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Chronicle of Pasco lore attracts fans
By CHASE SQUIRES
© St. Petersburg Times, DADE CITY -- Creators of a new book that will chronicle Pasco County's history in words and pictures prepared this week for a busy summer that will culminate with an open house and a sneak preview of the cover photos. Retired County Commissioner Sylvia Young accepted the symbolic first order Tuesday from longtime San Antonio resident Joe Herrmann at a ceremony at the Pioneer Florida Museum. Herrmann ordered 20 copies of the unpublished work. Later, the Dade City Commission agreed to let the authors use a vacant room at the historic train depot as their headquarters for six months, with an eye toward extending the offer and making the office a full-time genealogical library. The museum already uses the warehouse section of the station as a visitors center and museum annex. Young said a committee of museum supporters working on the book project hopes to have the hardback coffee table book ready late this year or early next year. Young said the book, dubbed Pasco County: Its People and Places, will trace the history of the county from its founding in 1887 to at least 1987, covering every part of the county, from the west coast to the eastern swamps. "After all," Young said. "Pasco County has 782 sections of land, and we intend to cover every one of them." Herrmann, a longtime San Antonio builder and entrepreneur, has been involved in east Pasco business and politics since the early part of the 20th century. He said his large family will take up his 20-book order in no time. He presented Young with an $800 check for the books, which are expected to cost about $40 each. Herrmann's son, Eddie, was one of three authors who penned the 1992 book Historic Places of Pasco County. The new book, Eddie Herrmann said, will complement the older work's catalog of historic locations and buildings. Young said organizers encourage anyone with old photographs of Pasco County and personal accounts of historic events or significant residents to contact the authors. Anyone with anything to contribute may call Young at (352) 588-3713. Photographs contributed to the effort will be labeled and returned, Young said. And supporters are planning at least one day this summer when those with treasured family photos may have them scanned onto computer disk while they wait. A sneak peak at the cover design of the proposed book, which could run up to 400 pages, is expected to be ready for the Labor Day weekend.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From today's Pasco Times |
