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Dear Doris,
The grand opening to the museum during Groveland's annual 4th of July festivities was wonderful! Thanks to all who came out to join us. And a very special heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, supporters, Jerry at Affordable Home Repair Specialists (carpentry) and Pam Lee (photo restorations) who made the museum a reality.
We have a new Web site where you can stay up to date on new collections and specal programs at the museum.
| NEW WEB SITE |
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The museum now has its own Web site: www.grovelandhistory.org.
Like the museum, the Web site is a work in progress. In the near future we will add PayPal so that you can order items online from our museum gift shop, such as photo reproductions, T-shirts and Jack Speer's "My Hometown" CD.
For now, you can sign up for special programs and keep up on the latest additions to our museum collections.
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| MORE NOTES FROM THE GRAND OPENING |
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If you were at the grand opening -- thank you for your support! If you couldn't make it, here are a few post scripts from the event:
- The grand opening ceremony included brief speeches from Mayor Matthew Baumann and City Council Member Johnny Griffin. Jack Speer sang "My Hometown."
- Descendants of founding families, such as Daniel Sloan, Archibald Gano, J. Ray Arnold and other third- plus generation Groveland residents were acknowledged and got to be the first in line.
- We had more than a dozen former Miss Groveland beauty pageant winners and contestants that came for a reunion that was part of the grand opening festivities. It was great to see 1965 winner, Carol Speer Freitag, Sandi Frontz Averitt, Deborah Whitmore Hicks, Cindy Cofield Drawdy among others. Some came as far away as North Georgia and Alabama. Time did not permit us to print all their photos before the grand openng. But we plan to do so before ths Saturday. The exhibit will remain through July.
- Several people brought treasured memorabilia to add to our collections. Some of the items include: Doug Burtoft's 1970 football jersey that he wore when GHS was state runner-up; Frank Williams brought photos that date back to early GHS athletic teams; Sandi Frontz Averitt brought her green velvet and rhinestone majorette uniform and Julian "Soup" Rowe brought a plaque presented to him honoring his contributions to GHS' athletic programs. "I was going to have it on my tombstone but decided to give it to the musem," he said, smiling.
- It was great to see Mike Muraro who is recovering from lung surgery.
- We proudly showed off a Tennessee basketball jersey that Red and Janie Robbins sent. Red wore it during his All-American career at UT.
- Cool moment No. 1: Seeing family members view the class photos of loved ones who have passed away. At the museum, GHS alumni remain 18 forever.
- Cool moment No. 2: Seeing children and grandchildren get a kick out of seeing parents and grandparents when they were younger.
- Favorite moment: Seeing the smile on Tricie Gammon's face when she saw Marilyn's red prom dress in its beautiful new gazebo display case.
Photo at top: Jack Speer sings at the grand opening while his granddaughter and family look on.
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| SUPPORT THE GROVELAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM |
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From the Good News Dept.:
Janie Robbins says hubby Red Robbins is in remission after completing 12 chemo sessions. Red and Janie send thanks for the love and prayers sent their way.
From the Missing You Dept.: The Groveland- Mascotte community recently lost a good friend in the passing of Agnes Johnson Rowe, Julian's wife was a lovely lady and beloved educator. A link to her obituary is below.
What's next at the museum?
We will be focusing on a variety of programs that will educate and entertain people about Groveland's history, such as the July 21 tour of the Edge house (Sign up on the Web site: www.grovelandhistory.org.)
We want to have a multimedia museum. We are looking for grant money and donations so that we can purchase a camcorder and computer so that we can capture oral histories of some of our older residents in addition to saving community events for future viewing and having the ability to view old football games and other past events.
A big orange and green valentine goes out to the following people for their generous donations:
- Julian "Soup" Rowe gave $1,000. Thanks, Soup!
- ****Jeannie Carter Jones sent $100. Thanks, Jeannie!
- Billy Evans gave $100. Thanks, Billy!
- Vernell Lee sent $15 to become a member. Thanks, Vernell!
- Cindy Cofield Drawdy, Deborah Whitmore Hicks and Marie Patterson Padgett donated their time and paid some of the grand opening expenses. Thanks, Ladies!
LEGACY GIVERS
Continuing thanks to the kind folks who have given major donations:
- Kemp Smith
- Dr. Paul and Jennifer Burroughs
- Tricie Gammon
- Bobby Campbell
- Don Bronson
- Bobby and Faye Boswell
- John and Doris Bloodsworth
- Carol Cressey Bornemann
- Blaine Daniels
- June and Gloria Fairchild
- Jerry and Connie Fleetwood
- Kathryn Gerber
- Daniel Heleski
- Henrietta Hickman
- Bill and Julie Law
- Lorene Leininger
- Marie Padgett
- Red and Janie Robbins
- Edward and Peggy Sloan
- Dolores Gano Walker
Photo: Former Mayor James Smith (left) and others talk to a reporter about Groveland's history.
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Historically Yours
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The grand opening was an emotional, happy event that had the warm fuzzy feeling you get when family members come through the door on Thanksgiving morning.
There were dear old friends, such as Julan "Soup" Rowe and Bruce and Charlene Ogden, in addition to terrific new friends such as the J. Ray Arnold descendants, who traveled from all over the state to be at the grand opening, and James Smith, Groveland's former mayor and new historical society member.
Some of the more popular exhibits included:
- The new trophy cases, with polished trophies from 1955 through 1993, and a special display honoring Red Robbins.
- The restored class photos. (We have a few more that are waiting for frames.)
- Marilyn Gammon Smith's gown, in its new gazebo display case.
- The Edgewood Elementary School exhibit that includes the orignal 1920 door and window, donated by Johnny Griffin. The lumber was milled at the Arnold sawmill.
- Photo gallery.
If you missed the grand opening, come by any Saturday between 11 AM and 1 PM. If that time does not work for you, call and we will try to open it at a time that is mutually convenient. Call 407- 797-9393.
WANT TO BE A MUSEUM VOLUNTEER?
We would love to have the museum open more days and hours. To do so we need more volunteers. Call 407-797-9393 or e-mail Doris for more details: dorisbloods@earthlink.net.
The next Groveland Historical Society meeting: Tue., July 31, 7 PM, at the museum, 243 S. Lake Ave. next to the Puryear Building. Everyone is welcome.
PHOTO UPDATE.
A few photos are still being restored. We LOVE it that we recently added the Classes of 1944, 1967 and 1975 which we will proudly restore and hang with their fellow alumni.
We'll soon do a final inventory and then try to round-up missing classes.
SHARE OUR GOOD NEWS!! E-mail this newsletter to a friend. (Your efforts are paying off! We've been adding new names after each newsletter.) |
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