Erstwhile Swampy stops at one the more fascinating architectural wonders in Florida, Top of the World, in Clearwater. The dozens of condo buildings throughout the sprawling property each has a unique construction. Each building has a location name as do the streets.
Just past the guard is the world as above. Beyond the world are the senior adult only community that is stuffed with amenities.
Probably the greatest of which is the construction of the multi-family homes. Built in 1947, these structures are pure concrete block and built for permanence. There’s probably not a hurricane that can come to disturb these buildings.
It’s Florida’s tallest lighthouse. Completed in 1887, this beacon over Ponce Inlet soars 175 feet high, tapering to just 12 feet at the top. And if you’ve got vertigo … this isn’t the place to go. Take a tour through our photo gallery and read the rest of the story….
Saturday, May 3rd, Princeton Elementary in Orlando marked it’s 81st birthday. Former and current students, former and current teachers attended. Dianne Williams, retired P.E. teacher, was honored with a pavillion opened in her name.
Above Swampy lingers at one of the back entrances of the school. This is part of the original construction of the school.
Here Swampy visits the Clewiston Movie Theatre. Originally built by the prevalent sugar companies in the area back in 1941, it is still opeerating as a theater. A very nice retired couple bought it recently and have been consistanlty working on bringing the theatre back to it’s hey-day. I really like the exterior painting that really brings the art deco charm of the building out.
Below is an interior shot of the main theatre. The couple have also reworked the back of the theatre to be a secondary showplace for special theatrical showings and events.
The Chamber of Commerce in Punta Gorda is also the 1903 former home of A.C. Freeman. He was quite the business man in Charlotte County and thus had one of the grandest houses at the time. His story, what I could quickly find of it, reminds me of Mr. Breckinridge, the merchanile store owner in Richard Powell’s book, ‘I Take This Land’, that was fictionally set in the same area.
Below, believe it or not, the VERY large sculture below sits in front of the building above. The combination is odd. The statue was dedicated in 2006 and is named ‘Calostimuku’.
Downtown Eustis! Here is McCulloch’s Alley. I tried searching for more about this. Sylvia Saunders, who was born and raised in Eustis, can you tell us more about it?
Umatilla had it’s annual city-wide yard sale and a great opportunity to explore bargains AND historic structures you would have trouble exploring on your own. First up- Lake County Veterans Memorial Park. Just west of Umatilla on U.S. 19 is the home of the local veteran gathering place. I’ve seen it many times but didn’t know - The rest of the story.
I asked the veteran volunteers who were busy with their own indoor yard sale about the building. All seemed rather new to the area and knew little of the building (More of those retiring baby boomers). One knew that something called CC something was involved. That’s all I needed.
This was a Civilian Conservation Corps camp where the CCC folks stayed. They were there to log the area. Below is the interior of the building and you can see the similarities to other CCC projects in our state (Highlands Hammock, Lake Helen). The structure is entirely made of cypress.
Here’s a sign that’s still around! Kinda beat up - but it’s there! This is on State Road 60 in Indian Lakes Estates, which is a ’70s subdivision of homes in a remote area pf East Polk County. It’s west of Dave Siegel’s Westgate Ranch Resort. I don’t know more about it and the property. If you do, please leave a comment!
