DAVENPORT, Fla. — The city of Davenport is rich with history, and the Davenport Historical Society is looking to preserve and pass that history on to future generations.
“We put together a historical committee back in the early '90s. And Peter Rust, who the building is named after, was the one who put together the committee for the historical section of Davenport. He felt it was very important to save history. Then from there, the Historical Society came about,” said Freida Priest, the president of the Davenport Historical Society.
The Davenport Historical Society is an interactive museum full of artifacts, including items from the old railroad depots, citrus industry days and an exhibit on the city’s medal of honor recipient. However, the museum also offers so much more.
“We also provide an area for people to come and either paint or have a book club, or origami class, or butterfly buddies. We have a lot of other different classes. Plus, we have an art gallery, where we have all the paintings and so forth from people who live here in Davenport in the surrounding area. And we also have a boutique, where we have a sewing group, and people donate those items,” said Priest.
Another unique program they offer is called “The Front Porch Memories Program.” Think of it as a video time capsule. They interview residents who have lived in the county for 50 years and are older than 75.
Joyce Hunter runs the program and told Tampa Bay 28 that the group gathers and tells stories so that future generations will have something to look back on.
"You've got a story. You are a part of history, but your story is important, and people can relate to their grandmas and their grandpas well, and grandma and grandpa are gone, you're not going to hear those stories, because after our kids don't even know those stories,” said Hunter.
Tampa Bay 28 asked Hunter about one of her favorite stories she has heard while running the program.
“He grew up in Davenport, and when he was, like, five years old, we had a big water tower over across from the railroad tracks, and he lived close to that water tower. He climbed on top of that water tower and was sitting on top of that water tower just watching the traffic go by. His mom comes out, and she's hollering his name and hollering his name, and he is not listening. So, she calls the police, and then he sees Chief Bessel going around looking for him. The cars are just going from street to street looking for him, and he's just sitting up there watching, until he finally decided to come down,” explained Joyce.
Joyce says it is important to talk to your parents and grandparents. Ask them questions about their childhood because you never know what history they may hold that can be passed along and preserved.
