The Polk County Historical Commission voted unanimously Thursday to recommend to Polk County Commissioners to keep a historical monument in its longtime home.

  • Monument one of three welcoming people to Polk County
  • Quirky monument has "Citrus" in "Citrus Center" misspelled
  • Currently sits in Osceola County near county line

The 18-foot, 22-ton monument is one of three that welcomes people into Polk County. It refers to the county as the “Citrus Center.”

According to Myrtice Young, the Preservation Manager at the Polk County History Center, it was constructed rapidly in 1930, to replace arches that showcased the more than 300 miles of new roads in Polk County.

“The fact that it features one of our earliest and one of our most significant industries -- citrus -- the fact that it’s at a very important boundary around Polk County, guiding people, proudly welcoming people in, it's very important to our past,” said Young.

Young went on to say the county decided to replace the arches with the monument, because 87 engineers from 35 countries were visiting Polk to check out its roads, as part of the Sixth International Road Convention.

The monument has a few quirks. On one side, "citrus" is actually spelled incorrectly as “citurs.”

Also, the monument is actually located in Osceola County, less than a mile from the Polk County line, on Old Dixie Highway, according to Young. The street is now labeled “Old Tampa Highway” and it’s near the intersection of Highway 17/92 and Osceola/Polk County Line Road.

While the roadway was a main thoroughfare in the 1930s, it is now a rural, remote road, virtually obsolete now that 17/92 is available.

Polk County commissioners had discussed moving the monument to a more prominent location in Polk County, such as the History Center.

“I’d like to see one here because I think it’d get more…more people would have the opportunity to look at it and check it out,” said Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell.  

Moving it to Bartow, however, would cost at least $20,000, according to Polk County Roads and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis.

“It’s not cheap," said Jarvis. "And there’s no guarantees as far as what condition it will be when we get there or when we try to move it. If it’s going to fall apart. Everything is pretty much a guess right now.”

Several people living and working near it said they want the monument to stay where it is.

“It was originally put there, and I feel if they move it, it’s not the original monument and it wouldn’t have the same symbolism as it does now,” said Mackenzie Brown, who babysits at a home nearby.

“I don’t see the use in moving it, really," said resident Monserrate Fortis. "It’s in front of my property and I kind of feel proud having a historic monument in front of my property."  

During the historical commission meeting, a representative from the Davenport Historical Society requested the monument stay in its current location. She said had a petition with 200 signatures from people living near it requesting it not be moved.

The vote to keep the monument in place included a commitment to explore preservation options, as well as enhancement options for the surrounding area.