As housing developments and retail spaces continue to pop up around the state, more and more of old Florida is disappearing under the guise of progress. Fortunately, some communities are preserving parts of their past.
Just outside of Bartow, in the small community of Homeland, sits the only historical park in Polk County. Homeland Heritage Park is a five-acre park with original buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most of them were donated to the county and moved to the park for visitors to see for years to come.
Homeland School
The Homeland School (once known as Bethel Academy) is the oldest surviving school in the county (built in 1878) and sits in its original location. Although the original building was only one room, a growing student population necessitated the addition of another room in 1888.
A peek inside the windows reveals a typical classroom of the time period – a teacher’s desk, old wooden chairs, long tables, a chalkboard and pianos. It was in this room that students were taught lessons in reading, writing, arithmetic and manners. More than 75 students once attended the Homeland School, until its closure in 1956.
In 1985, the school and property were donated to the Polk County Board of County Commissioners and in 2007 was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Homeland Methodist Church
During the 1800s, churches served as more than just places for religious services. They were also the cornerstone of the community and served as the place for social gatherings. In the Homeland community, the Methodist Church was one of those places.
Originally known as Bethel Methodist Church, it dates back to 1878 and was said to be a simple wooden structure that did not have any lights or windows. That old building was replaced by the Homeland Methodist Church in 1887.
One of the features that stands out when looking at this church is the towering steeple. The original steeple was destroyed by a hurricane in 1946, and was replaced by one made of aluminum.
Another striking feature is the stain glass windows, uncommon for a country church. Looking through the windows, you can see their brilliant colors shining into the sanctuary.
The church was donated in 1986 and was moved from just off the park property to its current location.
Pole Barn
While the church was the heart of the community, the pole barn was the center of daily life. This outbuilding was the hub of work on the farm. It was used to store farming equipment and served as shelter for farm animals.
A walk around the barn provides a glimpse into the strenuous daily work. Farm equipment and an old carriage on display inside the barn are a far cry from the mechanized equipment used today.
Homeland Houses
Visitors to the Homeland Heritage Park can get a glimpse of two different styles of living in the late 1800s and early 1900s. One of the homes on display is a single-pen log cabin, a single room cabin with a door and a few windows. It was built by Cornelius and James “Jackson” English in 1888 and used as a family residence until the early 1900s.
The wrap around porch was an important part of the cabin and was often the location where daily chores were done. Sometimes families even slept outside on the porch because it was cooler than inside. The cabin was used by the English family until 1989, when it was donated to the Homeland Heritage Park.
A second residence on park property represented the more affluent pioneers. The Raulerson House, built in 1900, originally sat at what is now the intersection of County Line Road and Interstate 4 on the west side of Lakeland. It never had running water or indoor plumbing. The story on the sign at the park says the Raulerson family and the five children lived downstairs in the house, while their grove foreman and his family lived on the second floor.
The Raulersons lived in the house until 1912 and it remained in the family until 1987, when it was donated and moved to the Homeland Heritage Park.
Other Buildings and Park Features
Two other buildings at the Homeland Heritage Park serve as the park office and the park annex building. Both were original buildings from the Methodist Church.
A garden, an old cemetery and an outhouse are also part of the exhibit.
What is unique about this park is that the buildings on display are all original buildings once used or lived in within the county. Rather than tearing them down to make room for newer structures, they were donated to the county by their owners and moved to this location. Homeland Heritage Park is an example other communities could follow to preserve their own history.
Floridiana Magazine (FM) Notes:
The park is open every day to allow visitors the opportunity to take a step back in time and walk through an early community. You cannot go inside the buildings unless you call to schedule a tour. The office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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