Time travel isn’t necessary to get a taste of Pinellas County history. Locals and history buffs gathered this weekend as Palm Harbor celebrated its Centennial Festival with the unveiling of a Florida Historical Marker at the Hartley House. It’s a nod to Pinellas County’s past, honoring a home steeped in local heritage and community values. Sponsored by the Palm Harbor Historical Society, the Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board, and the Florida Department of State, the newly dedicated marker is a testament to the area’s historical significance.
The Hartley House stands as a physical chronicle of the county’s development. As Brian Scott, the Chairman of Pinellas County Commission and Historic Preservation Board, put it in his remarks, “We are celebrating our history. Pinellas County is 113 years old this year, Palm Harbor, otherwise known as Sutherland in years past, is 100 years old this year and to think that this house is a representation of the past. We have a real treasure now to preserve for all time.” Scott’s comments were also echoed by Dr. Polaski, a Hartley descendant, and others who participated in the dedication ceremony, according to Pinellas County’s news release.
Visitors to the Hartley House, now the Palm Harbor Museum, can delve into the region’s rich history, which flows from the house itself. Side One of the historical marker informs visitors about the Hartley family’s arrival from Illinois in 1883 and their contributions to the local community, including their curlew Methodist Church involvement and Thomas Hartley’s tenure as a “roving preacher.” As the museum showcases, the Hartley House provided refuge for travelers and stood as a center of family and community life, surviving the test of time and development, as per Pinellas County’s release…