liveoaks

Poem reads: "Why will folks their winters spend Where ice and snow never end. While in De Land the warm sun shines, And zephyrs whisper in the pines? Oh fair city of De Land, In this lovely spot I take my stand, Here every charm of nature lies, A symbol of God's Paradise. Beneath a sky of azure hue, Where sunshine greets the whole year through, With fruit and flowers on every hand, Al these you'll find in Fair De Land. The evening bells of Stetson 'U', That greet the stars and falling dew, What sweeter chimes you'll find than these To float upon a Southern breeze? Her spires of many churches tell That God's children love Him well, Schools, homes, kind friends and love abound To greet the stranger on his round. So meet me here in Fair De Land, And then you, too, will take your stand, And say here is Earth's Paradise-- That here her choicest treasure lies. W.G.S. Lowe"

From: Florida State Parks .org "In the 1920s, Rainbow Springs was a favorite spot for tourists and locals. As the attraction grew, the river was dredged for glass bottom boat tours; and waterfalls were built on piles of phosphate tailings. A zoo, rodeo, gift shops and a monorail with leaf-shaped gondolas were added. In the mid-1970s, when larger theme parks lured the tourists away, Rainbow Springs was closed. In the mid-1990s, it reopened as a state park. In 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior designated Rainbow River as a National Natural Landmark. It is also an aquatic preserve and an Outstanding Florida Water."  

Pixel Wrangler Thanks Pixel! Listen to glass bottom boat captain Skipper Locket perform part of his Rainbow Springs chant at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center (White Springs, FL) in 1956: floridamemory.com/audio/occupational.php#07.

Florida Memory That two-minute clip is fantastic!  I don't think anyone could listen to it without having a smile on their face! ;)

Pixel Wrangler It's one of our favorites!