>>COMING UP ON CENTRAL FLORIDA ROAD TRIP, WE'LL TAKE A SPIN AROUND POLK COUNTY.

FIRST, WE'LL SOAR THROUGH THE PAST OF AVIATION AT FANTASY OF FLIGHT.

THEN WE'LL STOP TO GET A TASTE OF OLD FLORIDA WITH THE SWEET TREATS OF DAVIDSON'S OF DUNDEE.

AND FINALLY, WE'LL VISIT A COMMUNITY HONORING THE HARD WORK OF AMERICA'S LETTER CARRIERS.

ALL THIS AND MORE ON THIS EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

♪ THEME MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M DR. PHIL HOFFMAN.

WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROADTRIP.

THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO HEAD WEST AND UNCOVER THE RICH HISTORY SURROUNDING OUR NEIGHBORS OUT IN POLK COUNTY.

THE COUNTY WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF THE 11TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, JAMES K. POLK, WHOSE INAUGURATION WAS THE DAY AFTER FLORIDA BECAME A STATE.

FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR, THE COUNTY SEAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY IN BARTOW, WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER A CONFEDERATE COLONEL, FRANCIS S. BARTOW.

IN THE FIRST FEW DECADES OF THE 1900S, THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND AROUND BARTOW WERE PURCHASED BY THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.

THE COUNTY SEAT BECAME THE HUB OF THE LARGEST PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES.

POLK COUNTY WAS ALSO THE LEADING CITRUS-PRODUCING COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

IN THE 1930S, HIGHWAY 27'S PATH THROUGH THE COUNTY WAS THE MAIN NORTH-SOUTH THOROUGHFARE AND THAT OPENED THE DOOR TO TOURISM AND ATTRACTIONS LIKE CYPRESS GARDENS THAT OPENED IN 1936.

ANOTHER OF THOSE EARLY ATTRACTIONS OFF HIGHWAY 27 WAS BOK TOWER AND GARDENS.

BOK TOWER IS KNOWN NOT ONLY FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL GARDENS, BUT FOR THE 60-BELL CARILLON SET WITHIN THE 205 FOOT TALL TOWER.

EVEN TO THIS DAY, IT'S RECOGNIZED AS AN IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURAL WORK OF ART.

AND SPEAKING OF SPECTACULAR BUILDINGS, OVER NEAR LAKELAND IS ALSO AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF MODERN-DAY DESIGN.

AS YOU DRIVE WEST ON I-4, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO LAKELAND, YOUR EYES ARE DRAWN TO A MOST UNUSUAL- LOOKING WORK OF ARCHITECTURE.

THIS MASTERPIECE OF DESIGN IS NOT ONLY KNOWN FOR ITS BEAUTY, BUT ALSO FOR EDUCATION.

WELL, WE'RE HERE AT FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS RIGHT OFF OF I-4, SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY AS YOU'VE DRIVEN BY IN THE PAST YOU'VE NOTICED AND WONDERED WHAT THE DEAL WAS WITH THIS BUILDING.

WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

WE'RE HERE WITH ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, DAVE CALHOUN, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF FACILITIES HERE AT THE CAMPUS.

DAVE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>>SURE.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>>SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS STRUCTURE AND WHAT IT IS, WHAT THE BUILDING IS.

>>SURE.

SO FIRST OFF, IT'S OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE DRIVING PAST IT, IT'S A VERY UNIQUE STRUCTURE, VERY UNIQUE BUILDING.

YOU COULD ALMOST PUT A DOT IN BETWEEN TAMPA AND ORLANDO AND THAT'S RIGHT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ALONG THE I-4 CORRIDOR.

AND THE BUILDING IS RADIUS IN NATURE.

THERE ARE NO STRAIGHT EDGES OR STRAIGHT CORNERS TO ANYTHING ON THE BUILDING.

IT WAS DESIGNED BY DR. SANTIAGO CALATRAVA AND CONSTRUCTED BY SKANSKA USA BUILDING.

>>THERE'S ALSO SORT OF THIS CONTROLLING OF THE HOT FLORIDA SUN THAT GOES ON THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE STRUCTURE, THE EXTERIORS PART OF THE STRUCTURE DOES DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

>>SURE.

SO SOMETHING THAT DR. CALATRAVA AND THE ARCHITECTURE TEAM WANTED TO DO WAS CAPTURE A LOT OF THE NATURAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE NATIVE TO FLORIDA, ONE OF WHICH IS OUR SUNLIGHT.

ON OUR ROOF, WE HAVE A SLOPE- GLAZING SYSTEM, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY JUST WINDOWS FOR GLASS.

ON TOP OF THAT, OUR 94 OPERABLE LOUVER ARMS.

EACH OPERABLE LOUVER ARM IS INDEPENDENTLY OPERATED.

SO WE TRACK WITH THE SUN.

AND SO IN THE MORNING, THE WEST SIDE OF THE ARMS WILL RAISE UP AND THE EAST SIDE WILL STAY DOWN.

AND THEN ABOUT EVERY 20 MINUTES, THEY'LL ADJUST A FEW DEGREES TO TRACK ALONG WITH THE SUN.

THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

WE CALL THE FULL SALUTE WHERE WE OPEN UP BOTH SIDES AND IT TAKES THE SHAPE OF OUR MASCOT, THE PHOENIX.

SO IN THE DESIGN, AS WELL AS THE USE OF THE CLASSROOM SPACES AND THE LAB SPACES WITHIN OUR BUILDING, THE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING, USING THE MOST UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE.

>>WHEN WE THINK OF PEOPLE WHO MADE AN IMPACT IN POLK COUNTY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT THE PERSON WHO HAD THE VISION AND THE IDEA TO TURN A CYPRESS SWAMP INTO AN OLD-SCHOOL CENTRAL FLORIDA FAVORITE, CYPRESS GARDENS.

OVER THREE DECADES BEFORE DISNEY ARRIVED, DICK POPE SR. NOT ONLY HELPED TO BUILD THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA, BUT HELPED TO MOLD THE FUTURE OF POLK COUNTY.

♪ WELCOME HOME TO YOUR NEW CYPRESS GARDEN ♪ >>DICK POPE WAS A GENIUS.

HE COULD SEE AN OPPORTUNITY AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING SO EXCITING, THAT IS JUST REVOLUTIONARY AND CHANGES THE EXPERIENCE OF TOURISM.

>>HE GATHERED UP 4,000 OR $5,000 AND STARTED TO DIG CANALS, AND THEY CALLED HIM THINGS LIKE THE SWAMI OF THE SWAMP.

INTERESTINGLY, WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE WORKERS, HE WOULD GET VOUCHERS FROM A LOCAL GROCER NAMED GEORGE JENKINS, WHO HAD OPENED HIS FIRST PUBLIX FOOD STORE IN DOWNTOWN WINTER HAVEN, AND HE USED THAT TO PAY HIS WORKERS.

45 MILLION PEOPLE CAME TO THIS COMMUNITY TO SEE CYPRESS GARDENS.

THAT'S AMAZING.

ONE THING THAT MR. POPE WAS A MASTER OF WAS PUBLICITY.

IN FACT, IT WAS AN ORLANDO SENTINEL EDITOR THAT NICKNAMED HIM MR. FLORIDA.

AND MR. POPE NEVER PASSED UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PUBLICITY.

>>WITH THE VISION OF SOMEONE LIKE DICK POPE CREATING A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE BUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT MADE, I THINK THAT PROBABLY CYPRESS GARDENS CAN BE LISTED AS ONE OF REALLY THE SAVIORS OF THE ECONOMY OF POLK COUNTY.

THE EARLY BEGINNINGS OF TOURISM REALLY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO PEOPLE WITH VISION LIKE DICK POPE.

>>NOT VERY FAR FROM WHERE CYPRESS GARDENS USED TO BE IS A PLACE THAT WILL REALLY MAKE YOU STOP AND THINK.

AND YOU JUST MIGHT RUB YOUR EYES IN DISBELIEF WHEN YOU VISIT SPOOK HILL.

>>THE LEGEND OF SPOOK HILL HAS BEEN MYSTIFYING FOLKS FOR YEARS.

EVEN THE NEARBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS ADOPTED THE NAME SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY.

AND YES, THEY HAVE CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST AS THEIR MASCOT.

LEGEND HAS IT THAT A HUGE ALLIGATOR WAS TERRORIZING THE NEARBY NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE, SO THE CHIEF DECIDED TO CHALLENGE THE GATOR.

NOW AS THE STORY GOES, THEY BOTH LOST THEIR LIVES IN THAT BATTLE.

BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS, IS THE SPIRIT REALLY THE SPIRIT OF AN ANGRY GATOR OR THE HERO INDIAN CHIEF THAT GIVES THE MYSTERY TO SPOOK HILL?

FOR YOU SEE, IF YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR TO THE BOTTOM OF SPOOK HILL, STOP AT THE WHITE LINE IN THE ROAD, PUT YOUR CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT WILL ROLL BACK UP THE HILL.

YES, ROLL, ROLL, AND ROLL BACK UP THE HILL.

DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.

>>I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY SPOOKY.

YOU GET UP THERE AND YOU GO BACKWARDS ABOUT SEVEN MILES AN HOUR, WHICH IS PRETTY CRAZY WITH SUCH A LEVEL GROUND.

SO I WAS KIND OF SPOOKED IN A WAY.

MAYBE IT IS THE GATOR.

MAYBE IT'S THE KING COMING BACK TO PROTECT HIS LAND.

WHO KNOWS?

>>SOME SAY IT'S AN OPTICAL ILLUSION, WHILE OTHERS SAY IT'S JUST, WELL, A LITTLE SPOOKY.

NEXT TIME YOU'RE NEAR LAKE WALES, SPEND A FEW MINUTES AT SPOOK HILL AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF.

>>NOW, HERE ARE THE TOP THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT POLK COUNTY.

LAKELAND IS HOME TO ROYAL SWANS.

IN THE 1950S, THE SWAN POPULATION WAS DECREASING.

NATIVE LAKELANDERS, MR. AND MRS. PICKHARDT, WROTE A LETTER TO QUEEN ELIZABETH TO SEE IF SHE'D BE WILLING TO LEND A PAIR OF SWANS TO LAKELAND.

THE ROYAL BIRDS LANDED IN LAKELAND IN 1957, AND TODAY THE POPULATION HAS GROWN TO OVER 80 SWANS, EARNING LAKELAND THE NAME SWAN CITY.

>>IN 1915, CLAUDE E. STREET PRODUCED HIS FIRST BOTTLE OF STREET'S GRAPEFRUIT JUICE IN HAINES CITY, BECOMING THE FIRST CITRUS JUICE PROCESSING MANUFACTURER IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS HAVE HISTORICAL VALUE IN LAKELAND.

ONE OF FOUR ALL BLACK REGIMENTS IN THE REGULAR ARMY AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, THE 10TH CAVALRY CAMPED ON THE SHORES OF LAKE WIRE IN LAKELAND IN THE SPRING OF 1898 WHILE AWAITING TRANSPORT TO CUBA.

IF YOU LOVE AVIATION AND FLYING, HERE'S ANOTHER POLK COUNTY MUST-SEE STOP FOR YOU.

FANTASY OF FLIGHT IS A VERY INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL STOP.

AND THE GUY WHO RUNS THE PLACE IS A FASCINATING FELLOW.

WHEN YOU DRIVE WEST ON I-4 TOWARDS TAMPA, YOU'LL SEE THAT BIG AIRPLANE SITTING OFF TO THE RIGHT.

THAT'S A SIGN THAT YOU'RE NEAR THE FANTASY OF FLIGHT.

KERMIT WEEKS IS A MAN WITH A PASSION FOR AVIATION.

HIS LOVE OF FLYING BEGAN AS A YOUNG MAN AND WOULD EVENTUALLY EARN HIM A SPOT ON THE U.S. AEROBATICS TEAM FOR 15 YEARS, WHERE HE WON 20 MEDALS AND WAS TWO-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION.

NOW, KERMIT WEEKS FOCUSES ON SHARING HIS PASSION FOR AVIATION WITH OTHERS.

WE'LL WE'RE HERE IN ORLAMPA, ORLAMPA.

YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT ORLAMPA WITH KERMIT WEEKS, WHO'S THE CREATOR AND FOUNDER HERE AT FANTASY OF FLIGHT.

KERMIT, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, FIRST LET'S START WITH ORLAMPA.

WHAT IS ORLAMPA?

>>WELL, IT'S INTERESTING.

I FIND MYSELF EXACTLY ON AN INTERSECTION 40 MINUTES TO THE DOORSTEP OF EITHER AIRPORT.

OF COURSE, FANTASY OF FLIGHT'S ABOUT FLIGHT.

I FIND THAT PARTICULARLY FASCINATING.

I WAS LED KIND OF TO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, WHICH EVENTUALLY WAS WHY IT WAS COINED ORLAMPA.

IT'S PRETTY COOL.

IT'S KIND OF A CATCHY NAME.

AND AT SOME POINT, I THINK THE MAYORS OF TAMPA AND ORLANDO ARE GOING TO REALIZE THAT THEY'RE REALLY JUST SUBURBS OF ORLAMPA.

>>SO NOW FANTASY OF FLIGHT, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, HERE AT THE CORE OF ORLAMPA, IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING EVEN BEFORE THERE WAS AN ORLAMPA, RIGHT?

>>WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED WITH AIRPLANES, PHYSICAL FLIGHT.

I STARTED IN A MUSEUM IN MIAMI.

WE OPENED IN 1985.

HURRICANE ANDREW CAME THROUGH IN '92 AND PRETTY MUCH DEVASTATED US THERE.

BUT I'D BEEN WORKING ON MOVING UP TO CENTRAL FLORIDA BECAUSE OF THE GREAT TOURISM INDUSTRY.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE PLACE TO COME.

AND WE WERE OPEN FOR 18 AND A HALF YEARS.

AND OVER THAT TIME, I CAME UP WITH A CONCEPT THAT I REALIZED WAS WHY I WAS LED HERE.

FOR ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN TO FANTASY OF FLIGHT BEFORE, YOU CAME INTO A BIG ARCHED ENTRANCE, BUT YOU ACTUALLY DROVE DOWN TO WHAT WAS ONLY EVER DESIGNED TO BE MY SHOP.

AND THAT'S WHAT FANTASY OF FLIGHT WAS WHEN WE OPENED THAT.

NOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IS I'VE CLOSED ALL THAT.

I'M TURNING THAT ORIGINAL FACILITY INTO MY SHOP THAT'LL BE FOR THE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WHAT IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE COLLECTION OF OLD AIRPLANES ON THE PLANET.

NOBODY COMES CLOSE.

>>NOW DO ANY OF THE PLANES THAT YOU HAVE IN THE COLLECTION, DO THEY FLY?

>>I DON'T COLLECT ANYTHING I DON'T INTEND TO FLY.

AND I'VE FLOWN A NUMBER OF THEM.

A LOT OF THE AIRPLANES IN THE COLLECTION ARE RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT I'VE COLLECTED THAT SOMEDAY WE INTEND TO RESTORE.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS FIND AIRPLANES THAT TELL GREAT STORIES OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

SO THE AIRPLANES WILL BE HERE IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT FLIGHT OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

>>SO PHIL, THIS IS A C-47.

IT WAS BUILT BY DOUGLAS.

AND THIS ACTUAL AIRPLANE FLEW IN THE D-DAY INVASION.

SO THIS IS BASICALLY A TWIN-ENGINE AIRPLANE.

HERE'S YOUR THROTTLES.

RIGHT ENGINE.

LEFT ENGINE.

THIS CONTROLS THE PROPELLERS, WHICH CONTROLS THE PITCH OF THE PROPELLERS.

THESE ARE YOUR MIXTURE, SO THIS OPERATES THE FUEL.

SO OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE GO TO TAKE OFF WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THOSE FORWARD, OKAY?

WHEN WE GO TO LEAN THAT AIRPLANE OUT FOR CRUISE OR SOMETHING, WE'LL BRING THEM BACK TO A CERTAIN THING.

THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER BUTTONS AND SWITCHES UP HERE THAT USE FOR THE AIRPLANE.

BUT I ACQUIRED THIS AIRPLANE IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND, AND WE ACTUALLY FLEW IT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I THINK I GOT IT.

>>OKAY.

>>SO HERE WE GO.

>>OKAY.

>>HANG ON, KERMIT.

>>YEAH.

IT WAS REALLY, HE DID REALLY GOOD, EXCEPT HE PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE MIXTURES FORWARDED BEFORE HE PUSHED THE BOTTOM PART.

ALL RIGHT.

>>WE'RE TAKING OFF.

>>YOU'RE ALMOST... YOU FLUNKED YOUR CHECK RIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD DEAL.

>>THANKS, KERMIT.

>>IF YOU DRIVE DOWN L.B.

BROWN AVENUE IN BARTOW, YOU'LL PASS BY THE L.B.

BROWN HOUSE AND MUSEUM.

THE STREET AND THE HOUSE STAND AS LIVING TESTIMONY TO ONE PERSON'S TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY.

>>L.B.

BROWN WAS A VERY INTERESTING PERSON.

HE BECAME A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR.

L.B.

BROWN CAME TO BARTOW IN THE LATE 1880S.

HE AND HIS MOTHER ACQUIRED TWO-ACRE PLOT INITIALLY.

AND ON THAT TWO-ACRE PLOT, HE BUILT THIS LITTLE MINI MANSION, TWO-STORY MANSION, APPROXIMATELY 1,700 SQUARE FEET.

IT HAS NINE ROOMS.

IT HAS A PUMP WELL AND A BUCKET WELL IN THE BACK.

AND OF COURSE, LIKE ALL HOMES IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME, IT HAS AN OUTHOUSE.

HE PROBABLY BUILT 40, 50 RENTAL HOUSES THROUGHOUT EAST BARTOW.

L.B.

BROWN WAS A REALLY COMMITTED COMMUNITY PERSON.

HE DONATED GENEROUSLY TO HIS COMMUNITY.

HE ASSISTED PEOPLE IN NEED.

AND FOR ALL OF HIS DEEDS AND HIS ACHIEVEMENTS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE NAMED HIM AS A GREAT FLORIDIAN.

AND HIS STORY IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT TELLS A STORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS CONTRIBUTIONS, NOT ONLY TO POLK COUNTY BUT ALSO TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

IT WAS CONSIDERABLE.

>>WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES THEIR WORK, YOU CAN'T FIND A BETTER EXAMPLE THAN JOHN MULLIS.

HE COMES TO HIS WORK FULL OF ENERGY, PASSION, AND FLAIR.

>>AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

IT WAS NASCAR RACES BACK HERE WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

JUST AN EXCITING SATURDAY NIGHT SHORT TRACK.

IT'S A BULLRING, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONTACT AND STUFF THAT GOES ON HERE.

AND ROUND HERE, IT'S ENTERTAINMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT.

SO WE FEEL WE GOT A REALLY GOOD SHOW HERE.

>>PART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT COMES FROM JOHN MULLIS, THE OFFICIAL FLAGMAN AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY, A JOB THAT HE'S BEEN DOING FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES.

>>I LOVE IT HERE AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY.

I STARTED WORKING HERE IN 1991, 30 YEARS AGO.

I WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

AND IT HAS BEEN A AWESOME EXPERIENCE.

I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUE TO DO SO TO THIS DAY.

WHEN I STARTED HERE, I WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

AND FOR THEM TO TRUST A 15-YEAR-OLD IN THE FLAG STAND, LOOKING BACK AT IT THEY MUST'VE TRUSTED ME TO DO THE JOB AT THAT YOUNG AGE.

>>I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

I REMEMBER JULIAN STARTING AS A YOUNG FLAGMAN.

WE CALL HIM JULIAN HERE.

HIS NAME IS JOHN MULLIS, BUT WE CALL HIM JULIAN.

HE REALLY DOES A GREAT JOB.

AND HE IS ENTERTAINING IN A FLAG STAND.

HE DOESN'T JUST STAND UP THERE AND WAVE THE FLAG UP AND DOWN.

HE PUTS ON A SHOW AND IT'S KNOWN.

I MEAN, HE'S ACTUALLY GOT HIS OWN FAN CLUB.

THAT'S PRETTY CRAZY THING.

BUT HE REALLY DOES A GREAT JOB.

>>THE MORE CARS, THE MORE EXCITED I GET I THINK.

AND YOU KNOW YOU GOT A BIG EVENT FIXING TO START, YOU GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT BUILDS AN ATMOSPHERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS LONG AS I'M MOVING AROUND UP THERE LIKE THAT, I'M ENJOYING MY JOB.

>>PEOPLE THAT ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ON A SHOW.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CARE THAT MUCH AND YOU'RE HERE EVERY WEEK FOR 30 YEARS, I MEAN THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

>>IF I DIDN'T COME OUT HERE, I WOULD BE LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN DOING IT SO LONG.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE MADE 30 YEARS.

OF COURSE, BACK WHEN YOU'RE 15 YEARS OLD, WHEN YOU START WITH THIS, YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE THAT FAR AHEAD.

YOU THINK IT'S SO FAR OUT THAT IT'S JUST NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT.

WELL, IT'S MADE IT.

I WEAR THAT AS A BADGE OF HONOR, I THINK, THAT I'VE LASTED IN DOING THIS 30 YEARS.

>>IF YOU'RE DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY 27 IN POLK COUNTY AND YOU GET THE URGE FOR A SWEET TREAT, CITRUS CANDY OR MAYBE SOME HOMEMADE MARMALADE, WELL, THEN YOU'LL WANT TO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR A PLACE CALLED DAVIDSON'S OF DUNDEE.

>>DAVIDSON OF DUNDEE WAS STARTED IN 1966 BY MY PARENTS.

MY FATHER GREW UP IN WINTER HAVEN.

HE LATER WORKED FOR A COMPANY CALLED SUNLINE INDUSTRIES.

THEY DEVELOPED PIXY STIX AND SWEETARTS.

AND THAT WAS IN ST. LOUIS.

MY PARENTS WANTED TO COME BACK DOWN TO CENTRAL FLORIDA, SO MY FATHER CAME DOWN AND STARTED THE CANDY FACTORY IN 1966.

SO WE MADE CITRUS CANDIES, MARMALADES, JELLIES, CHOCOLATES, COCONUT PATTIES, ALL KINDS OF GREAT-TASTING THINGS LIKE THAT.

MY FATHER HAD A REAL STRICT VIEWPOINT ON THINGS.

AND IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE HE SAID WE HAVE TO HAVE A NICHE.

WE'RE VERY SMALL, SO WE HAVE TO GO TO A LITTLE EXTRA TROUBLE AND MAKE THE VERY BEST WE CAN MAKE.

AND THAT'S USING THE VERY BEST INGREDIENTS YOU CAN GET.

>>THEY CONTROL THE QUALITY OF THE INGREDIENTS USED IN THEIR CANDIES, MARMALADES, AND JELLIES BY GROWING ALL OF THE FRUITS IN THEIR OWN GROVES.

VISITORS WHO STOP BY THE FACILITY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THROUGH THE GLASS WINDOWS AND SEE THESE DELICIOUS CREATIONS BEING MADE BY HAND.

>>IT JUST MAKES A WHOLE BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU MAKE IT HOMESTYLE WAY.

THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

NOW IT'S OPEN KETTLE WITH THE WOODEN PADDLES, YOU KNOW THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

THE TEMPERATURE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 240 DEGREES, SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY HOT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO POUR IT OUT ONTO MARBLE TABLES.

AND THE REASON WE DO THAT IS BECAUSE MARBLE HAS A VERY NATURAL COOLER TEMPERATURE.

SO WE CAN POUR 240-SOME DEGREE PRODUCT ON TOP OF THAT AND THE COOLING STARTS IMMEDIATELY.

AND BY COOLING THEM FASTER AND NATURALLY LIKE THAT, PRESERVES A LOT OF THE GOOD NATURAL FLAVORS.

IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

WE MAKE OVER 230 ITEMS HERE, SO IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE, PRETTY GOOD CHANCE THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE IT HERE.

>>WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY BLESSED WITH SOME REALLY GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE WORK WITH.

WE'VE GOT JUST SOME PEOPLE THAT JUST CARE SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S RIGHT, AND THAT'S HUGE.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE A SMALL COMPANY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THE VERY BEST THAT YOU CAN MAKE SO THAT PEOPLE WILL COME BACK.

WE HAVE TO BE SPECIAL, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT NICHE AND HAVE TO BE SPECIAL BY MAKING IT EXTRA TASTY, MAKING IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, MAKING SURE IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

>>FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MAY BE THE BEST-KNOWN ARCHITECT EVER, BUT WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT HIS BIGGEST SINGLE COMMISSION OF WORKS ARE RIGHT HERE IN POLK COUNTY ON THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE.

>>FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE COMMISSIONED FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT IN 1938.

WE HAD AN INGENIOUS PRESIDENT BY THE NAME OF DR. LUDD SPIVEY.

AND HE REACHED OUT TO FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT WITH A TELEGRAM ASKING WRIGHT FOR A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT HE REFERRED TO AS A GREAT EDUCATION TEMPLE.

WRIGHT WOULD PRODUCE 18 DIFFERENT DESIGNS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

IT WAS THE LONGEST EVER COMMISSION OF HIS ENTIRE CAREER AT 20 YEARS LONG, 1938 TO '58.

AND DURING THAT TIME, DR. SPIVEY WITH IMMENSE EFFORT WOULD BE ABLE TO FUND AND BUILD 12 OF THOSE 18 BUILDINGS.

A 13TH, OUR USONIAN HOUSE, WAS BUILT POSTHUMOUSLY IN 2013, GIVING US 13 TOTAL FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BUILDINGS.

THIS, OF COURSE, MAKES US NOT ONLY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S ONLY COLLEGE CAMPUS IN HIS CAREER, BUT ALSO THE SINGLE LARGEST ONE-SITE, ONE-CLIENT COLLECTION OF HIS WORKS IN THE WORLD AND THE LARGEST NUMBER BUILT TO AN OVERARCHING MASTER PLAN.

>>OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS THE ANNIE PFEIFFER CHAPEL HERE AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN.

IT WAS THE FIRST BUILDING TO BE COMPLETED IN 1938 TO 1941 AND IS OFTEN CONSIDERED TO BE BOTH THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CAMPUS, BEING WRIGHT'S ONLY VERTICAL STRUCTURE ON THE CAMPUS.

ALL OF THE MAJOR FEATURES THAT HE WOULD TYPICALLY DESIGN INTO BUILDINGS ARE PRESENT AND MASTERFULLY EXEMPLIFIED IN THAT STRUCTURE.

THE SMALLER WEDDING CHAPEL, THE WILLIAM DANFORTH CHAPEL, BUILT 1955, CONTAINS WRIGHT'S LAST EVER USE OF STAINED GLASS IN HIS CAREER, AS WELL AS ONE OF HIS LARGEST EVER STAINED-GLASS FACADES.

THE ESPLANADE IS THE SINGLE LONGEST COVERED WALKWAY DESIGN REALIZED IN WRIGHT'S CAREER.

IT CONNECTS ALMOST ALL OF OUR CAMPUS STRUCTURES TOGETHER AND REACHES OVER A MILE IN TOTAL LENGTH.

>>THE TERM USONIAN THAT WE USE TO DESCRIBE THE USONIAN HOUSE REFERS TO THE STYLE OF THE HOME, AND THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE HIS IDEA FOR THE IDEAL HOME FOR THE AVERAGE AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY.

THE WATER DOME, BESIDES BEING THE LARGEST EVER FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED WATER FEATURE EVER CONSTRUCTED, THE BASIN OF THE FOUNTAIN ITSELF WAS INSTALLED IN 1948.

THE TECHNOLOGY JUST WASN'T AVAILABLE TO BRING THE FOUNTAIN TO FULL REALIZATION, SO WRIGHT OPTED TO PUT IT IN INCOMPLETE AS JUST A REFLECTING POOL WITH THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE SOMEDAY COULD COME ALONG AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.

THE COLLEGE ONLY VERY RECENTLY IN 2008 FINALLY INSTALLED THE MEANS TO MAKE WRIGHT'S VISION A REALITY.

>>THERE IS NO OTHER INSTITUTION REALLY IN THE WORLD THAT LOOKS LIKE FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE.

FLORIDA SOUTHERN WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN 2012 THANKS TO ITS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CAMPUS.

>>THE COMMUNITY OF NALCREST IN POLK COUNTY HAS SOME INTERESTING AND UNIQUE HISTORY.

AFTER ALL, EVERYONE WHO WOUND UP IN THAT ZIP CODE HAS SOMETHING IN COMMON, THEY'RE ALL RETIRED POSTAL LETTER CARRIERS.

>>NALCREST IS A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY FOR UNION MEMBERS THAT ARE MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS.

BACK OVER 50 YEARS AGO, OUR NATIONAL PRESIDENT, WILLIAM DOUGHERTY, HAD A VISION TO ESTABLISH A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY FOR RETIRED LETTER CARRIERS, MEMBERS OF OUR UNION.

THE COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF 500 APARTMENTS, SINGLE STORY.

WE HAVE 66 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND 90 TOTAL BUILDINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT A VERY LOW COST TO OUR RETIRED LETTER CARRIER MEMBERS.

CURRENTLY, ALL OF OUR APARTMENTS ARE FILLED AND WE HAVE OVER 140 RETIRED LETTER CARRIERS ON THE WAITING LIST TO MOVE INTO NALCREST.

>>WE COME FROM BRANCH 3099 IN JASPER, ALABAMA.

IT'S JUST BEEN, IT'S PLEASURABLE.

IT'S RELAXING.

>>YES.

>>NO PRESSURE.

AND AFTER 34 YEARS OF CARRYING MAIL... >>YES.

>>THIS IS A GOOD EXPERIENCE.

>>NALCREST IS ACTUALLY AN ACRONYM FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS RETIREMENT EDUCATION SECURITY TRAINING FOUNDATION.

BUT IN THIS COMMUNITY OF RETIRED LETTER CARRIERS, YOU WON'T FIND A MAILMAN.

>>ONE UNUSUAL CONCEPT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT THERE'S NO MAIL DELIVERY.

LETTER CARRIERS AND RESIDENTS HAVE TO COME TO OUR POST OFFICE, TO NALCREST POST OFFICE, IN OUR TOWN CENTER TO PICK UP THEIR MAIL.

NALCREST IS OUR OWN CITY.

WE HAVE OUR OWN ZIP CODE.

SURPRISINGLY, THERE'S NO MAIL DELIVERY.

>>WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS OF TOURISM IN POLK COUNTY.

WELL, ONE OF THOSE EARLY DESTINATIONS WAS A PLACE CALLED CHALET SUZANNE.

IT'S NOT OPERATING ANYMORE, BUT DURING ITS HEYDAY IT WAS A REAL POPULAR SPOT.

>>CHALET SUZANNE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1931 BY BERTHA HINSHAW WHO HAD A DREAM TO MAKE A RESORT IN FLORIDA.

SHE FIRST OPENED HER HOME AS A RESTAURANT AND AN INN FOR TRAVELERS, AND THEY HAD INCREDIBLE FOOD.

THE MOST POPULAR THINGS THEY HAD WAS THEIR SOUPS, LIKE 31 DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

AND THEY CANNED THEM THERE ON SITE.

AND THE ASTRONAUTS ACTUALLY WOUND UP TAKING THEIR SOUP TO THE MOON ON APOLLO 15 AND 16.

IN 2014, CHALET SUZANNE CLOSED.

AND IT REALLY WAS VERY SAD AND HEARTBREAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

CHALET SUZANNE WAS FULL OF LUXURY AND CHARM AND BECAME KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL RESTAURANTS, RESORTS IN THIS KIND OF OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH PLACE OF LAKE WALES.

>>THINK YOU MIGHT KNOW A BIT ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA HISTORY THAT WE MISSED?

WELL THEN, HEAD ON OVER TO FACEBOOK.COM/WUCFTV AND LET US KNOW.

AND FOR MORE ADVENTURES AROUND OUR AREA, CHECK OUT THE OTHER EPISODES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROAD TRIP AT WUCF.ORG/ROADTRIP.

>>WELL, THAT'S IT FOR THIS POLK COUNTY EDITION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ROAD TRIP.

I'M DR. PHIL HOFFMAN.

PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE RICH HISTORY THAT SURROUNDS US ALL EVERY DAY RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.