BY Matt Lackritz Bay News 9

 DADE CITY, Fla. — The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum is working with volunteers to restore a historic home built in 1884 and moved to Dade City in 1901, with plans to open it to the public later this year. Museum leaders say the home will serve as a living legacy for the community. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Aug. 28, when people can tour the house, ask questions and take pictures. The museum hopes to officially open the home to the public in October.

Jessica Borras, a volunteer, said the history of the home motivated her to get involved. “For the last year or so, it’s been gnawing at me — the history of Dade City and this house is a big part of it,” Borras said. Borras said she hopes community members experience the same connection when they visit. “Just walking through the rooms, you can feel the history, and you can see the history,” she said. “I want other people to be able to see that.”

Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum founder and president Joy Lynn said the restoration is a years-long project. The museum’s next goal is to raise money to repair the roof. “If you don’t preserve history, you don’t know where you’re going in the future,” Lynn said. Lynn said the museum needs $70,000 for the roof repair. The organization is seeking donations and plans to host a heritage ball in November to help raise money.

Lynn said opening the home to the community will allow the museum to continue adding to Dade City’s history. “I want something that will interest children and youth,” Lynn said. “In order to do that, you need to bring the community together. Without these people that work together as a unit, there is no legacy.” Lynn and Borras said the people of Dade City are what make the home special, including those who cared for it in the past and those who will add to it in the future.

“There’s still a lot of hard work that needs to be done,” Borras said. “We’re all stepping up our game now to try and make that happen.”