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Historic Plaques

Originally posted on this Polk County FLGenWeb site on or by 8 Aug 2001.

The Carousel
Hwy 17/92
Auburndale This 45 foot carousel was built in 1909 by the Mangels Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has 44 hand carved animals from the factory of Looff, Carmel, Stien and Goldstein, and features a 1923 Wurlitzer Band Organ. The carousel was purchased by Alfred and Nettie Winterstein in 1915 and installed at Harveys Lake Pennsylvania. It operated with steam until 1930 when coverted to electricity. In 1935 the ownership was passed on to the daughter Geneviere Winterstein Fisk. She operated the carousel without interuption until 1963, when she sold the carousel to her nephew, the late Robert d. and Mary Ann Winterstein. When Harveys Lake Amusement Park closed in 1984, Mary Ann and son, Robert, disassembled and stored the machine until 1987, at which time, they graciously leased the carousel to Old Town.

In 1996, the carousel was dismantled and moved to Auburndale, Florida where it was restored. Mary Ann and her son, Robert leased the carousel to Market World where it re-opened in September of 1997. The carousel now continues to bring smiles and enjoyment to everyone at its new location.

Bok Tower Gardens
Iron Mountain
(Lake Wales) #1 Edward Bok, born October 9, 1863 at Den Helden, the Netherlands, died within sight of this tower January 9, 1930. At his request, his family placed his grave in the lawn in front of the great brass door. Coming to the United States as a poor immigrant boy of 6, he achieved success as a writer and editor. Later in life he created the sanctuary as a place of repose for the human spirit, built the tower with the great carillon as its central accent and presented them to the American people for visitation as his thanks for the success they had given him.

Bok Tower Gardens
Iron Mountain
(Lake Wales) #1 This sanctuary of approximately fifty acres with its plantings of native vegetation of Florida was the conception of Edward William Bok ~ It was designed and executed during 1924-1928 by Frederick Law Oemsted ~ Its purpose is to provide a retreat of repose and natural beauty for the human - a refuse for the bird - and a place for the student of southern plant and bird life.

The summit upon which this resting place stands is about 324 feet above sea level - it is the highest point of land yet measured in the peninsular Florida by the government of the United States. It is also the highest land within sixty miles of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico between Washington and the Rio Grande.

SITE OF FORT BLOUNT
NW corner of Main
Streetand Floral Ave,
Bartow Established 1853 and used as a place of refuge for the settlers of this community During the Seminole Indian War 1855-1958. Name changed to Bartow 1867. In honor of Confederate General Francis S. Bartow. Erected by Bartow Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution 1947

OLD INDIAN TRAILS, 1837
FORT GARDNER
West Side of intersection
of US 27A & Burns Avenue
Lake Wales On Kissimmee River sixteen miles northeast of Lake Wales government trail leading to Fort crosses highway between Gum Lakes, Lake Rosalee, where Seminole Indians stopped before moving to everglades, is near this trail. Erected by Lake Wales Chapter, D.A.R. Polk County, Florida 1935

FORT CARROLL
Corner of Hwy 60 &
Peace Creek Road
East of Bartow One mile north of here, a stockade type depot was erected by a detail of the 7th Infantry, U.S.A. while on a march to the Kissimmee River. Built Jan. 22, 1841. It was named in honor of Sergeant-Major Francis Carroll who suffered a hero's death at the hand of Indians near Micanopy.

FORT FRASER
U.S. Hwy 98, 1/2 mile S.
of S.R. 540A
Lakeland In this immediate vicinity was the site of Fort Fraser. Established by General Zachary Taylor November, 1837 on his march against the Seminoles culminating in the Battle of Okeechobee. Erected by the Fourth Infantry and garrisoned by the Second Artillery and the First Infantry, U.S.A. & Florida Volunteers.

SITE OF FORT MEADE
NE Third Street
Ft. Meade Built by Lt. George G. Meade who later became commanding general of the Union Forces during the Civil War. Headquarters of a military area during the Seminole Indian War 1849-1858. Near here were fought several engagements with the hostiles. Garrisoned by U.S. Army and Florida Mounted Volunteer troops.

SITE OF FORT CLINCH
S.R. 630, 1 1/2 miles west
of US 27A One of a chain of Seminole Indian War forts 1849-1858. Several men served at this post who later gained prominence in the Civil War. Among these were Generals George G. Meade, A.P. Hill and "Stonewall" Jackson. Garrisoned by 1st. Art., 7th Inf, U.S. Army and Florida Mounted Volunteers

Indian Burial Mound
Wall Street
Frostproof In the seventeenth century under Spanish rule Indians buried their dead here. Glass beads and silver ornaments found on an Indian skeleton identify the mound as pre-seminole. Placed by Lake Wales Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution October 10, 1955

Former Masterpiece Gardens
3 miles N of Lake Wales HISTORIC SITE TALLAHASSEE VILLAGE

On Lake Pierce is the site of the Seminole Indian village of Chief Tallahassee who succeeded chief Chipco, leader of Creek Seminoles. Chief Chipco is buried nearby. The village was abandoned about 1896. Dedicated 1956. The Daughters of the American Revolution Lake Wales Chapter, Lake Wales, Florida. Ponce De Leon Chapter, Winter Haven, Florida.

IN MEMORY OF CHIEF CHIPCO
Hwy 27
Lake Hamilton Lover of peace, friend of the white man. His Seminole Indian village was located on Bonar's Island in Lake Hamilton 1855. Dedicated by Ponce de Leon chapter Daughters of The American Revolution Winter Haven, Florida, 1957

Fort Cummings
Corner of Highway 17/92 &
Pierce Street
Lake Alfred Approximately 1 1/2 miles west of here near the shore of Lake Alfred is the site of Fort Cummings named for Colonel Alexander Cummings of the fourth infantry established January 22, 1839 and occupied by detachments of the First and Second Infantry and the Third Artillery. Part of the line of forts setup in Central Florida to protect the route from Fort Brooke, Tampa to Fort Mellon, Sanford. One of the dramatic events of the year occurred here when Coacoochee or Wildcat appeared at the Fort attired in the full regalia of a member of a Shakespearian cast. The year before, in 1840 Wildcat and his band attacked a theatrical group between Picolata and St. Augustine and after killing the men of the party escaped with the costumes belonging to the troupe. These, he and his band wore as they approached the Fort and created quite an effect on the spectators. Erected by the Polk County Historical Commission

Acton Community
U.S. Highway 92
1 1/2 miles west of S.R. 33A In 1884, a group of English men established Acton, named after English author Lord Acton, two miles east of Lakeland. Acton lasted from 1884 until 1894 when its residents scattered after the great freeze. During its decade of existence the town had about 200 people, a hotel, sawmill, stores and a church. Its atmosphere, dress and custom were typically English. Polo, fox hunting and cricket were a part of the village's daily life.

Polk County Courthouse
Bartow They left Bartow on March 8, 1862 and marched thru the woods to Gainsville to be mustered in as Company E., 7th Florida Regiment. They subscribed to the same conviction that President Jefferson Davis expressed to the CS Congress and the world:

"WE SEEK NO CONQUEST - ALL WE ASK IS TO BE LEFT ALONE."

N.S. Blount, Captain
J.W. Whidden, First Lieutenant
Z. Seward, Second Lieutenant
Hamp Johnson, First Sergeant
William Gay

Luke Altman/ J. J. Blount/ O.R. Blount/ Dave Brandon/Rig Brown/ William Brown/ Daniel Brown/ A. J. Bullock/ William Cathcart/ Wilson Cook/ L. W. Cornelius(o)/ Reuben Carlton/ Wright Carlton/ Daniel Crum/ Edmund Davis/ James Davis/ Henry Driggers/ Raford Durrance/ Jack Ellis/ Daniel Ferguson/James Fletcher/ James Gaskins/ William Guy/ Martin Hancock/ Sam Hancock/ Albert Hendry/ J.M. Hendry/ J. W. Hendry/ William Hendry/ D.T. Henry/ Henry Hill/ William Hillard/Stephen Hull/ William Hooker(x)/ Stephen Hooker/ William Jackson/ Sol Johnson/ Daniel Jordan/ A.J. Keen/ Jim Keen/ Robert McAuley/ Will McAuley/ Joe McClelland/ Mac McClelland/ Si McClelland/ William McClelland/ Put Marsh/ John O'Neal/ David Pat/ Vick Patrick/ T. C. Pearce/ Jim Pitts/ John Pollard/ Alex Rimer/ W.P. Rogers(x)/ Albert Seward(x)/ Felix Seward/ Jim Seward/ Wash Sheppard/ William Sheppard/ Jim Smith(x)/ Simon Turman(x)/ John Underhill/ Joe Varn(o)/ W.B. Varn/ Jim Williams/ John Williams/ Lew Williams/ Nath Williams/ Daniel Waldron/ Cary Weeks/ Max Whidden/ George Woodard(x)

(x) - Killed
(o) - Missing after battle

The Carousel Hwy 17/92 Auburndale	This 45 foot carousel was built in 1909 by the Mangels Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has 44 hand carved animals from the factory of Looff, Carmel, Stien and Goldstein, and features a 1923 Wurlitzer Band Organ. The carousel was purchased by Alfred and Nettie Winterstein in 1915 and installed at Harveys Lake Pennsylvania. It operated with steam until 1930 when coverted to electricity. In 1935 the ownership was passed on to the daughter Geneviere Winterstein Fisk. She operated the carousel without interuption until 1963, when she sold the carousel to her nephew, the late Robert d. and Mary Ann Winterstein. When Harveys Lake Amusement Park closed in 1984, Mary Ann and son, Robert, disassembled and stored the machine until 1987, at which time, they graciously leased the carousel to Old Town. In 1996, the carousel was dismantled and moved to Auburndale, Florida where it was restored. Mary Ann and her son, Robert leased the carousel to Market World where it re-opened in September of 1997. The carousel now continues to bring smiles and enjoyment to everyone at its new location.
Bok Tower Gardens Iron Mountain (Lake Wales) #1	Edward Bok, born October 9, 1863 at Den Helden, the Netherlands, died within sight of this tower January 9, 1930. At his request, his family placed his grave in the lawn in front of the great brass door. Coming to the United States as a poor immigrant boy of 6, he achieved success as a writer and editor. Later in life he created the sanctuary as a place of repose for the human spirit, built the tower with the great carillon as its central accent and presented them to the American people for visitation as his thanks for the success they had given him.
Bok Tower Gardens Iron Mountain (Lake Wales) #1	This sanctuary of approximately fifty acres with its plantings of native vegetation of Florida was the conception of Edward William Bok ~ It was designed and executed during 1924-1928 by Frederick Law Oemsted ~ Its purpose is to provide a retreat of repose and natural beauty for the human - a refuse for the bird - and a place for the student of southern plant and bird life. The summit upon which this resting place stands is about 324 feet above sea level - it is the highest point of land yet measured in the peninsular Florida by the government of the United States. It is also the highest land within sixty miles of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico between Washington and the Rio Grande.
SITE OF FORT BLOUNT NW corner of Main Streetand Floral Ave, Bartow	Established 1853 and used as a place of refuge for the settlers of this community During the Seminole Indian War 1855-1958. Name changed to Bartow 1867. In honor of Confederate General Francis S. Bartow. Erected by Bartow Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution 1947
OLD INDIAN TRAILS, 1837 FORT GARDNER West Side of intersection of US 27A & Burns Avenue Lake Wales	On Kissimmee River sixteen miles northeast of Lake Wales government trail leading to Fort crosses highway between Gum Lakes, Lake Rosalee, where Seminole Indians stopped before moving to everglades, is near this trail. Erected by Lake Wales Chapter, D.A.R. Polk County, Florida 1935
FORT CARROLL Corner of Hwy 60 & Peace Creek Road East of Bartow	One mile north of here, a stockade type depot was erected by a detail of the 7th Infantry, U.S.A. while on a march to the Kissimmee River. Built Jan. 22, 1841. It was named in honor of Sergeant-Major Francis Carroll who suffered a hero's death at the hand of Indians near Micanopy.
FORT FRASER U.S. Hwy 98, 1/2 mile S. of S.R. 540A Lakeland	In this immediate vicinity was the site of Fort Fraser. Established by General Zachary Taylor November, 1837 on his march against the Seminoles culminating in the Battle of Okeechobee. Erected by the Fourth Infantry and garrisoned by the Second Artillery and the First Infantry, U.S.A. & Florida Volunteers.
SITE OF FORT MEADE NE Third Street Ft. Meade	Built by Lt. George G. Meade who later became commanding general of the Union Forces during the Civil War. Headquarters of a military area during the Seminole Indian War 1849-1858. Near here were fought several engagements with the hostiles. Garrisoned by U.S. Army and Florida Mounted Volunteer troops.
SITE OF FORT CLINCH S.R. 630, 1 1/2 miles west of US 27A	One of a chain of Seminole Indian War forts 1849-1858. Several men served at this post who later gained prominence in the Civil War. Among these were Generals George G. Meade, A.P. Hill and "Stonewall" Jackson. Garrisoned by 1st. Art., 7th Inf, U.S. Army and Florida Mounted Volunteers
Indian Burial Mound Wall Street Frostproof	In the seventeenth century under Spanish rule Indians buried their dead here. Glass beads and silver ornaments found on an Indian skeleton identify the mound as pre-seminole. Placed by Lake Wales Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution October 10, 1955
Former Masterpiece Gardens 3 miles N of Lake Wales	HISTORIC SITE TALLAHASSEE VILLAGE On Lake Pierce is the site of the Seminole Indian village of Chief Tallahassee who succeeded chief Chipco, leader of Creek Seminoles. Chief Chipco is buried nearby. The village was abandoned about 1896. Dedicated 1956. The Daughters of the American Revolution Lake Wales Chapter, Lake Wales, Florida. Ponce De Leon Chapter, Winter Haven, Florida.
IN MEMORY OF CHIEF CHIPCO Hwy 27 Lake Hamilton	Lover of peace, friend of the white man. His Seminole Indian village was located on Bonar's Island in Lake Hamilton 1855. Dedicated by Ponce de Leon chapter Daughters of The American Revolution Winter Haven, Florida, 1957
Fort Cummings Corner of Highway 17/92 & Pierce Street Lake Alfred	Approximately 1 1/2 miles west of here near the shore of Lake Alfred is the site of Fort Cummings named for Colonel Alexander Cummings of the fourth infantry established January 22, 1839 and occupied by detachments of the First and Second Infantry and the Third Artillery. Part of the line of forts setup in Central Florida to protect the route from Fort Brooke, Tampa to Fort Mellon, Sanford. One of the dramatic events of the year occurred here when Coacoochee or Wildcat appeared at the Fort attired in the full regalia of a member of a Shakespearian cast. The year before, in 1840 Wildcat and his band attacked a theatrical group between Picolata and St. Augustine and after killing the men of the party escaped with the costumes belonging to the troupe. These, he and his band wore as they approached the Fort and created quite an effect on the spectators. Erected by the Polk County Historical Commission
Acton Community U.S. Highway 92 1 1/2 miles west of S.R. 33A	In 1884, a group of English men established Acton, named after English author Lord Acton, two miles east of Lakeland. Acton lasted from 1884 until 1894 when its residents scattered after the great freeze. During its decade of existence the town had about 200 people, a hotel, sawmill, stores and a church. Its atmosphere, dress and custom were typically English. Polo, fox hunting and cricket were a part of the village's daily life.
Polk County Courthouse Bartow	They left Bartow on March 8, 1862 and marched thru the woods to Gainsville to be mustered in as Company E., 7th Florida Regiment. They subscribed to the same conviction that President Jefferson Davis expressed to the CS Congress and the world: "WE SEEK NO CONQUEST - ALL WE ASK IS TO BE LEFT ALONE." N.S. Blount, Captain J.W. Whidden, First Lieutenant Z. Seward, Second Lieutenant Hamp Johnson, First Sergeant William Gay Luke Altman/ J. J. Blount/ O.R. Blount/ Dave Brandon/Rig Brown/ William Brown/ Daniel Brown/ A. J. Bullock/ William Cathcart/ Wilson Cook/ L. W. Cornelius(o)/ Reuben Carlton/ Wright Carlton/ Daniel Crum/ Edmund Davis/ James Davis/ Henry Driggers/ Raford Durrance/ Jack Ellis/ Daniel Ferguson/James Fletcher/ James Gaskins/ William Guy/ Martin Hancock/ Sam Hancock/ Albert Hendry/ J.M. Hendry/ J. W. Hendry/ William Hendry/ D.T. Henry/ Henry Hill/ William Hillard/Stephen Hull/ William Hooker(x)/ Stephen Hooker/ William Jackson/ Sol Johnson/ Daniel Jordan/ A.J. Keen/ Jim Keen/ Robert McAuley/ Will McAuley/ Joe McClelland/ Mac McClelland/ Si McClelland/ William McClelland/ Put Marsh/ John O'Neal/ David Pat/ Vick Patrick/ T. C. Pearce/ Jim Pitts/ John Pollard/ Alex Rimer/ W.P. Rogers(x)/ Albert Seward(x)/ Felix Seward/ Jim Seward/ Wash Sheppard/ William Sheppard/ Jim Smith(x)/ Simon Turman(x)/ John Underhill/ Joe Varn(o)/ W.B. Varn/ Jim Williams/ John Williams/ Lew Williams/ Nath Williams/ Daniel Waldron/ Cary Weeks/ Max Whidden/ George Woodard(x) (x) - Killed (o) - Missing after battle