"Today is the oldest you've ever been, yet the youngest you will ever be, so enjoy this day while it lasts." With that thought in my mind, did we enjoy the day? Absolutely! Mid winter in Florida is fair time. The Florida State Fair runs for ten days,although we have never been there, today a picture perfect day to change all that. Not a cloud in the sky, temps in the sixties, it felt much like the Fall season of the Northeast, with a country fair every weekend. Having never been to Florida's State Fair, today's visit. a pleasant surprise. Yes, the cuisine...definitely a gastronomical nightmare, the "world village" area lived up to its' name! The carnival hawkers, must travel the country, I do believe I've seen these people doing "their thing" on the New England fair circuit!
We enjoyed the many buildings, with product from all over Florida. The Fish and Wildlife building a complete source of agricultural info for us "northern folks!" The 4-H building and Future Farmers of America building, brought back the "Farm boy" memories of Baltic. Mr. Bill swearing some of the young people looked just like the Spielman boys from Baltic. Central Florida, minus the theme parks, is all about agriculture, the young people thrilled to explain why it is and always be a vital part of the Florida economy. Their dedication to a way of life......refreshing. The Cracker Village, similar to a New England Sturbridge Village, is also part of the fairgrounds. Most people think Florida, before the theme park era, was nothing more than a lush, mosquito infested everglade type land mass of a swamp....nothing could be farther from the truth. Mr. B ill and I now reside in Polk County, the oldest in the State of Florida. This year our county will celebrate 150 years, compared to Sprague, Polk County is a mere baby. The Sprague Historical Society also ready to celebrate 150 years in existence. Yet Polk County is all about its' past. everywhere you look, people celebrate the County heritage.....taking pride in the land, wanting to preserve it for their children. Yes, I am a New Englander, I love the metropolitan areas of the northeast, the museums, the overall history of the area. Yet it seems we forget much of it for the same reasons we love it...The progress, the cosmopolitan life, the hustle and bustle of city life. The Sprague Historical Society serves the Town well. I look forward to its milestone celebration, hopefully we will be able to join some of the festivities.
I see similarities between Sprague and Polk County. In Florida, perhaps the memories of the way it used to be are still vivid in the minds of the older population. Homes, now dot what used to be lush farmlands and aromatic orange groves, the recent recession making citizens realize....sprawl must be contained, not stopped but monitored closely......the same mistakes made in much more populated areas of this country, need not be repeated in Florida. Sprague, with its Mukluk purchase, felt much the same way. Much has changed in Sprague over the past 150 years, the Baltic Mills only alive in the memories of Sprague's senior population. The white picket fences, tree lined streets, dance halls, numerous bars and small stores, now gone but Sprague still survives, the Historical Society poised to celebrate and educate having hopefully learned from their ancestors.
We enjoyed the many buildings, with product from all over Florida. The Fish and Wildlife building a complete source of agricultural info for us "northern folks!" The 4-H building and Future Farmers of America building, brought back the "Farm boy" memories of Baltic. Mr. Bill swearing some of the young people looked just like the Spielman boys from Baltic. Central Florida, minus the theme parks, is all about agriculture, the young people thrilled to explain why it is and always be a vital part of the Florida economy. Their dedication to a way of life......refreshing. The Cracker Village, similar to a New England Sturbridge Village, is also part of the fairgrounds. Most people think Florida, before the theme park era, was nothing more than a lush, mosquito infested everglade type land mass of a swamp....nothing could be farther from the truth. Mr. B ill and I now reside in Polk County, the oldest in the State of Florida. This year our county will celebrate 150 years, compared to Sprague, Polk County is a mere baby. The Sprague Historical Society also ready to celebrate 150 years in existence. Yet Polk County is all about its' past. everywhere you look, people celebrate the County heritage.....taking pride in the land, wanting to preserve it for their children. Yes, I am a New Englander, I love the metropolitan areas of the northeast, the museums, the overall history of the area. Yet it seems we forget much of it for the same reasons we love it...The progress, the cosmopolitan life, the hustle and bustle of city life. The Sprague Historical Society serves the Town well. I look forward to its milestone celebration, hopefully we will be able to join some of the festivities.
I see similarities between Sprague and Polk County. In Florida, perhaps the memories of the way it used to be are still vivid in the minds of the older population. Homes, now dot what used to be lush farmlands and aromatic orange groves, the recent recession making citizens realize....sprawl must be contained, not stopped but monitored closely......the same mistakes made in much more populated areas of this country, need not be repeated in Florida. Sprague, with its Mukluk purchase, felt much the same way. Much has changed in Sprague over the past 150 years, the Baltic Mills only alive in the memories of Sprague's senior population. The white picket fences, tree lined streets, dance halls, numerous bars and small stores, now gone but Sprague still survives, the Historical Society poised to celebrate and educate having hopefully learned from their ancestors.
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