Historical Palmetto ’40s Future Farmers of America building rededicated
Now headquarters of R Cubed Engineering
By CARL MARIO NUDI
Ahistorical landmark building in Palmetto was rededicated on Nov. 14, as the T.P. Winter Building.
CARL MARIO NUDI PHOTO
The former Palmetto High School chapter of Future Farmers of America building at 705 10th Ave. W., in Palmetto, is now the headquarters of R Cubed Engineering.
About 50 members of the Palmetto Historical Commission, Farm City Week Committee, R Cubed Engineering and the public gathered for the ceremony at the former Palmetto High School chapter of Future Farmers of America building, 705 10th Ave. W., Palmetto, now the headquarters for R Cubed Engineering.
CARL MARIO NUDI PHOTO
RaNae Contarino, president and CEO of R Cubed Engineering, left, and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant stand in front of the plaque unveiled during a rededication ceremony of the former Palmetto High School chapter of Future Farmers of America building.
According to a press release, Palmetto High School students and their teacher, T.P. Winter, constructed the building during World War II between 1943 and 1946.
The building had offices, a classroom and workshop.
T.P. Winter taught agriculture at Palmetto junior and senior high schools for many years.
RaNae Contarino, president and CEO of R Cubed Engineering, said she relocated her firm to Palmetto from the Washington, D.C. area.
It was the history of how the building was built that attracted Contarino to consider it as offices for R Cubed Engineering.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The former Palmetto High School chapter of Future Farmers of America Building shown in a picture from the 1946 Palmetto High School yearbook.
“The building’s history needs to be honored, and it was perfect for us,” she said.
More than a year was spent renovating and making the building suitable for the business, Contarino said.
The engineering firm provides the hardware, firmware, and software for safety monitoring devices for unmanned aerial vehicles.
“Florida is No. 2 in the country in unmanned aerial vehicle use,” Contarino said.
The building is now a secure building, certified for Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Security Agency contracts, she added.