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Mission
Preserving, promoting, and celebrating
the unique cultural heritage of Ybor City and supporting the Ybor City Museum State Park
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With Easter Sunday coming up this weekend, we wanted to share with you how Italians celebrate this traditional holiday. Italians are known for their wonderful cuisine, especially during holidays, celebrations with family and friends, and an unparalleled joy for the essence of life. Easter does not disappoint. It is not only celebrated on Easter Sunday, "La Pasqua", but on the following Monday known as "La Pasquetta."
In March, we celebrated Women's History Month by spotlighting a series of iconic women whose impact on Ybor City, West Tampa, and our community as a whole is still visible. To complete the series, we are featuring four women, each of whom is a legend in her own right.
Ashley Rocks, our intern from USF's history department, has been a major contributor to the stories and recipes presented in this News Brief and on social media. Our thanks to Ashley for being an integral part of our team during her internship.
Warmest Wishes ,
Chantal Ruilova Hevia, President and CEO
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In addition to the solemn midnight mass, the Italian Easter, La Pasqua, traditionally includes a delicious lunch to enjoy with the whole family and to appreciate for hours! Among the appetizers, one cannot miss the hard-boiled eggs, and the pasta dishes are one better than the other. It is traditional to serve lamb as a main course because it is a symbol of rebirth. The Easter desserts are numerous and vary from region to region. Easter doves with sugar and almonds are served everywhere and you can imagine the taste of the chocolate eggs that children have collected during Lent!
For many Italians, Easter Monday, La Pasquetta, is the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends. Usually, they organize a trip or an outdoor lunch, often bringing leftovers of the rich lunch served the day before. Sometimes, tasty dishes are prepared for this occasion. Among the classics of Easter Monday, you will find Pasqualina cake with egg and spinach typical of Liguria, or sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs. Get the recipe for Torta Pasqualina
Grazie to Ciao Bella Gente! for contributing this story. Photo from Eataly
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Salha Bobo has been characterized as a businesswoman, a philanthropist, and a matriarch. Born in Syria, Salha came to the United States as a teenager and lived in New York and Georgia before settling in Tampa with her husband Ralph in 1947. They opened the Blue Ribbon Market and managed it together until Ralph's untimely death just two short years later. Salha took over sole ownership of the market and managed it with her 7 children until the late 1990s. During the later years of her life, she published an oral history memoir entitled Mashala: The Life and Times of Salha "Mama" Bobo. After her death, one of her grandchildren published a cookbook featuring hundreds of her recipes called Mezza & More, Syrian Fare With a Southern Flare. Her strength as the matriarch of the Bobo family earned her the nickname "Mama" while her strength as a businesswoman made the Blue Ribbon Market a true Ybor City landmark.
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Dorinda Gonzalez played a role in the lives of many Ybor City young women. Born in Argentina, Dorinda moved to Ybor City as a young girl in 1921. In 1952 she opened Dorinda's Yarn Shop on Seventh Avenue, which she owned and operated until 1981. During this time, she was also active in the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce. In addition to selling yarn, thread, and fabric, Dorinda taught classes on all manner of fabric arts, including crocheting and needlepoint. Her colorful and imaginative window displays brightened Seventh Avenue and were featured in numerous magazines. She won several awards for her amazing work, and she shared her expert knowledge with the whole community. The Girls Club of Tampa was a favorite charity of hers, and she opened her shop up to the club to teach underprivileged girls her special skills. Dorinda and her yarn shop hold a special place in the hearts of many women.
Dorinda is in pink in the center
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Carmen Caras Morales has brought dance to countless Ybor City and West Tampa youngsters. Born in Ybor City, Carmen studied various forms of dance in Cuba, Tampa, and New York. She opened the Carmen School of Ballet and Spanish Dance, and performed with a number of local dance companies, including the Tampa Civic Ballet. Aside from her involvement in the dance world, she was a former docent here at the Ybor City Museum and would give tours. She is still known to have given impromptu castanet performances from time to time. |
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Delia P. Sanchez has been called a champion for the children in Florida. A native of Ybor City, Delia obtained a master's degree in social work from Columbia University in 1947. She then returned to Tampa and began a career that would change education in Tampa for the better. In 1965, she worked with Congressman Sam Gibbons to bring the first Head Start program to Hillsborough County, which became a blueprint for programs across the nation. After working with the program for two decades, she entered private practice for troubled children. Those close to her say she was involved in every child's case. For her diligence in working for the welfare of children, countless organizations have honored her. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio declared June 24, 2009 to be "Delia P. Sanchez Day." As a tribute to her volunteer work, the Ybor City Museum Society honored Delia with a plaque on a permanent exhibit at the Ybor City Museum State Park. |
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Molly Ferrara was one of the few businesswomen and leaders in Tampa during her time. Born to Sicilian immigrants, Molly grew up in Ybor City and opened Columbia Music and Appliances on Seventh Avenue, which she operated for over 40 years. Aside from her entrepreneurial pursuits, Molly served in elected positions in the Tampa area. She was Hillsborough County's first woman tax collector and was elected as Ybor City's first female Alcaldesa (Mayor). Molly's dedication to the community was not just in her political leadership. She founded and served on many organizations promoting Ybor City and the Tampa area and founded the Ybor City Girls Club and the Pilot's Club. She was involved with many more organizations, some of which included the International Relations of Business and Professional Women's Club of Tampa, Pan American Commission, and Hillsborough County Heart Association. Beloved by many, Molly was admired for her leadership and service in the local community. |
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Eggplant parmesan has long been a favorite for lovers of Italian dishes, both in Ybor City and throughout the country. Here’s Katie Lee Biegel's recipe for an easier version that emulates the flavors of this traditional dish. Hats off to all the women who have become professional chefs or aspire to be one.
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DO YOU LOVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS ? |
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The Ybor City Museum Society owns six historic "casitas", which it preserves and maintains. These irreplaceable buildings are always in need of a little TLC. YCMS is currently looking for someone who can help with their maintenance by handling small repairs and overseeing larger projects. Inquiries should be directed to info@ybormuseum.org or 813.247.1434. This part-time work is likely to grow when we open the Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House in a few months. The "casita" pictured here will open as the Ybor Vegan Deli in early April. |
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The Ybor City Museum State Park is Open |
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The Ybor City Museum State Park is again open to the public. To ensure your safety, masks are required to be worn during your visit. Admissions can be paid by cash or credit card, however you are requested to bring exact change if you are paying by cash. The "casita" portion of the museum tour is closed due to Covid-19 restrictions but you can enjoy the Museum Garden during your visit. You can also enquire about renting the Garden, a beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. outdoor space, by clicking here. It is a unique venue that creates its own ambience for your special event.
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New Hours of Operation: 9 am - 4 pm Wednesday - Sunday
Admission: $4 per person, free for children 5 years and younger
1818 E. 9th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605, 813.247.6323
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Please Join Us
Member benefits make it easy for you to strengthen your connection to Tampa's roots and experience the unique cultural
heritage of Historic Ybor City. Now that the Ybor City Museum State Park is reopening, you can use the free admissions included in your membership. Thank you to our current members, whether you have been part of our family for years or have just joined us. For your convenience, new or current members can join or renew your membership online.
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With Gratitude
History teaches many lessons and gives us a lens to the future. While 2020 was a year to pause and reflect, we have benefitted in many ways as our friends and followers came together to celebrate the landmark events that make Ybor City such a unique community. Thank you who supported our programs and educational activities last year. For those who enjoy this newsletter and learning more about Ybor City's cultural heritage, please consider a donation to support our 2021 programming.
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The Ybor City Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID No. 59-2274494. While we do not give tax advice, donations are tax deductible to the extent the law allows. |
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