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| "Telephones from Bell to Cell" was the title of the presentation by David Prace on Nov. 20, 2004. Mr. Prace showed several antique telephones and some early telephone switching equipment and instruction manuals. He also showed some more recent telephones, including one modeled after the 1959 Cadillac. In the photo above, he holds an early candlestick telephone. Mr. Prace was employed as an engineer for Stromberg-Carlson for 26 years. He holds two patents for types of switches which were formerly used in the industry. He is a former President of the West Pasco Historical Society. |
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| Robert Fritzsche presented a program at a meeting of West Pasco Historical Society on Oct. 23, 2004. The subject was antique tools, mostly those used in woodworking. Mr. Fritzsche, a resident of Holiday, is a woodworker, an authority on early tools used in woodworking, and an auctioneer. He also teaches at a local community college. He told us several amusing anecdotes and demonstrated the use of several tools. |
| Two local authors talked about their recently-published books at a meeting of the West Pasco Historical Society
on Sept. 11, 2004.
Adam J. Carozza is the author of Images of America: New Port Richey, which features over 200 vintage photographs showing the history of the city. The book, which was released on July 7, 2004, is part of the "images of America" series published by Arcadia Publishing. Mr. Carozza is a retired U. S. Postal Service employee and a member of the West Pasco Historical Society, the Florida Historical Society, and the City of New Port Richey Historic Preservation Board. He is interested in the history of the South. He teaches at a local high school. Jeanne P. Fahey, who also lives in New Port Richey, is the author of Mustered! Foot Soldiers of the 12th, which chronicles the daily life of the foot-soldier of the 12th New Hampshire Regiment in the Civil War from 1862 to 1865. Ms. Fahey said the book is based on the foot soldiers' personal diaries which she read. She said that letters written home by civill war soldiers were often less informative than these personal accounts. Her great-grandfather, Captain R. W. Musgrove, was a member of the regiment and a historian. Both writers signed copies of their books. |
| A newly-published book in the "Images of America" series published by Arcadia Publishing shows over 200 old photographs of New Port Richey. The book is the creation of Adam J. Carozza, a member of the West Pasco Historical Society. Many of the photographs were taken from the archives of the WPHS. Others were borrowed by the author from local residents. The soft-cover book consists of 128 pages. The photographs are reproduced with significantly better quality than any previously published history of West Pasco County. Mr. Carozza said today the book has sold about 700 copies. It is available at the West Pasco Historical Society at a cost of $18. Although it is sometimes sold out, the book may also be available at the following locations: Greater New Port Richey Main Street, Davis Hardware (U.S. 19 just north of Main St.), Swartsel's Ace Hardware (Grand Blvd. south of Trouble Creek), Spoonbill's Restaurant (Main St.), Waldenbooks (Gulf View Square Mall), Walgreens Drugstore (US 19 & Main St.), Tampa Christian Supply (Main St.), and Books-A-Million. The book can also be ordered at amazon.com. |
| The new officers of the WPHS were installed on June 16, 2004.
The new president is Leon Flood. Other officers are: Jeanne Kisby, first vice president; Terri Andrews Kirby, second vice president; George Brandli, treasurer; Ginny Miller, recording secretary; and Laura Helm, corresponding secretary.
The new membes of the board of directors are Wendy Brenner, Ann Buchanan, David Prace, Joan Rees, and Terry Kline.
The officers were installed by County Judge Debra Roberts.
Several members were honored by outgoing President Midge London-Prace, and Elsie Coy was named an honorary lifetime member.
In the first photo are new President Leon Flood and County Judge Debra Roberts; in the second photo Elsie Coy (left) is named an honorary lifetime member by Audrey O'Neil. |
| Edward J. Herrmann was our guest speaker on April 10, 2004. The topic of his very interesting presentation was the history of Saint Leo University. Mr. Herrmann is one of the three authors of Historic Places of Pasco County, which was published in 1992. His father, Joe Herrmann, was a longtime San Antonio builder and entrepreneur who died at age 90 in 2002. |
| On April 6, 2004, the West Pasco Historical Society hosted a reception in connection with the dedication of a bench in memory of Dr. Frank Y. Robson, a physician who practiced in New Port Richey beginning in 1952, and his wife Christine. In 1960 Dr. Robson built the Robson Professional Building. The bench is located beside that building on Grand Boulevard at Circle Boulevard. The dedication of the bench is the first in under new project created by New Port Richey Main Street Inc. Some pictures appear below. |
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