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Carrollwood takes a trip back in time

Staff photo by JIM REED

Mark Snellgrove, front, and Nick Bompignano open a pair of paint buckets that for twenty five years years have served as a time capsule for Carrollwood.

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By JESSICA BALANZA

jbalanza@tampatrib.com

Published: November 9, 2009

Updated: 11/14/2009 09:55 am

TAMPA - To cap a weekend-long 50th anniversary celebration, the Original Carrollwood community decided to take a walk down memory lane.

Twenty-five years ago, Carrollwood residents stashed bucketfuls of items representative of the community and the times. This time capsule was to be dug up and revealed Sunday during the 50th anniversary.

"This is a priceless moment in time," said Mark Snellgrove, president of Carrollwood Civic Association. "We absolutely succeeded as a great American community."

Hundreds attended to watch the opening of the capsules, containing items weathered and dirty.

"It's definitely all about the anticipation of the moment," Snellgrove said.

Leg warmers, a Jane Fonda workout tape, a Michael Jackson fabric type poster and Cabbage Patch figurine were some of the items placed in the capsule. Also enclosed were historical items such as a 25th Anniversary Cup, a Rowdies T-shirt, Carrollwood Service League photo album from 1974, map of Carrollwood and documents from the Carrollwood Recreation Tax District.

Pat Szasz, a former Carrollwood resident, said that when she collected donations for the capsule the intention was to have fun finding things that represent Carrollwood.

"We were trying to show the aura of the community," she said.

The golden celebration began Friday with music under the stars. It was followed Saturday with an Olympics, kid's carnival, art and street festival.

Carrollwood was the vision of developer Matt Jetton, a South Tampa resident who had a plan to turn orange groves north of Tampa into a community with modern homes and the latest amenities.

He named it Carrollwood for Lake Carroll, the centerpiece to the 925-home community. It later would be known as Original Carrollwood.

Community producer Jessica Balanza can be reached at (727) 451-2342.

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