The Lakeland Public Library is now just around the street on the other side of Lake Morton. | Photo by LALtoday
Ever heard of “toponymy” before? That’s the fancy word for the study of the names of places. We’re doing a little toponymy of our own and diving into the monikers of some of Lakeland’s most famous landmarks. See how many locations’ backstories you know.
Trammell Building
Originally used as the city’s first public library in 1927, this building on the shores of Lake Morton is now home to the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. It was named after influential Lakelander Park Trammell in 1955. Trammell worked his way up from Lakeland mayor to Polk County’s representative in the Florida House, later serving as Florida’s governor and a US senator.
Today, Lake Wire is bustling — back in the day, it was a tranquil spot.
If you wanted to receive a telegraph in 1867, it would come through the wire that ran along the side of the lake, thus the name “Lake Wire.” It stuck better than its original name, “Israel’s Dish,” which was rumored to be based on the story of a cowboy called Israel who left his dish by the lake.
Tigertown
We’ll skip the obvious here — of course, Tigertown is named after the teams that play there, the Detroit Tigers + the Lakeland Flying Tigers. So where did the Flying Tigers get their name? After the team became affiliated with Detroit in 1963, it was renamed as the Lakeland Tigers. In 2007, the team got its wings when it was renamed once again to pay homage to the Lodwick School of Aeronautics, which trained pilots for WWII where Tigertown now sits.
If you traveled back to Medulla in the early 1900s, you might meet the Burson family, seen here.
The reason behind the name of this area in south Lakeland is a bit of a mystery. The story goes that the town was a connecting point on the local stagecoach line, well before Citrus Connection was running. If the word “medulla” sounds familiar, you could be thinking of the brain’s medulla oblongata, which links the spinal cord and brainstem. See the connection?
Is there another name you want to know the history behind? Drop us a line and we’ll see what we can find.
Who is Lakeland Linder International Airport named for?
A. Its very first airport director B. The pioneer who once owned the land it’s on C. A successful local businessman D. The first pilot to take off from there
The Generators | 5:30-7 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library | Free | Join this group of amateur genealogists for a discussion in the Lakeland History Room.
Fall Choral Concert | 7-8 p.m. | First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland | $8+ | SEU’s School of Music students will perform a variety of choral selections in this night of music.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
Lakeland Runners Club: Kids Run Club | Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 5-6 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Elementary school students will stretch their legs with an introduction to running + healthy lifestyles.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
The Constitutional Debate | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Elks Lodge 1291 | Free+ | Historian + author Dr. Alan Snyder will present a discussion on the Constitution — dinner is optional.
Thursday, Nov. 7
Night Market | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, Winter Haven | Free+ | Visit this monthly night market to shop local vendors while you pour your own drinks.
Friday, Nov. 8
Denis L. Fontaine Golf Tournament | 1-5 p.m. | The Club at Eaglebrooke | $250+ | Tee up to support the exhibits + resources at the Florida Children’s Museum.
Early voting has concluded ahead of tomorrow’s general election. Make your voting plan now by finding your polling place + checking your sample ballot. Polls are open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stat
That’s not tomorrow’s only vote. Polk’s Board of County Commissioners will decide whether to increase their annual salaries by $1,687. If passed by unanimous vote, the 3.4% increase will be less than the 5% average increase other county staff received last fiscal year. (The Ledger)
Outdoors
The City of Lakeland’s hurricane clean-up efforts are trucking along, as three additional debris haulers arrived in Swan City on Saturday. City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said that the first round of debris collection is estimated to be completed by early December. (LkldNow)
Environment
Speaking of clean-up efforts, officials said that the test of adding another pump to drain Lake Bonny faster was successful. Officials will hold a public meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. to update area residents and hear their concerns.
Development
A contract between Lakeland Electric and Williams energy company will go before city commissioners this morning. If approved, the two will work to build a solar power generation facility east of State Road 33 and south of I-4, set to be operational by March 2027.
Biz
The Lakeland Economic Development Council shared its priorities for local workforce development next year, including connecting new Lakelanders with open positions. New to town and looking for a local job? Check out these top employers — nearly all of them are LEDC members. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Number
702. That’s how many jars of peanut butter UF/IFAS Extension Polk County collected during last year’s Peanut Butter Challenge to donate to local food pantries. Help beat last year’s numbers by bringing peanut butter to these locations by Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Eat
It’s okay to pig out here. Plant City Pig Jam is slated for Friday, Nov. 22 + Saturday, Nov. 23 near the Gordon Food Service facility. Admission is free to enjoy entertainment and watch the barbecue competitions, but you’ll need Pig Bucks to try the pitmasters’ fare.
City staff will safely collect the swans into holding pens so that veterinarians from My Pet’s Animal Hospital can perform checkups on Wednesday to make sure the flock is happy and healthy.
Want to watch the action firsthand? Find a spot along the lakeshore tomorrow morning and don’t forget your camera. Just be sure to give swans + staff plenty of space.
Dermatologist-tested laundry detergent sheets brought to you by the same company behind this bestselling stain treater spray. The sheets are hypoallergenic and formulated with ingredients that are safe for sensitive skin. Use code 20NEWLAUNDRY to save 20% for a limited time.
Avelo Airlines is currently running a sweepstakes giveaway where you can win a four-pack of tickets to fly round-trip to any of its destinations. If I won, I would fly from Lakeland to New Haven so I can finally try the apizza our readers recommended.
