Originally published in Safety Harbor Living magazine, April 2023 By Laura Kepner Frank Petree was born at Morton Plant Hospital in 1935 and raised in Safety Harbor during a time whenthe land was thick with oak trees and the air smelled of orange blossoms. It was a quieter place then,with fewer people, fewer buildings. courtesy … Continue reading The Station Agent’s Son
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McMullen Flower Shoppe: Celebrating 67 Years in Safety Harbor
Originally published in Safety Harbor Living magazine, August 2022 By Laura Kepner In the 1930s and early 1940s, Robert and Mae McMullen were raising their daughters Betty Joe “BJ” and twins Sandra and Donna, in the home they called “the big house.” It was around the corner from where Safety Harbor Middle School is located … Continue reading McMullen Flower Shoppe: Celebrating 67 Years in Safety Harbor
Safety Harbor’s Doctor from Kyiv
Originally published in Safety Harbor Living magazine May 2022 By Laura Kepner Last week, two white-haired people sat on one of the benches in front of the library. They were talking about the invasion of Kyiv and what it must be like for the Ukrainian people. Ironically, they had been staring at the massive Grand … Continue reading Safety Harbor’s Doctor from Kyiv
Safety Harbor has a new history book!
I'm excited about this. I had so much fun researching and writing one of Arcadia Publishing's most recent books in their Images of America series. The book includes four chapters and 199 captioned images, many of which were provided by descendants of residents of long ago. I'm a local and would love to meet you … Continue reading Safety Harbor has a new history book!
Fried Chicken Through Four Generations
by Laura Kepner There was once a house at 518 Second Street North, surrounded by native plants and busy, clucking hens who were likely shaded by a massive, dying oak tree. The house no longer exists; the land is now the parking lot adjacent to Marker 39. But the tree is still there. It was … Continue reading Fried Chicken Through Four Generations
Over 100 Years of Harbor Holiday Seasons
Originally published in the December 2021 issue of Safety Harbor Living December 1919: A committee of ladies of the Methodist Church called for the names of every Safety Harbor child but asked for the community’s help to defray the costs of small gifts for local kids “during this difficult time.” December 1924: final arrangements were … Continue reading Over 100 Years of Harbor Holiday Seasons
Local history, first hand 