Community explores past, present and future of shade tobacco

Ruben Uribe Gadsden County News Service

For the better part of a century, the shade tobacco market was the one central work culture with the greatest economic heft in Gadsden County. After its dissolution in the early 1970s, the legacy of this industry has held a firm sway over county-wide developments, influencing many cultural, social, and academic proceedings. It is an essential fact of our history. The importance of this historical economy’s effect was far greater than county lines, reaching past to the Coastal Plains, to the wider Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Saturday morning, a meeting was held on the subject of “Past, Present, and Future” at The Planter’s Exchange. As a foundational building in the once blooming tobacco shipping industry, it was retired in the late 1990s and now serves as the Havana History and Heritage Society & Museum. The existence of this building has been the subject of much discourse on its preservation and renewal. This new town hall was presented by Bill Bruggner, a Florida historian who has worked alongside directors in assisting to bring awareness to the importance of Gadsden’s shade tobacco past. “What many Gadsden Residents have said about the importance of shade tobacco is this: first, they learned to work; secondly, they learned the value of money; and, thirdly, they learned how to take orders. Everyone was involved in the Industry, all ages and races, and their stories are important because this is where we came from,” said Bob Bruggner. His host speech at the event was followed by the three-part presentation, the first of which he directed and was featured in. A thirty-minute documentary was screened for attendees, detailing many of the first-hand experiences of many people who once laboured in the shade tobacco harvesting and packing economy. Descriptions of many of the beginning partnerships, legal documents describing gains and associations, tales of the young adult packers and those who helped when they were wee children were featured in one neat bundle of quality research. Stories about the original management were featured alongside the voices of Gadsden locals Delbra McGriff, Clifford Hill, Dick Williams, Wayne Gregory, and Gerald Nelson. All of them participated in the Shade Tobacco Industry in its heyday. One of the many notable humorous asides involved the firing of Dick Williams, son of General Manager W.L Williams, for reputedly goofing off by Cecil W. May, warehouse manager and brother-in-law. “Off of that roof we had business, and in that office, we had business, and I was fired,” exclaimed Mr. Williams with a laugh in the compilation. Yet recognizably, many of the people who were deeply immersed in shade tobacco have died since its collapse in 1973. Secondly was the “Present” of the Planter’s Exchange. This involved a tour of the recently renovated area, and attendees were allowed to freely explore before the final talk. Much of the debris and industrial storage was removed from the now aerated sections, which are under current repairs by one Armando Rengal, the hired construction lead on the project who Bruggner described as “essential.” A few areas were cordoned off due to the active working. Charcuterie platters were available and drinks of water free of charge were given to all. A call was placed by Mr. Bruggner for the donation of antiquated and historical tools, such as the few classical Franklin Stoves known to be had in the area during the era, belonging to the once thriving industry. “These important tools may be discarded in many of our rural areas, and we would like to restore and feature them here in the Museum,” he said. Floor plans for the reconstruction were featured, and involved plans for a “large Community Room Hall” intended to be used as a community resource and musical concert space, and a renovated warehouse space to be designated a Town of Havana archival library, a classroom area and kitchen. Plans also mentioned renovations of air conditioning systems and an ever-changing local art gallery.In the Last Section, a raffle was presented for all attendees, with the rewards being the following: two “Barns of Gadsden County” calendars, a mug featuring photographs of artist James Thigpen, a canvas featuring a Shade Tobacco barn, and choice Havana Heritage Society multi-coloured shirts. After this raffle, the “future” of the Planter’s Exchange was explained: Recent efforts of restoration involved a plan known as Raise the Roof, with a target goal of $200,000 of donations funds; only a fraction of this was raised, with $70,000 gained within the first year. Fortune struck, however, in July of 2024, when the Planter’s Exchange was designated a Building of Historical Importance and was allotted an amount of $500,000 by the Florida State Department of Historic Preservation Grant over a two-year period. However, matching funds of $39,000 and $86,000 in-kind volunteer hours are required for complete allocation of the State Grant. “We are actively looking for volunteers to help us and Armando with restoring the Planter’s Exchange,” said Bruggner. “Additionally, we would like to extend our thanks to Wayne Gregory, the son of an original founder, and Bill Piotrowski, the Director of our Havana Museum. They have been pivotal members of our town and the Historical Society, and though we applied for the grant, the selection process of this grant designation is unknown to citizens, but we believe Gadsden County Sheriff Morris A. Young had a huge hand with assisting us, and we would like to formally thank him for his continued support in the beautification of Gadsden County.”

Community explores past, present and future of shade tobacco

HAVANA’S CIGAR DAYS IS SATURDAY, APRIL 5

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Community explores past, present and future of shade tobacco

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HAVANA’S CIGAR DAYS IS SATURDAY, APRIL 5

Gadsden County Extension Column￼‘Orangedog’ caterpillar today, giant swallowtail tomorrow

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Gadsden County Extension Column‘Orangedog’ caterpillar today, giant swallowtail tomorrow