Middletown transcript., 1893-04-15

| near the c0cOanutS, INSCRIBED tne laIi0u
and longitude over his front door, when
was ever hospitable door, and lived long
| to enjoy the climate. This sailor man
sleeps now under the cocoanuts, but MS
widow still lives in the house and owns
goodly and valuable slice of the original
homestead.
A little later a few others came here In
search of climate and land and entered
homesteads or bought lands of the state at
about dollar an acre. This seemed high
in those DAYS, but the climate was good,
and early settlers felt that they had to have
it.
Then the fame of the climate went
abroad and, and more came and saw ana
were caught by the indescibable.charm OF
this wondrous Lake, which the Seminoies
believed to be enchanted.
These pioneers were about seventy miles
from a postofice and more than hundred
from doctor, and they had to get there, if
they got there at all, by means Of sail
boat Sometimes they were so long gone
after barrel of -four that they ate most OF
IL
much else to eat but fish. But they were
always long on fish-fish and climate
When they tired of fish they had climate,
and when climate seemed to get monoto-
nous, they went back to fish.
Things went on slowly at Lake Worth
for time, but the pioneers were not at all
idle. They gathered seeds of tropical fruits
from Key West and other quarters and did
all they could to show the future visitor
what this soil and climate would produce.
lot of cocoanuts foated ashore from a
wrecked ship and were gathered up and
planted, others were brought from the Keys,
and very soon the thousands of beautiful
palms that now add so much to the charm
of Lake Worth, were growing with their
tropical vigor for several miles along the
lake hammock. Oranges, lemons, lines,
guavas, tamaripds, avocado pears, man.
goes, sapodilloes, sugar apples, maumee ap-
pies, and other tropical fruit trees also
sprang up from the seeds planted by
the pioneers, and the results of their labors
are here to-day to prove to all the country
Worth is place where freezes come not
andfrosts neither blight nor kill.
During January Of 1886, there occurred
in Florida the most disastrous freeze " in
the history of the State. Thousands of
orange trees were killed to the ground, and
far down inland in South Florida and on
the West Coast tropical growth of many
years standi 6 was swept away in single
night. Former frost lines" we're obliter-
ated and many declared that there was no
tropical spot in Florida
A few weeks after that great freeze
party of Northern men were fishing on the
Indian River, among the number Mr.. Z. r.
Mccormick, when sail boat from Jupiter,
laden with bananas, eggplants. tomatoes,
lettuce and beans put in at the dock. On
making inquiry MIR. Mccormick learned
that these tender things had been grown on
Lake Worth, and at once decided that he
wanted to see region that could produce
tender fruits and vegetables during such
freezing weather as had prevailed in other
parts of the State. Mr. Mccormick, like
all successful men, acts quickly, and cha'-
tering a sail boat the next morning was
soon at Jupiter. Then walking, or coming
in the stage, which was worse than walking
to the head of the Lake, and taking another
sailing craft was that evening at ''Dimick's, 81
then a hotel of very limited capacity.
Walking up to the site of the now beautiful
property he has just sold to Mr.. Flagler, to
be part of the grounds of Lake Worth's
great hotel, he saw no frozen trees or plants
but groves of tall, shapely cocoanuts, wav-
ing their plumes in the gentle breeze, sapa-
dillo trees and tamarinds in full fruit, man.
goes in bloom and avocado pears and sugar
apples putting forth new growth. Evi-
IDENTIFY the fingers of the great "norther"
had touched but gently here, if at all The
prospect pleased Mr.. Mccormick. He paid
Mr.. Geer his price for the property and soon
began to create what is now generally ac-
knowledged to be the most beautiful home
in South Florida-a home that has become
famous beyond the seas.
Other Nor thern people followed Mr..
Mccormick, buying homes notably, the
Bartons, father and son, at Palm Beach,
and MIR. G.. 1. Cragin, Of Philadelphia. who
has made beautiful grounds north of the
Lake Worth Hotel. Property advanced to
$3.50 per acre for Lake and ocean fronts and
people said it was too high, and that such
prices could not stand. A little later they
had to pay 5000 per acre, if they wanted, tor
they waited to buy it cheaper next winter
| and had to pay $3.50 or more. And so on
down to the beginning of the present year,
when choice Lake and ocean fronts were
selling at $3.50 to $3.50 per acre.
In the meantime steamboats, had been
put on the Indian river between Titusville
latter place with the head of the Lake, and
good swift steamer had come on the
Lake, giving this region fairly comfortable
but rather slow communication with the
North. The hotel accommodations
had been increased at both Palm
Beach and Lake Worth, but could
not keep pace with the influx of winter
visitors. During the present season many
have had to occupy tents, put up by the
hotel and boarding house people, and have
found such accommodations, after trial,
so healthful and pleasant in this glorious
climate, as to prefer them to any other
Early experiments with the pineapple
having proved very successful, especially
on the West side, a large acreage was put in
that fruit last summer, and many pretty
houses were built on both the East and
West sides. Mr.. Flag er annouaced his
intention of building his railroad down the
East Coast; the county road was made
from the foot of the lake to Bay Biscayne
and stage line put on the route; daily
mail, which is not as daily as it should be,
was established; the telegraph was extended
to Palm Beach, and with the grandest
, winter climate under the sun and the most
beautiful and extensive tropical growth in
the United States, Dade County in general
, and Lake Worth in particular, entered the
New Year in the position to rapidly ap.