Lake Alfred Historical Society, Inc.

10/09/2026

A Genealogist's Gold Mine from 1925!

These images are from the 1925 City Directory published by R. L. Polk & Company of Jacksonville. Because Lake Alfred was still a small community at the time, it was included as a section within the larger Lakeland City Directory.

The Lake Alfred section alone covered six pages and contained far more than just names. Residents were often listed with their occupations, employers, spouses, and organizational affiliations, providing a snapshot of everyday life in our town a century ago. Other sections of the directory included business listings, advertisements, and street guides, making these books invaluable resources for local history and family research.

If you're researching your family tree, city directories can help fill in the gaps between census records and reveal where people lived, what they did for a living, and who their neighbors were.

Take a close look at the names on this page. Do you recognize anyone? Perhaps a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or other relative appears here. We'd love to hear your stories and connections to these early Lake Alfred residents!

10/05/2026

This photograph was taken at a team dinner for the Lake Alfred Little League baseball team in 1965, proudly sponsored by the Bank of Lake Alfred. These young ballplayers represent an era when community support, teamwork, and hometown pride were at the heart of youth sports. Many lifelong friendships and cherished memories were made on and off the field, and photos like this help preserve those special moments in Lake Alfred’s history.

A special thank you to Sam DeVito, Jr. for sharing this glimpse into our community’s past.

Do you recognize any of the players or coaches in this photo? We'd love to hear your memories and stories in the comments!

10/02/2026

October is Family History Month!

Every family has a story, and every story helps shape our community's history. This month, we encourage everyone to take a few moments to explore their roots. Pull out old photographs, share family stories, record memories from parents and grandparents, and preserve the details that might otherwise be lost to time.

Whether your family has lived in Lake Alfred for generations or arrived more recently, your history is part of the larger story of our community. The photographs, letters, documents, and memories we save today become the treasures future generations will cherish.

October is officially Family History Month in the US! Explore these 31 ideas for how to celebrate this month.

09/30/2026

Pictured here is the Fromm family, proud builders and owners of this home on Winona Avenue. Constructed in 1918, this historic house has stood for more than a century, witnessing generations of change while remaining an enduring part of Lake Alfred's story.

This photo helps connect us to the families who shaped our community. Thank you to the Fromm family for leaving behind a piece of local history for us to remember and appreciate.

09/28/2026

In the 1950s, the Lake Alfred Founders Garden Club was one of the city’s most active civic groups. This photo captures the women who helped shape the look and feel of our community. Their work went far beyond flowerbeds. The club sponsored beautification projects around town, hosted guest speakers on gardening and horticulture, and even served as judges for the city’s outdoor Christmas displays.

09/25/2026

Among the earliest pieces of Lake Alfred history preserved in the Alexander Mackay Papers at the State Library & Archives of Florida is a January 1916 letter from Alexander Mackay to John Morley, the man he hired to oversee his Lake Alfred property.

This letter marks the beginning of a decades‑long correspondence between Mackay and Morley, a paper trail that documents the growth of the groves, the development of the land, and the daily decisions that shaped Mackay’s presence in Lake Alfred.

In this first letter, Mackay gives Morley guidance on what to expect when he arrived in Lake Alfred. It’s a small moment on paper, but it represents the start of a working relationship that would help shape the character and development of the Lake Alfred community.

09/23/2026

In 1958, Lake Alfred received a moment of national recognition when City Manager George Costello received a personal letter from Senator John F. Kennedy, who would become President just three years later.

Kennedy’s note reflects the kind of thoughtful, direct communication he was known for. For Lake Alfred, it’s a reminder of the era when George Costello was helping guide the city as City Manager. And for local history lovers, it’s a rare piece of mid‑century political correspondence linking our town to one of America’s most iconic leaders.

09/21/2026

In the summer of 1894, a simple hat from Bartow Junction (today’s Lake Alfred) became an unlikely cross‑country traveler, thanks to a railroad employee with a sense of humor.

According to a July 28, 1894 report in the Worcester Telegram of Massachusetts, a worker at Bartow Junction found a stray hat along the tracks. Instead of tossing it aside, he pinned a playful note to it and sent it off on a passing train, just to see what might happen. That joke turned into a journey. As the hat traveled from railroad to railroad, employees added their own notes and stamps. It passed through multiple states, gathering stories as it went.

By the time it reached Worcester, Massachusetts, the hat had become a curiosity worth reporting: a wandering relic from Bartow Junction, carried not by a traveler, but by the good‑natured mischief of railroad men who kept the joke alive.

Even in the 1890s, Polk County had a way of sending its stories far beyond its borders — sometimes by train, sometimes by newspaper, and sometimes by a hat with a note pinned to it.

09/18/2026

This undated photo captures a proud moment in Lake Alfred’s history: Thomas Gretencord receiving the Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year award. Gretencord was one of those steady, dependable community leaders whose service touched nearly every corner of town life.

He served on the Lake Alfred Library Board, helped guide the Lions Club as an officer, and was a devoted Cubmaster for Troop 154. His commitment to civic life made him a familiar and trusted presence in Lake Alfred, and this award reflects the deep appreciation the community had for his work.

Also pictured here are Judge Robert Pyle standing in the back, along with Lee Johnson, Mrs. Pyle, Leroy Hostler, and Mr. Gretencord — a snapshot of the people who helped shape Lake Alfred during a period of strong community involvement and growth.