Among the visitors to the museum on June 14, 2019, were David Gallion, his daughter Tina Levasseur, and her sons Reid and Brendyn Lavasseur. David Gallion grew up in both Levy and Pasco counties, but he did attend some grades at Elfers Elementary School and he graduated from Gulf High School in 1960. His parents were Howard and Laura Gallion. Laura’s parents were Franklin Butler Sr. (1867-1951) and Sarah “Sally” Hudson (1875-1964). Sarah Hudson seems likely to be a daughter of Thomas Byrd Hudson (b. 1852), one of the sons of Isaac Washington Hudson Sr., from whom the town of Hudson gets its name. However, Jeff Cannon, the expert on the Hudson family genealogy, says the offspring of Thomas Byrd Hudson are unknown, so there is no confirmation at this time.

On Saturday (6/15) we will show the video “Cracker Crazy” at 1 p.m. It is 95 minutes long. The trailer for the video is on YouTube here.

The volunteers at the museum on June 7, 2019, were David Prace, Kari Stalnaker, and Patty Fisher. Also, Jeff Miller, who took the picture.

Kathy Logue, a teacher at Gulf High School, visited the museum on June 2, 2019. She brought us the 2019 Gulf High yearbook to add to our yearbook collection. We now have these Gulf yearbooks: 1940, 1946-47, 1951, 1953, 1958, 1963-65, 1972-76, 1979, 1982-87, 1989, 1994, 2000-02, 2006-15, and 2019. And we have may Gulf Middle School and Ridgewood High School yearbooks. Thanks to Ms. Heather Evans, the Gulf yearbook sponsor, and her yearbook staff for this year’s yearbook.

Second- and third-grade students from Elfers Christian School were visitors to the museum on May 22, 2019. A larger picture is here.

The Veterans Memorial on Orange Lake will be re-dedicated Saturday morning (5/18) at 9 a.m., as it has recently been refurbished. Afterwards, everyone is invited to the museum free tours and cold beverages. The memorial was first dedicated on Memorial Day in 1947 by the American Legion, whose members built the structure, although it is dedicated to all U. S. veterans.

Yolanda Mercado, president of the Gulf Coast chapter of Gold Star Mothers, was our guest speaker at the museum on May 11, 2019.

The board members of the West Pasco Historical Society were sworn in on May 11, 2019, by New Port Richey Mayor Rob Marlowe, on the far right. The board members pictured are (left to right): Brian Schmit, Heather Fiorentino, Trishia Rich, David Prace, Judith Koutsos, Jeff Miller, Bob Hubach, Antonia Miernik, Anne James, and Bob Langford. Not pictured: Diane Faulkner, Ken Weightman, and Rao Musunuru, M. D. (director emeritus). Photo by Sherri Hubach. A larger photo is here.

Here are some photos from the WPHS fundraiser held on May 10, 2019. Thank you Jan Stephenson! (Photos are available in higher resolution on our Facebook page.)

Hertta (Pohto) Holfeld, who is 92 years old, from the Finnish-American Club was a visitor to the museum on May 10, 2019. She donated a few items to the museum and gave us the disappointing news that the Finnish-American Club is disbanding after about 70 years of operation, because of declining membership. Their building on Grand Boulevard is for sale. New Port Richey has had a significant Finnish-American population since the 1910s.