Ep. 006 – Home of the Tangerine
For much of the twentieth century, Brooksville, Florida identified itself as "Home of the Tangerine" and incorporated the fruit into their city stationery, police badges, and high school class rings. But why was the tangerine so embedded into the community identity and how did it impact Brooksville's development? Our special guest in this episode is fifth-generation Brooksvillian Jim Kimbrough. He is a descendant of Francis Ederington, who built the Chinsegut Manor House. His family and descendants would live on the property from 1851 until Elizabeth Robins purchased it in 1905.
Related links & resources
Tangerine Drop Returns to Brooksville
Photo of the Tangerine Drop Tangerine
Home of the Tangerine Brooksville brochure circa 1960
Jim Kimbrough and the Suncoast Parkway
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Every place I’ve called home has had a strong identity:
Pittsburgh, PA as Steel City
Cambridge Springs, PA for its mineral springs and “Cambridge Springs Defense” chess move
Nashville, TN is Music City
Brooksville, FL as Home of the Tangerine.
What I find interesting is how the community reacts when shifts occur to that identity. Other than Nashville (which is more Music City than ever) none of the other three’s economies are still based on their defining industry, so what then? Do you change your identifying characteristic like you change your shirt? Or do you hang onto it regardless of its relevance to your present?
Several years ago a Facebook post came across my feed that ticked me off enough it stuck in my head and is making its way into this blog. It was a photo of a consultant from another state meeting with some local leaders and captioned “reinventing Brooksville.” I had such a negative reaction to the post that I felt compelled to figure out why. It came down to this. Just as with an individual person, or even a family, a city’s identity consists of natural assets, experience, and where one has chosen to focus attention. Ignoring those three elements and just trying to plant a new identity you think seems cool will never work because it isn’t rooted in truth and doesn’t have the proper soil to grow.
When people ask what Brooksville Main Street does, I prefer to say we are helping make Brooksville its best version of itself. That means we have to know who Brooksville was (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and what it is capable of being, and then we pursue that goal. We will never be in competition as the best place to downhill ski (no snow and no mountains) but we could be the best spot for cyclists in Florida who want hilly terrain and brick streets. We can’t be the largest harvesters of apples, but we could harvest the largest watermelons! The key to a community becoming its best is to first know who you are; and no outsider can tell you that unless they take time to learn your assets, experience, and interests.
Jim Kimbrough and his family have taken the time over the 172 years to know and understand Brooksville. They have identified her strengths and weaknesses, shared her experiences, and seen where her interests naturally fell. Many times they have even guided those interests. That is the gift they have left each generation. It is our choice what we do with it.
- Natalie
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Credits:
References to Elizabeth Robins work printed/quoted with kind permission of Independent Age (Registered Charity No. 210729). Visit www.independentage.org to learn more.
Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, Odd Life Studios
Recorded at Profound Revelation Studios
Graphic Designer Barry Meindl, DaBarr Design
Web Designer and Social Media Manager Allisa Babor, Roots Creative Co
“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, Live Oak Theatre
Grant funding assistance by Florida Humanities
Rights to Elizabeth Robins materials owned by Independent Age
Host Natalie Kahler Natalie Kahler | Facebook
