Pioneer museum adopts new name

Members say adding the word ''village'' to Pioneer Florida Museum better represents the scope of the organization.

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 4, 2002

DADE CITY -- Board members of the Pioneer Florida Museum gave the entity a new name this week, something that better reflects the mission and scope of the organization.

From now on, the museum will be called Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, museum board president Eileen Herman said Wednesday.

The addition of the word "village" better fits the operation, Herman said.

The museum is more than just a building filled with displays; it also incorporates several buildings moved to the site or built there, including a barn full of old vehicles, the Trilby train station, the old Lacoochee schoolhouse, the Overstreet House, a still, a country store and a water garden, she said.

The museum is rebuilding the old Blanton Packing House on the site, after moving the citrus packing barn board-by-board to the grounds from Blanton. And, Herman said, the museum is actively working with church leaders to move the historic Mount Zion AME Church's chapel from Seventh Street to the museum.

"Most people, when they get here, they don't realize how much walking there is to do at the museum," Herman said. "They think it's only one building."

Herman said the museum will begin using the new name immediately on new publications and billboards, but brochures and stationery will be used up before it's replaced with the new name, so the change will appear around town gradually.

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