Dade City in Pasco County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Touchton Park

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Touchton Park Marker

Inscription. Touchton Park was renovated in 2023-2024 by J. Thomas Touchton to honor his parents Charles Floyd Touchton, Jr. and Thelma Hannon Touchton and his Dade City grandparents Charles Floyd Touchton, Sr. and Ruth Embry "Miss Polly" Touchton (for whom Touchton Park originally was named in 1986 by the City Commissioners of Dade City). The purpose of the Park's renovation was to recognize the positive influences and values of his family throughout his life as well as the examples they set through their civic and business contributions to Dade City over many decades.

Born in Dade City on December 1, 1938 and a resident until 1964 before moving to Tampa, J. Thomas Touchton always considered Dade City to have been a very important part of his life. As a result, Touchton Park's renovation was also intended as a gift to the people of Dade City in appreciation for the important influences on him of teachers, friends and mentors during his formative years.

2023 was the 125th anniversary of his great-grandparents Wallace Estill Embry and Minerva Caroline "Sallie" Cooper Embry arriving in Dade City from Kentucky with their eight children, one of whom was Ruth Embry "Miss Polly" Touchton.

Erected 2024 by J. Thomas Touchton.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas

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• Women. A significant historical date for this entry is December 1, 1938.

Location. 28° 21.396′ N, 82° 11.263′ W. Marker is in Dade City, Florida, in Pasco County. It is on 5th Street south of Southview Avenue, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located in Touchton Park across from the Dade City Garden Club. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13630 5th Street, Dade City FL 33525, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charles Floyd Touchton, Jr. (1911-1988) and Thelma Hannon Touchton (1911-1988) (here, next to this marker); Wallace Estill Embry (1846-1911) and Minerva Caroline “Sallie” Cooper Embry (1857-1950) (here, next to this marker); Charles Floyd Touchan, Sr. (1883-1957) and Ruth Embry “Miss Polly” Touchan (1887-1986) (here, next to this marker); Former St. Rita's Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); As Good as Gold (within shouting distance of this marker); Dade City Woman’s Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pasco County Courthouse (approx. half a mile away); Pasco County (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dade City.

Also see . . . Dade City’s ‘crown jewel’ shines brightly. (Submitted on August 1, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Touchton Park Marker (center) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Touchton Park Marker (center)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 360 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.