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Brooksville celebrates 150 years on map

By LOGAN NEILL
Published October 12, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - When anything has been around for 150 years, you can bet there's going to be a special celebration to honor the milestone.

As Brooksville prepares to acknowledge its sesquicentennial anniversary, organizers of this year's Founders Week celebration decided to honor the past while looking toward the future.

At the Brooksville City Hall, City Clerk Karen Phillips and her staff have been planning for the event for more than a year. They've worked closely with civic groups, historical organizations and businesses to come with activities for the entire community.

"Our big goal was to get businesses and other organizations thinking along the lines of their own historical ties," Phillips said. "Some of the ideas we've had have been very creative. It's helped make this event an event everyone will enjoy."

Phillips said the weeklong celebration is the most elaborate the city has hosted. Activities include the "Taste of Brooksville," a swing dance at the Russell Street train station and a Southern heritage costume ball. To Phillips, such events offer a hopeful sign of bigger things on the way.

"The nice thing would be to have these kinds of activities all the time, not just on the city's birthday," said Phillips. "It's something worth aiming toward in the future."

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1435.

Saturday

9 a.m.-midnight Hernando County Rodeo and Barbecue Festival, Hernando County Airport. 352 279-2435 or visit www.hernandocattlemen.com/festivalindex.htm

10 a.m.-4 p.m. City Hall Art Gallery exhibit. 544-5407.

10 a.m. Founders Week parade and birthday cake celebration, downtown Brooksville. (Parade route will be along Howell Avenue from North Avenue south to City Hall. 544-5407

11:30 p.m. Civil War skirmish, Tom Varn Park. 544-5407.

11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Founders Family Fun Day, Tom Varn Park, off W Jefferson Street. Activities include old-fashioned historic displays, kids games, child's art contest, hot dogs, soda and popcorn. Free. 544-5495.

1 p.m. Medieval fighting demonstration, Tom Varn Park. 799-6318.

4-8 p.m. "Bandshell Bash" featuring the Pleasant Family String Band and Through the Years, plus Brooksville Cruise-in, Hernando Park, downtown. Free. 754-4788.

5-7 p.m. "Taste of Brooksville," Hernando Park. 544-5430.

Sunday

9 a.m.-11 p.m. Hernando County Rodeo & Barbecue Festival, Hernando County Airport, south of Brooksville. (352) 279-2435 or visit www.hernandocattlemen.com/festivalindex.htm

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tour of Historic Homes, Heritage Museum. $12. 799-0129.

4-8 p.m. "Swing Time at the Station," an open house at the Russell Street train station with music by Charlie Vegas and the New Blues Combo, plus hot dogs, soda, ice cream. Admission is free. 754-4788 or 352- 796-3734

4:30-5:30 p.m. Spring Hill Bible 10th anniversary celebration, 5449 Spring Hill Drive. Gymnastic, dance and karate team demonstrations. Free. 544-5644.

Monday

10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Bus tours of historic Brooksville. One-hour tours depart from the Heritage Museum. 799-0129.

1-4 p.m. Victorian tea, Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S Main St. $5. 848-7988 or 584-0479.

2 p.m. Great Brooksvillian ceremony, Brooksville City Hall. 544-5407.

2:45 p.m. Founding fathers dedication and time capsule, Brooksville City Hall. 544-5407

3:15 p.m. "Looking Back in Time," Hernando County Library (Main Branch), 238 Howell Ave. A lecture by Roger Landers and Imani Asuskile on the front porch of the library.

Tuesday

9, 10 and 11 a.m. Walking tours of Brooksville Cemetery. Tours start on the hour. 544-5495.

10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Bus tours of historic Brooksville. One-hour tours depart from the Heritage Museum. 799-0129.

1-4 p.m. Victorian tea, Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S. Main St. $5. 848-7988 or 584-0479.

7-11 p.m. Southern Heritage Costume Ball, Victoria's Steakhouse and Lounge, 11738 N Broad St. Music of the 1800s to the 1940s with the Longhorn Band. Free admission. 799-8985.

Wednesday

10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Bus tours of historic Brooksville. One-hour tours depart from the Heritage Museum. 799-0129.

1-4 p.m. Victorian tea, Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S Main St. $5. 848-7988 or 584-0479.

2:30 p.m. "A Moment in Time - Hernando's Heritage," Brooksville City Hall. Historical narrative film Robert Martinez and Hernando County Government Broadcasting. 540-6780.

4:30 p.m. Browning Insurance building rededication, 1 N Main St.

5-7 p.m. City Hall Art Gallery reception, Brooksville City Hall. 544-5407.

6 p.m. Grace World Outreach Church, 20366 Cortez Blvd. 540-6780.

Oct. 19

9, 10 and 11 a.m. Walking tours of Brooksville Cemetery. Tours start on the hour. 544-5495.

10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Bus tours of historic Brooksville. One-hour tours depart from the Heritage Museum. 799-0129.

11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunchtime Concert in the Park, Hernando Park band shell. Music provided by Nova Era. 754-4788 or 796-3734.

1-4 p.m. Victorian tea, Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S Main St. $5. 848-7988 or 584-0479.

5-10 p.m. 14th annual Ethnic Festival, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 13485 Spring Hill Drive; rides, games, crafts, raffles, ethnic food booths. Free admission and parking. 688-0663.

6:30 p.m. Sunset tour of Brooksville Cemetery. Bring your own flashlight. 799-3147 or 544-5497.

Oct. 20

10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Bus tours of historic Brooksville. One-hour tours depart from the Heritage Museum. 799-0129.

Noon Chamber of Commerce period costume contest, Brooksville City Hall. 796-0697.

1-2 p.m. "Highwaymen" painting demonstration by artist R. L. Lewis, Brooksville City Hall. 544-5407.

1-4 p.m. Victorian tea, Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S Main St. $5. 848-7988 or 584-0479.

5-10 p.m. 14th annual Ethnic Festival, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 13485 Spring Hill Drive; rides, games, crafts, raffles, ethnic food booths. Free admission and parking. 688-0663.

6-9 p.m. Fifties and Sixties Sock Hop, Jerome Brown Community Center, Tom Varn Park. Live music and refreshments. Free. 754-4405.

6-9 p.m. Founders Week Carnival, Tom Varn Park.

Oct. 21

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Pumpkin festival and arts and crafts, Tom Varn Park. 799-0129.

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Market on Main Street, between Broad and Liberty Streets in downtown Brooksville. 797-9330.

9 a.m.-6 p.m. Brooksville Blazin' Butts -n- Brisket Professional Barbecue Contest, Tom Varn Park. Live entertainment between noon and 6 p.m. Awards at 5 p.m. 544-5435.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. 14th annual Ethnic Festival, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 13485 Spring Hill Drive; rides, games, crafts, raffles, ethnic food booths. Free admission and parking. 688-0663.

10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Genealogy and lineage workshop, Jerome Brown Community Center, Tom Varn Park. Speaker Linda Soloski presents "Our Ancestors, We're Glad They Were Here!" from 10 - 11 a.m., followed by personal help at computer stations to assist with genealogy searches. People attending are asked to bring documents (birth, death and marriage certificates; land records; wills, etc.) to help with the search. Punch and cookies will be served. Bring your own lunch. 592-9856 or 796-7996.

Noon-3 p.m. Preservation Vintage Clothing and Accessories Fashion Show and Luncheon, Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S Main St. $18. 848-7988 or 584-0479.

Noon-11 p.m. Founders Week Carnival, Tom Varn Park. Free.

2:30 p.m. "A Moment in Time - Hernando's Heritage," Jerome Brown Community Center, Tom Varn Park. 540-6780.

WEEKLONG EVENTS

City Hall Art Gallery - 201 Howell Ave. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Viewing of historical murals - Throughout downtown Brooksville.

Victorian flower arrangements by the Brooksville Garden Club - City Hall Art Gallery, 201 Howell Ave. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday though Friday.

"A Moment in Time - Hernando's Heritage" - On Hernando County Government Broadcasting, Bright House Channel 19, at various times during Founders Week.

COMING FRIDAY

The Times will publish a special section Friday to mark Brooksville's sesquicentennial, which will be celebrated during Founders Week, Saturday through Oct. 21. Included will be a special audiovisual Web presentation at links.tampabay.com featuring some of the city's longtime residents. Watch for it.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 06:39:42]