The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-26
Big DeveIc pment
Underway At
Leesburg

Jacksonville, Jan. 24.-Another
splendid golf course, another inviting
cluO house, many new and attractive
homes and hillsides covered with
great stretches of recently planted or
anse and grapefruit grives are in the
course OF development as the result
OIL the realization in Lake County of
the ideals of fur wealthy northern
men who devoted nearly two years to
their sarch for a location that would
combine the essentials for health,
pleasure, contentment and invest
ment
Inc club house, which is COM
pleted, is on the shortes Of Silver
Lake, a beautiful body of water living
close to Leesburg, between Lakes
Harris and Griffin. The eighteen.hole
soli course, which landscape archi-
tects say will be one of the finest in
the country, is being laid out under
the direction of well.known golf ex-
pert, Contracts for several houses
nave been let-two were recently fin
ished and now are occupied.
The property, which consists $500
acres, is known as Silver Lake Es-
lates, and is under development by
the Thomas Nurseries, Inc, of Tampa
and Chicago, of which Mr.. ]. B. Ran,
som, First National Bank Building,
Tampa, is vice president and resi-.
dent manager. The company has Sc.
cured contract with Buckeye Nurs-
cries, of Tampa, to plant and super
intend the citrus groves up to the
time of their maturity.
The story of Silver Lake Estates is
a romantic one. Four friends, an at
torney, a banker, an manufacturer
and a retired capitalist, living in a
large city in the North were discuss
ing the weather in their club at lunch
con on day such as the North has
been experiencing so many of this
winter when the thermometer was be-
low zero and snow banks were OBJ
structing the streets, found that they
were cherishing the same hope.
They were seeking an ideal place
Tor hons where the climate, modern
convenience, outdoor sports and rec
reation land congenial and pleasing
surroundings would give them a con-
venlent retreat to escape from bus.
mess cares and afford an all-year
home when they were ready to retire
from active life The value of the
home as an investment was also to
be considered, as they were all men
of families.
1t was agreed that the capitalists,
having more leisure, should search
for the location with this object in
view, and finally by a process of elm
nation narrowed search to Florida.
1t was some time before a final selec-
ton was made of the various attrac.
tives places in this State.
The plans of these successful men
to build homes in Florida becoming
known to their friends, many ex-
pressed of them desire to join them,
especially when they heard the story
of the search for an ideal location. To
crafty these friends and to have the
pleasure of congenial neighbors they
increased their purchase to $500
acres, This larger area also served
to protect them from undesirable en-
croachments.
How best to utilize the land with
out having too many neighbors or i'm
posing too heavy tax for mainte-
nance was a problem. A study of the
development around Leesburg con-
WINGED the pioneers in this colony
that orange and grapefruit groves
were very profitable investments. Ad-
joining their lands were some of the
finest groves in Lake county and af
ter consulting experts in citrus cul-
ture they were satisfied that no bet
ter use could be made of the land
than to develop it into groves.
Not desiring to be burdened with
the details of the enlargement of
their plans, the four friends selected
Mr.. Ransom's company to look after
the improvement of the property and
so Silver Lake Estates is being devel-
oped on a carefully worked out plan.
Combined with all the charm Of the
most delightful living conditions in
Florida, Silver Lake Estates offers an
attractive investment in
citrus groves. Only persons Of ap-
proved social and financial standing
can purchase one of these properties,
which include a building site on the