St. Peter’s Episcopal Church’s annual yard sale will be held Saturday, Oct. 8. Funds will go toward replacing the historic church’s aging siding.
In the Davenport House across from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Carey Street, Betty Roney’s organizational system is hard at work.
Furniture, clothing and small appliances are divvied up in boxes and on racks. The small house is packed with gently-used home goods, ready to be sold at the annual St. Peter’s Episcopal Church yard sale. This year the sale will be Saturday, Oct. 8.
Roney, the yard sale coordinator, was part of the first St. Peter’s yard sale team two years ago. Since then, she’s taken on a leadership position and works year round to ensure that the sale will be a success.
“It takes a huge team,” Roney said. “If I don’t have a huge team to be there for me, it’s not going to happen.”
The group is a big team with a big goal: raising funds to replace the siding on the exterior of the historic church — a $160,000 endeavor.
Preserving History
The church purchased land on the southeast corner of Wheeler and Mahoney streets in 1889, where City Hall was later located.
“City Hall wanted the land, so they moved the building here,” Roney said. “We have a historic building, and it’s in the historic district. We’re trying to keep that aesthetic.”
Over the years, the church has expanded. The church’s Hargrave House was built in 1953 and a parish hall was constructed. Between 1975 and 1989, the church purchased a new rectory and added the bell tower, balcony and custom Zimmer pipe organ. Today, the church still boasts 32 stained glass windows.
When the late Rev. Lester Durst led the church in the mid-1990s to early 2000s, the siding on the church’s exterior was replaced. But nearly two decades later, the siding has once again started to show the effects of weather and age. Siding near the church’s front doors has started to peel and rot.
“Originally the siding was white and horizontal,” Father Tom Thoeni, who has served as the church’s priest for 13
years, said. “A few decades ago they switched it and put wood siding on it.”
Though Roney and her team know they won’t be able to raise all of the funds for the siding through one yard sale, they are hoping to draw as many people as possible to the annual event.
The Sale
As Roney collects items for the sale, some are set aside for other civic organizations. New and unused toys will be donated to the Plant City Police Department. Eyeglasses will be donated to the Plant City Lion’s Club and leftover books will be donated to Bruton Memorial Library.
The church raised less than $3,000 from the sale in its first year but raised about $4,500 last year.
In addition to the sale, bargain shoppers will be able to purchase a hot meal of barbecue pork, beans and cole slaw. The dinners, sold for $10, are provided by Johnson’s Barbeque. Attendees can also enjoy bake and plant sales.
Families are welcome to bring their children. While parents shop, children can choose to color or make thank-you cards for the Plant City Police Department. Traffic will be limited in the area, as the sale will stretch across Carey
Street from the church to the Davenport House.
Cash, checks and credit cards are all accepted forms of payment. Shoppers are responsible for transporting their purchases home.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
