The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-04-01
l. E T T E r S
FROM THE PUBLIC
ObIinger WrifeS
From Florida
Avon Park, Florida,
March Is, 1926

Avon Park, Florida, -
March IS, 1926
Dear Mr.. Cooper:
There has been so much said for
and against Florida, it is beyond my
poor vocabulary to say anything
new. My first hand impression as
an outsider may interest you folks
at home.
In the beginning | would just like
10 say that l wish you all might be
down here with me today, the sea-
son now is delightful; it recalls Wv
idly James Whitcomb Riley's line
whats so rare as day in June"
The orange groves are all in bloom,
fragrant white blossoms clustered
in emerald green leaves, scarlet
poinsettas nod gany in every door
ward and barefoot boys along the
highways make the welkin ring with
calls of Strawberries, ripe strawber-
riesl" they are selling, by the way,
at Csc. a quart and are delicious.
Avon Park. where | am living, is
| in the center of the Scenic Highlands
of Florida. This section is some
times referred TO as Florida's back
bone, being a narrow ridge section
about so miles long and to miles
wide. | have not been in other
| sections much, but the climate here
| is ideal, sometimes described as
"Eouahlen warm In the
winter and cool in the summer. The
natives here tell US they do not have
mosauitoes-this remains, however,
\ to be seen.
In this small city of Avon Park,
covering an area of six miles square,
there are 25 lakes, all crystal clear
and sparkling, which have lovely,
sandy beaches and afford fine swim
ming, fishing and boating.
The founder, o. NJ. Crosby, who
came here in 81, called these lovely
lakes mainly after Shakespeare
characters, and the town itself for
Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-
on-Avon, in England. The frost of
'95 seriously affected the entire sec
ton and practically wiped out Mr..
Crosby's township of 500, which he
had established. 1t was not until
last wear that the town had any
real growth. The building of the
Seaboard Air Line and the continue
alton of the Atlantic Coast Line
started its real development. Today
it has population of about 5000.
The growth of these Florida cities
is almost like magic-yesterday a
cross-road, today town and tomor-
row city.
The boom aspect is rapidly pass
ing. Developers realize there has
l.. nd
enough development. l might say
that the Peninsular State has just
now begun to take on permanent
aspect, farm sections all over are
developing and people are coming to
work rather than to play. There
are so many reasons for this, If
tried to tell you all of them you
would think this a sales letter ra--
Their than just bit of news as
intended it to be.
| | was in st. Petersburg this week,
that is about 100 miles from here
To go there one crosses the Candy
Bridge and Boulevard This is q
concrete bridge six miles long ex-
tending across Tampa Bay. Tampa
is an Industrial city emerging from
smoky chaos to architectural splen-
| dor. st. Petersburg has miles OF
water front on Tampa Bay and the
Gulf. 1t has grown from town
of 5000 people in the last years to
about $4,000.
| might say to those who have
read of the cost of living in Florida
that it is very comparable witt
other sections. Conditions here are
much the same as other towns ant
cities. Living accommodations are
somewhat crowded, and the crowd:
are increasing daily, but this is be.
ing relieved owing to the lifting a
the building embargo; shipments o.
lumber and materials are coming il
and the building program is encr
nous.
do not want to tire you at this
time, as l hope to write you Other
letters of this section, and shall bt
glad to answer any inquiries any o.
you wish to make about Florida.
am so glad to say that m,
uncle, Clinton B. Oblinger, is i'm
proving daily and hopes to return
home about April 18th. When yoJ
see him you can readily see why We
all like this climate so well.
Sincerely yours,
CLINTON 0BLINGER