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Sulphur Springs civic leaders honored

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By KATHY STEELE

ksteele@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

SULPHUR SPRINGS - Norma and Joseph Robinson have been described as a dynamic duo for their years of civic activism in Sulphur Springs.

Last week, Bank of America recognized their work with a 2009 Local Hero award and a $5,000 grant for the nonprofit of their choice.

The money will help launch the Sulphur Springs Museum at what the Robinsons hope will be a permanent home at Mann-Wagnon Memorial Park, 1101 River Cove Drive. Hillsborough County's parks department housed its administrative staff at the site for more than 20 years. County officials last year moved their offices from the site that was donated by Cecile Wagnon more than 50 years ago and is owned jointly with the city.

An agreement is anticipated soon that will open the park to the museum as well as other nonprofit organizations including Community Stepping Stones, a youth art program, and Moses House, an arts program that possesses folk art from the late Taft Richardson.

"Our goal is to revitalize Sulphur Springs in such a way that the historical integrity and importance for the neighborhood is maintained," said Norma Robinson as she accepted the award at a Tampa Theatre ceremony.

The award also recognizes the couple's work with Sulphur Springs' youth and support for a new recreation center and an expanded public library facility at Sulphur Springs Elementary School.

Artifacts, memorabilia and oral histories have been collected through the years to document the history of the community of Sulphur Springs and its historically black neighborhood of Spring Hill.

Many people have worked to make the museum possible, Norma Robinson said. Among them are University of South Florida Assistant Professor Antoinette Jackson, who heads the school's Heritage Research and Resource Management Lab, and local historian Linda Hope, who publishes the Penny Saver.

"Tampa is growing rapidly, and newer people know nothing about Sulphur Springs and Spring Hill," Norma Robinson said. "There is a layer of its history being lost with these changes. They need to have a sense of pride and community in the neighborhood where they live."

Robinson said she anticipates traveling exhibits and educational programs.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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