Our November 2018 newsletter, which has been mailed to members, is here.

Rita King, who was a mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs in the 1960s and is now a “Legendary Siren,” was the guest speaker at the museum on Nov. 3, 2018. She spoke about her time as a mermaid and her current interest, which is the environmental issues facing the Floridan Aquifer.

In the above photo, WPHS President Bob Langford thanks Rita King for her excellent presentation.

In the above photo are Rita (McKenna) King and Ann (Rusaw) James at the museum. Rita is a former Weeki Wachee mermaid (and now a Legendary Siren) and Ann is the treasurer and a board member of the West Pasco Historical Society. They were classmates at Gulf High School.

Meet a live mermaid at the museum on Saturday (11/3)! Rita King was a mermaid from 1963-68, after graduating from Gulf High School, and she’s still performing today as a member of the legendary Sirens for the last four years. She will be speaking at the museum at 1 p.m. No charge for admission. A BayNews 9 report is here.

Join the community on Saturday, November 10, at 1:00 pm for the traditional walk around Orange Lake at Sims Park for a short ceremony at each of the military monuments representing the different branches of service. Then all are invited in the museum for a great presentation on the history of the US flags. Meet and greet veterans and check out the collection of uniforms and military memorabilia. The Museum Administrator, Terry Kline, a Vietnam War veteran, will be presiding. Light refreshments will be provided. No charge for admission – Donations Appreciated.

We had a great turnout our Sept. 29 event, which was held in Peace Hall, and lots of great comments on the program by Jeff Miller on Pasco County history. Our remaining events in 2018 will be held at the museum and they are:

Oct. 12-14: Don’t miss a rare exhibit of classic motorcycles on our front lawn. Compliments of Dale Webb.

Nov. 3: Rita King, former mermaid from Weeki Wachee, will have a presentation on water conservation and the history of our Florida springs.

Dec. 8: Santa is coming!

Visitors to the museum during our board meeting on Sept. 12, 2018, were Kathy Oko and Judy Weaver, who are the historian and regent of the Pithlochaskotee chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Also in the picture is Bob Langford, president of the WPHS. The DAR donated to the museum a plate which commemorates the tenth anniversary in 1987 of the local DAR chapter, which spells its name based on an early spelling of the Indian name for the river.

Ken Weightman, the greeter at the museum on Aug. 25, 2018, and Paul Nessler, a museum visitor. Ken and Paul were roommates at USF around 1981-82. Both are Gulf High School graduates. Paul is a son of Sandra Werner, whose mother was Frances Clark Mallett. That makes grandson Paul Jacob Nessler, who is also in the picture, and 11th generation Floridian.

Steve Mattix was a visitor to the museum on Aug. 24, 2018. He is the historian of the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department and he loaned us some old pictures and documents to scan. Here he is holding the first trophy won by the Hudson VFD, in 1964.

Dana Russ and Bette Conde were the greeters at the museum on Aug. 24, 2018.

Terry Kline showed Kathryn Starkey around the museum today (8/10). Mrs. Starkey is one of the Pasco County commissioners.