The Mail-Journal, Volume 9, Number 10, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 April 1972 — Page 9

/ Sports / Editorials

VOLUME 9

A Retiree Has A Look At The Wonders Os Florida

By TED BAUMGARTNER Just a few reflections on some of my observations here in Florida. L Florida is referred to as the * "Sunshine State” and rightly so. Most often the sun shines brightly and the average temperature range, during the day, is usually in the 70‘s or 80’s — in the winter months, that is. For anyone suffering from chronic bronchial ’ ailments, arthritis or rheumatism, this is one good place for relief. It is also a state renowned for its cocoanut and palm trees, citrus groves and abundance of brilliant-colored flowers — azaleas, hibiscus, bougainvilleas. * geraniums and poinsettias An area of mobile homes, motels, trailers, duplexes, apartments, high-rises and city parte where the oldsters while away their leisure* hours competing in a variety of wholesome entertainment: shuffleboard,

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tennis, horse-shoes, ping-pong, checkers, bridge and such. It's a land bordered on the east by the Atlantic and on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and whose waters abound with a variety of game fish: bonita, blue fish, sheep-heads, red snapper, flounder, tarpon, dolphin and grouper — one of the tastiest — and many more ready to strike the lure of those who have the yen for this type of sport. Then, too, mostly on the Atlantic side, are the big sails, marlin, yes and even sharks, which offer a real challenge for the skill of the best of anglers. It's a place of miles of warm, white sandy beaches where one may walk barefoot in quest of sea shells or don your swim suit for a dip in the sea, or just sun-bathe for a good Florida tan. And. if you happen to be a golfer, you need not search far for a course to pursue your favorite sport as almost every village, town and city has one

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available for your convenience. And. did you know that Florida is one of the largest cattle raising the U.S.A ? I always Thought this distinction belonged to some of our western states. Not so. From Sarasota on the Gulf, across the state, thru Okeechobee, to the Atlantic on the east, one may see many herds of these fine bovines grazing in die fertile green pastures of midstate — jerseys, guernsies, herefords, holsteins. brahmanas, etc Upon entering Florida from the north on Route 175 you will soon approach a Hospitality Center, usually sponsored by the state, where you may quench your thirst with a glass of fresh Florida orange juice, free, and where is available information on any kind of attraction, towns, hotels, motels, etc. Where also is offered a multitude of leaflets, brochures and pamphlets on most everything for your future

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reference. Floridians do not recognize “C.A.L.” as the official abbreviation of California, but rather “C.A.L.1.F.” — “Come And Live In Florida.’’ Then on further south one of the first attractions is Silver Springs at Ocala, with its two main features: a ride on a glass bottom boat where one will look down some 30 to 50 ft. at fresh water gushing forth from a group of crystal clear springs and where you will see more than 35 varieties of fish and 100 different species of colorful plant life. Another interesting attraction is that of an employee stepping into a small corral of poisonous snakes, from the deadly cottonmouth and corals to the larger 5 and 6 ft. diamond-back rattlers. One of the acts is to tantalize a rattler, from its coiled position, to strike and pop a large ballon with its natural lightning-like reflex, and with the same rapid movement to recoil to its original

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position ready for still another strike. The same person then proceeds to “milk” the poisonous venom from the reptile’s fangs. I might also add that these men wear knee-high leather boots: in case of a mishap the fangs will not penetrate to the flesh. From here one may travel southwestward to State Route 19 which runs parallel and adjacent to the Gulf Coast. Here you will come upon the natural area of Homosassa Springs where you may cruise up a tropical jungle waterway to be found squirrels and deer, a large variety of waterfowl, otters, sealions, chimpanzees and peacocks, and where huge alligators swim and lunge for food at feeding time. And last, it’s possible to actually walk underwater in a glassed-in enclosure of beautiful natural springs to see thousands of varieties of fish. Then on to Weeki-Wachee Springs, which Arthur Godfrey says is one oi the seven wonders of the world, one may witness Florida's underwater Grand Canyon where lively mermaids perform against a backdrop of underwater caverns while you sit 16 ft. below the surface of this crystal? clear spring. As one travels southward, you

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will approach one of Florida’s most famous restaurants — The Kaypok Tree Inn —- so named after a huge kapok tree (somewhat resembling our native oaks), the seed or seedling of which was brought here by missionaries from India. This tree is noted for its peculiar type of firey red blossoms measuring three to four inches in diameter and, in resemblence, is somewhat akin to the hibiscus or our own hollyhock blossom. It is usually in full bloom during the month of February and can be seen for several miles in the reflection of the bright southern sunlight. This dining place is located just outside Clearwater and is never advertised, yet is patronized so extensively that to arrive there later than 4 p.m. may cause a delay of an hour or so to be seated. Capacity: 1,500 patrons. Its main features are a long wide hall or vestibule with water fountains, plants and benches for customers’ waiting convenience and two large gift shops — one on either side. After buying a ticket for your favorite food, you then proceed into one of several large dining rooms surrounded by a number of statues, gushing fountains and lighted by a series of multicolored lights and chandeliers. The food is exceptionally well prepared and served at a very nominal fee. I make mention of this as Florida is noted for its large variety of fine restaurants, cases and eating places — as the average tourist eats most oi his meals out. It is owned and operated by a family of Baumgardners. No connection. As we travel farther south, the route will bypass Saint Petersburg and cross Tampa Bay over a high skyline bridge, and will eventually take us to Bradenton and the Sarasota area where we have made our winter quarters with Helen’s sister — Mrs. Ida Graff. Sarasota is a city of some 45.000 inhabitants — not including winter tourists. It is located some half-way distance down the Florida west coast on Route 41, more commonly known as the Old Tamiami Trail. Its winter weather is an average mild Florida climate and there are many attractions for the season’s visitors. Jungle Gardens, Ringling Museums, Circus Hall of Fame, Old Cars

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and Music of Yesterday. It’s the headquarters for spring training for the Chicago White Sox. The large Fairgrounds affords ample space for the Sarasota county fair which is now in progress and where each season hundreds of trailer enthusiasts converge for their annual convention. Van Wezel Hall is a large new Civic Center used for most all kinds of civic programs and performing arts, lectures, plays, travelogues, etc. Here is located, too, a Greyhound Racing Track which will open sometime in the month of May. Then a distance of from five to 10 miles east is a vast fertile area of productive land where is raised a goodly amount of staple products for the household table — cabbage, onions, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, sweet corn and large spacious fields of fine celery. I may add that it is a rare treat to observe how 50 or more hands harvest this crop by the aid of a gigantic machine —a number of which may be at work in the same field at the same time. It’s a city of fine shopping centers, stores and restaurants, and its Lido Beach is among the finest on the West Coast. The islands here are usually referred to as Keys. In the Bahamas as Cays. And this area has its share. There is Anna Marie Island. Longboat Key, Saint Armands Key, Lido Key. Bird Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, and a number of smaller keys. These islands are usually adjacent to and in close proximity to the mainland and are mostly inhabited by the wealthier natives and the more affluent of our people from the North. Fine homes, apartments, condominiums and exclusive motels and hotels. Saint Armands also affords the visitors with a circular complex of exclusive stores and shops all stocked with the finest of wares for their shopping convenience. The west coast from Clearwater to Naples, a distance of some 175 miles, seems to be a haven for our citizens from the northern middle tier of states. There are many tourists here from our own northern Indiana area. A sizeable group of Hoosiers meet each Thursday am. (9 o’clock) for a sociable breakfast and get-together. We were accompanied to the south by Rev. Theo Beer, his wife Naoma, and Betty, the wife of Maurice Beer. We hope they enjoyed their two weeks’ vacation in the Sunny South and the many sight-seeing trips we all shared together. Rev. Beer conducted the worship services at the local Apostolic Christian church the first Sunday of their stay and the second Sabbath in the Fort Lauderdale area church. As one travels on southward you will want to visit what I consider one of the most interesting and educational attractions in all Florida — the Unique World of Thomas A. Edison — his winter home, laboratory, botanical gardens and museum, located in the Fort Myers area. Perhaps this could best be described by a quotation from a brochure on the subject: "At 33, Thomas Edison was a widower, seriously ill and wearied by years of incessant toil. Doctors told him that he must seek a warm tropical climate, if he expected to live. And truly, ih the bright sunshine.

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cooling Gulf breezes and easy charm of Fort Myers, he did live with a new zest — to the happy age of 84. On his 14-acre waterfront estate stands the inventor’s gracious, rambling home where, in 1886, -he brought his bride, Mina Miller Edison. Today in the spacious rooms kept just as the Edisons left them, are countless reminders of the joyous years they shared in this “lost world” of peace and serenity. Today the grounds are a maza of strange and beautiful foliage, giant tulip trees, brilliant flowering vines and graceful palms, for Edison was a master horticulturist and wizard with plages. When you visit Edison’s home, you enter a world unlike any you have ever seen. The furnishings and architecture are reminiscent of a bygone era. yet there are many innovations which we do not have in the most modem homes. The inventive genius of Edison is evident throughout his 14-acre estate. The home and breezewayconnected guest house were the first prefabricated buildings in America. Mr. Edison drew the plans and had them built in sections in Fairfield, Maine in 1885. They were transported here by four schooners in 1886. The home is actually as he left it, with original Edison furnishings. No restorations have been necessary. The garden, his beloved hobby, has flourished into a fantasy of rare and beautiful trees and plants, each planted years ago by Mr. Edison. For example, the Banyan tree, which was 2” in diameter when Harvey Firestone brought it to him from India in 1925, is now more than 350 feet around the truck. In the laboratory-office where Edison did his last experimenting, all of his things are just as they were in his lifetime, including his “cat-nap” cot. Because of his deafness, Edison’s sleep was undisturbed and relaxed him so much that 15 minutes sleep to him was as good as is several hours to us. A new museum dealing with Edison’s inventions was dedicated by Charles Edison, February 12, 1966 and is now included on tour.” Among over 1,000 of Edison’s inventions and patents some of the most well known are the incadescent lamp, storage battery, motion picture machine, mineograph, phonograph and teletype, to name a few. Although Alexander Graham Bell was the inventor of the telephone, it was Edison who so vastly improved the innovation that sound could be transmitted for a much greater distance, even across oceans. He was also instrumental in pioneering the modern synthetic rubber industry. Edison, too, so improved the efficiency of the electric generator that he once offered to furnish electricity to light the then small village of Fort Myers. His offer was rejected, however, on the grounds that the illumination would keep their cows awake and thus impair the flow (production) of their quantity of milk.

JazT Bash Tonight ’ Stage band director Ray Cole has announced the annual jazz bash concert for West Noble high school to be held in the cafetorium at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 5. An interesting—program of varied pop and jazz tunes will be presented.

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