Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Although most Lake Wales residents aren't even aware of it, Lake Wales is famous for thousands as the site of the largest group of landscape designs ever created by the legendary firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. So how did it come to be that the firm responsible for creating New York City's Central Park and for designing the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. played such a vital role in the planning – and now future – of Lake Wales? Our destiny as a "City in a Gar...
When Lake Wales gathers April 30 to celebrate the life, legacy and work of Frederick Olmsted Sr. at "Olmsted Day in the Park," local residents will be paying homage to more than just the famed landscape architect whose influence is still very much alive in the city today. By 1929 when Lake Wales civic leaders hired his son Frederick Olmsted Jr. to create a master plan to enhance the city's "Garden City" concept – developed in England 1898 by Ebenezer Howard – Lake Wales and...
An April 30 event at Lake Wailes Park is more than a local celebration, it's part of a much broader celebration of a famous father-son duo who changed the face of North America. April 26, 2022, marks 200 years since the birth of American landscape architect and social reformer Frederick Law Olmsted, who championed the idea of public parks in the United States. Lake Wales Heritage is among more than 120 organizations nationwide have banded together as "Olmsted 200: Parks for...
A "family fun event" this spring will recognize the legendary figure who created the city's original streetscapes, as well as Bok Tower Gardens and Mountain Lake. The all-day event will feature bands, food, games and contests, awards, plus plant and vendor sales. "Olmsted Day in the Park" will be held April 30 in Lake Wailes Park, part of a nationwide celebration in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed many of America's most...
As the price of fresh cut Christmas trees rises due to a national shortage, perhaps it's time to consider a different kind of Christmas tree. "Instead of buying a cut Christmas tree that you will throw away in January, why not spend that same $50 and buy a Southern Live Oak that will live for hundreds of years?" That's the question posed by Lake Wales Heritage, the local not-for-profit working to plant the thousands of street trees called for in the 1930 Lake Wales...
"Getting back to museum basics" was a large part of the motivation that moved Anderson Hanna, former director of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, to apply for what might at first appear to be a less-authoritative role as Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Lake Wales History Museum. Hanna doesn't see it that way at all, and is very happy with his career decision. "It's about getting to your specialty," he said, in describing the change that also brings him...
The Lake Wales Highlanders advanced to the Class 6-A Regional semifinals after a solid game against the Port St. Lucie Jaguars Friday night, emerging victorious by a 35-0 score. Quarterback Trent Grotjan, a Junior, tossed two TDs in the first half to put the Highlanders in command of the game. The first score came on the squad's first offensive play when a toss to Carlos Mitchell covered 52 yards. Xavier Marlow carried the ball across the finish line in both the second and...
After concluding their regular season play with an 8-2 wining record, the Lake Wales Highlanders advance as 6-A District 7 runners-up to the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs, meeting the PSL Jaguars in Port St. Lucie Friday night. Their single loss to Auburndale by a 14-8 score left them with a 3-1 record in District play. The Jaguars finished their season with a 7-2 record, but remained undefeated with a 3-0 record in their Division play, giving them a home-f...
Bok Academy South students turned out in force Saturday morning to add their contribution to a city-wide effort to recreate a historic landscape plan for Lake Wales. Led by educator Nicole Sealey, students and a few parents helped to clear grass and re-bank "wells" around each of thirty young trees planted last month along Fourth Street. Many of the young trees showed fresh growth, and a few were surprising project leaders by showing signs of going into bloom. The plantings...
After seeing their District title hopes dashed in a 14-8 loss to Auburndale two weeks ago, the Highlanders came back to best the Palm Bay Heritage Panthers last week by a 37-30 score, setting up a final District 7 battle with Kissimmee Gateway for a possible ticket to the playoffs. Lake Wales is favored over the 2-6 Gateway, confusingly also nicknamed Panthers, who are winless in the tough District 7. The game will kick off at 7:30 pm. this Friday night in Kissimmee. The...
Wielding spades and smiles, some two dozen volunteers planted 30 young trees along Fourth Street South in Lake Wales Saturday morning, the first of more than 1,000 trees Lake Wales Heritage intends to plant over several years to complete a historic landscape plan. "People don't know much about Olmsted," volunteer Preston Troutman told a group of 15 students from Lake Wales High School. The students, members of the school's Interact Club, had just help complete the first...
Hopes for a District 6A-7 championship faded Friday night for the Lake Wales Highlanders football squad lost a defensive battle, falling to the undefeated Auburndale Bloodhounds by a 14-8 score at Legion Field. Auburndale is now in control of the district race, sitting comfortably atop the standings at 3-0. The Highlanders fall to 1-1, with two important games remaining. The local team still has hopes of a playoff berth in the Region based upon final standings and scores...
In what is likely to be the deciding contest of the 2021 football regular season, the Lake Wales Highlanders will face off against the undefeated Auburndale Bloodhounds Friday night at Legion Field. The Bloodhounds have already dominated district rival Heritage Palm Bay by a 20-0 score, and Kissimmee Gateway 47-7. Lake Wales has yet to face either of those teams. The Highlanders have played only a single district game, a 43-27 victory over Melbourne Eau Gallie. There has been...
The Lake Wales History Museum will honor Gladys Howell as the 2021 Lake Wales Pioneer of the Year as part of the 45th Annual Pioneer Days Festival at Lake Wailes Park. The recognition celebration will be held during the festival on Saturday, October 23 at 10:00 am. The Lake Wales History Museum's Pioneer Days Festival is synonymous with Lake Wales history and culture, and celebrates the heritage of the greater Polk County community. The two-day event will feature 50 craft &...
Returning to the form that marked the early games of the season, the Lake Wales Highlanders struck early and often against the Hardee Wildcats, running up a score of 21-0 barely halfway through the first quarter in a Friday night contest in Wauchula that was never in doubt. Hardee, a non-conference 5-A foe, came into the game with a 3-2 record. The Highlanders' first two touchdowns came on the strength of their explosive ground game led by running back Marquish Seabon, who...
Lake Wales 45th Annual Pioneer Days festival is expected to draw some 10,000 visitors to Lake Wailes Park over two days later this month, and staff at the Lake Wales History Museum is ready for the big days. "We are so excited for the return of this community event, and we promise to do everything we can to make it safe," D'hollander said. The ever-popular event will see many changes this year, but will include the traditional favorite Heritage education activities including...
After more than 90 years, new flowering trees will soon be planted as part of a city-wide landscaping effort. More than two dozen new flowering trees will line several blocks of South 4th Street. The plantings are initial steps of a program that will ultimately involve well over one thousand trees. The original designs for city streetscapes were created by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. shortly after he completed his design of Bok Tower Gardens. Olmsted...
Riding on their 3-1 season record and seeking to repeat as district champs in their new higher classification, the Lake Wales Highlanders football squad will face the Melbourne Eau Gallie Commodores this week. It will be their first district game of the year. Lake Wales enters the game with its powerful ground game intact, with a triple threat of quarterbacks Trent Grotjan and Nick Young and an explosive running back in Marquish Seabon. Corey Harris, Devin Hardy and Carlos...
Edith M. Hart (HUG COLLECTOR). Born March 19, 1920, in Coal Center, PA. Ran on to the Father's House Sept. 16th at home under Hospice Care, following her husband (John Reed Hart) of 62 years. She is survived by a brother Donald O. Nipps (wife Emmy), daughter Harriet B. Browning (husband Howard), son Joseph B. Hart (wife Barbara), granddaughters Suzan Timbs (husband Steve), Tami Allen (husband Edward), Kimberly Hart, Latitia Mauney (husband Henry), Lisa Hart, grandsons Howard...
After several years of operations as a purely city-run facility, the Lake Wales History Museum may soon be under the control of a not-for-profit group once again. The Wednesday City Commission workshop agenda cites a discussion of the transfer, which would include $150,000 in annual funding to aid in running the museum. The group would in turn pay the City $1 a year to lease the facility. "It's going to be a wonderful partnership," said Museum Director Jennifer D'hollander....
The Lake Wales History Museum will celebrate the community's history and heritage through the 45th Annual Pioneer Days Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 & 24. The free community festival held along the shores at Lake Wailes Park features a heritage village that includes dozens of historical demonstrations of pioneer camps and early American trades. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The public is welcome to experience, learn, share and buy...
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month the Lake Wales History Museum will offer a special online presentation "Treasures from Aztlan: Hispanic Women's Voices." Dr. Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi will deliver the second presentation in the museum's fall speaker series starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, Dominguez-Karimi's talk will help people discover a different point of view from Hispanic women. In 2005, Dr. Dominguez-Karimi created an oral history collection titled Treasures...
To celebrate National Historic Preservation Month, the Polk County History Center's May Zoom and Vroom program features the Lake Wales Downtown Historic District as part of Polk's Heritage Trail. The popular lunch and learn series is virtual in 2021 and includes interactive elements designed to get you and your "Quaranteam" out exploring Polk County. The city was established in 1917 and residential and commercial districts which date to this era achieved National Register...
Music, food, vendors, a ceremonial tree planting, informational booths and a mayor's proclamation will all be part of a special family event planned for Friday, April 30, when Lake Wales will become one of hundreds of cities nationwide marking Arbor Day 2021. The event will run from 5-7 that evening. Lake Wales Heritage will join with the Lake Wales Woman's Club, The Family Literacy Academy, and Rotary on the Ridge to sponsor the free Friday evening festival along the city's...
Bright sunshine broke through the dreary morning Saturday, Jan. 23 as friends, family and history buffs gathered to celebrate the opening of the Mimi Hardman Collections and Research Center. Named for the city's most noted historic preservationist, the center is located on South Scenic Highway in the newly restored 1916 Seaboard Airline Freight Station. Known for developing the historic Depot museum, bringing millions of dollars in historic preservation grants to the city and...
