Tag: Highlands

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Blogging Driving Geography History Nature Travel

Pioneer Daze 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Pioneer Daze was an overwhelming success for us last Saturday at the Alan Jay Arena at the Highlands County Fairgrounds in downtown Sebring Florida. We planned for it slowly but steadily since nearly the start of the year, and everything just came together for us last Saturday. It was great to see the estimated 500 to 750 volunteers, vendors, participants, and performers bring life to that arena and the exterior grounds. It was often a bit tough to get through the crowds of people down the vendor aisles, but that’s a good problem to have. We at the Sebring Historical Society (#SHS) greatly appreciate it all. We hope to do it again next October !

I’m the Social Media Director of the #SHS. For the locals in the area (as well as our winter residents): To stay in touch with all that we’ve got to offer – check-out our Facebook page. Search for Sebring Historical Society (or link here). Like us, and like and share our posts as you see fit. You can also check out our web site at sebringhistoricalsociety.info.

There are a couple of historical places here in Highlands County that I learned more about at Pioneer Daze. The Edna Pearce Lockett Estate is located on the county line with Okeechobee County on the banks of the Kissimmee River. They host an annual 2-day Heritage Festival. I missed this year’s event in April, as it occurred during my 18-day retirement road-trip to and from North Texas. And Archbold Biological Station is located between Lake Placid and Venus in the south-end of our County. It’s on the National Register Of Historic Places. I’ve driven by it so many times along U.S. 27. On a nice and cool day this winter I hope to stop by and visit the nature preserve to walk the trails and check-out the Learning Center.

A couple of days ago I reached a milestone for the 2ND year in a row. I’ll write about it – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook. I usually post there on Mondays and Thursdays.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging History Travel

Pioneer Daze 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. We are exactly one month away from the biggest event of the year for the Sebring Historical Society – “Pioneer Daze”. It’ll be held at the Alan Jay Arena – adjacent to the Highlands County Fairgrounds / Firemen’s Field – at the corner of Sebring Parkway and Kenilworth Boulevard near downtown Sebring Florida.

It’s our 2ND annual event, and it’ll be bigger than last year. You’ll want to get there early, as the fun starts at 9:30 AM. Enter at the Blue Streak Boulevard gate off Kenilworth Boulevard. My volunteers will get you, your party, and your vehicle to a great parking space. (I’m in charge of parking.)

Admission is free !

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll tell you all about Fort Meade Florida. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging History Travel

The Hotel Jacaranda

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. A favorite place of mine in Avon Park Florida – aside from the historic Avon Park Depot Museum – is the historic Hotel Jacaranda – AKA “The Jac” – AKA “Queen Of The Ridge”.

Built between 1923 and 1926 along Main Street in the historic downtown district – it’s been operating continuously as a hotel with a restaurant for the past 98 years. It’s named for an estimated 150-year-old Jacaranda tree that had to be knocked-down and removed to make room for the building at its location at 19 East Main Street. The entire mile-long Main Street historic district (eastward from U.S. 27) is on the National Register Of Historic Places.

During the late-1920s and into the 1930s it housed visiting major and minor league baseball players who were training in the city. Babe Ruth stayed at the hotel, as did Clark Gable, George Burns and Gracie Allen, and other famous stars of sports and screen. During World War 2 it housed military pilots who were training at the nearby Army Airfield.

Since 1988 it’s been owned and operated by the South Florida State College Foundation. The college has classrooms within the building as well as offices and student dorm rooms. Culinary students train in the kitchen of the restaurant and create many of the meals that are served to its customers. I’ve enjoyed a half-dozen delicious meals at the restaurant, and I’ll continue to support them and enjoy the ambience of the historic hotel.

If there ever comes a time where I need to vacate my home for a night or two (power outage, no A.C. in the summertime, no water, etc.) – then I would definitely consider checking the availability of a room at The Jac. I would love to spend a night or two there.

Financial donations support continuous restoration of the hotel.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook.

Next #TravelThursday – Pioneer Daze is coming. I’ll tell you all about it. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging History Travel

Tasmania Florida

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about the historic Avon Park Depot Museum – operated by the Avon Park Historical Society. It’s located about 4½ miles from my neighborhood. On a recent visit a friendly docent greeted me, and we had a nice conversation about local history – not just of Avon Park, but also of the entirety of Highlands County and beyond. Truly I could have spent several hours in conversation with him.

He told me about Tasmania (Florida) and Fisheating Creek. That led me to do some historical research on the ghost town and the natural free-flowing stream that runs alongside it.

So Tasmania is actually located in western Glades County (our neighbor to the south). It’s about 10 miles west of the small community of Palmdale, and about 4 miles south of the Highlands County line. What remains of Tasmania are foundations and a few farm buildings along what is now Tasmania Road, or Glades County Road 731. (That zigzagging road also enters Highlands County.)

Tasmania was established during the late-1880s, and it got its name in 1916. The small settlement along Fisheating Creek (its original name) was mostly abandoned during the Great Depression of the 1930s when it was bypassed by the railroad to the east (along what is now U.S. 27).

Fisheating Creek begins in the hills of southwestern Highlands County, and it flows downhill for about 50 miles southward into Glades County and then eastward into Lake Okeechobee providing the big lake with about 9% of its water (the second-largest natural source of water after the Kissimmee River). There’s actually a gap in the 30-foot-high Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee where Fisheating Creek flows freely through to the lake on its west side. (The dike parallels the Creek at its mouth.)

I’m glad I had that conversation with that docent on that day in Avon Park. I got to learn all about Tasmania and Fisheating Creek. I’ve driven over the Creek about 60 times over the past 18 months via U.S. 27. Now when I drive over it – I’ll be thinking about everything that I’ve learned about it from source to mouth – from swampland past settlement to lake.

As a fellow historical museum docent – I’m encouraged to know that my visitors are learning about the local area from me, and then they are leaving and telling their family and friends about their experience. They may also be doing historical research of their own. That’s a great way to preserve, protect, and promote history around us.

Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission –
Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook.

Next #TravelThursday – we take a trip out west to Texas. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp