1914 PCHS Community Center: A historical building with many tales to tell

By Cierra Craft

On Monday, April 24, the City Commissioners of the City of Plant City held a special public meeting regarding the future of the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, located at 605 N. Collins Street in historic downtown. At the City Hall meeting, it was announced by City of Plant City Mayor Nate Kilton that demolition of the 1914 High School Community Center is not an option on the table. The City is exploring its options how to move forward with the historic property.

City Manager Bill McDaniel presented four possible options to the Commissioners: Continuing a minimum maintenance approach; conveying building ownership, with or without a reveter cause, to the East Hillsborough Historical Society (EHHS); developing and releasing an Request for Proposal (RFP), a process that solicits bids from any interested parties; and finally, allowing the City to manage and maintain the property, allowing it to be used as a revenue-generating community gathering place.

In 2021, Universal Engineering Sciences (UES), a construction engineering firm in Tampa, completed an assessment of the building, reporting $7.7 million in estimated cost of repairs. The company revisited the site since that report and updated their findings; the firm now reports an estimated cost of $30.9 million. Mayor Nate Kilton asked if the firm’s representatives could explain the 301% increase in costs.

UES Project Manager Meagan Gonzalez shared that the initial estimate did not include preservation, but rather a total repair/replacement, to restore the building to “fair” condition. The new estimate would bring the building back to the condition required by the Secretary of the Interior Standards and Design Guidelines for Plant City’s historic district. UES recommended mold remediation, a new roof, new windows, and exterior doors, replacement of cast iron piping, exterior brick restoration and maintenance, HVAC system expansion, an electrical upgrade, and much more.

Florida artist John Briggs annually shows Pioneer Day visitors how to use a lithograph printer in the same studio he uses to paint his iconic works of art that are in private collections across our nation and globe.

(FOCUS Archives)

Currently, the 1914 PCHS Community Center is occupied by the EHHS, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of Plant City and eastern Hillsborough County. The society maintains a museum and the Quintilla Geer Bruton Archives Center, which contains an extensive collection of books, maps, census records, newspapers, other documents, and other photography and ephemera.

At the April 24 meeting, Shelby Bender, president of the EHHS, championed for the City to place the 1914 building in the ownership of EHHS. She noted the years of investment made by the organization into the preservation of the building with a value exceeding $ 4 million, as well as the financial investment of cash hours of volunteer time committed to EHHS.

“I’ve got a gold shovel in the city museum and we’re ready to start the work and take action,” she said. “We’re at a critical juncture and need to come to a decision.”

About 20 other citizens came to the podium to voice their concerns, noting concerns such as a loss of Plant City history and genealogical preservation by not turning the building over to the EHHS. South Tampa resident and Plant City business owner Allen Berribbi, suggested transforming the building into affordable housing. General contractor Cassie Gardner, CEO of All Trades Historical Restoration, came to the podium, sharing her company is currently restoring the First United Methodist Church of Plant City and First Presbyterian Church of Plant City. Gardner shared that the building could be sealed from water intrusion for less than suggested by UES.

Commissioners Jason Jones, Mary Thomas Mathis, and Bill Dodson all voiced support for creating and releasing an RFP, noting the Historical Society could also respond with its plan.

Vice Mayor Mike Sparkman strongly urged his fellow commissioners to put the historical society in ownership of the building. Sparkman said the decision to put the RFP bid request out is putting off and delaying the much-needed repairs.

Commissioner Dodson motioned for the RFP and the city, exploring how other cities have restored and used their historic building. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mathis.

In a follow-up interview with Shelby Bender on Wednesday, April 26, she said the EHHS plans to respond to the RFP and urges citizens to help.

“People can continue to contact City Commissioners to show support for EHHS to attain ownership and remain in the 1914,” said Bender. “The Commissioners’ names and contact information can be found on our website at www.ehhsoc.org.”

Bender says the EHHS are members of the National Trust of Historic Preservation, Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, Florida Association of Museums, American Association of State and Local History, Florida Humanities, and a FamilySearch Library Affiliate. FamilySearch Library Affiliates are able to access 400 million digital genealogical records. EHHS is the recipient of several grants, including the American Association of Museums, Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Florida Humanities, and many others.

On the third floor, one of the former classrooms now serves as a museum to the Florida Strawberry Festival with gowns of former queens.

On the far left is the gown worn by the first Strawberry Queen Charlotte Rosenburg in 1930.

(FOCUS Archives)

The EHHS has exhibits on the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Florida, a recently donated private genealogical collection of professional genealogist Alvie Davidson, a Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Room, Scouting History in Plant City, Turkey Creek School Archives, as well as various other collections chronicling Plant City, and East Hillsborough, and Florida history.

Willeva Van Den Bogaert and her husband, Ludo, are both volunteers with EHHS and organizers of the Turkey Creek School Archives. Van Den Bogaert says they’re always amazed at the collections that come through the door as donations to further build the EHHS’s museum holdings.

“Our history and the genealogical library is a gem for research,” said Van Den Boggaert.

The museum currently showcases a Strawberry Festival Queen’s Room, including the gown worn by the first queen in 1930, Charlotte Rosenberg. Parts of the Jamie Lee Curtis and Macauley Culkin film “My Girl” was filmed at the historic building.

“The classroom gallery is a learning lab for art classes of varied mediums taught by both Plant City and visiting artists,” said Van Den Bogaert. “Outstanding Florida artist John Briggs annually shows Pioneer Day visitors how to use a lithograph printer in the same studio he uses to paint his iconic works of art that are in private collections across our nation and globe.”

Citizens who attended the meeting also shared their thoughts with FOCUS following the April meeting.

Sandee Sytsma said she initially attended the meeting with fear that demolition was an option and says she was relieved when Mayor Kilton made it clear the building was staying put.

“I would like to see the building restored and for EHHS to have a portion to preserve our history…” said Sytsma. “I would love to see the other rooms and floors used for shops and services for everyone to use.”

Shelby Bender says other uses, such as shops or services, could be possible with the EHHS as the owners.

“EHHS would have the ability to lease out space for those uses and we would want to ensure to strike a good balance between content usage that is compatible with the historical aspects and the surrounding neighborhood,” said Bender.

Plant City resident Jay Hollenkamp said it was clear the EHHS is the leading candidate for the building but wonders if the volunteer-powered non-profit is able to afford such a large undertaking and what are the group’s plans going forward. He also noted that he was thrilled overall with the outcome of the Commission Meeting and feels as long as the community maintains the belief that our City’s “postcard building” must be saved and the community’s call to action, then the building can be saved.

City of Plant City’s RFP was made public on Thursday, May 4 until June 8. At the time of publications, other public hearings regarding the project have not been scheduled. FOCUS will keep readers informed on the latest news regarding the 1914 High School Community Center.

1914

The School Improvement Association secured a $40,000 bond for a new three-story brick school to be built. The school opened in 1914 as Plant City High School.

1955 Became Tomlin Jr. High School

1975

Building deeded to the City from Hillsborough County Schools with a reverter clause for the building to be open for public use.

1977 EHHS was given authority to plan & implement restoration of the building

1978

Commission voted to accept the proposed agreement [by then-EHHS president Sandra Cameron] of the EHHS to proceed with stabilization and restoration of the 1914

1981

2021

2022

The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of Interior

UES completed a Building Condition Assessment

The reverter clause was removed by Hillsborough County Public Schools

By Cheryl Johnston

Each year in our May issue we are pleased to present the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of our three area high schools –Durant, Plant City, and Strawberry Crest. Their carefully considered responses to the questions we pose are typically inspiring and personality-revealing.

Always, we’re so encouraged by the intelligence and dreams of these diligent young adults. And we hope you are, too!

Be encouraged, Focus Readers – our future is in very capable hands.