Tour page 1

 START:  Park and read …. 1. The Museum (1885) continues to be the Treasure Box of Fort Meade. The Academy was donated to the City by the Ragon Barnett, Jr. family in 1984. The original site was located on the corner of SE Oak Ave. and 1st St. across from the Lewis Elementary campus; then moved to the corner of Magnolia and S. Lanier. The structure has served as a school, even the first High School, a community center, a boarding house, and a private residence. The City-owned property is also the location of the Train Museum on its own track, which is available to rent for meetings and special occasions. The gazebo was built by local Historical Society volunteers in honor of the one once found at Triangle Park at the intersection of Charleston and Broadway. The Society hosts an annual traditional May Pole Event for children and their families.  

3. “New Town” Fort Meade was built to be close to the Railroad and after the disastrous fires of 1890-94 in “Old Town,” businesses moved. On the north side of the street is the former site of The First State Bank, which has retained its basic historic structure. Across the street on the corner of French and Broadway is Southern Posh, which was once the location of New Town’s Post Office. 

     The first brick building, completed in 1910 and known as the Canter and Lewis Building, is found at the corner of N Seminole and Broadway (Currently R&S Pawn). 

      City Hall, completed in 1927, is still the center of the municipality, 8 W. Broadway St. 

     Traveling east on Broadway gives a picturesque view of the Historic Downtown District, known once for the widest main street around.   

5. Art Deco Gym At the stop sign at Pine Ave., on the southwest corner, you’ll see the White House, which is a duplication in construction. Between Pine and Oak was the location of Fort Meade High School, constructed in 1912, and the gym is now Lewis Elementary’s cafeteria. You’ll be traveling alongside what was once the entrance to the gym. This architecture and lettering depict the only Art Deco found in Fort Meade. Continue north to East Broadway.  While still in an historic mood, turn RIGHT and travel east. (You’ll pick up the Northeast section on the way back.) 

7. Monument Park Turn RIGHT onto S. Church to encircle Monument Park between S. Church and S. Hendry at 2nd . The Park memorializes the Battle of Peace River (1856) and is the Common Grave Site of Alderman Carlton, Lott Whidden, William Parker, Robert F. Prine and George Howell, who lost their lives when the Willoughby Tillis homestead was attacked by Seminoles. This location was within the Second Fort's compound. Turn RIGHT onto E. Broadway (US 98 E). 

9. Continue toward “Peas” (Peace) River and as you prepare to cross the bridge take note that this area is where 2nd Lt. George Meade crossed the river (1849) … noted to be the most narrow and shallow part of the river. This was also the site of the First Fort and was the practice shooting range for Federal troops during the Second Seminole War. Archeologists Tom Dankowski and Dwight Dovel found various items from this site, as well as the Second Fort on 3rd Street NE. A number of the items unearthed from the area by Dwight Dovel are on display at the Museum.

11. Continue north to the Performing Arts Auditorium which is on the right before the Fort Meade Middle Senior High School. At the Auditorium entrance is a monument recognizing one of Florida’s most historic sites: Talakchopco … “The Place Where Long Peas Are Eaten.” When 2nd Lt. George Meade came to this area, he found a burned out village. Numbered in the hundreds, their chief was Buckra Woman. She was the wealthiest person in Florida and fled with her people before the US Federal troops. On Edgewood Drive, turn RIGHT and follow around curve where road melds into 9th Street NE.  

13. Travel south to 6th Street NE. Turn LEFT onto 6th St. to Bellview Dr. Turn RIGHT onto Bellview where you’ll find a row of quaint homes built in the first half of the 1900’s known as “Yankee Town” and were get-away vacation homes for folks from up North. In this area to the east, was a rack track. The English brought horse racing to Fort Meade and the track included property that is now owned by Evergreen Cemetery and the Polk County School Board behind FMMHS’s Agriculture Building. 

15. Heritage Park will be on your right on NE 3rd St. Take time to read the plaque and enjoy the shade. This is the location of the “Second Fort” relocated from Peace River after the malaria outbreak circa 1850.

17. Turn RIGHT on Oak Ave. 150 structures qualified Fort Meade to be on the National Registry. Along with commercial buildings are the lovely homes of yesteryear in the northeast section of the city, including The William Henry Lewis Home in the 500 block listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, built 1901.  The Lewis Home and Christ, Church Episcopal are the only two specific structures on the Registry of Historic Places.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR TOUR … 

     but you might like to visit Patterson Park on N. Charleston. It's very inviting with a wonderful half-mile walk through the park. And there’s good fishing there, as well! 

      And if you still want to see beautiful country, head east on Broadway to Orange Ave. South. Turn RIGHT off Broadway onto Orange Ave., which will meld into Mt. Pisgah Road. This two-mile stretch crosses Peace River and then Bowlegs Creek near the site of the Battle of Bowlegs Creek, 1864.

     Streamsong Resort is 10 miles west of Fort Meade and is a stellar winter golf course destination. The resort is a beautiful reclamation success story of phosphate-mined land by The Mosaic Company.

     Fort Meade has been designated as a Main Street Project by the State of Florida. Come watch us grow as Main Street Fort Meade revitalizes the historic downtown district. 

     You will want to obtain books by Dr. Cantor Brown, Jr. and Robert M. White. Their research and insight are expressive and accurate for those interested in the      history of Fort Meade. Locations to purchase books: Fort Meade Library and Fort Meade Historical Society. Also, check out www.myflorida.com. Click Floridian.