• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE POLK COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, ESTABLISHED 1974 POLK PROUD HISTORY EBRUARY 2017 NO. 1 THE CARPENTERS' HOME WHERE HISTORY WAS BUILT Polk County Board of County Commissioners UNDER THE George Lindsey, III Melony M. Bell, Chairman Bill Braswell DOME R. Todd Dantzler, Vice Chair John Hall nr^he collaboration between the Polk County Flistory Center and Polk Polk County History X County Historical Association is a valued partnership with the Polk Proud History publication as evidence of its success. By working together, Center the public is given more opportunities to experience and understand the 100 E. Main Street heritage of this county. As we enter this New Year, we set a goal to revive Bartow, FL 33830 this publication as a true quarterly with four issues in 2017, embracing the 863.534.4386 high standards of scholarship established in the first edition in 1974. www.polk-county.net/boccsite/Our- Community/History-Center/ Future publications will feature other cultural partners that assist in impacting the historical relevance of our community. One of these organi• STAFF zations, the Polk County Historical Commission, a volunteer board of nine Myrtice Young citizens, helps us to collect and preserve historical material related to the Historic Preservation Manager county. This commission also works to develop and establish reliable and Maria Trippe sustainable sources of public, private and enterprise funding to ensure the Jayme Jamison continued operation of the History Center. Additionally, the Historical Commission serves as an advisory commission to the Board of County LuAnn Mims Commissioners and the staff of the museum and library. Look for our next Lois Sherrouse-Murphy issue to feature a commemorative look at eighty years of service from this Dorinda Morrison-Garrard board. Polk County Historical Thank you for also partnering with us! Through your support, we are Association encouraged and excited to continue providing historic and heritage experi• ences. See you under the dome. DIRECTORS Myrtice Young, Preservation Manager, Polk County History Center David Brewer, President Richard A. Fifer, Vice President Roderick Hudnell, Treasurer 017 promises to be another exciting year for all of us who enjoy consid• ering the significance of current events and their relationship to history. Lois Sherrouse-Murphy, 2 Although the Polk County Historical Association's focus is, of course. Polk Secretary County, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to separate our county history Melvin Sellers, Past President from that of surrounding counties, as well as our state, nation and world. S.L. Frisbie, IV Our mission is to support the discovery, collection, analysis and retention C. Wayne Guest of the history of Imperial Polk County. Before we had a Museum, much John Keating less a History Center, those volunteers that have gone before us accom• Lyonal B. Lindsey, Jr. plished this mission by personally performing the tasks while working Sue Sellers with the local historical groups throughout the County. Donald Wilson Today we have our marvelous Polk County History Center which houses Myrtice Young both the long-time and well respected Genealogical Library as well as the growing Museum. Your Association supports the History Center by spon• DIRECTORS EMERITUS soring various projects that are suggested by the Museum's director and Edward Etheredge, MD staff. Your membership makes all of this possible and for that alone, you William Lloyd Harris deserve a very large "Thank You" from your Officers and Directors. Freddie Wright David Brewer, President, 2016-2017, Polk County Historical Association -2- THE CARPENTERS' HOME WHERE HISTORY WAS BUILT BY RICHARD A. FIFER n October 1928, Polk County had a population of a pension and a retirement home in April 1923, funded Iapproximately 70,000. Its largest town. Lakeland, had by a 10-cent increase in monthly union dues. A retiring only 18,000 residents. Yet, on the first day of that month, carpenter could choose either a pension or admittance to there was an assembly of national leaders in north the Carpenters' Home, provided he was at least 65 years Lakeland. They had come to attend the dedication old, a union member for at least 30 years, and in finan• ceremony of the new Home for Aged Members of the cial need. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of Ameri• The union soon decided to build the home in Florida, ca (UBCJA), the second largest trade union in the United because of the warm climate and the relatively cheap States. real estate. The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce was This retirement home for UBCJA members, better quick to react. Under the leadership of Thomas J. Apple- known as simply "the Carpenters' Home," was the out• yard Jr., manager of the Chamber, a campaign was come of thirty years of union debate on how to best started to entice the union to come to Lakeland. Apple- provide for older and disabled members. At the begin• yard, who had conceived the Lakeland Promenade ning of the Twentieth Century, most aged or disabled around Lake Mirror, enlisted the help of Jasper J. Halde- workers had no option to receive proper care, other than man, a prominent Lakeland realtor. Haldeman began from family members. Since very few employers pro• looking at potential sites in the Lakeland area for the vided pension plans, trade and labor unions began to union home. offer pension plans for their members. The first trade President Hutcheson, the union secretary, and the union union to do so was the International Typographical treasurer toured Florida in July 1923, briefly stopping in Union in 1908. Lakeland. During the stopover, Haldeman showed the A small number of the larger unions, including the UBC• men a possible site for the Home on the west side of JA, considered retirement homes in addition to pension Lake Gibson. Hutcheson was impressed with the beau• plans. The establishment of a retirement home, as well ty of the location, the proximity to Lakeland and the as a pension, was proposed at UBCJA annual conven• railroad, and the possible income from the acres of citrus tions beginning in 1898. However, all such proposals groves. were rejected by the members because of the necessary Seeing that Hutcheson liked the site, Haldeman quickly dues increase. Then, in 1915, William L. Hutcheson put together a 1,684 tract for sale, consisting of 24 parcels became president of the UBCJA. with conditional contracts. It didn't hurt that Haldeman WiUiam "Big Bill" Hutcheson personally owned 584.5 acres of the tract, including the succeeded to the office of eventual site of the residence building. The tract also UBCJA General President in October 1915, upon the death of the previous president. Hutcheson was imposing, both in size and demeanor. From the time he became union president, he was a strong proponent of care for aged union members. With pressure from Hutcheson, op• position slowly faded. The William L. Hutcheson UBCJA finally approved both Under construction, May 1927 -3- came to celebrate the upcoming opening of the Carpen• ters' Home. The total cost of the Carpenters' Home was approximately $3,000,000 ($41.5 million today). Completion of the Carpenters' Home spurred develop• ment in north Lakeland. Workers at the Carpenters' Home had to live nearby, so homes were built in the area. The City of Lakeland even extended North Florida Avenue to the Home's east entrance to better serve the Home and its residents. On March 14, 1929, the Home for Aged Members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of Ameri• ca officially opened. The Home could accommodate up to 400 residents and included a lounge, library, dining included 594 acres of orange groves, which Haldeman room, a 24-bed hospital, and an auditorium seating 956 knew would be an attraction for Hutcheson. people. Amenities for the residents included movies in In September 1923, Chamber Manager Appleyard trav• the auditorium, a recreation hall, an 18-hole golf course eled to the union headquarters in Indianapolis and pre• (added in 1931), a fishing dock, and facilities for outdoor sented the proposal for the tract near Lake Gibson. The games such as shuffleboard and roque. price was $632,393 or approximately $375 per acre. Up to this time, the union had favored a site near Howey-in- Only 20 residents (or "inmates," as they were called) the-Hills, but the price was approximately $1,000 per arrived in March. The number of residents was reduced acre. when William Glissman passed away on March 26, only The union's General Executive Board (GEB) made a final 12 days after he arrived. Mr. GHssman was the first tour of potential Florida sites in early December, visiting resident to be buried in the Carpenters' Home Cemetery, Fort Myers, Dade City, Brooksville, Bradenton, Miami, located less than a mile to the east of the residence Tampa, Lakeland, and Howey-in-the-Hills. However, building. Eventually 1,262 retired carpenters were bur• on December 15, Hutcheson, by force of personality, ied there. steered the other members of the GEB to choose Lake• Life at the Carpenters' Home was initially highly regi• land as the site of the Carpenters' Home. Sadly, Thomas mented. Reveille was at 6:30 am, with breakfast from J. Appleyard Jr. would never live to see his efforts come 7:00 to 7:30 am. Town passes, required to leave the to fruition, dying at the age of 41 in January 1926. property, were issued at 10:00 am. Lunch was 12:30 to The nationally-known architectural firm of Rubush & 1:00 pm, and visitation was from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Sup• Hunter was chosen to design the Home.

Load more

  8

Copy Link