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January 2025 Volume 20, Issue 1

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Y EIAN R REVIEW Pages 14-17

CELEBRATING 23 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS

LEADERSHIP BRANDON CLASS PICKS CONNOR’S CORNER AT ROTARY CAMP FLORIDA AS COMMUNITY PROJECT

By Libby Hopkins

Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596

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The Greater become our class Brandon Champroject.” ber of Commerce The project the has played a vital Leadership Branrole in the sucdon class picked cess of the Branwas pitched to don area for more the class by the than 64 years Rotary Club of and continues to Brandon, and it be a driving force The Leadership Brandon Class of 2025 has partnered with is to restore a to make Brandon Rotary’s Camp Florida to update Connor’s Corner, which community gara better place to is located at the camp. The group picked this as their com- den at Rotary’s live, work and do munity project because they want to give campers a place Camp Florida in to relax and enjoy nature at the camp. business. Brandon. The chamber’s mission is “We decided to update at the heart of everything Connor’s Corner at the it does, which is to connect, camp,” Chadwell said. “When collaborate and build a better Connor was a child who had community. One of the ways a brain issue, which lead to the chamber achieves its mishim losing his ability to speak sion is through its Leadership or be mobile, he was in a Brandon Program. wheelchair but loved coming The Leadership Brandon to Rotary’s Camp Florida and Program works to identify to be outdoors. When Connor and develop civic-minded passed, the camp dedicated leaders throughout the coma garden area in his memomunity with insight and acry. Since then, the garden is cess on community operations through eight needing some upgrades, so this is our class months of Leadership Development Days, project, and we hope to have it completed by which include a series of activities, seminars, the beginning of March.” tours and interactive presentations that nurThe Leadership class is looking to the ture business relationships, improve commu- Brandon community for partnerships to help nity awareness and strengthen leadership them complete the project by March. abilities. Leadership Brandon is open to “We want to install raised garden beds emerging leaders from diverse professional that are wheelchair accessible, plant fruit backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, exec- trees for butterflies and add a sensoutives’ mid-level managers and community ry-friendly sandbox as well to Connor’s Coradvocates. ner,” Chadwell said. “We want this area to “Our leadership recently met with vari- be a place for campers to come and have ous nonprofits from our community to learn a little quiet spot to relax and enjoy themabout what they do for our community,” selves.” said Dylan Chadwell, owner of Regalitea If you would like to partner with the and Leadership Brandon’s Class of 2025 Leadership Brandon Class of 2025 on their president. “Each nonprofit pitches us a need community project or if you’d like to donate they have at their nonprofit and then we, as supplies to their project, you can contact a group, decide which nonprofit’s need will Chadwell at dylan@regalitea.com.

CONNECTING TO OUR HISTORY:

RIDING THE RAILS BRANDON’S LIMONA STATION

By Libby Hopkins

Micheal Wigh Peninsular Railof Brandon has road laid tracks been interested through the Limoin history since he na area in 1890. was a young boy. The Limona Train “My interest in Depot was built history goes back around 1893, but to my youth when this wasn’t the my grandmother first rail line. Henencouraged me ry Plant’s South to read by buying The Limona Train Depot was built around 1893, but this Florida Railroad me books or tak- wasn’t the first rail line. Henry Plant’s South Florida Rail- first entered ing me to the li- road first entered the area three miles north of Limona the area 3 miles in 1883, connecting Sanford, Plant City and Tampa. The brary,” Wigh said. north of Limona depot was closed down in the 1940s. “I’m mostly interin 1883, connectested in biographies or books ing Sanford, Plant City and of historical events. I also Tampa. served on my high school “The Limona train depot yearbook staff chronicling served as an express stop daily academic life. I was inand could carry mail, passenvolved in compiling Brandon gers and freight to Tampa High School’s 100-year anniand beyond,” Wigh said. “A versary retrospective pamlarge produce packing plant phlet in 2014 to commemowas built nearby, as well as a rate the event, which led me general store.” to self-publish a photo hisThe depot was a large tory book of my hometown, frame structure, but it didn’t Brandon, covering the period last beyond the 1940s, when of 1857 to the 1980s.” the rail company closed Wigh is a founding member of the new the depot and demolished it. Automobiles, Brandon Historical and Preservation Soci- trucks and air transport replaced many of ety, which strives to bring local residents the former uses of the train. together to work on preserving local history “It’s funny how time changes perspecand landmarks. Wigh had the opportunity to tives,” Wigh said. “One hundred years ago, speak at the recent History Talks program it was desirable to be near a railroad, but hosted by The Plant City History & Photo today it is avoided because of the noise. It’s Archives, The Tampa Bay History Center interesting to note that Limona’s next-door and the Brandon Historical and Preservation neighbor, Brandon, established in 1890, reSociety, which was held this past November. quested their own train depot. The railroad Wigh’s topic of discussion at the History company declined and proposed an open Talk was Brandon’s former Limona Train De- outdoor platform, as the Limona station pot. “We have very little history on the com- was less than a mile away. Town founder munity train depots of Limona, Brandon and Victoria Brandon rallied townspeople and Valrico,” Wigh said. “The small rural com- raised funds to help construct Brandon’s munities never incorporated, so we’ve never own frame depot. Sadly, it too didn’t last had the in fracture to preserve or record the beyond the 1940s.” history of the area.” Limona was first established around 1876, as an employee retreat and retirement community for the Illinois-based Elgin Watch BING ROOMING HOUSE...................PG 3 Company, which back then was the world’s THE VILLAGE PLAYERS: RENT.....PG 6 largest watchmaking company. These early pioneers enjoyed the extended warmer NO STRESS PCS.................................PG 15 weather and opportunity of growing citrus YEAR IN REVIEW ................. ..PGS 14-17 and other produce. The Florida Central and EYE ON BUSINESS. .........................PG 26

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