Former Plant City resident Bill Adams has some treasured gems from the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World’s most cherished traditions. Adams found photographs and a program booklet in his mother’s things and has preserved them and their memories. And he wants to share them with the town of his roots:
Looking through some of my mother’s (Bettye Draughon Adams) things, I found a 32-page booklet for the first Strawberry Festival which goes into great detail, from the idea (credit the Lions Club), to all the charter members, officers, judges, etc. It was held March 12,13,14, and 15, in 1930.
I also found pictures of me in the 1933 Strawberry Festival baby parade. My Dad had constructed a large golden egg with the shell cracking open, and me emerging from it. It was pulled by my older cousin W. L. Powell. (After his father died, W.L. ran the Buick dealership for many years.) His son, Billy, still lives in Plant City. The Powells lived on North Merrin Street across from the Langfords, whose daughter Jane later became a Strawberry Queen.
A newspaper clipping from the 1935 parade quoted “Little Billy Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Adams, left his float-No 27 in line-to marshal the parade, and the crowds laughed at his antics along the way. He took all the laurels from Chief of Police J. A. Abbott and others of the force who were out front to insure clear passage.” My parents had me in a miniature police uniform including the hat and walking stick. My instructions were to walk with Big Abbott, and mimic his every move.
I also found newspaper photos of the Strawberry Queen’s Royal Court of 1936 where I was dressed as a page in a white satin uniform, and the Junior High May Day Fete where I was the Crown Bearer.
We moved to Haines City in 1937, but I spent many summers visiting in Plant City.
Plant City Beginnings:
My mother graduated from PCHS in 1926. Her father was a strawberry farmer in the Coronet area.
My father, Andrew Adams, was the shop foreman for Van & Powell auto dealership who sold Hudson, Essex, Buick and Marquette automobiles. My uncle W.L.(Lennon) Powell later bought Mr. Van’s interest and formed Powell’s Garage. Essex became Pontiac and for many years it was a Buick, Pontiac dealership.
Good Neighbors:
My parents married in 1928 and purchased a house on Cherry Street, next to the Breeden’s, two doors down from the Carltons and across from the Chief of Police J.A. (Big) Abbott.
I was born in 1932. The Abbott’s daughters were my babysitters and Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were like grandparents to me. One daughter, I think Margaret, married a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball pitcher named “Rip” Sewell. Rip gave me an autographed ball, bat, glove, and two small souvenir bats which I treasured. The Sewell’s lived in Plant City after his baseball days.
The Breedens had a daughter named Betty, and the Carlton’s daughter was named Betty Ann. I found a picture of Betty Ann and me in a scrap book.
Childish Antics:
There was a filling station at the corner of North Wheeler Street and Cherry Street where my parents traded. When mom stopped for gas, she was presented with a bill for cold drinks and candy. It seems I had invited the neighborhood kids for a treat, and told the owner to charge it to my folks. Two sins: The station far exceeded the limits I was allowed to travel from home, and my future credit was canceled!