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  • The Historic Hernando Preservation Society to host Florida Humanities Speaker Series

    Don’t miss our 2018-2019 Florida Humanities Speaker Series, featuring fascinating programs about Florida’s history, culture, and people.

    Presented by the Florida Humanities Council in partnership with the Historic Hernando Preservation Society, this series will showcase four engaging talks and performances, starting in November 2018 and ending in May 2019 . Admission to each is FREE.  All programs will be hosted at the Brooksville Woman’s Club, 131 South Main St. Brooksville, FL 34604.

    Our series will touch on a wide range of topics, including a living history presentation in character & costume of 3 famous Florida authors, a splash with the mermaids of Weeki Wachee, and an exploration of Florida’s long history of cattle ranching.  Here are the details:

    • November 1, 2018  6:30 p.m. “Florida History:  from Palmetto-Leaves to The Yearling to River of Grass.”  Experience Florida through the milieu of three woman authors, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.  Each wrote a book that put Florida on the map- in 1873, 1938, and 1947 respectively. Performed in character & costume by Betty Jean Steinshouer.
    • February 7, 2019  6:30 p.m. “The Civilian Conservation Corps in Florida: State Parks and More.”  David Schmidt, curator of the Florida Civilian Conservation Corps museum presents an overview of the CCC in Florida from 1933 until 1942, which had over 70 camps and about 50,000 workers on projects across the state.
    • April 4, 2019  6:30 p.m. “Weeki Wachee: City of Mermaids.”  Dr. Lu Vickers will cover the history of Weeki Wachee from its very beginnings in 1947.  This talk will feature vintage photographs of the mermaids from their earliest days performing silent ballets to the heyday when ABC built them a million dollar theater.
    • May 2, 2019  6:30 p.m. “Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition.” Folklorist Bob Stone’s multi-media presentation explores and celebrates the history and culture of the nation’s oldest cattle ranching state from the colonial period to the 21st century.  

    The Florida Humanities Council partners with community organizations around the state. Support for the Speaker Series is provided by the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.

  • November Guest Speaker “Florida History: from Palmetto-Leaves to The Yearling to River of Grass.”

    Presented by the Florida Humanities Council in partnership with the Historic Hernando Preservation Society, we are pleased to welcome historian Betty Jean Steinshouer as our November featured speaker. Experience Florida through the milieu of three woman authors, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.  Each wrote a book that put Florida on the map- in 1873, 1938, and 1947 respectively. Performed in character & costume by Betty Jean Steinshouer.

    Thursday, November 1, 2018
    6:30 pm
    Brooksville Woman’s Club
    131 South Main Street
    Brooksville, FL 34601

  • October Guest Speaker: “Researching Your Home’s History”

    The Historic Hernando Preservation Society is pleased to welcome historic preservation consultant, Jo-Anne Peck to speak on “Researching Your Home’s History”. Ms. Peck will talk about what to look for, where to look for information and why it is good to know the history of your house or building. The talk is free and open to the public.

    Thursday, October 4,2018
    6:30 pm
    800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601

    Note the change of venue

  • LeeAnne Shoeman Preservation Award 2018

    The Lee Anne Shoeman Preservation Award is presented annually to a person who as contributed to understanding of the historic significance of Hernando County, and or furthering historic education in Hernando County. It is named in honor of Lee Anne Shoeman, a gifted educator and historian. The award serves as a beacon of hope that the work of Ms. Shoeman will carry on with those of us who love history and wish to continue the memory of a beloved historian, writer and educator. The award is displayed in Brooksville City Hall​.

    Nominations are due by November 1, 2018.

    You may download the form here and mail to:
    Historic Hernando Preservation Society
    PO Box 1925
    Brooksvile, FL 34605
    or
    Email to: hernandopreservation@gmail.com
    LeeAnneShoeman2018

    or you may fill out this online application:

  • HHPS 3rd Quarter Business Meeting & Auction

    Just added! We will also be having a min-auction at this meeting with proceeds to benefit the historic marker fund.

    Join the HHPS for the 2018 Third Quarter Business Meeting to be followed with a Pot Luck Supper. We will discuss upcoming projects and plans, as well as scheduled speakers. All are welcome to attend!

    Thursday, September 6, 2018

    Brooksville City Hall, 201 Howell Ave, Brooksville, FL 34601

    6:30pm – 8:00pm

  • HHPS August Meeting & Guest Speaker

    The Historic Hernando Preservation Society is pleased to welcome Mr. Robert Martinez, publisher of Old Brooksville in Photos & Stories, as he presents:

    “BROOKSVILLE & HERNANDO COUNTY’S FAMOUS VISITORS.”
    Mr. Martinez will also talk about ways to identify OLD PHOTOGRAPHS.

    Thursday, August 2 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

    Brooksville City Hall, City Council Chambers

    201 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, FL 34601

  • Billy the Kid to visit the 1885 Train Depot Museum in Brooksville

    Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear the story of William H. Cox II, “BILLY THE KID.”  He recounts his adventure of 30 years ago when he experienced a life-changing event that found him literally living in the footsteps of the legendary figure of the wild wild West, William H. Bonney,  known infamously as “Billy the Kid.” Billy has written an autobiography about his life and adventures entitled: “The Adventures & Times of William H. Cox II, Billy the Kid.”

    Thirty years ago, Billy took a road trip to Roswell, New Mexico to learn about the land and history of that place after seeing the movie “Young Guns.”   Little did he know he was headed for an experience that would change his personal history and had everybody in the SouthWest saying that New Mexico’s notorious son was back.

    As Billy recounts,  he was twenty two years old and full of energy.  Arriving in Roswell, New Mexico, he stepped off the bus, not knowing where to go.  He just went with the direction of the wind. It led him to the Roswell Museum. As he walked into the museum, the historian immediately approached him and said he looked just like “Billy the Kid.”  “What is your name?” asked the historian. “Billy,” he replied. The museum historian’s mouth dropped! “We need to get you to Lincoln,” he said, which was about sixty miles from Roswell.

    So began his adventure as “Billy the Kid” in Lincoln, New Mexico.  Billy the Kid had returned in the person of William H. Cox II, who bore an uncanny likeness to the Kid.  Let the Kid tell you the rest of the story in person where he will make his book available and answer questions.  You will learn not just about Billy the Kid, you will learn that life is full of adventures and you don’t have to be ordinary, you can be original!

    EVENT TIME:     SATURDAY, JULY 28 @ 7 P.M.

    EVENT LOCATION:     1885 TRAIN DEPOT MUSEUM
    70 Russell Street
    Brooksville, FL 34601

    EVENT COST:    $10      RSVP 352-799-4766
    (20 seats available)