2004 Blanton Packing House Restoration Project at Dade City's Pioneer Museum

Lela Futch is the Guiding Light of this project which has received major state grants.  John Falls and Jim Bo Dowling aided in obtaining grants. The restoration  involves moving the packing equipment to a site on the Pioneer Museum property and housing this model at the Museum.  

 1924

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad went right by the packing house and trains would stop and be loaded with boxes of fruit. (It was the Orange Belt Railroad before it became the Atlantic.)  Sanford Blocker  was a silent partner in ownership of the packing house with Mr. Hines until Sanford died in 1934. 

Blanton Packing House 

Year 2000

The Packing House was south of the curve in Sweetwater Road below Blanton Road. 

Labels above contributed by Lora and Gene Blocker

Blanton Packing Company Labels

The sign over the Packing House Door said, 
"BLANTON PACKING CO. Packers of Blue Moon Label Citrus."

Blanton Packing House 

Year  2000

Inside the Packing House

(Date of photos unknown; color photo suggests after 1960s)

Old equipment

Grading Bins