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Volunteer group plans Dade City History Center to save historic Dayton home
Summary
The Dade City Heritage Museum announced creation of the Dade City History Center to preserve the late historian Bill Dayton’s Meridian Avenue house, with fundraising underway, about 17 tons of debris removed and partnerships with contractors and PHSC for preservation and curriculum.
A group of volunteers led by Joy Lynn, director of the Dade City Heritage Museum, told the city commission they have created the Dade City History Center to preserve a historic Meridian Avenue home formerly owned by local historian Bill Dayton.
Lynn said she negotiated with the sole surviving heir, Beverly Dayton, after learning offers to demolish the house had been made. "I thought I could fundraise and build sponsorships to meet the amount that the contractor had given her of 235,000," Lynn said, and described a plan to rehabilitate the cypress‑and‑oak structure, install a new roof and open the house as a memorial and educational site.
Lynn said crews have already removed about "17 tons" of debris from the house and that the project will partner with PHSC to build a curriculum and provide student internships that will document the house and the town’s history as work proceeds. The group is also working with local garden clubs to clean and landscape the property and hopes to integrate the site with nearby Price Park to make a stronger downtown destination.
Commissioners praised the effort as a local historic‑preservation initiative and encouraged continued outreach. Lynn invited commissioners and the public to tour the property as renovations proceed.
