Diners gazing out the large picture windows at the rear of the the Grasslands Clubhouse would be forgiven if they can’t imagine the manicured golf course in front of them and lakeside houses off to the right were once the site of a phosphate plant and a small mining community called San Gully. The community […]
Category: History
Posted inHistory
Checking Out Lakeland’s Historic Churches
LALtoday takes a look at six congregations in greater Lakeland that have been around for more than a century and the evolution of the buildings where they’ve worshipped. A seventh is a new congregation that raises song in a historic building. Source: LALtoday
Posted inHistory
Lakelandist Explores/Concocts Christmas Parade History
The Lakelandist goes audio, looking into the origins of the Lakeland Christmas Parade in its first podcast. Did the Lakeland Christmas Parade replace the earlier Miss Succulent Orange Pageant and Parade? The Lakelandist fills us in on improbable #lkld history in its in-augural podcast. https://t.co/KuLzdAYUdq pic.twitter.com/ltmuJTzwmU — Lkld Now (@LkldNow) December 5, 2018 Source: The […]
Posted inActivism
Publix Tile Mural Re-created at a Former Publix Store
A tile mural created for a Publix store in Fort Lauderdale has been re-created by artist Tim Pitzen, right, and unveiled today at a former Publix store that now houses the Lakeland office of the Polk County Tax Collector. Standing alongside the artist is Gregory Fancelli, who spearheaded the project. The original creamic-tile mural, titled […]
Posted inHistory
Author: Without Disney, Orlando Would Be Like Lakeland
Lakeland got a shoutout of sorts when a Florida history author explained why Walt Disney was chosen the second-most-influential person in the state’s history. “Without his influence, we believe that Orlando would look a lot more like Lakeland does — which is a perfectly nice place; we like Lakeland,” freelance journalist Laura Mize said. “But […]
Posted inHistory
A Look Inside ‘The Compound’ on Frank L. Wright Way
Photographer David Dickey Jr. had an opportunity today to tour “The Compound,” a sprawling and decaying residence at Frank Lloyd Wright Way and Jefferson Avenue that’s been bought by Florida Southern College, which plans to demolish it. Scroll down to check his photos.
Posted inHistory
Catapult 2.0: Old Front Comes Down
Crews today demolished the false front on the building overlooking Lake Mirror that will become the Catapult 2.0 small business incubator. The facade, added more than a quarter century after the structure was built in 1924, will be replaced with a dramatic steel-and-glass entryway. Next steps in the renovation project will be interior work to […]
Posted inHistory
Mosaic Removal Approved; Where Should They Go?
The people working to preserve two tile mosaic murals that were whitewashed at the former Searstown have gotten permission to move them. Now they’re asking for input on two possible locations: the Polk Museum of Art or the Polk Tax Collector’s Office.
Posted inBusiness
Chamber: What If We Expand Our Current Building?
As Lakeland Chamber of Commerce leaders pursue plans to develop a business resource center, they’re floating an idea: Instead of moving into a new facility, why not double the size of the 1926 building they’ve used for 51 years?
Posted inHistory
Effort to Restore Searstown Mosaics Gets a Boost
The effort to restore two large mosaic murals at the former Searstown shopping center got a boost Monday when a representative of the plaza’s owners said he supports the project.