Lake Wales - Hardcover

Privett, Jan; Lake Wales Main Street

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1531657877 ISBN 13: 9781531657871

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Library Editions, 2010

Synopsis

Lake Wales, "Crown Jewel of the Scenic Highlands," is nestled among rolling hills and sparkling lakes in the geographic center of Florida. Before the 1900s, this area of the Lake Wales Ridge was considered spectacularly beautiful but uninhabitable because the virgin forests did not have road or railroad access. Only Native Americans and a few white hunters had camped there. G. V. Tillman explored the untamed area in 1902 and fell in love with the beauty. He knew that the land was ideal for citrus, the old-growth pines could provide profits from turpentine, and the natural beauty would attract quality settlers to build a quality town. He shared his vision with three other businessmen, and together they formed the Lake Wales Land Company in 1911. Their timing was perfect. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad reached Lake Wales that year and brought on the boom time.

About this title

About the Author:

Like Tillman, Jan Privett fell in love with Lake Wales and has produced video documentaries about the town’s history. The author, as manager of Lake Wales Main Street, Inc., worked with Historic Lake Wales Society to share the history of a unique small town―one with three historic districts and Bok Tower Gardens, a national historic landmark―in Images of America: Lake Wales.

About this edition

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Library Editions
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1531657877
• ISBN 13: 9781531657871
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 130