Lake City Celebrates 150th Anniversary
Lake City will celebrate a momentous milestone in 2009, as the city marks
its 150th anniversary.
Historians tell us that there was an Indian town at the present site of Lake
City as late as 1817, under a Seminole Chief by the name of HALPATTER
TUSTENNUGGEE, also called Alligator. Chief Alligator gave his name to the
village.
The beautiful fresh water lakes in and around their beautiful settlement
with the great forests, fertile lands, exotic plants and green pastures
brilliant m the warmth of the sun and the showers of this semi-tropical land
brought a certain feeling of innate pride to these early settlers. They
became impatient with the name Alligator and sought a name more in keeping
with this sense of their appreciation of God’s good earth where they had
come to establish their homes, live their lives and pass on down to their
children’s children.
On Dec. 14, 1858, a legislative bill was introduced to change the name of
the town of Alligator to Lake City and was suggested by Mrs. Alex Young and
Col. Robert Brown, Columbia County representative, introduced the bill.
The city was incorporated as Lake City on January 15, 1859.
To commemorate this event in April of 2008, the City appointed a
Sesquicentennial Committee to plan a year-long event. Mayor Stephen Witt is
the chairman of the group.
The City, County and the community are coming together to celebrate this
event
Many of the annual events in Lake City and Columbia County will be used to
celebrate the milestone with the Quilt Walk, Fourth of July, Christmas
Festival, Olustee Festival and Alligator Festival being just a few of the
events that could be used to celebrate Lake City’s 150th birthday.
Several new events are planned to celebrate the event.
The Lake City/Columbia County Chamber of Commerce plans to combine its
annual meeting with the Lake City Sesquicentennial kick-off dinner. The
Sesquicentennial committee will organize the event and invite Governor
Charlie Crist, as well as state and U.S. legislators. The Chamber will
conduct its annual meeting at the beginning of the event and the
Sesquicentennial committee will take over with its agenda. The event will be
held at the Lake City Community College. Tickets may be purchased at the
Chamber or by sponsorship of the Sesquicentennial Celebration.
In April a Sesquicentennial Founders Day event will be held in Memorial
Stadium. It will be a day of community – honoring the founders of our
community and celebrating those who add to our community today. It will be
full off good food and great fun for the family. Everyone is invited to this
event.
Anyone interested in helping out with the sesquicentennial planning should
call Jackie Kite at 719-5766.