Spotlight on Pasco's June Historical Events Includes Juneteenth

We’re gearing up for the end of school and the onslaught of summer time in Pasco.

If you’re looking for something to do in June, why not learn a little bit about our history?

This week, we highlight some of the numerous history-related events planned around the county for June 2012.

• Zephyrhills Historical Association Regular Meeting

When: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 6 p.m.

Where: Zephyrhills Train Depot, 5024 20th Street. Zephyrhills, FL

Cost: FREE to the public

What: This month, the Zephyrhills Historical Association has planned another great program. This month former Zephyrhills High School teacher Vivian Johns will speak to the group about her many years in Zephyrhills. Vivian arrived to the community in the 1960s and through the years has witnessed many changed. For more information please email Depot@ci.zephyrhills.fl.us or call 813-780-0067.

• West Pasco Historical Society Regular Meeting:

When: Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 1 p.m.

Where: West Pasco Historical Society

Rao Musunuru Museum and Library in Sims Park, 6431 Circle Boulevard, New Port Richey, FL

Cost: FREE to the public

What: This month, the West Pasco Historical Society has planned another great program during their monthly meeting. Historic society president Bob Hubach will present a fascinating history of the telephone industry. A display of antique telephones and equipment will give an interesting perspective of how this industry has evolved and changed through the years. For more information, please visit http://westpascohistoricalsociety.org/

• Pioneer Florida Museum Tractor Pulls

When: Saturday, June 9, 2012 10 a.m.-2p.m.

Where: Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City

15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City, FL 33525

Cost: Adult- $6/ Seniors 55 & Over - $5

Student (Ages 6-18) $2

Children 5 and under - FREE!

What: Every month, the Pioneer Florida Museum holds their very popular tractor pull. Bring the kids and your lawn chairs and enjoy watching the stock and super-modified tractors. According to the Pioneer Florida Museum website, weigh in starts at 9:00 a.m., practice pulls run until 12:30 with competition pulls starting at 12:30. For more information please contact the Pioneer Florida Museum at 352-567-0262

The pull categories are:

- Stock: 1050,1250

- Modified: 1050, 1250

- Youth: 1000 (2 pulls)

- Outlaw: 1050, 1250

- ECONOMY: 1500, 2000

- Farm Stock: 2500, 3000, 3500

Youth and adult pull classes: $10 per class per day (insurance and release required). For more information please visit the Pioneer Florida Museum website or call 352-567-0262.

• Juneteenth, Mt. Carmel African-American Cemetery Clean-up

When: Saturday, June 16, 2012- 7 a.m.-11 a.m.

Where: Historic Mount Carmel Cemetery on Ehren Cutoff, Land O' Lakes

Cost: FREE to the public

What: In honor of Pasco County’s African-American history and as part of the local Juneteenth celebrations, members of the community young and old gather at the historic Mount Carmel Cemetery for this annual clean-up coordinated by the Black Caucus of Pasco County.

• West Pasco African American Club Juneteenth Celebration

When: Saturday, June 16, 2012- 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Where: African American Club (former Booker T. Washington School), 6105 Pine Hill Road, Port Richey, Florida

Cost: FREE to the public

What: As part of the countywide 2012 Juneteenth Celebration, the West Pasco African American Club will hold their annual event at the historic Booker T. Washington School on Pine Hill Road. According to club secretary Dan Callaghan, the Juneteenth Celebration will include a community garage sale, karaoke, food, health screening, and voter registrations. The club has also arranged for special guest speaker Evangeline Moore, the daughter of the fearless civil right leader Harry T. Moore who spent the 1930s and 1940s investigating every lynching of blacks in the state, according to the Washington Post. Evangeline’s parents were both killed after someone, likely a Klansman, lit the fuse on a massive explosive charge positioned under the family’s Mims home on Christmas Day in 1951. For more information on the West Pasco African American Club Juneteenth Celebration or if you would like to donate items for the garage sale, please contact Dan Callaghan at 727-372-1742.

• Pasco County Historical Society

When: Friday, June 20, 2012 at 7 p.m.

Where: Dade City American Legion Hall, 37745 Church Ave.

Cost: FREE to the public

What: This month, the Pasco County Historical Society has scheduled Bruce Anderson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Florida Southern College, and Pre-Law adviser. Bruce will give a presentation on the upcoming and highly contended 2012 election season. As usual, a pot-luck covered dish dinner will precede the program, so bring something special to share. Remember to also bring your own table service and drink. Visitors and guest are welcome to come along to enjoy the program. For additional information, please contact Eddie Herrmann at 352-567-2050 or Glen Thompson at 352-567-7449.

• Annual Zephyrhills High School Alumni, Teachers & Friends Reunion

When: Sunday, June 24, 2012

Where: Zephyrhills Lions Club, 5827 Dean Dairy Road

Cost: Free to Zephyhills alumni, teachers, and friends.

What: With an average attendance of more than 300, the Zephyrhills High School alumni, teachers, and friends gather for their annual covered-dish event. According to alumni contact Clereen Brunty, in addition to alumni many teachers past present attend the annual event. The oldest graduate in attendance is usually from the Class of 1933. Recognitions go out to the oldest and youngest grad, the grad who traveled the farthest and the grad with the most family members at the event. For more information please contact Clereen Brunty at clereen@tampabay.rr.com

• Meeting with Svenja Herder

When: Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 1 p.m.

Where: Hugh Embry Library, 14215 4th St., Dade City, FL 33523

Cost: FREE to the public

What: Eddie Herrmann and his wife, Patsy, will host a meeting at the Hugh Embry Library with Svenja Herder. Svenja is the granddaughter of Lu Herder, a German POW at Dade City during WWII. Svenja will discuss her grandfather's experiences in Dade City and the era of the German prisoners at Pasco Packing Association. If you have stories or memorabilia of those days past, please contact Eddie Herrmann at 352-567-2050.