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Ybor City Museum Festival To Bring History To Life

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By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2007

YBOR CITY - If the Ybor City Museum Society hadn't been formed in 1982, the small museum might not be thriving today.

As the society's acting director, Chantal Ruilova Hevia said recently that without the strength of dedicated volunteers, the former bakery building also wouldn't have such a bright future.

"This was the first citizens support group in the state park system," said Hevia, sitting in the museum's sunny courtyard on a cool morning. "Now lots of the state parks and facilities have community members who pitch in and help."

The museum's 20 docents and other volunteers will be on hand today for the ninth annual Cigar Heritage Festival at Centennial Park, with proceeds benefiting the museum society. Hevia said the festival, the society's largest fundraiser, attracted about 10,000 people and raised $18,000 last year.

The cigar industry will be well-represented, with brands such as Cuesta Rey, Arturo Fuente and Olivia Tobacco Co. A museum tour is another highlight.

The festival is the society's opportunity to update the Ybor City community and history buffs on what's happening in and around the 20,000-square-foot museum.

The museum, 1818 E. Ninth Ave., was established in 1977 in the refurbished Ferlita Bakery building, which dates to 1923. The museum complex, which is a state park, includes the adjacent garden and fountain, a trio of cigar workers' houses and the museum store.

Hevia, who began as a volunteer three years ago, likes that the museum is multicultural, just like her ancestors who came from Spain and Italy to West Tampa.

"As a child, we were always in Ybor City visiting family and friends," she said.

At today's festival, people can play dominoes, a favorite pastime of cigar workers, and listen to period music.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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