Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-07-20
A TRIP FROM JACKSON
WILLIE TO APOPKA AND
RETURN
(BY Mary |. Ramon


toned that | would like so much to
visit my daughters in Daytona and
Apopka. Ny friend said we will go
to Daytona some day We set the day
and wrote 20 Apopka for my daugh-
tiers and family to meet us in ,Daytona.
The trip to Daytona was fine, the
day was beautiful and we saw much
beauty on The way. We stopped to
gather water lilies Before we reached
BunnelI, small village on this road
the sand was very deep each side OF
the narrow brick track before and at
ter reaching Bunnell.
Beautiful scenery met us on every
side, the bard wood was good for our
eyes and he magnolia and Jay tree,
covered with lovely bloom mingled
with many beautiful lvines made us
wish for the camera we had forgotten.
Reaching the road along the Halifax
River, the scenery was beautiful, Or
mond Bay over the river like pic
ture just rising out of the ocean. The
large hotel showed up splendidly. The
winter homes of rich people from the
North nearly made us wish we were
rich but then we thought that we prob
ably enjoyed what we saw of their
homes nearly as much as the owners
did
Driving up the main street of Day
iona, we were delighted with the beau
t'fu buildings and the many happy
| faces we saw, After dinner we all drove
over the long toll bridge to the ocean
beach which is grand, the finest beach
believe along the eastern coast OF
The U. S. After riding several mile -,
Oil the beach we PARK I'll and daughter
and Mrs. Hooten'c c!':,dten enjoyed A
dip III tif surf. " c are going btch
some day for our d y RE tide c -nin :.
III, we rned away aud Grove Fl nr.l
the little burg on the ocean side and
along the Halifax river. The homes
built in Spanish style were very at
tractive. We drove through the base
ment of the largest hotel-dont that
sound queer? The next morning we
drove on. One thing | noticed in
particular at each place of importance
was large sign which told us we were
welcome. Why doesn't Fitzgerald do
chat? No we are not kicking but it
made us feel rather important, you
see and Fitzgerald being on the Dixie
Highway should take notice, so we
hope to see something of the kind there
as we return from our wanderings in
the land OF flowers. eW passed through
Deland and as the Baptist Assembly
was in session there were lots of peo-
pie arond the fine college buildings.
Passing on we saw many lovely
homes and thees surrounded by beauti-
ful flowers and trees. At Sanford
they were preparing the ground for
celery. | was told that celery raised
here is fully as good as the noted eel
cry of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Just as we were entering Winter
Park we struck a piece of road the
convicts were repairing but it was
short. This little place is beautiful.
A. one house the columns were built OF
couch shells filled in with plaster, it
looked very artistic. The small lakes
all throughthis part of the state are
lovely and said to be reeming with
fish.
About noon we reached the beautI
full town of Orlando but turned and
went on Is miles to the town of Apop-
ka. This is said to be the second old
est town in Florida, was once a good
sized town and the business city OF
this region. Severald old houses still
stand, though i'll tumbled condition
The old graveyard contains stones
over 200 years old. Old oaks from
which hang moss streamers twenty
feet or more are still alive in many
places along the streets Apopka is on
a quiet high hammock four and hall
miles from Wekiva Springs. 1t is a
lovely spot, many picnics being held
there where once the red man held his
pow vows. Deer are still to be found
in this region, sometimes a species OF
panther also. We spent the after
noon visiting here with my daughter
and family. Toward supper time we
drove up to the business part and il
was fine, then to another lake but the
rain warned us to turn homeward, SO
we didn't get to see the large ferneries
where are raised great quantities OF
ferns 20 be shipped to all parts of the
country, but at nearly every home we
passed we saw ferns.
Lake Apopka is the second largest
lake in Florida That evening there
was a heavy thunder storm, the rain
Just poured down. Alter tucking all
away for the night | sat down for a
visit with my children. Early the neNt.
morning we were stirring as we were
going to lovely Orlando to look the
place over before returning to Dayto-
ma. We drove through the principal
streets, then around Lake Lucerne
: where graceful swans glided around
! and 1t was amusing to see them dive