Bing Rooming House Museum

Contact Information for the Bing Rooming House Museum

Call the Bing House Main Phone Line for Hours of Operation

Phone (813) 704-5800 or (813) 757-6760

email- wthomas@improvementleague.com

website- www.plantcitybinghouse.com

So what is the makeup of this group called the “Improvement League of Plant City”?

What do we have in store for 2021 - 2022?  “Economic Development”.  Jobs, and ensuring there is a thriving economy for “all” the citizens of Plant City is the buzz word moving forward.   Lincoln Head start, EDC, Incubator, Bing House Exhibits, Photo Archives, Bealsville, Youth Forensic Science Class, FAAHPN, partnerships with HCC (Brandon/PC).

Let’s start with our Striving for Excellence Academy-SFEA where our middle/high school participants in the Forensic Science Program (CSI) have attended and competed in forensic science conferences throughout the State of Florida and are currently working on forensic certification, which will be a first in Florida.   We still offer tutoring, mentoring and leadership development.  

The Business Incubator Concept is being supported under the SFEA where we are focusing on young entrepreneurs.    

Bing Rooming House Museum was awarded some limited funds toward museum development and to hire an intern that works at the museum daily.  We are in the process of raising $60,000.00 to complete repairs and replace the tin roof.  

Museum Exhibits are growing.  The Negro League Baseball Exhibit had a recent addition by the family of the late Walter Lee Hardy whom played at all levels of the Negro and Canadian Leagues.  Other exhibits include; “Family Reunion Exhibit with donation of family reunion t-shirts, programs, and family recipes”, “Black Churches”, and “Ole School/Real School- a summary of local black education and schools –midway, marshall and glover school.”  We also share a photo archive collection lead by our partnering organization the Plant City Photo Archives & History Center in downtown Plant City.

Calendar of Events 2021 - 2022

Blues, BBQ N Berries June 26th at Evers Street Boardwalk

Back To School Drive August 21, 2021

Taste of Laura Street September 26, 2021

Halloween at night at the Museum October 31, 2021

Veterans Coffee Nov 10, 2021

Senior's Christmas Dinner Drive Thru

Christmas Tree Decorating Contest December 2021

Plant City 36th Annual MLK Festival Jan 8 - 22, 2022

The Improvement League Board of Directors contributes on average $15,000.00 to the overall $100,000.00 annual budget.  This allows 95% of the proceeds raised by the MLK Festival to go directly to our programs.  Board members and volunteers donate 2,000 community service hours and in-kind labor each year.  Examples include maintaining the property of the museum, donating training and instruction time to youth, representation and membership fees, purchasing stock/shares in Sunshine Bank, food and refreshments, gifts for xmas events, travel and time off from work to attend and participate in various network/outreach activities throughout the Tampa Bay area. 

We are fortunate to have a broad array of experience among the Board and dedicated volunteers.  Five certified teachers with 178 years direct classroom education, one with 46 years in law enforcement (Forensic expert and FBI), four individuals with 82 years of military service, two with 41 years of social service, six individuals with over 100 years of managerial, and a variety of other skills sets such as public relations, legal, insurance (all lines), self-owned business, nursing, pharmacy, federal government, administration, and banking.  This allows the organization to be highly effective in tasks that are taken on in the community. 

Over the years the ILPC has proven the effectiveness of youth leadership development and community-based programs. With your support our programs can continue to bring critically-needed social and, literacy skills to the neighbors, family members, and peers residing in Lincoln & Madison Park areas, and in so doing, will effect positive change in these neighborhoods.