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Keepsake Honors History Of Limona

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

BRANDON - Once again, residents have a chance to own a piece of history, or at least a replica of it.
New Horizons Group Homes will unveil the organization's 14th keepsake ornament commemorating a historical community landmark at its annual fundraising barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday behind New Horizons' two group homes at 109 and 115 E. Clay Ave. in Brandon.

This year's ornament depicts the 1,500-square-foot Limona Improvement Association building, now home to the Brandon Lions Club, 610 Limona Road.

Lora Eisenberg, who has designed most of the ornaments for the nonprofit group's largest annual fundraiser, designed this year's ornament featuring the simple, 1928 clapboard structure. The miniature replicas are plated with 24-karat gold.

Limona dates back to 1876, when a retired judge from Wisconsin, Joseph Gillette Knapp, acquired 160 acres that included a small lemon grove. He named it Limona after the Spanish word for lemons.

He recruited more settlers from the North, and a community grew up around a school, packing house, post office, general store, sawmills and train depot.
Civic leader E.E. Pratt came to Limona searching for a winter retirement community for employees of the Elgin Watch Co. of Illinois. He, Knapp and Claude Moseley formed the Limona Improvement Association in 1916 and built a clubhouse for meetings.

That first clubhouse burned down. But the group replaced it in 1928 with the current building, which was designated a historical landmark by the county two years ago. As membership in the Limona Improvement Association waned, Lions Club member Bo Hurley was instrumental in getting the clubhouse deeded to the Club, which had been meeting there since 1954.

The Limona Improvement Association joins a long list of landmarks memorialized by New Horizons, whose homes serve 12 adults with developmental disabilities.

Other historical places commemorated with ornaments were Martin's Jewelers; Morgan Brothers General Store, later Brandon Supply; the James Brandon House, now Stowers Funeral Home; Mulrennan Groves; Yates Elementary School; Bill's Prescription Center; the original Brandon School, now McLane Middle School; James McCabe Theater, formerly the Village Playhouse and Valrico Civic Center; the First Baptist Church of Brandon; the First United Methodist Church of Brandon; the Brandon Woman's Club clubhouse, now owned by the Brandon Junior Woman's Club; the Brandon Depot; and Sharrar's General Store.

In addition to being first in line to purchase the 2008 ornament, residents attending the barbecue will enjoy a luncheon provided by Grandpa Johnson's Bar-B-Q for $10 and can tour the Alice Storms Home for men, which recently received an "extreme makeover" thanks to assistance from the community.

"With the help of a grant from the Greater Brandon Community Foundation, we were able to completely redecorate the men's home," said Pete Watkins, board of directors president for New Horizons, a private, faith-based organization formed in 1992. "We put new carpeting and tile in. Carol Toebes did the interior decorating. And the Rotary '86 Club spent a weekend painting and cleaning."

He said the board is hoping to do a similar makeover on the Mary Lou Creamer House for women in the coming year.

The homes are occupied by high-functioning, special-needs adults, all of whom work off-site.

The three-dimensional commemorative ornaments created by Chemart Co. of Rhode Island sell for $18.

Following the barbecue, they will be available at Age's Art & Frame, 628 Oakfield Drive, Brandon; Bill's Prescription Center, 202 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Field's Art & Framing, 3407 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico; Martin's Jewelers, 664 Oakfield Drive, Brandon; Rainbow Engraving, 902 W. Robertson St., Brandon; and The Frame Shop & Gallery, 602 Oakfield Drive, Brandon.
New Horizons also has a limited number of ornaments from previous years available at a reduced price and can order more if enough residents express interest.

Call Brenda Watkins at (813) 653-2466 or New Horizons at (813) 571-2690.

ORNAMENT UNVEILING

WHAT: New Horizons Group Homes will unveil its 14th keepsake ornament commemorating a historical community landmark. This year it is the Limona Improvement Association, 610 Limona Road. The ornaments cost $18.

WHEN: Fundraising barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Luncheon by Grandpa Johnson's Bar-B-Q costs $10.

WHERE: Behind New Horizons' two group homes at 109 and 115 E. Clay Ave. in Brandon.

BUY ONE: After the fundraiser, the ornament will be available at Age's Art & Frame, 628 Oakfield Drive, Brandon; Bill's Prescription Center, 202 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Field's Art & Framing, 3407 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico; Martin's Jewelers, 664 Oakfield Drive, Brandon; Rainbow Engraving, 902 W. Robertson St., Brandon; and The Frame Shop & Gallery, 602 Oakfield Drive, Brandon.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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