Floridiana Magazine

History. Heritage. Home.

The Citrus Tower

Back before U.S. Highway 27 was flooded with traffic lights and vehicles, it provided a leisurely, picturesque drive through the heart of Florida’s citrus industry.  The stretch of road from Interstate 4 to Clermont was lined with orange groves as far as the eye could see.  One of the state’s most well-known structures stood tall, in the middle of it all, offering magnificent views of the surrounding area.

Back of post card says: Orange groves are seen for miles in every direction from the highest point in the state – the top of the Florida Citrus Tower.

 

Post card dated March 3, 1963. Handwritten note: “Greetings from Clermont, Florida.”

The Citrus Tower, which opened in Clermont in 1956, was built to provide visitors a 360 degree view of the acres and acres of orange trees, the rolling hills and the lakes that dotted the landscape.  Made of five million pounds of concrete and another 149,000 pounds of steel, the Tower was built to withstand winds of more than 190 miles per hour.

As a college student, I would drive Highway 27 from my home in Hardee County to school in Tallahassee, and pass by the groves and the Tower each time.  Not once did I stop to take a trip to the top of the Tower and see the area from a different perspective.  But now, the Citrus Tower beckoned – and I obliged.

On this bright Florida day, the Tower stands in stark contrast against the bright blue sky.  The ground floor houses the history of the Citrus Tower.  Photos and newspapers tell the story of this “Castle in the Air,” along with some of the original mechanics.  Lilly’s Citrus Tower Gift Shop is housed inside the main doors as well, and is filled with all things Florida.  After stopping at the counter and paying the $6.00 admission fee, we step into the elevator and take the ride to the enclosed observation deck.

Strategically placed signs indicate which direction you are looking and the distance from the Tower to surrounding locations.  Framed photos provide a glimpse into Florida’s citrus heyday – while allowing you to look out at the new landscape, dotted with housing developments, shopping centers and other businesses.

Lake Apopka is one of the many lakes that can be seen from this vantage point.  Its size is stunning enough.  Orlando’s skyline is also visible and with the help of binoculars, you can see the Orlando Eye attraction.  To the west there are views of more lakes and more development.  You can see portions of Lake, Orange, Polk and Sumter counties, and on a clear day, even parts of Pasco, Osceola, Seminole and Hernando counties are in view. Even though the landscape has changed and the groves have given way to development, the views from the Tower are still magnificent.  The few stray orange trees that can be seen serve as reminders to what was once a thriving industry.

Lake Apopka in the background.

 

The Citrus Tower is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and is closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Interesting fact:  According to a display at the Citrus Tower, on February 19, 1953 a traffic count by the State of Florida Highway Department showed 3,500 cars passed by this part of Highway 27.  That was an average of one car every 24 seconds!

Wood and Swink General Store and Post Office Evinston, Florida

When the Evinston post office opened in 1882, the cost to mail a first class letter was just three cents!  Since then, stamp prices have increased, the landscape of the town has changed (although not drastically) and the hours of the post office have been cut back.   But one thing has never changed: the importance of this building to the residents of Evinston.

When we pulled into the parking lot of the Wood and Swink, there were no other cars in the parking lot.  A flag flew above the building, and an old mail slot could be seen on the outside with a sign that read “Letters” above it.  The old wooden door stood open – an invitation to take a step inside to a time when running into the local general store for a bottle of soda or your mail meant running into your neighbors and chatting the day away.

We were greeted by Mike Ballard, Evinston’s PSE (or postal service employee), as he calls himself.  He only works part-time, since the post office hours have been cut way back.  Ballard is used to people just stopping by and asking about Florida’s oldest working post office.  And he’s more than happy to share the history.

The Evinston Post Office takes up a small corner just inside the Wood and Swink General Store. The original 16 mail boxes are still in use but are surrounded by newer ones. There are about 90 boxes in all, with 50 to 60 rented.  There are no rural routes in Evinston.  All mail is delivered to the post office.

The original boxes are to the left of the silver ones.

The building was purchased by H.D. Wood in 1906 and has been in the Wood family ever since.  One of those family members, Freddie Wood, Jr. is still a fixture at the store.  Freddie works in his garden in the morning, brings his produce to the store and takes his usual seat inside this old wooden structure.  He offers up the history of the building and of the community to anyone who wants to listen.  Wood admits some people find it fascinating his family served as postmasters for about a hundred years.

“I am the grandson of a postmaster, the nephew of a postmaster, the son of a postmaster and the husband of a postmaster!”

His dad was postmaster for 44 years – the longest in Florida history.

The post office isn’t the only reason residents stop by the Wood and Swink.  They come to share stories, catch up on news of the locals or just to say hi.  With current Saturday hours of only 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Saturdays are typically slow.  Ballard says, “Either no one shows up or everyone shows up!”  And then there are the curious who have heard about the post office and make a special trip to this little piece of history – sometimes just to have a post card cancelled with the Evinston post mark.

The shelves are still stocked with items that were either sold or used in the store.  A collection of Elvis memorabilia is prominently displayed (Freddie’s wife is a big Elvis fan), old albums fill wooden crates and old family photos are hung from the shelves.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and efforts are in the works to raise funds through the Wood and Swink Preservation Society to restore and protect the old building.  Who knows how long this gem will survive in today’s economy, but it’s a must-see for those with an interest in old Florida.  Not only can you get a glimpse of history, but you can also hear a local story or two and buy some of the freshest produce around!

NOTE:  The Wood and Swink General Store and Post Office is located on County Road 225 in Evinston on the Alachua – Marion County border.  They are currently open Monday – Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

It’s always a good idea to check their website for hours ahead of time.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Growing up in the 70s, I remember watching “Little House on the Prairie” and reading books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The amount of work it took to run their farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota seemed foreign to me.   I couldn’t imagine how families could survive.

Visiting the Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry rekindled some of those childhood memories and curiosities. Stepping back in time to the mid- to late 1800s, had me asking those same questions all over again.  How could life be so simple, yet so difficult at the same time?

As I walked up to the farm and took a quick look around, I saw what I was expecting: a main farmhouse, a variety of other structures, pastures for the livestock and a garden.

The open gate invites visitors up the path to the two-story main farmhouse – the heart of the farm.  The old house, complete with its original furnishings, provides a glimpse into how the family lived.  The ground floor consists of four rooms – three bedrooms and a living room, all the same size, arranged around a central hallway. Looking inside the bedrooms, you can only imagine how 14 people slept in the house.  No one got their own room.  In fact, with several beds in each, four or maybe five children shared each room and at least one of the rooms served a dual purpose.  A quilting frame hangs from the ceiling and can be raised when not in use.

 

When not in their bedrooms or working, a living room with old wooden chairs arranged in front of the fireplace set the stage for family time.

Off the back of the house is a separate kitchen with dining room – built apart from the main house to prevent damage from fire or smoke from cooking on a wood stove.  It was a place for the family to gather for meals after a long day on the farm, a place to share their daily stories of farm life.

 

Other buildings on the farm include the outhouse, a dairy shed and canning house, a smoke house for preserving hog meat, and a general store, which was originally located outside the front gate. There is also a working cane syrup complex.   Of course, life on the farm wouldn’t be complete without livestock.  Cracker cattle and mules can be seen in the pasture; turkeys and chickens can be seen in their pens.

 

There are days when the farm is in full operation, when visitors get to see volunteers in period clothing demonstrating some of the chores and experiences of farm life.  It was a quiet Saturday when we visited, so we were able to take a self-guided tour.  And while it is nice to leisurely roam the farm on our own, I can only imagine it abuzz with activity.

If you want to check out this living history working farm for yourself, Dudley Farm is located about seven miles west of Interstate 75 on State Road 26 (Newberry Road), between Gainesville and Newberry. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  There is a $5.00 fee per car to visit the park.

Historical Note: The Dudley family moved to the area from South Carolina before the Civil War.  The farm, as it is today, was developed in the 1880s.  It was donated to the Florida Park Service in 1983 by Myrtle Dudley – the last of three generations to live and work here.  Dudley Farm is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Manatee Viewing

Whenever I see manatees in their natural settings, their beauty and mystery never cease to amaze me.  I’ve seen them playing in the Gulf of Mexico just offshore of Englewood Beach and I’ve seen them in springs and canals. And each time is like the first.

Here are a few of my favorite manatee viewing areas:

Blue Spring State Park, Orange City:  Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge and during the colder months of the year, hundreds of these gentle giants can be seen in the spring.  There are numerous observation areas along the spring run, as well as a boardwalk that goes to the spring itself.   Please visit my earlier blog post on Blue Spring State Park to learn more.

Hanging out in the spring run at Blue Spring State Park

Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland:  Manatee Springs is one of the state’s largest springs and is also a National Natural Landmark.  Water from the spring run flows into the Suwannee River before it meets the Gulf of Mexico. Watch the manatees from the boardwalk or from the shoreline.

From the shore at Manatee Springs

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville:  A manatee observation deck overlooking the Haulover Canal provides the perfect spot to watch the marine mammals. Another area close by is across the bridge to the boat ramp.  I actually saw more playing there than at the observation deck itself.  Again, most of the manatees can be seen during the spring and fall when the weather is a little cooler.

Mom and calf at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge (from the boat ramp)

Other places you might want to visit for manatee viewing:

  • Fanning Springs State Park, Fanning Springs
  • Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River
  • Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach
  • Lee County Manatee Park, Ft. Myers

A few pointers boaters at Manatee Springs

The best time for viewing aggregations of manatees is from November through April when they are finding their way into the warmer waters.  Water activities are suspended in the state parks during the winter season because of the manatees.

Enjoy the view!