Journalist, and local historian, Aleta Jonie Maschek (1922-2018) was a frequent contributor to the News Observer on the history of Southern Hillsborough County. Her stories concentrated on the people of South County and she relied, heavily, on oral histories to present a unique view of life in the 20th Century for over 28 years. She covered all geographic sections of the county, and her accounts present a realistic view of the sometimes hardscrabble life of some of our earliest families. Some of her articles were collected into bound volumes entitled "A Piece of History" which was the title of her column in the News Observer in her later years. Originally a television reporter, she moved to the area in the 1950s. She continued on air as a TV reporter for several years on the local NBC afffiliate until her retirement when she turned her attention to print media.

This extensive, and important, survey of historic sites in Unincorporated Hillsborough County was published as a planning tool and as a central repository or archival data on the physical remains of Florida's (specifically Hillsborough County's) history. This is an important record of the development of the County in that they provide a complete overview of the architectural and historic heritage of the county. The document was prepared following extensive on site visits, beginning in 1973 and concluded in 1979. The Preservation Board used this survey to identify, preserve. maintain, and protect the historic sites in the County. This survey does not contain information on sites within the incorporated areas of Hillsborough County. (Excluded are sites in Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace as they are the only incorporated sites in Hillsborough County. See the preface of Introduction to the Survey on pages 1 - 6 for a more complete description. The survey was updated in 1998 by the Department of Planning and Growth Management in HC, and continues to be used as the primary source document for historic sites managed by the Hillsborough County Historic Resources Review Board (HRRB) which is now tasked with oversight.

Copy of a photograph of the Sun City Studios, a $300,000 full scale production facility built in Sun City as an inducement for the Hollywood film industry to move at least part of its capabilities to Florida. The studio was the main anchor in the failed project to create the town of Sun City near the end of the Great Florida Land Boom. The studio was completed in October 1925. Two small,20 minute comedies were produced her in 1925: Spuds and South Bound, both starring comedian Billy Moon. When the studio failed to attract large scale interest from Hollywood, in addition to worsening real estate conditions in late 1925, the project failed. The studio was dimanted in the 1930s (check date).

Memoir by Clarence Harding on founding of Ruskin in the first decade of the 20th Century. Ruskin's earliest families discussed in some remembered detail, particularly George MIller, A. P. Dickman Family and Paul B. Dickman. The internal evidence in document that a very large part of this story was based on stories told to Harding by Paul B. Dickman. (Scholar's note: it would be important to double check on the complete accuracy of the information presented since these stories are based on memories and conversations, as opposed to written records.)

Memoir by Clarence Harding on a number of Little Manatee River community's people and families who lived in the river area in the 1930s.

Memoir by Clarence Harding of the Shell Point area of Ruskin, Florida,which lies between the Ruskin Inlet and the Little Manatee River on the extreme west end of Ruskin. Discusses the early oyster farm and factory, turpentine antecedents to Ruskin, and the families who, at various times owned land on Shell Point.

Memoir of Little Manatee River families by Clarence Harding. Highlighted individuals are "Columbus Stafford", "Evans the Hermit" and "Pinky Poole"

Autobiographical memoir written by Clarence Harding on his life in South HIllsborough County

Memoir by Clarence Harding on families that settled and lived on the Little Manatee River in the early parts of the 20th Century through mid century.

Memoir of Clarence Harding on the impact of Max Jones and his family on the Sun City area beginning in 1925. For photos of Jones Store and station refer to the Sun City section of this web site.