LAKELAND: The past makes a new present

by Dean Poling

Walking along the streets of Lakeland is unlike visiting the downtown of most other towns and cities. Lakeland is the embodiment of the town’s simultaneous past, present and future.

All downtowns are amalgamations of the “then”, the “now”, and the “to be”. Downtown Valdosta is discovering a 21st century identity among its historic century-old architecture.

While some cities seek new spirit among the framing of past architecture, Downtown Lakeland has found something new by absolutely embracing its past.

Murals shadow the sides of Lakeland’s downtown buildings, silhouette second-story windows, linger beside doorways. These murals are peopled by faces of folks who lived in Lakeland more than 80 years ago. They reflect the life and population of the town in the years before the Lanier County seat was even named Lakeland.

The mural series is often called Milltown Murals because Milltown was the town’s name until 1925 when the name changed to Lakeland in honor of beautiful Banks Lake but, more importantly, the murals bring a sense of 1920s Milltown to life.

The two dozen murals were initiated by the efforts of Nell Patten Roquemore, a Lanier County native and author of two books on Lakeland and Lanier County, and the organization Let’s Improve Lanier’s Appearance (LILA). They commissioned South Carolina-based mural artist Ralph Waldrop to create a few murals for Lakeland’s downtown buildings. He created the murals using actual photographs from the Milltown era and from a period of time which Roquemore recalls from her childhood (some of the murals include portraits of her and her family).

While the murals cling to Lakeland’s past, they have given Lakeland new potential for the present and future as a place where tourists visit.

Gov. “Sonny” Perdue visited Lakeland to name it Georgia’s Historic Mural City.

Meanwhile, this mining of the past into something new for the future has affected other efforts within Lakeland-Lanier County.

In 2006, with an effort nicknamed “The Big Move,” Downtown Lakeland’s old, brick, high school auditorium was sectioned into quarters, and each segment hydraulically hoisted onto the beds of monstrous tractor-trailer rigs.

“The Big Move” moniker came to rumbling life when these trucks moved these sections from Downtown Lakeland to the city limits. There, the sections have been re-attached for what is alternatively called the future Oak Lawn Civic Center or the Jim and Mary Threatte Arts & Civic Center.



Planners believe it will one day be an arts center to host arts exhibits, shows, concerts, conferences and the popular, annual Deer Fest which has funded the building’s move and renovation. In 2006, organizers announced a hope to hold the 2007 Deer Fest in the revamped building. That didn’t happen, but work continues at the site.

Meanwhile, Lakeland-Lanier County attracts new business and industry. As it did during its most recent banquet, Lakeland-Lanier County Chamber of Commerce continues saluting both newcomers and long-time businesses in the community.

It’s a fine balance of old and new which is taking Lakeland into the future.

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