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.