https://www.facebook.com/251960378498491/

Haines City Historical Museum, 1001 Ingraham Avenue, Haines City, FL (2026)

05/29/2026

WHO HAS LIVED IN THE SAME HOME IN HAINES CITY FOR 66 YEARS?
Why, it’s our museum member, Elsie Gamper. She and her husband, William “Bill” Gamper, purchased the home at 714 Ledwith Avenue from Conrad L. and Meryl Fountain on November 23, 1960.
The three bedroom, one bath home is concrete block construction and was built in 1953 and suited the family to a tee. It is located at the corner of Ledwith Avenue and Eighth Street. It had the new Haines City High School, the old Central Elementary School and the old red brick High School across the street. Needless to say, the two Gamper girls, Judy and Gail had a short walk to school!
The Gamper home was a favorite stop by many students that would stop by to visit. Many have continued their longtime friendships with the family over the years.
The family had moved into town after living in one of the Haines City Citrus Growers Association apartments at the production complex off Bannon Island Road. Bill began working for HCCGA in 1950 in the Production Department and retired in 1993 as the Production Manager.
Elsie began her career in nursing after the girls completed school. She retired from the Lakeland Regional Hospital.
Bill and Elsie were active in the community and longtime members of the Haines City Historical Museum. They were faithful members of Shamrock Baptist Church where Bill served as a Deacon. He also served as a City Commissioner and was a past president of the Haines City Kiwanis and Jaycees. He also was an avid Gator fan!
Their daughter Judy lives in Dallas and daughter Gail lives in Knoxville. They both visit several times a year along with other family members.
Sadly, Bill passed away on January 31, 2021. He is buried in the Justice Family plot at Forest Hill Cemetery.
It’s not often that you find a family that have lived in the same home for so long, especially who love their community and are loved by so many. We salute them and thank them for being being a part of Haines City’s history.

05/28/2026

WHERE WAS THE FIRST GOLF COURSE IN HAINES CITY?
Golf Grounds Estates and Country Club was located on Prado Grande between the new Polk City Road and Dixie Highway. The plat shows that the name was Golf Grounds Estates and Agua Vista Country Club.
The property was owned by R. J. Hutchinson. The large residential subdivision was proposed in November, 1923 and consisted of winding streets and a nine hole golf course. It was engineered by R. A. Stersik of Haines City who was an expert in designing golf courses. The golf course was designed by well known landscaper gardener of Boston, John R. VanKleek.
The Hutchinsons sold the property to a group of businessmen from Chicago who formed Golf Grounds Estates, a Florida Corporation, in 1925. The group included Frank Bryson, a local Realtor and entrepreneur who had many projects in Haines City and the county. Bryson really put Haines City on the map with his marketing strategy throughout the North and his large real estate office and fleet of buses showing potential buyers his developments.
The Golf Grounds Estates Country Club was built in 1923 on a large wooded parcel on the east side of Prado Grande on Lake Brown. The clubhouse was constructed in the Mediterranean Revival style at a cost of $80,000. It had 4,300 square feet and a large open-air pavilion for dancing. The guests also enjoyed swimming and boating in Lake Brown.
Several lots were sold in 1927 and 1928, but the development went bust when the real estate market died during the depression. The remaining lots were sold by Special Master’s Deeds to R. J. Hutchinson and also Charles Frank.
The country club property was later sold to Silas and Edythe Fung who lived there for many years. (more on the Fungs later) The Fungs added a duplex on the property in 1973. After Silas passed away, the clubhouse was sold to Earl and Vivian Maurer. It changed ownership again and is now owned by Michael and Raquel Kuffermann. The duplex was sold to Janice Bowen in 2002.
The property had citrus groves for many years. And, who would have believed that some 100 years later, the site of the former Golf Grounds Estates would be fully developed with new homes!
We hope that you enjoy this part of Haines City’s history.

05/27/2026

MORE ADS ON OLDER HAINES CITY BUSINESSES!
We are proud to present more earlier advertisements from Haines City businesses taken from phone telephone books and other publications. We hope they will bring back pleasant memories of owners and doing business in Haines City! More ads to be posted later.

05/26/2026

WHICH LOCAL ATTORNEY HOSTED A GREAT ANNUAL ST PATRICK’S DAY PARTY?
Andrew “Andy” R. Reilly was born on March 31, 1930 in Camden, New Jersey. He was a proud veteran having served in the US Army. After his service, he graduated from Purdue University on the GI Bill with a degree in engineering.
While attending Purdue, he met and married Katherine Vogt on May 31, 1957 to begin a their 58 year marriage. Katherine was born on May 20, 1930 in Lydick, Indiana. They had four children Rob, Paul, Fred and Susan.
Andy’s career included working for the National Security Agency and Bendix Corporation. Later he worked for Martin-Marietta and General Electric as an Aerospace Engineer on the Sprint and Minute Man II missile designs and ground support systems.
In 1970, Andy graduated from Temple University of Law and became a member of the bar. He opened his office and specialized in land use and real estate law.
He purchased the property at 95 South Tenth Street in Haines City on September 25, 1973. He expanded the building to a 2,711 sq ft office with parking on the south side. With the growth of the business, a parking lot on the north side was added in 1973.
With Andy’s expertise in real estate law and knowledge of the area, he was appointed Chairman of the Polk County Blue Ribbon Committee with the monumental task to project the growth patterns for Polk County. He also assisted with many large projects in the development of Northeast Polk County and was helpful to many developers and attorneys with the growth in all of Polk County.
Andy was interested in Haines City community affairs and was elected in 1962 to the city commission. He also served two terms as Mayor. He was a driving force in the building of the new city hall on Hinson Avenue. He was the mayor for the ribbon cutting and proud to have his good friend, Representative Lawton Chiles preside at the event.
While serving as a commissioner, he was also instrumental in building the water treatment plant and paving many city streets. He was one of five Floridians named as the Outstanding Man of the Year by the Jaycees.
Andy served as City Attorney from 2000 to 2004 and was instrumental in the city’s establishing the Community Redevelopment Agency to assist in improving the area.
Andy welcomed his son Fred into the law firm. Fred enjoyed working with his dad for 15 years. (more about Fred later) Ted Lasseigne also became an associate until he opened his his office in Haines City. AND, to celebrate every St. Patrick’s Day, they hosted a great party with oyster bar, green beer and the works. Everyone loved their St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
After living in Haines City, Andy, Katherine and the family enjoyed living in the home in Lake Hamilton which was purchased in 1980. It was an older home and secluded on several acres. Katherine loved doing carpentry work and enjoyed working on the home. She also loved gardening and was a longtime member of the Green Thumb Garden Club serving as President in 1975-1976. The members were amazed at her carpentry skills.
Sadly Katherine passed away on June 7, 2015 and Andy passed on December 30, 2021.
We would like pay tribute to Andy, Katherine and the entire Reilly family for all their contributions made to Haines City. Please know that Andy and Katherine were loved by many and greatly missed.

05/25/2026

As we remember this Memorial Day, let us not forget the fallen heroes that gave their all for our freedom.❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸

05/22/2026

HISTORICAL TRIVIA IN THE 1950’S AND 1960’S!

State Sales Tax was three cents.
A first class postage stamp cost four cents in 1958.
Top rated TV show in 1958 was Gunsmoke.
Farris Bryant was Governor from 1961-65.
Miami was the most popular tourist destination.
Florida was the fastest growing state in the nation.
Haines City’s population grew from 5,650 in 1950 to 9,135 in 1960.
Tupperware parties were a big hit with the housewives.
Tinsel on Christmas trees was the rage.
Apollo 11 was the first historic NASA mission that landed on the moon.
Daniel D. Hutchinson was the Mayor of Haines City in 1959.
First Christian Church held its groundbreaking on February 5, 1959.
February, 1959 - Widening of Highway 17-92 causes Lloyd’s Standard Service to move to Third Street and LeeJackson Highway and Ray’s Restaurant to be demolished.
March, 1959 - City Manager Dick Simmons resigns to take new job in Winter Park.
May, 1959 - Phillips Department Store sponsors drawing for free Shetland Pony. (Clyde Gilbert won pony!)
September, 1959 - Lake Haines Drive In featured carload for $1.00 on Sunday nights.
October, 1959 - Oakland Rattlers defeated Arcadia 14 to 6 in opening game.
October, 1959. - Haines Citrus Growers Association holds 50th Anniversary with 250 members attending meeting and dinner.
October, 1959 - Haines City Volunteer Fire Department hosts Fifth District Convention of Florida Fireman’s Association.
December, 1959 - Haines City Stores invite Christmas Shoppers to shop locally.
June, 1960 - Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox celebrated his 500th home run. (He retires on September 28, 1960.)
July, 1960 - America’s new 50 Star Flag is revealed to include Hawaii.
August, 1960 - Chubby Checker performs his dance The Twist, on the Dick Clark Show.
September, 1960 - Hurricane Donna kills 148 people in the Caribbean and US over 8 days. Central Florida suffers severe property and citrus damage.
Haines City begins growing pains with new developments.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY REMEMBERING THESE HISTORIC EVENTS FROM THE PAST!

05/21/2026

LONGEST OPERATIONAL BARBER SHOP IN HAINES CITY CLOSES!
Ozzie’s Barber & Beauty Services located in the Haines City Mall has finally closed after 59 years!
Oswald “Ozzie” Wiley was born on June 15, 1926 in Panama City, Florida and was a lifelong resident of Polk county. He was a proud veteran having served in the US Navy in the Pacific Campaign during WWII.
He was married to Sadie Parrish and they had three children, Eugene “Gene”, Brenda, and Sandy.
The family lived in Davenport and Ozzie was very active in the community serving as a city commissioner and working on Chamber projects such as the swimming pool and May Festivals.
Ozzie started cutting hair in 1946. He had a small barber shop in Davenport in The Mart building which he finally outgrew. To help finance a move to the Haines City Mall, he pre-sold haircuts, and opened Ozzie’s Barber & Beauty Services on July 6, 1967 at the mall.
The shop had faithful customers that followed him from Davenport and quickly added more with the additional barbers and stylists he hired. The customers loved the friendly atmosphere and of course, lots of jokes. Over the years, some four generations of customers had their hair done at Ozzie’s!
With Ozzie’s failing health, he sold the shop to Pat Perez in 1994 who kept the business name and carried on the excellent service to their customers. The shop was closed in 2026.
Ozzie loved music and was an accomplished musician. He was even in a band at one time. He also loved painting and woodworking.
His first wife Sadie passed away on September 28, 1968. Later in life, he married Joy. It was sad that he lost both wives, his son Gene and daughter Brenda over the years.
We will never forget Ozzie’s love of life, his great sense of humor, and wonderful friendship he shared with everyone.
We would like to thank Ozzie and Pat for the 59 years that Ozzie’s Barber & Beauty Services operated in Haines City. Please know that your services were appreciated by many customers and friends!

05/19/2026

WHO OWNED BAKER’S 5 & 10 AND MACCO IN DOWNTOWN HAINES CITY?
Cecil Baker, local business entrepreneur, owned both stores.
Baker’s 5 & 10 was a local dime store that carried toys, hardware, yard goods, and school supplies. The building was located next to the A & P grocery store which he later purchased to become the women’s clothing store, Jane Ann Casuals.
Mr. Baker also purchased the W. W. MAC CO. store on the north side of Baker’s 5 & 10 and it became the MACCO store. Always looking for savings, he used the giant letters from W W MAC CO to make the name MACCO and advertise the new name.
These stores gave the opportunity for many young people to work and begin their business careers.
Mr. Baker owned all three stores until the disastrous downtown fire in 1989 that destroyed Baker’s 5 & 10, MACCO, Phillips Department Store and A & B Appliance store. It also damaged Jane Ann Casuals causing it to be closed.
The properties were later sold to the City of Haines City to be included in the new city complex on Sixth Street.
Cecil Baker was born in Winter Haven on March 19, 1923. He was a lifelong resident in Winter Haven and attended Rollins College. He served in the US Navy during WWII.
He opened Baker’s 5 & 10 first then began acquiring the other two stores and a variety of other properties in Haines City, Winter Haven and Lake Alfred.
He and his wife Helen had three children Stephen, Robin and Jane Ann. Sadly he passed away on February 25, 2018.
We are happy that we could bring you this part of Haines City’s history.

05/18/2026

DID YOU KNOW WHERE THE JAEGER RESTAURANT WAS LOCATED?
It was located in the first building on Ingraham Avenue.
Ernest Wilheim Jaeger was born on May 5, 1880 in Ludeck, Germany. He was married to Wanda Mosicki Jaeger from Poland. Their children were Fred and Henry born in Germany, Edith and Olga born in Canada and Alma and Ernest, Jr. born in Haines City.
With WWI looming in Germany, they fled to Canada in 1906. Wanting a warmer climate, they moved to Montana and finally came to sunny Florida in Haines City in 1920.
They rented a two story building near Polk Canning Company, living upstairs and having a small restaurant on the ground floor. They quickly outgrew the restaurant and opened one on the site where the Van Buren Hotel would be built. Again, they outgrew the place and leased a building to open a large modern restaurant in the first building on Ingraham Avenue.
The triangle shaped building was brick construction with 2,700 square feet. It had a large restaurant area and a small office at the tip end of the triangle. It was an excellent location where Sixth Street ended and the beginning of Ingraham Avenue began. It was directly across from the Railroad Park and Depot.
The restaurant was well known throughout Central Florida serving locals and the many patrons from the railroad business. Ernest was known to everyone as “Papa” and Wanda was known as “Mama”. The restaurant specialized in broiled squab on toast!
The Jaeger family were pillars in the community and active in civic affairs. All the family helped out in the restaurant. Papa Jaeger passed away in 1933 and the restaurant continued until 1942, when the sons went off to war. Mama Jaeger passed in 1954.
The building was leased by Ronald Fuller for Fuller Electric for several years, then Seaton Hodges leased the building for a Western Auto store. The small office space later became a fresh fish market where locals could purchase all kinds of fresh fish.
The property was originally owned by W. C. and Alta Lockhart, then sold to W. T. and Ruth Brooks in 1925. It has changed hands several times and even sold for a Tax Deed. The property finally became The Liquor Up bar and lounge and is currently owned by Alan R. Gomez since 2009.
We would like to thank the Jaeger Family, Ronald Fuller, Seaton Hodges Family and all the owners of the property for being a part of Haines City’s history.
We hope you enjoy the history of this historic Haines City building.

Haines City Historical Museum

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category