IT IS NOT RAINING—IT JUST LOOKS UGLY AND HAS TURNED COLD–BUT IF IT ISN’T RAINING I CAN DEAL WITH THAT. DOING MY TRADITIONAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS–A RIVERBOAT LUNCH WITH SOME FRIENDS—JUST ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER EATING TURKEY AND NNNOOOO CLEAN UP OR DISHES OR POUNDS OF LEFT OVER TURKEY.
Something to be Thankful for—– Jamie/Sam to look at
PATHETIC LIFE RIGHT?
Today is my small town Florida day: and we’re doing
SEARS (HENDRY COUNTY)
Sears used to be 12 miles south of LaBelle in south Florida. It was located on a branch of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, which also no longer exists. Yes Sears is a ghost town but it was once a very active little place.
In the 1920’s the US was booming with new railroads and new homes and Florida had lots of trees which proved helpful in building both. This area of Florida saw the development of many small mill (saw) towns to make railroad ties and build homes (alas these Florida forests are also a thing of the past).
The Standard Lumber Mill was built in 1926 to process this lumber most specifically for Sear’s booming pre-fab home market on the railroad route to facilitate the distribution part of the enterprise. Along with it the town of Sears was formed to house workers which was named for Richard W (or according to PLACES IN THE SUN (Bloodworth & Morris) his wife, the chief stock holder in the mill).
But this town seems to have had issues from the start for shortly after the mill was built and the town founded (1926) a hurricane hit (they didn’t start naming hurricanes until the 1940s with the US Weather Service using only female names from 1953 – 1978 when alternative use of male and female names was initiated) the area.
But the 1926 Hurricane did have a name: The Great Miami Hurricane. The class 4 storm seriously damaged the city along with Sanibel Island and the Florida Panhandle before ripping into Alabama (also damaged the Bahamas on the way to Florida). It is given as one of major reasons that the Florida land boom went bust, throwing Florida into the Great Depression years earlier than the rest of the country.
The Mill and town of Sears were seriously damaged but managed to rebuild and get back to producing lumbar. In fact the town prospered and at it’s height of activity it had a population of 500 and included a voting precinct, two schools, a hotel and a Florida Power and Light electrical plant.
In 1928 disaster struck again when the mill burned down. Research gives you the impression that it was probably not as productive as was anticipated which would seem to be confirmed as it was never rebuilt.
The 1932 Census of the town showed 30 households 14 white and 16 black. By 1937 most of the community had moved on including the schools.
It continued to drift away and now it’s just a ghost town, with a street that bears its name as one of the few reminders of what once was. Even the buildings have moved on with many of them having been re-located to LaBelle.
WITH BLACK FRIDAY LOOMING I THOUGHT I’D ADD A LITTLE ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL:
WHERE TO FIND THAT GIFT FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE RECEPIENT (on line stores that might save your shopping time)
COLLECTIONS ETC (www.CollectionsEtc.com)
Aqu Stone Humidifier: An Elegant Natural alternative (w/out electricity–just add water)
Stars and Stripes Boxer shorts size Medium (32) to XXL (46)
Hover Ball Indoor soccer ball that glides won’t scratch or harm furniture or paint.
Animal Hat and Gloves (Wolf or Leopard) for adults
Remote Control Farting Teddy Bear AA batteries required
Or some decorative items
Polar Bear Parade (can you say 3 bears?)
A Solar Angel Garden Stake (sounds a bit medieval?) they also have Snowman ones
A Snowman Bush Cover with pull closures to secure
Or decorative wear
A Silent Night Top (size 11 – 24) also Holiday Cats Top as well
Snowman Dog Sweater for that other member of your family. (there’s also Faux Fur Coats)
“If you don’t find it in the index, look very carefully through the entire catalogue.”
― Sears, Roebuck and Co., 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue