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Preserving Fond Memories Of City

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

Updated: 11/20/2007 07:33 am

TEMPLE TERRACE - Longtime resident Dick Dutton has fond memories of his boyhood years.

He was raised in the small town of Titusville, Pa., where he was met with familiar faces and handshakes most everywhere he went.

"I'm pretty sentimental about my past, and that's one of the reasons why I really like Temple Terrace and wanted to raise my children here," said the University of South Florida professor, who moved to the city in 1963 from Baton Rouge, La. "You know all your neighbors and even their dogs."

His two children have reached adulthood, and their lives' paths have taken them to large cities. But, because of how dearly he treasures his past, Dutton is committed to helping them preserve their memories of growing up in Temple Terrace.

Every year, he purchases from the Temple Terrace Service League a collectible ornament for each of them that depicts one of the city's landmarks.

This year, it's a 24-karat gold-on-brass piece that commemorates Florida College's Sutton Hall, which houses the student center and campus post office. It was once the home of the Temple Terrace Country Club and Club Morocco, a casino.

It's the 10th ornament in the commemorative series that also has featured the Temple Terrace Public Library, the Woodmont Park gazebo, the city's 75th Diamond Jubilee, Temple Terrace Community Church, Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex, Hillsborough Riverwalk, a historic Spanish-style home, the Bat Tower and Woodmont Clubhouse.

Proceeds benefit charities the Temple Terrace Service League supports, including the Temple Terrace Public Library, the Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Department's Adopt-a-Park program, Reaching Out to Cancer Kids Camp, student scholarships, The Spring, the American Cancer Society's Temple Terrace Relay for Life, the Melech Hospice House in Temple Terrace and Paint With Pride.

"Every year, we always seem to come up with a new landmark for the ornament, and through the years we'd had a lot of the same customers," said Norma Walker, the ornament program coordinator, who came up with the idea a decade ago. "They aren't meant just to hang on the tree at Christmas, but they can be displayed all year in frames."

This is the first year Temple Terrace resident Vicky Phares has taken the time to fill out and return the flier she received in the mail about the ornaments. To make up for it, she placed an order for all 10 ornaments.

"I've been interested in them for years, so this year we'll do a collectible ornament tree," said the University of South Florida psychology professor. "We support Temple Terrace, and the ornaments really reflect the community. They are so nice."

Madeline Christensen bought $250 worth this year. Although she had purchased most of the past years' ornaments for herself and her three children, she overlooked a few years.

"I've been in Temple Terrace since 1959, so I'm very interested in the community," said Christensen, who especially cherishes the ornament depicting the Woodmont Clubhouse, which once served as a schoolhouse where she attended classes. "But, every one of them has been important, and they all help tell the history of the city."

PURCHASING INFORMATION

WHAT: Temple Terrace Service League collectible ornaments

WHERE: Temple Terrace Public Library, 202 Bullard Parkway, and the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, 9385 N. 56th St.

HOW MUCH: $15.95 for the 2007 ornament and $13.95 for the 1997-2006 ornaments

INFORMATION: Call Norma Walker (813) 986-0066

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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