Longtime resident Don Forehand remembers growing up in Largo, working to process sugarcane into syrup.
"I would stand down at the end of the pot and catch the syrup in gallon cans, stainless steel cans,” he said. “I was 4 years old."
Historic equipment, buildings and pictures on display at Pinellas County Heritage Village bring the past to life. It’s a step back in time as Pinellas County is celebrating its centennial.
"The folks who lived over here in what was then west Hillsborough County really didn’t feel like they were getting a fair shake from the people over in Tampa which was then the County seat,” said Ellen Babb, Museum Operations Manager for Pinellas County Heritage Village. “They decided we really needed to separate."
Forehand proudly calls Pinellas County home. He was born in Largo and has lived in Pinellas County most his life. "The road structure to me is probably the most significant change,” said Forehand. “And with the change in the road structure came the building."
Some of the most noticeable changes are seen when looking at old pictures of the Gandy Bridge, Gulf Boulevard, the Skyway Bridge and the St. Petersburg Pier.
Forehand hopes future generations hear his stories, see the old pictures and appreciate the past.