`

Well made it to the Highland Games in Winter Springs and it’s the most people attending that I have witnessed since I started attending several years ago—above is my clan—at least my dad’s family is a sept of—-they’re taking part in the parade of the clans and the bands and The Outlander Fans—-it’s a very festive day.   I Hope some of you out there made it.

Two things Florida can teach the other 49 states: how to make a good margarita and how to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane.     

Tom Feeney

Collection Davey Allison Articles Cards, Magazines 2/18/89 – 2/17/94

$80.06 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/615272165/collection-davey-allison-articles-cards?ref=shop_home_active_6

Two  8 inch Goblets Made in Romania

$80.20 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/598095030/two-goldenger-8-inch-goblets-made-in?ref=shop_home_active_7

Eustis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustis,_Florida

Settled in late 1870 and early 1880’s it was originally called Highlands after it’s elevated status on the banks of Lake Eustis and later Penryvile after a hotel established there by .A.S. Pendry.  It eventually became Eustis in 1883 after it’s adjoining lake that was named in 1823 after Lt. Colonel A. Eustis who was an American officer when the territory was still Spanish.  In the early days the same lake which is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes was the main transportation until the railroad came into the area around 1887.

In these early days the city was a winter residence for tourists who arrived by train and riverboats and the downtown included many hotels and residence for the wealthier visitors.

Eustis has preserved many of these historical structures and they can still be viewed today.

Florida is a very healing place.

Burt Reynolds

• 109 N. Bay St,
• Eustis, FL
• (352) 357-7777

This building was constructed in 1916 and included vaudeville theatre as well as showing those new fangled “moving pictures”  It possessed one of the largest “photo play” pipe organs in the Southeast.  The 2nd floor housed offices….during the depression the state presented chorales and music programs.  By the 50’s it was devoted mostly to movies, but by 1974 even the movies were gone and it closed.

But in 1975 the Bay Street Players were formed and live performances returned to the theatre and have remained there ever since.

And if all that isn’t enough the theater has a substantial history of reported paranormal activity including orbs,  screaming from unknown sources and on one occasion the appearance of a hanging man.

Florida is a place of unparalleled diversity of backgrounds, experiences and vision. It makes our culture unique, but it can also make it difficult to define a common identity and create a sense of community that reaches beyond our neighborhoods to all corners of our state.     

Jeb Bush

Grand Magnolia Inn,

108 N. Bay Street (c. 1912)

Eustis

The Arborio Building, it was constructed in an Italianate Style.  It first opened as the First State Bank in 1913 and was called the “McClelland Building” after the bank’s president—William S. McClelland.  It has held several businesses one source said it was a factory for the Waterman Pen Company, but I did not find this anywhere else.

Waterman in fact did build a winter home and planted a grove in Eustis after he made a fortune manufacturing Waterman Pens in the north—Seeing an opportunity to serve the tourist, Frank D. Waterman later built the Fountain Inn, a first-rate hotel in downtown Eustis. The hotel opened in 1923 and operated up until 1936 when the impacts of the Great Depression could not be endured any further. In 1937 Mr. Waterman turned the hotel over to a group of local doctors for use as a hospital which “became known as the Waterman Memorial Hospital in honor of its benefactor.  Florida Hospital Waterman, as it is called today, operated in the heart of downtown Eustis for over 65 years before relocating in 2004 to its current location on U.S. Hwy. 441.

http://www.eustis.org/residents/history/index.php

August in Florida is God’s way of reminding us who’s in charge.

Blaize Clement

Ferran Park (1922)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ferran-Park-and-the-Alice-McClelland-Memorial-Bandshell/109334162426528

Ferran Park Dr,

Eustis, FL 32726

In the historic downtown between Orange and Clifford Avenues, the  park is named in honor of Edgar Ferran, a leading merchant and promoter of Eustis, it serves as a recreational focal pint for the community.  It was created from a bulk head an over 100,000 cubic yards of fill

McClelland Band Shell

Built in the park in 1926 for another prominent citizen W.S. McClellan.  He donated it in memorial of his deceased wife, a music lover.  It is done in Spanish and Mediterranean design influences.

Beautifully landscaped, with walking paths and benches throughout, the park provides a glimpse into the City’s history, including the restored sea wall running along the lakefront to the Mediterranean-style Alice McClelland Bandshell (listed on the national historic register) majestically located at the northern end of the park. Other facilities include a playground area, two gazebos, and picnic tables. Immediately adjacent to the park is the Eustis Aquatic Center with two heated pools, and the ever-popular Eustis Lake Walk. The Lake Walk, which extends for one-quarter mile along the shore, offers four gazebos with benches and 20 boat slips. http://www.eustis.org/visitors/eustis_attractions/eustis_lake_walk_and_ferran_park.php

We are not exposed to ice much in Florida.

Brittany Bowe

for more information on things to do in Eustis here’s the Trip Advisor site–I’m a regular contributor to TA with over 288,000 readers so I am partial to using them for information

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34209-Activities-Eustis_Lake_County_Florida.html

and go to this site for the official calendar of events for the town

http://www.eustis.org/calendar.php

Florida:  Where your vote counts, and counts and counts