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Old Florida comes to life at pioneer festival
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN © St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000 The annual Pioneer Day Festival at the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City on Monday was officially born 26 years ago, but the exhibits, activities, entertainment and demonstrations that are the reason for the museum's largest annual event go back as much as 100 years, and some even more. Start with the buildings that have been painstakingly moved to the 16-acre site to make up part of the museum itself: The John Overstreet house was built in the mid-1860s, the Enterprise Methodist Church in 1878, and the Trilby Depot in 1896. All these buildings, as well as the newer ones, will be open for tours during the festival. What is in and around these buildings during the festival goes with the Florida pioneer spirit that these structures suggest. A working model train exhibit by Ray Prell in the Trilby Depot reminds visitors that the town of Trilby was once the third largest railroad yard in Florida. A historical slide presentation in the church building tells the story of Pasco County in former years. Granma's Hug-N-Farm for kids (50 cents admission), and the pony and hay rides ($2 each) recall the area's agricultural roots. The entertainment in the Gazebo evokes a time gone by: 9:30 a.m. Dora Anne, National Gospel Yodeler, 2000 10:15 a.m. Rhythm "N' Motion cloggers 11 a.m. Florida Songstory folk tales and tunes 11:45 a.m. Flatwood Drifters, old-time country music 12:30 p.m. Simple Gifts, traditional folk music 1 p.m. Battle re-enactment 2 p.m. Carl Wade and Something Special, folk-bluegrass music 2:45 p.m. Jak Kelly, contemporary, original and folk music 3:30 p.m. Banjoes Unlimited, songs, stories and dance tunes on traditional acoustic strings. The food also brings back memories, from Roy Hardy's fish dinner to Allen Gunter's swamp cabbage cooking and tasting demonstration and Eddie and Patsy Herrman's winemaking area. The heart of the Pioneer Florida Festival is the True Craft Demonstrators -- the people who have learned the arts of craftsmaking in old Florida and will show others how these things were done. On the Main Building porch, for example, Marilyn and Amberly Hines will show pine needle craft, as others do weaving, embroidery and Ukrainian egg decorating. In the Cummer Sons Building, Esther Futter will explain how to make bobbin lace, as others show crocheting, knitting and sewing on a machine. In the Mabel Jordan Barn, Paul Rhinesmith shows traditional joinery, as others do chair caning. In and around demonstrators' tents are people showing flint knapping, spinning, shoemaking, spoon carving, basketmaking, fish-net typing, fur trapping, blacksmithing and natural fabric dyeing, among other crafts. Jan Gunter will have a Southeast American Indian artifact exhibit, while Billy Merrell will show how the Indians cleaned hides. There are also exhibits of antique automobiles and John Deere tractors and modern exhibits by several services organizations. At a glanceWHAT: Pioneer Day Festival WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday WHERE: Pioneer Florida Museum grounds, off U.S. 301 northeast of Dade City TICKETS: $6 for adults; $2 age 12 and younger. Parking is free.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
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From today's Pasco Times |
