The Ocala banner., 1922-08-11
TusWawilla Park

/ uSWaWiiia Park
In the northern section of Ocala
along Tuscawilla street from the Wo
mans club corner stands the en-
trance to Tuscawilla park, Victory
Way, the clubs gift to the heroic men
and women of Marion county who
served their country in the great
world war, with oak trees and white
oleanders planted on both sides, as a
gateway to the beautiful ten acres
owned by the city and placed in the
hands of the WOman's club for park
purposes. 1t is maintained by a
monthly allowance from the city and
| by various entertainments also good
suggestions from our past president
Mrs. William Hooker
The soft, musical, Indian name OF
Tuscawilla was borrowed by the park
committee from the one time wife of
the great Seminole chief, Micanopy
! This Indian woman was famed for the
campfire influence and wOmaniy at
fractions she possessed.
With the word, Tuscawilla. to rep
resent the park as a whole is associ-
/ ated other Indian names making the
many trails and romantic hooks scat
tered beneath the wide spreading
moss-draped limbs of the majestic ash
and oak trees canopying the north
east section of this spot Osceola
Seminole and Indian Rocks, suggest
side wild willow bordered, floating
beds of water hyacinths, back to cool
hooks where one may linger and
dream of the early days in Florida
history and Indian legends
Many different varieties of flowers,
shrubs and trees have been planted
Some of which were sent by Con
gressman Clark from the Botanical
Gardens at Washington Others were
contributed by the people of Ocala
| The visitors will find the beautiful
orchid tree of South America, the
Judas dOgwood and magnolia of Flor
ida, palms, poinsettia, poincianas
crepe myrtles and various trailing
lantaras fringing the fern-capped
rocks and water-sprayed grotto.
No more beautiful spot is to be
found in the park than the Elizabeth
Maughs Grotto tableted in marble to
the enthusiastic promoter Of Tusca
villa park in its infancy
A spring in the western part of the
park flows into this grotto, the outlet
of which is unknown, but is perhaps
through a channel to Silver Springs
the most wonderful spring in the
states. Col. House and his neighbors
obtained their water supply in the
days of the early sixties from this
spring.
This adopted ten acres together
with the Victory Way was most fit
tingly dedicated during the year 1917
IS, with Mrs William T. Gary as
president. The park chairman ably
assisted by Mrs. Emily Green also
served the following years with Mrs
H. c. Dozier, Mrs. Walter Hood. and
this coming year will be with Mrs
Louis Duval
On a hill in the center OF the park
is the playground for amusements
The children have small and large
swings. merry-go-round. jogging
board. ETC. Benches are placed in diff
ferent parts handy for every one. The
city has provided lights so the public
may roam in the park and enjoy the
fresh air in the evenings. A pergola
was built this spring, a very nice
| shelter near the play ground. also a
long community table built under the
spreading oak trees, which IS in SER
vice every day by some little party
taking their evening lunch or picnic
ing for the day.
Tuscawilla park is rolling ground
and we believe will some day be the
most beautiful park Of its size in the
state.
MRS. F. G.. B. WEIHE,
Chairman Park Committee, Ocala Wo-
mans Club.
The above pretty description of
Tuscawilla park appeared in Sunday
| Times Union
Mr. Carlisle left last Friday for a