
A Snippet of Mystery; A Whole Lot of History
By Richard Lee Cronin
Jack’s Lake sits in the shadow of Clermont’s famous Citrus Tower. Located on the east side of the city’s Grand Highway, this historic lake teases one’s curiosity with its intriguing name. Or perhaps I should rightfully state, an intriguing name that teases this author’s curious mind! The first question that popped into my mind upon seeing the lake’s name was who was Jack? And next, I pondered who named Jack’s Lake and why?
In search of answers, I searched Professor William T. Kennedy’s History of Lake County with hopes of learning about Jacks identity, but quick and easy answers rarely go hand in hand with searching Central Florida’s past. I enjoy researching – and it’s a good thing I do – for rarely are the facts of yesteryear easy to find.
Professor Kennedy’s history didn’t identify Jack, but it did provide an invaluable clue or two. “George W. Hull, in 1882,” wrote the Professor in 1929, “preempted and occupied 120 acres lying on the border of what is now known as Jack’s Lake but was called Lake Afton by Hull and his early associates.” Hull’s “associates” were Ralph G. Humiston, William A. Smith, and George W. Hull, partners in an 1883 land acquisition that was to become the town of Minneola.
While Professor Kennedy did not say who Jack of Jack’s Lake was, he did establish for us that the lake had been named Jack’s as of 1929. The professor also stated that the lake had an earlier name – assigned to it by homesteader George W. Hull, a resident of Clermont before the town of Clermont was established, and before this corner of Sumter County had become Lake County in 1887.
A town of Minneola had been established on the east shore of Cow House Lake prior to the lake’s name being changed to Lake Minneola. A Minneola Post Office opened on 15 February 1883, with the first Postmaster being George W. Hull. (Sumter County in the early 1880s had two George W. Hull’s, one in the Umatilla area, the other being our Minneola Postmaster. This latter George, of Cow House Lake, had married Alice May Bailey on 3 December 1873 at St. Paul, Minnesota. George and Alice were residing in Herman, Minnesota during the 1800 census, and apparently relocated soon after to Sumter County, Florida.
Hull’s Homestead, as Professor Kennedy had said, was 120 acres in size. The property included a lake that we know today as Jack’s Lake. The Professor also said the Hull’s had named their lake Afton. William T/ Kennedy concluded his history of Jack’s Lake at that point, but as I said earlier, he did provide several clues on where to look next in our quest to discover Jack’s identity.
The name Afton was presumably chosen by George and Alice Hull for the Afton Alps of Afton, Minnesota. Located on the St. Croix River, a settlement of Afton had been established in 1837, and then Platted as a town in 1855. The first Afton hotel opened in 1867, six years before George married Alice in St. Paul, Minnesota. Did the newlyweds honeymoon at Afton” Were the Afton Alps a favorite vacation spot of his family? Or maybe her family?
The name Afton, a placename said to have been named for the 1791 Robert Burns poem “Sweet Afton,” obviously meant something special to George & Alice (Bailey) Hull to choose it as the name for the lake on their newly acquired Minneola, Florida property.
The first Stanza of Sweet Afton, by Robert Burns
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes!
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise!
My Mary's asleep by the murmuring stream --
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream!
George and Alice Hull eventually relocated to Tampa, where George died, on 12 March 1914, two days prior to an “attractive new Clermont Country Club, situated on a beautiful location on Lake Minnehaha,” opened its doors to prospective new members. Due south of Lake Sunny Side, the clubhouse was to be the focal point of a major residential development which in time was to reach as far east as Lake Afton.
HISTORIC FLORIDA LAKES & WATERWAYS
An Encyclopedia of 415 Central Florida Lakes
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Jack's Lake is but one of 415 Historic Citrus Belt lakes
Or buy this book at Pine Castle Pioneer Days, February 22nd & 23rd
Heritage Day, Ethel State Park, March 22nd
“Clermont, Fla:” headlined an article appearing in The Tampa Times of 23 March 1914. “Easily the most important and auspicious event in the history of this section of Lake County, occurred last evening.” The Times article reported that nearly a hundred guests enjoyed a banquet during which several notable speakers addressed the audience.
Among the guest speakers addressing the attendees was Jack!
Next week, 6 February 2025, the conclusion to Jack’s Lake, Clermont, Florida
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