Autumn is upon us once again, and with it comes a slight respite from the summer’s heat. For us here in Clearwater, it means that we’ve probably indulged in something pumpkin-flavored recently, and that it’s almost time for the Fall Fish Fry! Come meet up with old friends and make some new ones, all for a good cause.

Saturday, November 4, 2017
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ross Norton Recreation Center
1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
Adults -$12
Children (12 and Under) – $6

Tickets can be purchased in advance from a Clearwater Historical Society Board member, online through PayPal, or at the door the day of the fry.

Free Plumb House Museum Tours
Clearwater Historical Society offers free guided and self-guided tours of the historic Plumb House Museum from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month, and from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday. The museum is located at 1380 South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Clearwater. The museum is currently in a state of transition into a period house museum, but there is still plenty to see.

What’s all the Buzz?
A large beehive was recently discovered on the South Ward School grounds near Building 3. Rather than having the bees destroyed, the Clearwater Historical Society Board opted to have the hive removed intact and relocated somewhere safer.

Museum UpdatesIn downtown Clearwater, the old South Ward School is well on its way to starting a new life as the Clearwater Historical Museum and Cultural Center. Clearwater Historical Society continues to work through a two-year grant period allotted by the state, using funds to tackle the most crucial restoration needs on the school grounds. Projects undertaken over the last year include termite treatments, plumbing repairs, exterior lighting, installation of a new fire and safety alarm and a new sign out front.

Former Glory: A fresh coat of paint has Building 1 looking very like its old self, circa 1906. The rest of the school will be painted when Clearwater Historical Society can secure more funds and volunteer assistance.

Let there be light: Pictured, left, is the new sign at South Ward School, illuminated at night. It bears the recently designated official logo of the Clear-water Historical Society. If you haven’t yet, take a drive by 610 S. Ft. Harrison Ave. one evening and see it for yourself!

Clearwater Library Partnership
A portion of the Clearwater Historical Society’s extensive photograph archive, largely consisting of photos taken by the late George Fulmer, has been scanned, cataloged, and made available on Pinellas Memory through a partnership with Clearwater Public Library. The photos can be viewed online at pinellasmemory.org.

Community Corner
The Clearwater Historical Society would like to give a great big thank you to all members of the community who are helping to support our work and make the vision of Clearwater’s first historical museum a reality. There is still plenty of work left to do; if you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering or contributing services to the cause, please email us at clearwaterhistory@gmail.com.

Scout’s Honor
The historic Plumb House at 1380 S M.L.K. Jr Ave in Clearwater hosted a special ceremony on the evening  of Friday, June 26. George Werner, age 17, attained the long-worked-for title of Eagle Scout in a special Eagle Scout Court of Honor presentation.

Werner completed his Eagle Scout Service Project in conjunction with the Clearwater Historical Society. For the project, Werner handmade a set of 10 large wooden display frames for showcasing archived documents. Society historians made old newspapers and photographs available to Werner and the resulting frames exhibit a wide range of Clearwater’s early history. They are now hanging at South Ward School and will be featured in exhibits when the new museum opens.

Lowe’s and Behold
Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores #1714 and #771 donated material and labor over several months to renovate the former teacher’s lounge at South Ward school as part of the “Lowe’s Heroes” project. The project provides grant money and volunteers to aid local non-profits.

Donations
Thank you to everyone who has faithfully supported the Clearwater Historical Society over the years through annual dues, volunteer time and donations of artifacts. If you still need to pay your dues for this year, wish to make a financial donation or want to include the Clearwater Historical Society in your will, please contact Buddy Gross at (727) 600-8204. Your contribution will leave a lasting legacy for future generations!  You can also support Clearwater Historical Society through amazon.com purchases by selecting it as your charity of choice at smile.amazon.com.

The Clearwater Historical Society is grateful for the following generous donations:

• Financial donations from David and Susanne MacNamee and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Burroughs
• Donation of a plate from Mr. and Mrs. Love

PROPOSED SLATE OF OFFICERS 2017 – 2018
Nominations for Officers and Board of Directors 2017 – 2018

At the September 5th meeting of the Clearwater Historical Society Board, the following slate was presented for election at the annual meeting November 4, 2017. Additional nominations from the members can also be made at that meeting.

OFFICERS
Bill Wallace, President
Allison Dolan, Vice President
Lorelei Keif, Secretary
Buddy Gross, Treasurer
David Allbritton, Past President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ryan Ballogg
Tom Bowers
Terri Carlisle
Elizabeth Jones Childress
Shirley Galatas
Lila Grant
John Maire
Sam McClelland
Paul McMullen
Chuck McPherson
Susan Raineri
Janet Randall
Jay Rhodes
Dean Robinson
John Tsacrios
Bob Valentine

Great Outdoors: An outdoor classroom on the west side of Building 1 at South Ward School was recently recreated.

Volunteer Opportunities
The Clearwater Historical Society is in need of helping hands to preserve and promote Clearwater’s history. To find out more about assisting our efforts, including becoming a docent, working cleanup and repair days at South Ward and the Plumb House, and more, please email chsmembership1906@gmail.com. We are also searching for prospective candidates for a new fundraising committee.

Stay in Touch and Be Informed:
Like and Follow CHS on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterHistoricalSociety/
Visit the Plumb House Museum at: 1380 South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Clearwater
E-mail the Society at: clearwaterhistory@gmail.com

To get on our digital mailing list, please email chsmembership1906@gmail.com with your name and contact information.

Spring ushers in longer days, cool breezes, and picnics in the park. And in Clearwater, it’s time for the Spring Fish Fry! Come meet up with old friends and make some new friends.

Saturday, May 6, 2017
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ross Norton Recreation Center
1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue

Adults: $12  Children (12 and Under): $6

Click here to purchase your tickets securely on-line through PayPal, or buy them at the door the day of the fry.

Read All About It

Author Clifford McKay will be at the Fish Fry to sell and sign his self-published book, “Growing Up Wet.”  The book is about growing up in the Clearwater Beach area in the 1940s and early 1950s. Each book is $15.  Receive a FREE Clearwater Historical Society bookmark with every book purchase!

The Society Shoppe

Show your pride for the Clearwater Historical Society with new items imprinted with our logo.  At the Fish Fry we will debut new t-shirts, bookmarks and tote bags.  Please bring cash or check and shop to show your support!

Membership Corner

Board member Allison Dolan has graciously agreed to take on the role of Membership Chairperson.  She and her team have begun the exhaustive task of reaching out to every current member of the Society.  If you haven’t heard from one of them, please give Allison a call at (727) 399-9314 to update your information and provide an e-mail address.

Free Plumb House Museum Tours

The Society offers free guided and self-guided tours of the historic Plumb House Museum from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month, and from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday through May 6, 2017.  The museum is located at 1380 South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Clearwater.

Swing Into Spring

The Clearwater Bombers’ Legacy Project is hosting its Spring Golf Tournament on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Clearwater Country Club, 525 North Betty Lane.  Registration is at 11 a.m.; the Putting Contest is at 12 p.m. and Tee Off is at 1 p.m.

Individual Player cost is $80 and includes golf, golf cart and buffet.

Find more info at www.clearwaterbombersinc.com or by calling Jim Videtich at 727-442-6981.

Donations

Thank You to everyone who has faithfully supported the Clearwater Historical Society over the years through annual dues, volunteer time, and donations of artifacts.  It is because of your generosity that the Society has been able to maintain the Plumb House and move forward with the South Ward project.  If you still need to pay your dues for this year, wish to make a financial donation or want to include the Clearwater Historical Society in your will, please contact Buddy Gross at (727) 600-8204.  Please know that your contribution will leave a lasting legacy for future generations!

The Society is grateful for the following generous donations:

• Sam and Therese Plumb have donated time, materials and finances for repairs at the Plumb House.
• Debbie King of Trickels Jewelry donated 10 tall display cabinets, two counter display units, and a jeweler’s bench from the family store downtown.
• Drina and Ron Meyer donated funds toward moving the cabinets from Trickels to South Ward property.
• Scott Belcher and the Belcher family donated furniture for the Plumb House from the Estate of Eileen Belcher.
• Jeanne Holmquist and the Basore family donated several boxes of memorabilia and Clearwater material collected by their mother.

On the Lend

The Clearwater Historical Society is honored to be part of the Henry Plant Museum’s new exhibit, “Menus: The Epicurean Experience.”  The exhibit explores Victorian fine dining and its elaborate accouterments including original menus from the Tampa Bay Hotel, beautiful china, crystal, and silver.  The Society was asked to lend the museum a cruet set originally belonging to the Belleview Biltmore Hotel that was given to the Society as part of the donation from the Turner Estate.

Belleview Biltmore Cruet Set

The exhibit runs through December 23, 2017.

South Ward – Moving Forward

Our vision is becoming a reality.  On Monday, March 27th, the Society began the long awaited first steps to converting the campus of South Ward Elementary School into a historic museum and cultural center by tenting the entire facility for termite elimination and prevention.  Termite and pest control, provided by Pestguard Termite, is the first step in the massive restorative undertaking that involves the campus’s 20,000 square feet of structures. Once open, the Clearwater Historical Society museum will house the many artifacts that have been collected and donated over the years that are currently stored at the Plumb House Museum, volunteer’s homes, and The First United Methodist Church.  The facility will also be used for the Society’s biannual fish frys, social events, and as a meeting space.

South Ward Work Days

Join us at 10 a.m. at the South Ward property on the following Saturdays to clean-up.

April 15, April 22 and April 29

Plumb House Work Days

Join us at 9 a.m. at the Plumb House Museum on the following Thursdays to clean-up.

April 20, May 4 and May 18

Scrub palms recently cleaned out behind the Plumb House Museum.

Left to right: Brothers Carroll M. and James B. Nall stand in front of Nall Lumber’s office with James Everett Nall, their father and company founder.

CLEARWATER CENTENNIALS CONTINUE

2015 marked 100 years since the town of Clear Water Harbor was incorporated as a city gov-
ernment and became the City of Clearwater. The town of Clear Water Harbor was established by a charter and elected its first mayor James Crane in 1891.

Now in 2016, centennial celebrations continue for several local institutions, including Clearwater Library and Morton Plant Hospital.

Local business Nall Lumber is also on the 100 year list. Nall Lumber Company was founded in 1916 by James E. Nall when he purchased the company from his employers. Since then, it has been continuously operated by the same family and in the same location. The business has survived various obstacles, including a major fire, and is now operated by Carroll M. Nall, Jr. (3rd generation) and Andy Nall (4th generation).

SOUTH WARD MUSEUM UPDATE

Work continues on the monumental task of converting the former South Ward School into a historical museum and cultural center. The society has secured a 50-year lease on the historic landmark from the Pinellas County School Board.

Project Receives State Funding- Thanks to the great effort by the Pinellas County legislative delegation led by Senator Jack Latvala in the Senate and Representative Chris Latvala in the House, the Clearwater Historical Society has been designated to receive a $500,000 allocation of funds from the state for work on the South Ward School project. Thanks to all who sent letters of support to Governor Scott.

Task Force Gets to Work- In order to better manage the scope of work involved in the South Ward project, a task force was formed at the beginning of 2016 and assigned committees to address specific areas of concern. The CHS Task Force Oversight Committee met on March 26, 2016, to receive update reports from the various committees. Joyce Snyder, the task force coordinator, assembled the following recap of the meeting:

The Fundraising Committee reported nearing completion on a video of the South Ward Campus and the Plumb House Museum, thanks to the efforts of Joel Malizia at Pilot Moon Films. The full-length video and several shorter versions will be available for promotional purposes. The video will be posted to the CHS website very soon.

Bill Wallace announced that the CHS request for state funds was approved by Governor Scott. CHS will be receiving a total of $500,000 from the state this year. While it will not cover total funds needed to rehab the school and bring it up to code for the Americans with Disabilities Act, it will provide a much needed financial boost.

The Volunteer Committee reported that they are working to find outside organizations to help with various projects on the South Ward campus. Cons Helping Cons, a non-profit organization offering labor services, and MULCH, a non-profit landscaping group, have offered their services. A local man has also volunteered to cut the grass at the school with his lawn tractor. The society will eventually offer volunteer hours to students fulfilling Bright Futures Scholarship requirements.

The Collections Committee reported that pictures and postcards are being sorted and organized by subject so they will be ready to be digitized by the society’s new archivist. The archivist reported that she had visited with the Clearwater librarian, and the library had offered the use of their equipment. While we will network with the library, it was decided that having our own equipment was preferred.

The Physical Plant Committee is focused on a new roof for Building 3 at this time. John Maire and Lisa Millsaps of Maire Security Company have offered to donate their security services to South Ward School and are already working to update building locks.

There was some talk about a time frame to open. Realistically, we are probably looking at a couple of years down the road before opening, by the time we jump through the many hoops that are required. However, there are a couple of us who are more optimistic and hope we will be able to see some type of activity on the campus grounds within the next year. Either way, the dream of a Clearwater Historical Society museum and cultural center is finally becoming a reality.

Roof Update- The City of Clearwater has issued a construction permit, and roof repair is in progress on Building 3 of South Ward School. Built in the 1950s, the former cafeteria and kindergarten facility is the newest of the South Ward School buildings, yet is most in need of repair. Clearwater-based architect Steve Fowler, who oversaw the restoration of the Capitol Theatre, is the Clerk of the Works for the project. Repairs on the roof are set to be complete by the end of April. A revised budget of up to $50,000 was approved by the CHS Board of Directors in March. Eventually, Building 3 will play host to events such as lectures and fish fries.

Along with CHS, the Clearwater Bombers Legacy Group, the Clearwater City Players, and the Francis Wilson Playhouse are now using parts of the South Ward facility on a limited basis. The repair of Building 3 is the beginning of a long restoration process before opening the buildings to the public.

New Collaborators- In March, representatives of the Clearwater Historical Society met with Randy Lightfoot, president of the Pinellas County African American Museum in Clearwater, to discuss future collaboration between the two groups, including exchanging exhibits once the museum at South Ward is open.

DAVID PERKINS MEMORIAL AWARD

The Clearwater Historical Society awarded the David Perkins Memorial Award to middle schooler Marianthi Leventelis. The award was a $100 check for her Pinellas County History Fair project “Greeks Exploration to America: The Sponge Exchange and Tarpon Springs.” The award was created several years ago to encourage interest in local history. No Clearwater-area projects have been submitted to date. If you know a student that might be eligible to participate in the history fair, suggest that a Clearwater project would be welcome, and the society will help with materials where possible.

DONATIONS

The Clearwater Historical Society recently received donations of objects from the Turner House at Heritage Village, including family china and items from the Belleview Biltmore.

An antique doll house with furnishings was donated by the Palm Harbor Historical Society.

A donation of a vintage school desk was received from Marvin Moore and is being restored for display by Bob Galatas. Bob has restored other furniture for the society.

A framed picture of the Garden Seat Restaurant in early days was donated by Marvin Siple.

William Moriaty gave several paper items, including a very nice booklet about the former marine life exhibit Sea-Orama, that was located in the Clearwater Marina on the beach.

A copy of the book, The Thirsty Thirteenth, about a military transport group that spent some time in this area, was donated by its author, Seth Washburne.

Sue Dicus Achyemeir donated historical material from her father, Lester Dicus.

If you have a document or object you would like to donate or loan out to the society please email us at clearwaterhistory@gmail.com.

The Fourth of July, 1894- What was probably most of the people in town gather to celebrate at the intersection of Cleveland Street and Fort Harrison Avenue in wagons and on foot.

1. Go to www.smile.amazon.com
2. Make sure you are logged in to your account
3. Click the “Your Account” tab in the upper right corner of the page
4. Under the “Settings” section, click “Change Your Charity”
5. Search for Clearwater Historical Society in the search box at the bottom of the page

6. Click select next to “Clearwater Historical Society Inc.” Make sure you select the one in Clearwater, Florida.

7. That’s it! Now 0.5% of your spending on Amazon will be donated to the society. Make sure you always shop through smile.amazon.com to activate the donation!

How the site is set up:

The home page will serve as a message board of sorts, featuring recent news and updates pertaining to the Society.

Click on the other tabs in the navigation bar to view more permanent information about CHS, including the history of the society, how to become a member and information on our museums and events, as well as our growing archive of historical photos and documents.

Thank you for your interest in the Clearwater Historical Society and enjoy looking around the new website!