[24] pp. Color illustrations from photographs; 2 full-page maps on glassine paper. 29.2x23.5 cm (11½x9¼"), original wrappers stamped in orange, gold & brown.
Elaborate and quite attractive promotional brochure and prospectus for the Lucerne Park Fruit Association, "A profitable citrus-fruit grove in the best part of Florida and a winter home site with absolute social security provided" as described on the first page. The object of the association "is to develop good Citrus groves and furnish ideal sites for winter homes." OCLC/WorldCat lists just one copy, at the University of Virginia.
Early history of Lucerne Park
Traveling northeast from Winter Haven beyond the Florence Villa community is an area designated as "Lucerne Park." There is minimal mention of the area in historical references though the road is referred to as "Lucerne Park Road" which keeps the name in use.
In 1910 photos were taken of 1,000 acres in Lucerne Park. This was the property bought from Dr. Inman by Lucerne Park Fruit Association. The original purchase was 1700 acres, 1.000 of which was cleared. There was a lumber mill on the property for this purpose.
Earliest activity in Lucerne Park is attributed to the Lucerne Park Fruit Association which had facilities on what is now "Old Lucerne Park" road.
The first tree was felled in January, 1911. Dr. Inman had owned the undeveloped land for years and, because of advancing age, had never cleared for groves as was his original intent. According to the booklet, Dr. Inman "too long in years to undertake the task and about 12 months prior to his death he turned it over to his life-time friend, Mr. M. E. Gillett, but with the understanding that the citrus groves would be planted.' M. E. Gillett and his brother became the founders of the Lucerne Park Fruit Association with home offices in Tampa. M. E. Gillett. an ex-mayor of Tampa, was President and General Manager of the company. He had been in the citrus business for 32 years and was owner of Buckeye Nurseries at Winter Haven, the largest citrus nursery in the world. D. C. Gillett. secretary and treasurer of the company was manager of the Gillett Lumber and Transport Company, but devoted much time to Lucerne Park Fruit Association. It was called the choicest land in Florida. (I assume this meant for citrus planting). It was 210 feet above sea level and was surrounded by five big lakes. Henry. Haines. Fannie. Hamilton and Rochelle which, with the elevation. afforded immunity from the cold. Little Lake Lucerne (1/4 mile in diameter) was right in the middle.
In 1911, 90 men were clearing the property. Erected was an administration building, housing for workers. superintendent‘s home, barns and wagon sheds. The land was divided into 100 ten acre grove sites. The desire was to sell them to men of good social and financial standing. The goal was to make Lucerne Park an exclusive winter colony.
Traveling northeast from Winter Haven beyond the Florence Villa community is an area designated as "Lucerne Park." Earliest activity in Lucerne Park is attributed to the Lucerne Park Fruit Association which had facilities on what is now "Old Lucerne Park" road.One of the earliest names associated with the enterprise include A.S Beymer. Beymer was involved in developing several major downtown buildings including the "Beymer-Mann" (Ritz) Theatre. Beymer Memorial Methodist Church also pays tribute to the family name.
In the 1910-20 era, it is noted that a small steam engine ran daily from Bartow to Lucerne Park and on to Lake Alfred where residents would turn out in numbers to help "turn the train" on a huge manual turntable so the train could make the return trip to Bartow. "Peggy," as the train was called, primarily spotted fruit cars in the various destinations helping to move citrus to market. As Florida approached the real estate boom of the 1920s, Lucerne Park Fruit was no different from other Florida companies looking for the opportunity to develop its extensive holdings.
Serving with Beymer on the company's board was a man named D.C. Gillett.
His father, M.C. Gillett, was born in Wisconsin in 1858, and at some point following 1878, his doctor in Akron, Ohio, recommended a move to Florida where he expected to die of consumption (tuberculosis). He settled in Marion County, and then, was frozen out of the citrus business in the great freeze of 1895. Gillett went on to found Buckeye Citrus Nurseries. He later moved to Tampa where he served as mayor during the Spanish-American War. M.C. Gillet joined with LPFA and proposed to develop an exclusive community called "Lake Lucerne" shown on the platted drawing. According to an elaborate promotional brochure produced by the McFarland Publicity Service of Harrisburg, Pa., "The purpose (was) to make of Lake Lucerne a most exclusive winter home resort." Buyers could buy land for a home as well as grove land. The pamphlet went on to note: "under no circumstances will a grove be sold by the Lucerne Park Fruit Association to persons of other than unquestioned business and social standing."
Lake Lucerne was to be a "community of congenial people. The lake was to be the private property of the owners for their use in "fishing, rowing and bathing." The company also noted "gentle exercise can be indulged in at all times."
The owners were asked to consider putting up $500 for the construction of a clubhouse/casino, a plan that was projected to raise $50,000. LPFA pledged to donate the land for the clubhouse. In 1912, the Lucerne Park Post Office was established, but it was discontinued in 1930. It was located right where our entrance to Swiss Golf meets Old Lucerne Park Road, on the Northeast corner.
Joe Spann, the librarian at the Polk County Historical Library, said that is because Lucerne Park was never incorporated. Best guess - Perry's Par 3 golf course, through land which is now Willowbrook Golf Course, east to where Route 544 meets Old Lucerne Park Road, then west on that road through the cattle ranch to Lake Rochelle then south back to Perry's. The Lucerne Park Packing House (YES. the old grey stone building which occasioned this labor of curiosity) was completed in 1921. It was a SIOO.OÖO investment by the fruit packing association and the corporation expected to pack 100.000 boxes of fruit there the first season.
The Lucerne Park Packing House (YES. the old grey stone building which occasioned this labor of curiosity) was completed in 1921. It was a SIOO.OÖO investment by the fruit packing association and the corporation expected to pack 100.000 boxes of fruit there the first season.
As with many of the grand plans of the Florida real estate boom, "Lake Lucerne" never became a reality, though one News Chief account mentions a hotel in the area. Lucerne was never a "park" for public enjoyment but has historic connections in early citrus production. The original fruit-packing company was sold to Joseph DiGiorgio. On July l, 1958. the DiGiorgio organization sold all of its Lucerne Park operations and planned to operate only in the Fort Pierce area under the name of Treesweet Products. The name "Lucerne Park" today serves to designate an unincorporated area in northeast Winter Haven.