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FLORIDA CITIES OF NOTEOrlando, Lakeland and WinterPark Are Unique PlacesOCOEE HAS NO NEGROESQuaint Little Town Banished Them Following an Election Controversy and They Have Not ReturnedDeLand, Florida.—-That Florida has innumerable attractive inland little cities is the judgment of editorial tourists who have passed nearly three ; weeks in touring the state. North-1 ern people who pass winters in Florida usually go direct to their destination, whether it be St. Petersburg,1 Daytona, Seabreese, Palm Beach or Miami with only rarely going into the interior of Florida, Some of the especially pretty interior state places include Winter Haven, Florence Villa, Clearmont and Winter Park, as well as the better known instate little cities of Orlando, Lakeland and De-‘ Land When people go by rail through Florida it is not surprising that they are poorly impressed with the state with its lands of jungles, swamps and sand, but a tour by automobile would disclose a vastly different commonwealth. IThese letters have told of some of; the attractive places to be found m Florida, but here at DeLatid one is sure to find an unique little city. Its greatest asset is the Stetson university, which was made possible through the generosity of John B. Stetson, the great hat manufacturer. DeLand is named after an easterner who came here at an early day and made possible the founding of the little city It was through the efforts of DeLand, the founder, that Mr Stetson was induced to bequeath a vast sum for the university that bears the latteris name.Noted Springs at DeLandDeLand is fully three miles distant frbm the railroad station, but the drive thereto is pretty, orange and grapefruit orchards^ filled with fruit, appearing on either side of the highway. The St. John nver touches De-Land in its course to the north, the St, John being the only river known to flow northward But it is a narrow and long trail as it winds its way for, more than 200 miles to reach Jacksonville, whereas the railroad covers the distance in but a trifle more than 122 miles.DeLeon Springs, a pretty body of sulphur water, is located not far from ] this university town and most eve$*y \ person who comes here is told to visit the celebrated springs and take a dip f in the water, so the editorial party | followed the advice given. A barbecue dinner was served in a grove of pine and palm trees and though it was a warm day the meal served was greatly enjoyed. When one visits any particular city in Florida, large or small, he is impressed with the optimistic spirit everywhere noticeable and while residents are not given to knocking other Florida towns and cities, they are especially ardent in sounding the praises of their home, place. DeLand citizens are just as' staunch boosters for their home town as are those of other places we have visited.1Ocean of Lakes at OrlandoIn a previous letter reference was made to Orlando, pretty city with seventeen attractive lakes all within its municipal confines. One rarely finds lakes within corporate limits, but Orlando has a near dozen and a half of { them and its normal population is less than 10,000, we were told: And they are not all small lakes, either, one lake being a mile and a quarter in circumference, and it was a pretty sight to observe the line of automo-j bileB that conveyed the editorial par- j ty about the city entirely encircling the lake in question. Orlando is a favorite tourist stopping place and no matter where else you go in Florida, make sure you visit Orlando. Its uniqueness will attract you and there you are sure to find real bosters anxious to extend a welcome to northern people. Really it would seem from what a stranger in the city could ascertain that Orlando is made up very largely of northern people.Veritable Garden of EdenWinter Park, close by Orlando, gives one the impression of actual exclusiveness. It is there where Irving Bachelor, the noted writer, makes his home and it is also the seat of Rollins college and innumerable fine Residences, while all about an air of culture and refinement that one of our party said, lt;fWhy, Winter Park gives the impression that it is the garden of Eden.” And within a short distance from Winter Park is Ocoee, pretty little place, where its people were out in holiday attire to greet the editorial party as the tour took them through the town, which claims to be the ohly city in Florida to be entirely without a colored man or woman. When asked why such* an unusal —-thing in a southern community, quick came the reply that the negroes were --~alL driven out last November following a race riot on election day. As particulars of the riot were related, one felt satisfied that real southern ire was aroused and the negroes decamped after a number of their homes had been burned and they were convinced that Ocoee was not the place for them to tarry any longer.* All Like LakelandAnd then there is Lakeland, with » which many of our party becamegreatly enamored because it seemsHke jan aB-the-year city* by which is meant that it does not de-much^poh^e^crop^f^wintsir£■*yr:tourists as it does on its own resources. Jp^egtidlto8 ssron Iakert within -ita city limits, so it sort of ^tries’ to' 'rival OriaSdo^lui the water E-lifieF -InF and about Lakeland may be bund Jiome especially large orange si grapefruit orchards because it is jbHlhe:;^art^f-ihe-lt;citrti8 -fruit-belt]’iandJiliDuohe of the best countiesrife one may judge from afo%A
Newspaper Details
Harvard Herald
Harvard, Illinois, US
Thu, Apr 21, 1921
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Gregory S.
FL, USA 15 Jul 2020
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