This page is dedicated to the great city of Winter Haven, FL and the history of it. My story starts in Winter Haven, FLorida. It was just before 3 days before Christmas in 1961. I was born at the Winter Haven Hospital. My two brothers were had been haging out for a few years getting the layout of the land. They were born there in 1957 and 1959. My dad and my grandparents moved to Winter Haven in 1950 or 1951 I believe, from Tifton, GA. And if you are passing through Tifton, GA. and you stop and look in the phone book? The McBrayer's are very popular around there and I think they are all related to us in one way or another. Half of Tifton is I believe. LOL
My dad started his own tile business and built a great name for himself in the tile industry. He had done work for Cypress Gardens, The Pope's, Bostic's, Snively's, Burr's and more. He was the tile man at one time in Winter Haven. He was not the cheapest, but he was the best. My brothers now carry on the torch and Kudos to them. Dad was always proud of them taking after him and taking it over the business. Our Grandmother use to have the cleaning contract for the Boston Red Sox Spring Training facility . She passed away in 2013, but loved her Red Sox until the end. And if you call State Farm and you do not get Jake? You will probably get one of my sister in-laws or nieces. The whole family works out there. LOL So we are well rooted in Winter Haven, FL. I am the one who lives out of the city and live in South Florida. But Winter Haven is calling me home. That Lake Howard has some magic to it I swear. I have loved that lake since I was a kid. And for the record, I want that house at 1709 Lake Howard Dr. The Joyce's have done an awesome job with it and I am saving up my pennies. I want it !!!!!
Winter Haven has around 50 lakes around it and you are always near a lake. If you love the water like I do? This is a great city for you. Fishing, skiing or just enjoy the day cruising the lakes and going through the Chain of Lakes. There is the Northern Chain and the Southern Chain of Lakes. BenYer's likes the Southern Chain and has a few properties on lakes in the Southern Chain like: Lake Howard, Lake Hartridge and Lake Winterset. We can't afford to be around Lake Eloise. LOL
Since the car accident, I seem to get up bright and early in the morning whether I want to or not. So I like to go by McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts, for a cup of coffee and then take a ride around the city and wait for sunrise the sunrise and watch the city come to life. My cell phone takes great photos and I try to take some sunrise photos at the different lakes. Where ever I happen to be when the sun starts to rise?
The city is going through a transition now and a nice one I must say. An investment group called Six Ten has bought up a lot of the downtown buildings and renovating them. And they are doing an awesome job of bringing them into the 21 century while still keeping an older look to them. When you ride down Central Ave down town these days it is hoping. Hardly any closed shops and many of the buildings have been updated. Sometimes a group buys up buildings like this and totally change the look of the area. But 6-10 has done an awesome job redoing downtown and around the city. Kudos to them. Bravo.
Below are some photos I have taken while driving and walking around the city. I will add to it down the road and I will try to help keep the history of Winter Haven, FL. alive. I will add some helpful links to the city utilities, Winter Haven Museum of History and sights light that. And one for Gene Leedy as well. One of the famous architects in the area. You can spot one of his buildings a mile away. While others are being torn down and rebuild? His buildings are still standing strong and a part of the Winter Haven History.
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