Tarpon Springs Centennial Celebration, 1987 - program

Program for Tarpon Springs Centennial Celebration.

State of Florida

State Archives of Florida, Series S1592

1987-02-12

programs

eng-US

Text

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Late 20th-Century Florida (1968-2000)

Tarpon Springs (Fla.)

Pinellas County (Fla.)

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Arts and Culture

Cheyney, John

Cocoris, John

Parent, Michael

Taylor, David

Inness, George Jr.

O'Dell, Scott

A Celebration Of
Culture & Achievement

TARPON SPRINGS
1887 - 1987
CENTENNIAL

Program of Events

Calendar of Events 1997-1987

On February 12, 1887, Tarpon Springs became an incorporated municipality, the oldest in Pinellas County. In this same year, the first train came to Tarpon Springs, the lighthouse was completed, John Cheyney hired John Cocoris, who later was to bring the first Greek sponge divers to Tarpon Springs and the first black church was built. Tarpon Springs thus established itself as a center for commerce and ethnic diversity. In the next few years, Florida Power had its beginnings in Tarpon Springs, the first telephone was installed, commercial structures were built downtown and the City stated its first fire department.
TIME PERIOD COMMEMORATED: 1887-1900
DATE EVENT
March 7 & 8, 1987 Main Street Jubilee - The Spirit of 1887 - a tribute to commerce and ethnic diversity. Downtown festival including round trip train rides between Tarpon Springs and Dunedin, parade and float contest, music, street dance, costumes, games,concert, beard growing contest, awards, photographic exhibits, oral history booth and tribute to the first black church in Tarpon Springs.
March 8 Michael Parent - Storyteller. City Hall. 7 p.m. $5.00 and $2.00
March 9 Fire Department Time Capsule Ceremony.
March 10 Dedication of New City Hall with a re-enactment of the first commission meeting - A tribute to the incorporation of the City of Tarpon Springs, the oldest incorporated city in Pinellas County.
March 14 & 15 Historic Homes Tours - a tribute to local and state historic preservation efforts - sponsored by the Tarpon Springs Historical Society.

The first Greeks arrived from the Dodecanese Islands in 1905, bringing with them the diving method of retrieving sponges, a turning point in the history of the sponge industry. From this time forward, Tarpon Springs was to gain a reputation synonymous with sponge diving and Greek heritage. Tarpon Springs was to become the sponge capital of the world.
TIME PERIOD COMMEMORATED: 1900-1910
DATE EVENT
March 19 David Taylor - Speaker - "Florida Maritime Traditions." Free.
March 21-22 Sponge Industry Saga or In Search of the Golden Fleece. A revival and re-enactment of the Sponge Industry traditions - a tribute to the sponge industry and Greek heritage. Sponge Docks Festival featuring traditional Greek food, songs and dances reminiscent of the earliest days of the sponge industry, special sponge boat rides, folk arts demonstrations, and oral history booth and photographic exhibits.

Religion, education and arts have always been important facets of life in Tarpon Springs. Most significantly, the City has had a long history of promoting and sustaining the arts. In the early 1900's, the world famous impressionist painter George Inness visited and painted Tarpon Springs. His son, the well-known artist George Inness, Jr., made Tarpon Springs his home. The preforming arts have been nurtured here too. The Water Carnival of the 1920's, featuring such events as Gilbert and Sullivan opera performances on a floating stage, was a major attraction to winter and permanent residents alike.
TIME PERIOD COMMEMORATED: 1910-1930
DATE EVENT
April 1 Dedication of Cultural Center and Inauguration of Centennial Preforming Arts Festival. Stephen Robinson - Classical Guitar. 7 p.m. $5.00.
April 2 Centennial Performing Arts Festival Florida Quartet (New College String Quartet). Church on the Bayou. 7:30 p.m. $5.00.
April 3 Centennial Performing Arts Festival Florida Orchestra. Tarpon Springs Senior High School. 7:30 p.m. Free.
April 4 Centennial Performing Arts Festival: Children's Festival. Mimes, Ballet Classique, Fantasy Theatre, Craig Park. 4-9 p.m. Free.
April 5 Centennial Performing Arts Festival. Florida Shakespeare Festival. Two Gentlemen of Verona. Musical version of Shakespeare Play. Craig Park. 7 p.m. Free.
April 14-May 12 "Views of Tarpon Springs." Photographic Exhibit. Cultural Center.
April 25 & 26 Annual Tarpon Springs Arts and Crafts Show (Chamber of Commerce) - a tribute to the visual arts and the numerous visual artists who have made Tarpon Springs their homes.
April 27 Symposium: The Life, and Times of the Inness Painters, to be held at the Cultural Center - a tribute to visual artists.

TIME PERIOD COMMEMORATED: 1910-1930
April 28-May 4 Greek Film Festival - a tribute to the Royal Theatre in the Meres Building - a showplace for many years, and to Greek culture. Cultural Center.
May 10 Centennial Chamber Music Series begins. Cultural Center. 2 p.m.
May 15-June 1 Poster originals - Ringling Museum Traveling Exhibit. Cultural Center.

Beginning in 1932, Tarpon Springs was "discovered" by the film industry. Films such as "The Diver," "Sixteen Fathoms Deep," and "Beneath the Twelve Mile Reef" presented to the nation the romance and heroism associated with sponge diving. During the period between 1930-50, Tarpon Springs lived through the rise and demise of the sponge industry. In addition, World War II called for patriotism and self-sacrifice among Tarpon Springs residents. Heroism is a major factor in the history of Tarpon Springs.
TIME PERIOD COMMEMORATED: 1932-1953
DATE EVENTJune 12-20 Tarpon Springs Film Festival, featuring films made in and about Tarpon Springs - a tribute to Tarpon Springs in films. Cultural Center.
June 15-July 7 "Views of Florida" - Ringling Museum Traveling Exhibit. Cultural Center.
July 4 Fourth of July celebration featuring spectacular fireworks, games and music - a tribute to Tarpon Springs veterans and community service organizations.
August 1 Symposium - Tarpon Springs in literature - Tarpon Springs Library - a tribute to Tarpons Springs as a popular literary subject. Tarpon Springs Library. 10:00 a.m.

At least 13 fiction books have been written about Tarpon Springs, the earliest known entitled Boy Chums on the Gulf of Mexico, or, on a Dangerous Cruise with the Greek Spongers, a children's book written in 1913. In nearly every decade since, novels have been written about Tarpon Springs, the most recent being another juvenile book, Scott O'Dell's Alexandra, published in 1984.
TIME PERIOD COMMEMORATED: - to the present
DATE EVENT
September 26 and 27 Tarpon Springs Olympic Games - a tribute to Tarpon Springs dedication to youth and sports.
October 1 Lecture - presentation on Lois Lenski - sponsored bu the Friends of the Library. This event is a tribute to children's author Lois Lenski, who lived in Tarpon Springs during the last years of her life.
October 15-November 7 "Florida Wetlands." Ringling Museum Traveling Exhibit. Cultural Center.
November 11 symposium - Tarpon Springs: Where We Have Been, Where We are Now, Where We are Going.

For More Information on these events call 938-3711.

SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA