Lake Alfred in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Frank C. Gardner House
1913
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 6, 2025
1. Frank c. Gardner House Marker
The Gardner House was the second home built on this property for Frank C. Gardner (1868-1963) and June Gardner (1871-1960). Their first house, a modest home built in 1911, was moved to Pomelo St. The arbor on the sidewalk was originally made of wood. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner occupied this home from 1913 until their deaths in the 1960s. The house remained in the family until 1997. The City of Lake Alfred purchased the property in 2017.
Frank Gardner and three associates established the Florida Fruitlands Company, a land development company, in 1909. Gardner was the company's first president and the only original investor to remain with the company until it was sold in 1941. The company's success led to the formation of the Lake Alfred Citrus Growers Association and contributed to population growth and the formation of the city which was incorporated as the City of Lake Alfred in 1915.
June Gardner, an avid reader and book collector, freely lent her books to both adults and children, making her home the city's first unofficial library. June helped establish the Lake Alfred Women's Club in the 1910s and served as its first president.
Erected 2023 by Polk County Historical Commission, The City of Lake Alfred, The Lake Alfred Historical Society. (Marker Number PCHC-033.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 28° 5.663′ N, 81° 43.625′ W. Marker is in Lake Alfred, Florida, in Polk County. It is at the intersection of North Rochelle Avenue and East Main Street, on the right when traveling north on North Rochelle Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 275 N Rochelle Ave, Lake Alfred FL 33850, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Cummings (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fruitlands Institute (approx. 0.7 miles away); Citrus Research (approx. one mile away); Winter Haven (approx. 3.7 miles away); First Missionary Baptist Church of Winter Haven (approx. 3.7 miles away); Florence Villa Training School (approx. 4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away); Winter Haven War Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Alfred.
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 6, 2025
2. Frank C. Gardner House Marker
Photographed by Florida Memory, Unknown
3. Frank C. Gardner House Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 427 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on March 9, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
