CRESTVIEW, Fla., June 10, 2926—Celebrate Crestview’s 110th anniversary during Crestview’s History Day this Saturday at the Crestview History Museum in the historic Bush House.

The event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is hosted by the Crestview Historic Preservation Board.

Although the city was officially chartered in 1916 and became the county seat in 1917, the “Crest View Depot,” as it was originally known, was already in full swing as early as the 1880s.

The family of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad’s then-track supervisor, Lorenza Bush, moved into a American craftsman-style house the railroad built for him sometime in the spring of 1926.

It’s now the home of the Crestview History Museum which will house several displays and activities during History Day, including rare photographs from the past—some never seen before—and displays about the community’s Black heritage from the Carver-Hill Museum.

Older residents may remember the “Hasty Train” that chugged around downtown Crestview during festivals. The small-scale, rideable train was crafted by Charlie Hasty who used to run the Sinclair gas station on U.S. Highway 90 West.

The train is one of the history museum’s prized artifacts and will be on display during History Day. Unfortunately, it isn’t operational yet, but preservation board volunteers are in the process of refurbishing it. Because the board does not yet have room to display the train, History Day will be a rare opportunity to see an artifact from Crestview’s past.

For those who want to delve deeper into Crestview’s moniker, “Hub City,” local historian Bert Moore will offer “a practical and academic approach to the Hub City story,” as he put it. He will offer his presentation at 1 p.m. during History Day. He is a lifelong Crestview resident, son of historian Jim Moore and has observed his hometown through many lenses.

“I have walked all through town,” he said. “I took a bus through town, I took the train through Crestview, and I even drove a tractor up Main Street towing a homecoming float.”

Crestview History Day will include complimentary refreshments, and since it’s also the Bush House centennial, there will be birthday cake for the historic home’s 100th birthday.

For book lovers, the Friends of the Crestview Library will hold a book sale on the front porch.

Crestview History Day

• When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 13
• Who: At the Bush House/Crestview History Museum, 198. South Wilson St.
• Details: A celebration of Crestview’s rich and colorful history through photos, displays, the famous Hasty Train and an observance of the Bush House centennial. Appropriate for all ages.

Brian Hughes, City of Crestview cultural services specialist