Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
The Lake Wales Highlander was "dedicated to the interests of "the Crown Jewel of the Ridge in particular, and the Scenic Highlands of Florida in General," according to the banner text beneath the paper's name. The September 19, 1923 edition told the sad tale of a home and businesses in Frostproof destroyed by a stroke of lightning, leaving a family of eleven children homeless. The Scenic Theatre program for Sept. 20, 22, 25, and 27 offered "Your only chance to see the great production "HOLLYWOOD." Nearly every star in Filmdom took part in the making of this picture. It is said there are 27 famous actors and actresses in it. Admission 20 and 35 cents."
The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community.
Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth.
The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library.
The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became The Daily Highlander, and under several different names was published six times a week on Sunday mornings and Monday through Friday afternoons until 1995.
The original Lake Wales News was a weekly broadsheet newspaper that also served the community for many decades, later changing to a tabloid format before closing six years ago.
Lake Wales was among only a handful of small communities that supported two local newspapers, a mark of the level of literacy and community interest here.
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