City Of Winter Haven Florida

Winter Haven Celebrates a Century of Progress, From Citrus to High Tech

Shortly before the first of the year, blue and green banners heralding the Winter Haven Centennial — and a yearlong celebration — began popping up around the city.

The city has been celebrating by "Honoring our past, focused on our future."

The Centennial Committee — a group of community representatives appointed by city commissioners — and city staff have created a series of events.

CENTENNIAL DAY CELEBRATION

A re-enactment of the city's first town council meeting will be held during the Centennial Day Celebration at noon Wednesday in Central Park, 100 years after the inaugural gathering was held by Winter Haven's founders.

Admission is free.



POLICE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE

The Winter Haven Police Department invites the public to share in its 100-year heritage during an open house, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The event will include tours of the police station, children's activities — bounce houses, face painting, and pin the badge on the cop — as well as refreshments and a variety of historical displays.

The open house will celebrate the appointment of Winter Haven's first marshall, E.H. Wagner.

Former police chiefs Darrell Kirkland and Ron Martin, Winter Haven's longest serving police chief, will be on hand.



ROCKIN' FREEDOM FEST

This year's Rockin' Freedom Fest, the city's annual Independence Day event July 3, will have a nostalgic flavor as it also celebrates Winter Haven's history and heritage.

The community picnic begins at 4 p.m. and ends with fireworks by Zambelli at 9:30 p.m. in Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Lake Silver.

A special treat will be ski shows at 5:30 and 7 p.m.

Following the second ski show, The Rogues will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Centennial Celebration events will continue throughout the year, including Centennial Community Day on Sept. 24 at the library.



— Donna Kelly

During the 1880s, the railroad brought a steady stream of settlers to Polk County and the area known as Winter Haven.

It didn't take long for early residents to see profits in growing, shipping and selling citrus.

While citrus was king, entrepreneur Dick Pope brought a new industry to Winter Haven in 1936 with the founding of Florida's first tourist attraction.

Visitors from the world over traveled to Winter Haven for decades, drawn by the sunny climate, numerous lakes, Cypress Gardens and citrus gold.

The Florida Land Report: For Sale: North Winter Haven Florida ...

Dean Saunders, CCIM,ALC (Accredited Land Consultant), is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and owner of Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate in Lakeland, FL. As a former Florida legislator, he served alongside US Senator and then Governor Lawton Chiles, where he helped pass critical conservation and property rights legislation. He is former chair of the Florida Real Estate Commission, past president of the Florida Chapter of Realtors® Land Institute, is an exclusive “Notable” selected by the National Association of Realtors®, and is a member of the Lakeland Association of Realtors®. He earned a BSA from the University of Florida in Fruit Crops, Food and Resource Economics. Saunders resides in Lakeland with wife, Gina, and their four children.

The Code of the city of Winter Haven, Florida, 1950, the Charter and general ordinances of the city : enacted as a whole, January 16, 1951, effective, February 15, 1951

The Federal reporter

LIFE

The gardens of Florida

Proceedings of the Annual Meeting