Ozona in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Ozona Village Hall
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 30, 2017
1. Ozona Village Hall Marker
Inscription.
Ozona Village Hall. . In 1895, Dr. Susan K. Whitford and other local women founded the Ozona Ladies Improvement Society, which focused on community development initiatives. Early meetings were held in members' homes, and it was quickly decided that a permanent meeting hall was needed. Members used bake sales, ice cream socials, and seafood dinners to raise funds to cover construction costs. They also secured commitments for donated materials and labor. In 1900, the Ozona Village Improvement Society (OVIS) incorporated to take over the hall's ownership and operation. The hall served as a polling place, library, town hall, dance hall, theater, church, and meeting place for local clubs and organizations. It survived hurricanes in 1918 and 1921, and was nearly burned down in 1933. OVIS transferred ownership to the Ozona Recreation Club in 1935 because of its younger, more active members, but regained ownership in 1999 due to the club's declining membership. The hall is one of the oldest structures in continual community ownership in Pinellas County, and was designated a Historic Local Landmark by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on November 10, 2015, due to its significance in the county's history and culture.
In 1895, Dr. Susan K. Whitford and other local women founded the Ozona Ladies Improvement Society, which focused on community development initiatives. Early meetings were held in members' homes, and it was quickly decided that a permanent meeting hall was needed. Members used bake sales, ice cream socials, and seafood dinners to raise funds to cover construction costs. They also secured commitments for donated materials and labor. In 1900, the Ozona Village Improvement Society (OVIS) incorporated to take over the hall's ownership and operation. The hall served as a polling place, library, town hall, dance hall, theater, church, and meeting place for local clubs and organizations. It survived hurricanes in 1918 and 1921, and was nearly burned down in 1933. OVIS transferred ownership to the Ozona Recreation Club in 1935 because of its younger, more active members, but regained ownership in 1999 due to the club's declining membership. The hall is one of the oldest structures in continual community ownership in Pinellas County, and was designated a Historic Local Landmark by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on November 10, 2015, due to its significance in the county's history and culture.
Erected 2017 by Pinellas County Historical Preservation Board and The Florida Department of
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State. (Marker Number F-942.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 28° 4.209′ N, 82° 46.633′ W. Marker is in Ozona, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is on Bay Street, 0.1 miles west of Orange Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 341 Bay Street, Ozona FL 34660, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Ozona, Florida. (Submitted on December 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 30, 2017
2. Ozona Village Hall Marker and building
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, April 7, 2018
3. Ozona Village Hall
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, April 7, 2018
4. Ozona Village Hall
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 441 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on July 23, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
