My Heritage from the Heart - December 2010

Aunt B's Piano Recitals from the Past...

Being in the Heritage House so much these days, I have many flash backs of my childhood years. Piano lessons in Aunt B's studio was a BIG part of mine (and many children's weekly route) that grew up in Crystal River. I have seen or spoke to a few of my friends (her pupils) in recent times. I wanted to share a few pictures with you of some of Aunt B's pupils that our paths have crossed recently. The Allen & Hagerty girls were at Coach Dabney Day in November, at Heritage Village. Margie and Christi were my neighbors in Tropic Terrace growing up, and Christi is my neighbor again today! I had one picture of Dana Hagerty Nycz with another childhood friend George Buzby, at recent event for Coach Dabney. I found Cathy Sparkman Fladung on Facebook, she had come to mind when I heard of Mr. Bob Kennedy passing away in recent times. Which, by the way, was a WONDERFUL man! My heart goes out to the family. Anyway, Cathy was another pupil! Please forgiving me for not knowing all proper names and spellings, today and in future ... haha

I do hope you enjoy the pictures and forward the newsletter to those that would enjoy as well. If you have any pictures of piano recitals with My Aunt B... please share ... I would love to post!

Have a Merry Christmas and thank you for your support and encouragement with Heritage Village.

Sincerely,

Laura Lou Tolle Fitzpatrick 

Heritage Village Happenings - November 2010

Heritage Village Happenings…

In 1982, 26 years ago, my brother and his wife (Huey and Kathy Tolle) took on their first challenge at renovating a Historic Home. This late 1800 treasure was our ancestor’s home place. My grandmother (Edna Eubanks Barco) was born in the front bedroom of this house.  Also the first automobile, in Crystal River, was owned by our great grandfather that lived there. The House was best known to be where local children came for Piano lessons from Mrs. Ada B Edwards (our Aunt B).  In our eyes, this home place was an important piece of history to preserve.  After renovations took place, a Country Gift Shop was born in the Heritage House in 1983. This was the beginnings of “The Shoppes of Heritage Village”.  Twenty-seven years later, our family is at it again with a Home Décor and gift Shoppe in the Heritage House.  If you would like to read more about the different businesses in the Heritage House go to www.theshoppesofheritagevillage.com and click on “My Heritage…from the Heart” November story.

NOVEMBER CALENDAR … Nov 6^th,  Stone Crab Jam on Bayside of Citrus Avenue.  Parking is FREE.  Cameron Decker, playing his Sax from 2 till 4 at Heritage House. Nov 11^th Dr. Richard Castellano will be giving a FREE Image Lift Seminar at Café on the Avenue at 1:00, Nov 12^th, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, Shoppes open till 7 p.m., A Brighton Open House at Cotton Club 10 till 7; Nov 13^th, Market Day with Art & Coach Dabney Day team up with the Lions Club at the Train Depot for a Health Fair; Nov 20^th,  Trash N Treasure (HUGE yard sale) and SuGaBuG Kids 1^st Birthday (I hear LIVE ELEPHANT RIDES are in store). For Details about all of this and more go to www.theshoppesofheritagevillage.com or call 352-564-1400.

My Heritage from the Heart - November 2010

Over the years, the changes of Heritage Village, has been like the changing of the fall leaves. Many different, colorful, creative, businesses, has been a part of this charming Village for over 25 years, with Toni Chatman and I being one of them. Our business was in the building that was originally known as the "Livery Stable" and was located where the Café on the Avenue and MezMerEYES sit today. This Country Gift Shop was called "Simple Country Pleasures." I am sharing this because I swore I would never get into the retail business again. Well guess what, I lied, many many years later, here I am giving it a try again with family and friends in the Heritage House. Being in this position again can only take me back to the beginnings of how this all began. I thought it might be of interest to you who has been here in the past, so I am going to start with the Heritage House for this November 2010 Newsletter. Hope you enjoy!

In 1982, 26 years ago, my brother and his wife (Huey and Kathy Tolle) took on their first challenge at

renovating a Historic Home in the heart of Historic Downtown Crystal River. This late 1800 treasure had very special meaning to our family. It was our ancestor's home place...a piece of our history that we did not want to lose or forget. It was at this location that my grandmother (Edna Eubanks Barco) was born in the front bedroom. It was also at this home that the first automobile, in Crystal River, was owned by our great grandfather that lived there. This family home was best known of my generation as being where the local children came for piano and voice lessons from Mrs. Ada B. Edwards (our Aunt B). For these reasons and many more...this home place was an important piece history that we wanted to preserve, but also use in a unique way to help keep their memory and the historic downtown alive.

After renovations took place, a charming Country Gift Shop was born and ready for Business in the Heritage House in 1983. To Kathy and Huey's surprise, their new beginnings did not stop at just the

creation of the Heritage House, but they also found out they were expecting their third child, a daughter Jessica Jean Tolle. Being a full time mom of 3 made her realize that running a business at this time was going to have to take a back seat to motherhood. This is when Patty Williams approached them about putting in a Quilt shop in this Historic Treasure. Patty ran the quilt shop for many years and during her stay, another wonderful business decided to join her in July of 1986, by putting in "Cobble Stone Alley Antiques" in the original home of the Crystal River Library next door. Dot and her late husband, Rob Koehler, ran their wonderful Antique shop for a few years in this small cottage until Patty moved on to new opportunities with quilting, leaving the Heritage House to become the home of Dot and Robby's Antique shoppe, Cobblestone Alley Antiques. Dot was in the Village until 2002, leaving after her husband passed away. She did return, after a few years, working for Diana and Betsy at the Cotton Club and La Te Da. She now works part time for "All About Nature" in the Blue Cottage on Citrus Avenue. Dot was and still is the Grandmother figure of Heritage Village in my eyes ... she has always been so passionate about us and still is!

After Dot closed, the Heritage House has had a number of tenants. I will be honest, I may of forgotten some of the businesses & names but do recollect most... Downstairs they were: The Stork Shop (a Maturity & Children's Shop); another Antique shop called Heritage House Antiques; followed by Mary

Beth's Bridal & Formal Wear; the most recently being "All About Nature". The latter two still are still located in Heritage Village area. Upstairs has housed a few specialty shoppes as well through time, such as Antiques, Vintage Clothing and Antiques, Designer Glass Studio by Rose Mary, The Village office twice, Poe House Books for many years, The Paper Room and Classic Arts & Frame Shoppe in recent times.  

 

Today we have come full circle and are proud to announce "The Heritage House" Home Décor & Gifts is now family owned with a team of Creative Co-op friends involved. This specialty shop is a unique combination of creativity and style. I like to refer to it as "Shabby Sheek" because we have a mix of rustic displays & antiques complimented by each of our Creative Co-op's favorite companies, all of us with a different flare of style! Be sure to visit us for events, we will be offering specials and samplings! We are excited to start this new venture with family and friends and see what all the fuss is about! Visit us in the Heritage House of Heritage Village at 657 North Citrus Avenue. 352-564-1400.

Heritage Village Happenings…

In 1982, 26 years ago, my brother and his wife (Huey and Kathy Tolle) took on their first challenge at renovating a Historic Home in the heart of Historic Downtown Crystal River. This late 1800 treasure had very special meaning to our family.  It was our ancestor’s home place…a piece of our history that we did not want to lose or forget. It was at this location that my grandmother (Edna Eubanks Barco) was born in the front bedroom.  It was also at this home that the first automobile, in Crystal River, was owned by our great grandfather that lived there. This family home was best known of my generation as being where the local children came for Piano and Voice lessons from Mrs. Ada B Edwards (our Aunt B).  This homeThat was the beginnings of what is now The Shoppes of Heritage Village. Over 18 Specialty Shops on Heritage Side of Citrus Avenue.

NOVEMBER CALENDAR … Nov 6^th,  Stone Crab Jam on Bayside of Citrus Avenue.  Parking is FREE at Heritage Village.  Cameron Decker, playing his Sax from 2 till 4 on the porch of Heritage House. Nov 11^th Dr. Richard Castellano will be giving a FREE Image Lift Seminar at Café on the Avenue at 1:00, Nov 12^th, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, Shoppes open till 7 p.m., A Brighton Open House at Cotton Club 10 till 7; Nov 13^th, Market Day with Art & Coach Dabney Day team up with the Lions Club at the Train Depot for a Health Fair; Nov 20^th,  Trash N Treasure (HUGE yard sale) and SuGaBuG Kids 1^st Birthday (I hear LIVE ELEPHANT RIDES are in store). For Details about all of this and more go to www.theshoppesofheritagevillage.com or call 352-564-1400.