October, 2020 Edition

Highlands County 100th Anniversary

Photo compliments of Sebring Historical Society

FATHER of HIGHLANDS COUNTY

It is hard to imagine what the area that is now Highlands County looked like 100 years ago. It was years before paved highways would replace the sand and shell roads connecting the small towns of Avon Park, Sebring, and DeSoto City to Arcadia, the county seat of DeSoto County. The division of DeSoto County came about because early settlers were tired of struggling over sandy roadways to conduct county business in Arcadia.

The bill to divide DeSoto County into five smaller ones was in-troduced in the legislature by newly elected State Representa-tive Dr. Ezekiel Joseph Etheridge. Highlands County was born on April 23 1921. At the time, the News-Sun reported that “after much wrangling and discussion, Sebring was selected to become the county seat”.

In 1913, Dr. Etheridge moved with his family to an area near Little Red Water, several miles from the heart of Sebring. He maintained his dental office in Sebring, braving the sandy roads daily to serve his patients. In 1916, he founded the town of DeSoto City and served as their mayor for several years.

Dr. Etheridge also served in the State Senate and upon his re-tirement from politics, he became a horticulturist and was ac-tive on behalf of legislation important to the citrus industry.

A Heritage Festival is being planned for April, 2021

to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the form-

ation of 5 separate counties—Highlands County being

one of them. The program of activities will include historic re-enactments, demonstrations barbeque and other entertainment. Watch for details in the next edition of this newsletter.

The Public is cordially invited to a Re-opening Open House of

the Depot Museum, November 11, 2020, from 10 am to 3 pm.

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The establishment of Highlands County is not the only

significant 100th anniversary being celebrated. In 1920,

the Sanctuary Church of God (pictured above) was estab-

lished. The church is located on North Florida Avenue.

There are seven other churches in Avon Park that are 100

years and older. You can learn which ones they are by

viewing the Church Exhibit now on display.

Celebrating 100 years is the

famous Seminole Indian

patchwork. It was first pieced

together using hand-cranked

sewing machines, allowing

women to sew without elec-

tricity in their chickees

(Seminole home built on stilts

with a thatched roof). They

were encouraged to make

things to sell for the tourists

around the Miami area near

the Hollywood Reservation at

Everglades City where the

missionaries operated a store.

It was a source of income for

the Indian women. They are

also famous for their Indian

patchwork dolls first produced

in 1933. The style of patch-

work takes much time to cre-

ate. Items sold today on the internet are very expensive.

NEW EXHIBITS Even though the Museum was closed to the public and is now only open on a lim-ited basis, volunteer Curator Elaine Levey has been active researching and mounting several new exhibits and has supplied a “sneak preview” for this newsletter. She is able to “change out” exhibits with items in our collection that have been in storage. There is not enough exhibit space in our museum to display our entire collection at once.

Donations to the museum are cata-logued, restored when necessary, and stored according to standard archival guidelines . Before being placed on display, research is conducted so that accurate information can be included on the signage for the exhibit.

One of our artifacts that has been stored in the back room and never shown is a collection of vintage eye-glasses with special frames that were used by an optometrist many years ago.

“The Way It Was” is the title Elaine has given this exhibit. A case with many lens inserts and beautiful vintage eyeglasses will be on display. 2020 is the perfect year to premiere this ex-hibit!

“Do you Remember Hankies”, is a dis-play of beautiful handkerchiefs from the past.

Visit the Museum in October when it will again be open to the public as per the regular sched-ule:

Wed-Thurs-Fri 10am to 3 pm

MUSEUM HAPPENINGS

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Lovers of Nature will enjoy learning about the fruit of the Coonti, a plant that develops a bulb-like root that

the Indians once used to make flour. These plants are part of our botanical garden along the service road in

front of the museum. One of the fruits is on display in the Museum and others can be seen growing outside.

The fruit looks like a grenade and is about that same size. This exhibit is part of a group that includes the

following: Coquina rock (used for road building, construction and fireplaces), Kapok pods with its silk-like

fluff taken from the Mall that was used for stuffing life preservers and no longer used and the Spanish moss

display showing the moss in the cured and uncured state. The Kapok tree is a historic tree that was planted

when Main St. was divided in 1920. This tree is located cross from the Hotel Jacaranda and is 100 years old.

The exhibit features

Harlan Page Davidson,

founder of Northwestern

Military and Naval

Academy (located in

Highland Park, Illinois,

later moved to Lake Ge-

neva, Wisconsin) and

his son Col. Royal Page

Davidson, inventor of

the first American mili-

tary armored car-1898.

They are famously rec-

orded in both local and

world history.

On display is a photo of the Da-

vidson’s two story “Hollyhurst”

mansion on Lake Lotela (photo

below) still standing and dates

back to 1895. Photos of the Da-

vidson family, as well as, one of

Col. Royal Page Davidson, de-

veloper and founder of Pine-

crest, show him golfing, with

the Pinecrest Hotel in the back-

ground are on display. Infor-

mation and photos of the ar-

mored cars he made with the

help of the cadets at the acade-

my are also part of the exhibit.

Learn about the fascinating his-

tory of Avon Park, some of

which played out on a “world

stage”.

NEW EXHIBITS

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Thank you to our Corporate members.

When you have a choice, choose a business that

has chosen to support your museum.

Heartland National Bank

Hicks Oil Company

Jahna Concrete, Inc

Long’s Air-Conditioning

Management Experts

Maxwell Grove Service

Palmer Electric Service

Dr. Ron Sevigny

Ridge Florist

64 West Collision Repair

Dora Smith Real Estate

The Storage Place of Avon Park

Turner Furniture

Wells Motor Company

Worden Realty

Dr’s Richard & Betsy Wood

Please consider a gift to the Historical Society

in lieu of flowers to honor the passing of a loved one.

We gratefully acknowledge The First Christian Church in Avon Park for gener-ously allowing us to print our newsletters in their office.

BAdvent Health

Alan Jay Automotive

Avon Park Bingo

Avon Park Chamber of Commerce

Bagwell Lumber

Barben Fruit Company

Bill Owens Auto Sales

Butwell Stone & Soil

C. Elton Crews, Inc.

C. Parke Sutherland

Central Florida Glass & Mirror

Dr. Tony Chen

Forrest Hilton, CPA

Gordon & Bonnie Gaster

GeoDev Financial Services

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2021 Membership Dues is now being accepted.

To ensure that you continue to receive this newsletter and notices of events,

please take a moment to renew your membership. Use the form on the back of

this page to update your contact information, if necessary, and send the complet-

ed form along with your dues donation to the address provided. Or better still,

come into the Museum and drop it off in person.

Your support is vital and very much appreciated.

The Depot Museum will formally re-open with an Open House on November 11, 2020. Please join us for the official “first viewing” of some new exhibits and special activities being planned to honor Avon Park Veterans.

The Museum will be open from 10am—3pm

IN MEMORIAM

We were saddened to learn of the recent pass-

ing of six long-time, faithful members of our

Society:

Walter Day, February

Barbara Ward, April

Hermie Harvey, June

Robert Keller, June

Betty Camp, June

Duane Kopta, September

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—————–——————————DETACH and RETURN with your DONATION————————————-

Name: ________________________________________________________________ Phone #:_________________________________

E-Mail:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ZIP________________

Please make checks payable to: The Historical Society of Avon Park

Drop off or mail to: 3 N Museum Ave.

Avon Park, FL 33825-3153

Annual dues: ____ Individual $15 _____ Family $25 _____ Business $50

Amount Enclosed___________

Sponsorships fund special projects: _____ $5,000 _____ $2,500 ______ $1,000 Other__________

Vickie David, one of our gardening volunteers,

shown here with her husband (right) and two

friends enjoying a Dining Car Luncheon.

The Avon Park Founders Garden Club held

their first meeting of the season in the Muse-

um prior to their Museum tour. Their visit

culminated with a three course lunch. Yum!!

This month ONLY, volunteers will work in

our garden on the SECOND Saturday (10/10)

Special thanks to our faithful volunteers. We

social distance and enjoy our work. Join us!!!

Visit our garden. The pink Muhly grass is nearly

in full bloom. The Spice Jatropha is covered with

gorgeous red flowers and forms a canopy over the

Agapanthus lilies.

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REVISED MENU CHOICES

1st Course: Tomato Bisque (Soup)

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Cream of Potato soup

Main Course: Quiche (Ham &Broccoli,)

or

(Tomato, Mushroom, Spinach)

Baked Potato Casserole

Chicken Pot Pie

Cranberry Gelatin Salad with Cottage

Cheese is served with each entree

Dessert: Lemon Coconut Cake

Deep Dish Apple Pie

Peach Cobbler

Ice Cream is served with each dessert

Beverages: Iced Water

Sweet and Unsweetened Iced Tea

Coffee – Regular and Decaf

Hot Tea

The cost is $15 per person and includes a

tour of the museum. Face coverings are

required in the Museum. Tour begins at

11:15, the lunch is served at 12 noon.

All guests will be served the same thing.

A minimum of 15 guests is required. The

maximum number is 30. The final guest

count is needed 4 days prior to the lunch-

eon.

DINING CAR LUNCHEONS are again available for groups. CDC guidelines will be observed to pro-vide a safe environment for guests and volunteer staff. For a group reserva-tion for 15 to 30 guests, call the muse-um (863-453-3525) or Nancy Fisk at 813-482-4868. The cost is $15 per person & includes a tour of the museum. AP Founders Garden Club members are our first luncheon guests this season.

As long as the threat of contracting the Covid-19 virus exists, certain measures are now in place:

All contact surfaces will be wiped down before and after each seating.

Guests will be seated at alternating ta-bles 2 or 3 persons per table.

Items that require direct handling in the preparation, such as the garden salad have been removed from the menu.

Our volunteer servers will wear face coverings and gloves.

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Historical Society of Avon Park

3 N. Museum Avenue, Avon Park, FL, 33825

Phone: 863-453-3525

Email: avonparkdepotmuseum@gmail.com

Website: www.avonparkhistoricalsociety.com

BOARD MEMBERS

President, Nancy Fisk

Vice President , Jean Jordan

Secretary, Roberta Flowers

Treasurer, Jane Avery

Donna Faucett Ricky Helms

Parke Sutherland Judy Laycock

Beth Helms Grace Hudson

Eileen Sachsenmaier

Elaine Levey, Director/Curator

Gary Byington, Maintenance

Nancy Fisk, Newsletter Editor

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Deborah Crews Nancy Fisk

MUSEUM HOURS

Thursday & Friday

10 am to 3 pm

CALENDAR of EVENTS

October 10, 2020

November 7, 2020

Gardening on the Grounds

November 11, 2020

Re-Opening Open House

January 23, 2021

Arts Festival

February 23, 2021

Annual Banquet