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A Brief History of Frostproof
By Bea Reifeis
In 1882, when part of the area which today makes up Frostproof was platted as Keystone City, the area was covered with long-leaf yellow pine forests, dense swamps and hammocks with undergrowth of brush, vines, briers and palmettos. The nearest substantial town was Fort Meade, a distance of 18 miles over U.S. military roads built 18 years earlier.
In 1886, the Stephen Carson family became the first permanent settlers, and immediately planted citrus. Six years later, two more permanent families joined them: the Hamptons and the Overockers. Before the end of the year, the men petitioned the U.S. government and a post office at Frostproof was established on the south side of town where the three families lived.
At the turn of the century, when cities and towns were seeing improvements in infrastructure and even beautification to encourage tourism, Frostproof's only public improvement was a one-room log cabin schoolhouse.
With the arrival of the first train in January 1912, the face of Frostproof changed forever. Less than a month later, J.E. Milton built a general store on the northeast corner of Wall Street and Scenic Highway. Soon after, the town built up around the railroad. In 1918, the town was incorporated.
Citrus was the main industry, with packing houses dotting the landscape. By 1921, Frostproof was the second largest citrus shipping point in the state, and during the 1924-25, 1925-26 and 1928-29 seasons, Frostproof was in first place! By 1939, the town was the world's largest grapefruit shipping point.
In 1922, Frostproof's first public library was constructed at 210 South Scenic Highway. In 1978, when the Latt- Maxcy Memorial Library was completed, the building became the Frostproof Historical Museum. Since then, it has tripled in size and houses thousands of artifacts, photographs and documents. Drop by for a visit!
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