopment of the Hacienda Hotel, the once-famous landmark continues to sit empty. Since acquiring the building last decade, the city has provided little in the way of upkeep and maintenance, and now time and vandals are beginning to take their toll on the shuttered structure. So, how bad is it? How much has the building really deteriorated in the last six years, under the city’s ownership? These are the questions that I set out to answer amidst rumors of leaking roofs, collapsing ceilings, dangerous molds, and unsafe conditions inside the …

Among one of the most intriguing subjects that I’ve encountered while researching Pasco's history is the Stark Cemetery. Driving down the nicely paved streets of Embassy Hills in Port Richey and past the homes with their neatly manicured lawns, it’s hard to believe this is where, according to documents and anecdotes, the cemetery stood. The surrounding community was a thriving African-American community that stretched from today’s Pine Hill Road north to around Stone Road. While parts of the community still survive along Pine Hill Road, few remember the Stark Cemetery—which was apparently …

The native Seminoles called it “hatch-in-e-haw” which means everlasting wood, but we know it more commonly as the cypress tree. This mystic and majestic tree has long been appreciated for it beauty, size, longevity, and variety of uses. But, during the first half of the 20th century, the heartwood from these old trees, which required centuries to develop, was marketed as “tidewater cypress”, the commericalized term for the cypress, and resulted in the removal of the larger, old-growth trees from virtually every swamp in Florida. However, tucked away deep in the swamps east of Ehren Cutoff …

In this final article in our Black History Month series, we continue with the topic of achievements made by local African-Americans in the areas of education. Following our split from Hernando County in 1887, Pasco County’s very first African-American School was established in Dade City. From its inception, this little school made a significant impact in our community. So, this week we trace the beginnings, history, and contributions of the Dade City Colored School through the years. The Early School According to school board records, the school was conceived October 1, 1888, when Freedtown …

On March 3, 1865, nine months before the ratification of the thirteenth amendment and official end to slavery, the U.S. Congress passed a bill to formally create the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Commonly called the Freedmen's Bureau, this agency deemed by some historians as the first federal welfare agency, was given the task of assisting the more than 4 million newly freed slaves in their transition from the plantation to freedom. And, to carry out this enormous task, local Freedmen’s Bureau offices were opened across the south, including right in our backyard with the …

In this week’s entry into the Black History Month series we explore the history, contributions, and active role of Dade City’s historic Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church through the years. From the Frame Meeting House to the Modern Church Among one of the first contributions of the church to Pasco County was recorded on December 28, 1901, when, for the sum of $10, trustees joined together in deeding a ¼-acre to the Town Council of Dade City. This ¼ acre was only a small portion of the acreage that became known as the Dade City Municipal Cemetery in 1903. And, while the church does…

Since 1976, February has been officially designated Black History Month—an annual celebration to recognize the achievements and central role of African- Americans in our history. So, in recognition of this national celebration I'm kicking off a month-long, four-part series that explores some of the lesser known African-American history of Pasco County. This week, we begin by delving into the life of pioneer resident Benjamin B. Baisden, whose work was instrumental in the advancement of one of Pasco County’s pioneer black communities — Freedtown. Born in August 1835, like most African-…

Today, with a population of more than 7,000, Dade City carries several distinctions that no other municipality in Pasco County has. With its “Proud Heritage, Promising Future” slogan, this small community not only serves as our county seat, but it was also the first incorporated municipality in Pasco County. So, why was this quaint country town named Dade City? Simply put, this name was derived from the earlier military fort and community name of Fort Dade — named in honor of the gallant Maj. Francis Dade, 4th United States Infantry. But, who was Maj. Francis Dade? With direct lineage to …

Modern-day travelers of State Road 52 might take for granted the ease in which they move from Pasco’s west coast through Land O' Lakes and to Dade City, or vice versa. However, prior to the mid-1920s, Pasco had no such road. Instead, as a major road network, residents relied upon a meandering course of sand ruts leading to the county seat. So, how was it that one meandering course of sand ruts became what we now know as State Road 52 — uniting the county’s east and west via the first hard-surfaced, cross-county highway? County road construction in the 1920s was at an all-time high as …

The famous poet Edgar Allen Poe once wrote, “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and the other begins?" So, is there life after death? Are there lost souls trapped between life and death as ghostly figures in this world? Some would say yes. And according to some, Pasco County has its fair share of ghost sightings and paranormal activities. According to the Sun-Sentinel, one of the most active “hot spots” in Pasco County for paranormal activity is reportedly along Anclote Road in the small coastal community by the same …

Today, 67 counties comprise the state of Florida. Most of them carry the name of a state or national political dignitary, or of a natural feature synonymous with the respective county. So how did we get the distinct name of Pasco County? Prior to 1887, there was no Pasco County. Instead, we were part of what was then known as Hernando County-- encompassing all of today’s Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties. On June 2, 1887, because of its sheer size and an enthusiasm among the residents for division, Florida Gov. Edward A. Perry signed into law a bill to divide Hernando and make the counties…

Today, Pasco County’s over-developed west coast is nearly void of historic structures and homes that pre-date the 20th century. But, through the fortunate graces of historic preservation, residents do have one or two fine examples of typical mid- to late-19th century “cracker-style” construction. And, tucked away behind Centennial Park Library at 5740 Moog Road in Elfers, is one such example. Here, you will find one of Pasco’s hidden historic gems, called the Baker House. Built sometime between 1876 and 1882 by Samuel Baker, the Baker House is only one of ten historic sites in Pasco County …

Today, driving along the nicely paved streets of the Bailey’s Bluff subdivision, it’s hard to believe for nearly half a century this small section of coastal land was the scene of considerable activities, which played a significant role in the beginnings of the Tarpon Springs sponging industry. Traces of this grand operation are scant, but its mark on our local history is great. According to one account, the birth of sponging along Pasco’s west coast can be traced to the year 1852, when one Walter Lowe went in the schooner Chestnut to Anclote Keys, and, in several days, secured a cargo of …

Nestled on the south bank of the Pithlachascotee River on Sunset Boulevard in Port Richey, just east of Oelsner Mound, is a quaint little bungalow home built around 1915. This historic little home overlooks a most picturesque spot in the Cotee River, but it’s much more then the age of this structure that makes it important to our local history-- it’s the past owners. This home was once owned by some of the most notable performers of country music-- Johnny Cash and June Carter. County records show on February 18, 1966 the home was acquired by June’s parents Ezra J. and Maybelle Addington …