Lake Alfred Historical Society, Inc.

05/28/2026

In the December 3, 1926 issue of The Lake Alfred Journal, the city announced a big step toward “modern” law enforcement: Lake Alfred was getting its very first motorcycle police officer. Dick Whittington was appointed to the job, and according to the paper, the timing couldn’t have been better.

It’s a fun reminder that even in the 1920s, Lake Alfred was already adapting to the pace of a changing world.

05/20/2026

On September 13, 1925, The Tampa Tribune celebrated the completion of the Chamberlain Building at the corner of Haines Boulevard and Lake Shore Way, calling it “one of the finest business blocks in a city of its size.”

Nearly a century later, this proud piece of Lake Alfred’s downtown history still stands, now home to Biggar Antiques and several other local businesses. It’s a living reminder of the city’s early growth and the enduring craftsmanship that shaped its commercial heart.

Photo in comments.

05/15/2026

A glimpse into Lake Alfred’s business community in 1919! These advertisements from the November 16, 1919 edition of The Tampa Tribune feature some of the town’s early enterprises, including Mr. Pickett’s garage, Mr. Rourke’s grocery store, and Mr. Boley’s real estate office.

These small ads provide a fascinating snapshot of daily life and commerce in Lake Alfred more than a century ago, during a period when the town was continuing to grow.

05/14/2026

Standing With Eagle Lake’s Historians: Save the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse
Historic places matter, not just for the stories they hold, but for the way they anchor a community’s identity. Our friends in Eagle Lake are working tirelessly to protect one of their most meaningful landmarks: the Linda E. Weldon Activity Center, lovingly known as the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse.

This 1920s-era building has served generations of Eagle Lake families, students, and community groups. Now, it’s scheduled for demolition. Local historians and residents are asking the city to reconsider and to restore this irreplaceable structure instead of tearing it down.

They’ve launched a petition to show how many people value this piece of Eagle Lake’s heritage. If you believe in preserving the buildings that tell our shared Polk County story, please consider adding your name:

👉 Petition to Preserve the Linda E. Weldon Activity Center
https://www.change.org/p/preserve-and-restore-the-linda-e-weldon-activity-center?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=mobileNativeShare&utm_campaign=share_petition&recruited_by_id=7628dfd0-4f0f-11f1-b1fb-f7646ad60829&share_id=7kLpVhCgyK

Supporting one another’s preservation efforts strengthens all of us — Lake Alfred, Eagle Lake, and every community working to protect its history.

Preserve and restore the Linda E Weldon Activity Center

05/13/2026

In the early 1900s, Florida newspapers served as the community’s social ledger, recording everyday movements of residents and winter visitors. One such social note appeared in the Tampa Tribune in December 1917, noting that Alexander Mackay had arrived in Lake Alfred to spend the winter in his newly completed home, finished only a month earlier. To the editors of the time, this was news worth printing: a Scottish landowner returning to his citrus property, a new winter residence occupied for the first season, and another sign of the region’s growing appeal to seasonal residents.

05/11/2026

Before title insurance and digital records, every piece of land had its own abstract of title — a hand‑compiled book that traced every deed, mortgage, lien, easement, and legal action connected to a property. These books were created by attorneys and abstract companies, often beginning with the original land patent and continuing through each owner across the decades. They were the official story of the land. If you have one tucked away in a drawer or attic, you truly have something special.

05/06/2026

A glimpse into Lake Alfred’s growth during the 1920s comes from a Tampa Tribune article published on September 14, 1924. The piece reported a wave of new home construction across the community, including six Spanish‑style bungalows planned along the shores of Lake Echo. It also highlighted the building of a residence for Mr. A. W. Brian on Juanita Avenue, a street we believe corresponds to what we now call Pennsylvania Avenue.

Nearly a century later, these early building projects help us trace how Lake Alfred’s neighborhoods took shape during the land‑boom era, when new architectural styles and lakefront development began defining the town’s character.

04/30/2026

A wonderful find for Lake Alfred history lovers. Thanks to Michael Perry for uncovering this photo of D. C. Coney at his home on Glencruiten Avenue, a house that still stands today. The Coney family, originally from Ohio, spent their winters here and owned citrus groves in the area. County deed records show Coney bought the property in 1920, and a newspaper article later reported the house was built in 1925. It’s always special when a historic home survives to remind us of the families who helped shape our community.

04/27/2026

A look back at early Lake Alfred history - this is the home built for F. W. Froemke, who arrived here around 1911 after spending his early years in North Dakota. Born in Wisconsin, Froemke became part of the region’s early agricultural development, and by the time of his death in 1917 he was serving as Vice‑President of the Florida Fruitlands Company. The house stood on Rochelle Avenue, on property adjacent to the Gardner land, and although it was torn down around 1970, this photo preserves a rare glimpse into the era when Lake Alfred was just beginning to take shape.

04/24/2026

This fascinating image captures a portion of a 1917 map of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, highlighting the Lake Alfred section of the Bartow Branch. You can see the railroad track running parallel to Lake Shore Way.

The full map is rich with historical detail, including early street names and a unique look at how the area was laid out over a century ago. It’s an incredible snapshot of local history and how transportation shaped the growth of our community.

Take a closer look and see what familiar places you can spot!