Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Unless you live in Florida, as I have done since early 1979, this book probably won't interest you. Although the title states it concentrates on Central Florida, many pages, especially in the beginning half of the book, also provide information relevant to North Central Florida, where I currently live. Still the six years I lived in Central Florida allowed me to better understand and appreciate the information in the last half.
As I volunteer at Florida's Dudley Farm Historic State Park, which is also a National Historic Landmark, information I garnered from the book will help in my interpretation of the Farm for visitors, especially as it refers to agriculture.
If you live in Central Florida, or visit there often, the information about that area of the state should interest those who wonder how villages, which became towns and then sometimes cities, got their start, their names, who were key players and how they accommodated the transitions from the 19th to the 20th century.
Like many states, Florida made a lot of mistakes, especially in draining the swamps to serve agriculture, straightening rivers, and other "advances" in bringing "civilization" to Florida. Toward the end the books relates how Florida is now working to undo many of those "improvements."
Although published in 1995, I found the book timely as it also discusses why the state government gave Disney semi-governmental rights to control its property. Whereas, recently, the Florida State Legislature is now revoking those rights. While some may claim this action is purely a reflection of current day political beliefs by a majority party in the Legislature, I know a number of people who have worked at Disney, including a close relative. There are things that take place within Walt Disney World which wouldn't be allowed in the rest of Florida, and which are often covered up. Not everything there ends, "happily ever after."
As I volunteer at Florida's Dudley Farm Historic State Park, which is also a National Historic Landmark, information I garnered from the book will help in my interpretation of the Farm for visitors, especially as it refers to agriculture.
If you live in Central Florida, or visit there often, the information about that area of the state should interest those who wonder how villages, which became towns and then sometimes cities, got their start, their names, who were key players and how they accommodated the transitions from the 19th to the 20th century.
Like many states, Florida made a lot of mistakes, especially in draining the swamps to serve agriculture, straightening rivers, and other "advances" in bringing "civilization" to Florida. Toward the end the books relates how Florida is now working to undo many of those "improvements."
Although published in 1995, I found the book timely as it also discusses why the state government gave Disney semi-governmental rights to control its property. Whereas, recently, the Florida State Legislature is now revoking those rights. While some may claim this action is purely a reflection of current day political beliefs by a majority party in the Legislature, I know a number of people who have worked at Disney, including a close relative. There are things that take place within Walt Disney World which wouldn't be allowed in the rest of Florida, and which are often covered up. Not everything there ends, "happily ever after."
