Homeland in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Homeland School

Typical Wooden Pioneer School

— Oldest Surviving School in Polk County 1878-1956 —

Homeland School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

1. Homeland School Marker

Inscription. Homeland School Building
— 1878 —
Has been placed on the
National Register
Of Historic Places
By the United States
Department of the Interior

Erected by Homeland Heritage Park. (Marker Number 07000001.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 27° 49.128′ N, 81° 49.716′ W. Marker is in Homeland, Florida, in Polk County. It is on Church Avenue south of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker stands in front of the old school building on the grounds of the Homeland Heritage Park, an educational and historical park operated by Polk County. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 249 Church Avenue, Homeland FL 33847, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Homeland School (a few steps from this marker); Homeland Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Raulerson House (within shouting distance of this marker); Homeland Heritage Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The English Pole Barn

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(within shouting distance of this marker); The English Log Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Kissengen Spring (approx. 1½ miles away); Shady Oaks Gardens Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Homeland.

More about this marker. The marker consists of a large wooden sign which is mounted on two posts directly over a metal plaque also mounted on two posts. The above marker title and subtitles appear on the wooden portion and the metal portion holds the inscription.

Regarding Homeland School. The main portion of the wooden schoolhouse opened in 1878 under the name "Bethel Academy" to educate children in and around the town of Bethel, as Homeland was originally known. Student enrollment quickly grew from five to 60, and within ten years stood at 75. To accommodate growth, the original structure saw a room added in 1888; while in 1910, a large addition was constructed to give the building its current L-shape. Classes continued to be held at the Homeland School until 1956.

After the school's closure, the building was maintained for the purpose of establishing a museum/historical park

Homeland School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

2. Homeland School

to preserve the early history of Polk County and demonstrate how the area's pioneer settlers lived. Official progress was made in 1985, when the Polk County School Board deeded the building and surrounding land to the Board of County Commissioners for the purpose of establishing the Homeland Heritage Park. The five-acre park contains five historical buildings, of which only the school is original to the property. The remaining buildings were relocated to the site from various parts of Polk County.

Today, as a function of the park, the Homeland School building is regularly home to educational programs geared toward elementary grades and adults, as well as community-wide historical festivals and cultural events.

The Homeland School building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 (ref #07000001). It is the only structure of this status within the park.

Also see . . . Homeland School page on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 8, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

3. Homeland School

Sign for Homeland Heritage Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

4. Sign for Homeland Heritage Park

Operated by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners

Park sign for English log cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

5. Park sign for English log cabin

Single pen log cabin
Earliest Polk Pioneer Architecture
Built by Cornelius English
1880's

English Log Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

6. English Log Cabin

Built of cypress logs by Mr. English in 1888, the cabin was a family residence until the 1900s. It remained a recreational cabin until donated to the park by the English family in 1989. A second structure, the pole barn, was given by the same family to display various farm implements and tools.

Raulerson House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

7. Raulerson House

Raulerson family residence from 1900 - 1912, it remained with the family until it was given to the park in 1987. Their orange grove foreman and his family lived on the second floor, which had a separate entrance. The house was never upgraded with running water or indoor plumbing. It originally stood west of Lakeland along County Line Road at Interstate 4.

Park sign for the Raulerson House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

8. Park sign for the Raulerson House

Early affluent
rural architecture
Built by the
Blocker family, 1880's
1900-1987

Park sign for Homeland Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

9. Park sign for Homeland Methodist Church

Mother of Methodist Movement
in Central Florida
1887-1974

Homeland Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, June 27, 2012

10. Homeland Methodist Church

Built in 1887 as Bethel Methodist Church, the building stood at its original location about three quarters of a mile away until 1986, when it was relocated to Homeland Heritage Park. Its aluminum steeple replaced a wooden original which was destroyed in 1946 by a hurricane. The church congregation dissolved in 1974 and the building was donated to the county.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,173 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on July 8, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.