"In 1862 the settlement was named Bartow for Francis S. Bartow, the first brigade commander in the Confederate Army to be killed during the Civil War. In the 1880s and 1890s railroads began to serve Bartow and the town began to grow. In 1887, Summerlin Institute was built. It was the first brick school house in the state south of Jacksonville.
In the early 1900s phosphate companies began buying huge tracts of land around Bartow. The town became the hub of the largest phosphate industry in the country as well as being a center of the thriving citrus operations in the area." Florida Backroads Travel
Personal Notes
Bartow is located in a region of Florida known as Bone Valley. The region has one of the richest phosphate rock deposits and provides one-quarter of the world's phosphate. It also is the location of the LB Brown House - the only standing house in Florida built by a former slave. We were provided a tour by Clifton Davis and enjoyed learning the history of the area and the amazing Mr. L.B. Brown. We learned that after being freed as a slave, a Mr. Bennett (a wealthy business man) sort of mentored LB and he became the area's well know entrepreneur - owning property, building many rental properties and managing his wealth through contracts that he, himself learned and wrote up from reading (no formal education).
We took the opportunity to explore more of Bartow and highly recommend one visits (at least from the outsude the Wonder House and view the history of Polk County at the History Center.
Photo Ops and more ...
Read:
Polk History Center - 100 E. Main Street
The Wonder House - Built in the 1920's with features known today (access limited)
Florida Backroads Travel - Bartow
In the early 1900s phosphate companies began buying huge tracts of land around Bartow. The town became the hub of the largest phosphate industry in the country as well as being a center of the thriving citrus operations in the area." Florida Backroads Travel
Personal Notes
Bartow is located in a region of Florida known as Bone Valley. The region has one of the richest phosphate rock deposits and provides one-quarter of the world's phosphate. It also is the location of the LB Brown House - the only standing house in Florida built by a former slave. We were provided a tour by Clifton Davis and enjoyed learning the history of the area and the amazing Mr. L.B. Brown. We learned that after being freed as a slave, a Mr. Bennett (a wealthy business man) sort of mentored LB and he became the area's well know entrepreneur - owning property, building many rental properties and managing his wealth through contracts that he, himself learned and wrote up from reading (no formal education).
We took the opportunity to explore more of Bartow and highly recommend one visits (at least from the outsude the Wonder House and view the history of Polk County at the History Center.
Photo Ops and more ...
- Visit the L. B. Brown home and scheule a private tour
- Capture the County Seat building
- Visit and shoot the exterior of the Wonder Home (tours are available)
- Visit the County's Historical Center
- Enjoy breakfast and/or lunch at the Broadway Diner +++
Read:
Polk History Center - 100 E. Main Street
The Wonder House - Built in the 1920's with features known today (access limited)
Florida Backroads Travel - Bartow
Photos below and click here - Bartow Pics for additional photos)
