Interested tourists wandered the exhibits of the Robert W. Willaford Museum last week, snapping pictures and admiring the red caboose in the yard outside.
Now that the train platform has been completed and the bulk of Robert Willaford’s collection has been moved on site, City Commissioner Mike Sparkman pulled together a committee to start the non-profit Robert W. Willaford Museum Society, Inc.
Jerry Lofstrom is president of the committee. Along with Susan Gales, Eric Barber, Gail Lyons and Pat Pogue, the society will oversee the management of the Robert W. Willaford Museum. They are just as passionate about Plant City’s rich rail history as the visitors to the museum.
“The museum tells a story through artifacts of Plant City’s past and for that matter, America’s past,” Lofstrom said. “The West was built around the railroad. Before there was Plant City, there was the railroad.”
The committee selected Executive Director Benny Lubrano to oversee and manage the museum. With his help, it is now open six days a week. He can rattle off a long list of regulars and new visitors he’s seen since he started working there six months ago. One from England, another from Puerto Rico. Then, there are the tourists who come in from Orlando after visiting the theme parks. They’re more excited to come to the train museum.
“It really brings people into town,” Lubrano said.
Lofstrom agrees that the society can make the museum an even bigger draw for tourists and locals alike.
“We’ve got the mold. … Now, we have to bring it to it’s potential,” Lofstrom said. “I believe it really will be a shining star of this city.”
The society has some plans in the making to take place in phases. In phase one, the society wants to get new signage that labels it more aptly as a museum rather than just a welcome center. Landscaping and lighting are another part of phase one plans. The society hopes to complete those tasks by October.
An ongoing task includes working with Willaford to tag all the artifacts to provide as detailed a description for visitors. The society also wants to produce an introductory film, narrated by Willaford, to be shown in the side room of the museum.
In the future, the society hopes to keep up an annual Railfest event and open the tower building to the north. It is currently being used as storage.
“This is something that is significant to this community,” Lofstrom said. “It’s part of its past. We’re defined by the past. It will live long after we’re gone.”
With a $3,000 budget, it is imperative that the society gets its non-profit status to be able to take donations. It can take from six months to 18 months to be approved.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Jerry Lofstrom: President
Eric Barber: President
Gail Lyons: Secretary
Susan Gales: Treasurer
Pat Pogue: Member
TOUR GUIDE
With the help of the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Society Inc., the museum is open six days a week and available for field trips and group tours. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. The museum will be open until 8 p.m during the Plant City Bike Fest and Strawberry Classic Car Show.
For appointments, call (813) 719-6989. The museum is located at 102 N. Palmer St., Plant City.