The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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The South Florida Community College Foundation’s Acquisition of the Hotel Jacaranda (1988–1994) and the 1990 National Register Ownership Error

Summary

The February 1990 National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Avon Park Historic District (Reference No. 90000486) states in Section 8 (pages 9–10) that the Hotel Jacaranda “was recently purchased by Highlands County and is now used as a part of the Community College system as a hotel and restaurant training center.”[nrhp-90000486] By contrast, the institutional history of South Florida State College states that the South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. acquired the hotel in 1988 for student housing and culinary arts instruction.[sfsc-history]

Recorded deeds and mortgages in the Highlands County Official Records resolve both the identity of the buyer and the two-year span between 1988 and 1990:

  1. Highlands County never purchased or held title to the Hotel Jacaranda. The 1990 National Register nomination, drafted by Tallahassee Bureau of Historic Preservation historians Stephen A. Olausen and Barbara E. Mattick from a 1989 historic properties survey, conflated the college’s non-profit direct-support organization (South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc.) with the county government.[nrhp-90000486][hcor-1114-1378][hcpao-jacaranda]
  2. The Foundation began operating and acquiring the hotel in 1988 and closed fee-simple title on 29 June 1990. Although the college’s Foundation entered into its acquisition and began using the building as a dormitory and culinary training center in 1988, the statutory warranty deed conveying the four Hotel Jacaranda tracts in Block 48 from private owner Preston B. Weeks to South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. was executed and recorded on 29 June 1990 (Official Records Book 1114, Pages 1378–1379) for a consideration of $600,000.00.[sfsc-history][nrhp-90000486][hcor-1114-1378][hcpao-jacaranda]
  3. Sun Bank/Mid-Florida donated the remaining Main Street frontage in 1994. On 21 March 1994 (recorded 29 March 1994, Official Records Book 1252, Page 311), Sun Bank/Mid-Florida, N.A. (formerly Avon Citrus Bank) conveyed the West 120 feet of Lots 10 and 11 of Block 48 to the Foundation by gift warranty deed, completing the current parcel footprint at 19 East Main Street.[hcor-1252-311][hcpao-jacaranda]

The Callaway and Weeks Ownership Chain (1969–1990)

Title exceptions recited in the 1986 and 1990 instruments trace the hotel’s private ownership during the two decades preceding the college’s acquisition:

  • E. F. Callaway and Katherine S. Callaway (by 1969–1980): By 3 September 1969, E. F. Callaway and his wife Katherine S. Callaway held title to the Hotel Jacaranda, executing a $100,000 mortgage to Avon Citrus Bank (Official Records Book 339, Page 78), a UCC-1 financing statement to Avon Citrus Bank (Official Records Book 537, Page 892), and a later mortgage for $66,740.94 to Avon Citrus Bank on 18 January 1982 (Official Records Book 397, Page 251).[hcor-904-16]
  • Preston B. Weeks and Martha Ruth Weeks (1980–1986): In June 1980, Martha Ruth Weeks (also known as Martha Ruth Wilson) and her husband Preston B. Weeks acquired the hotel from E. F. and Katherine S. Callaway, executing a $500,000.00 purchase-money mortgage to the Callaways dated 5 June 1980 (or 4 June 1980 as recited in the 1990 release) and recorded 11 June 1980 in Official Records Book 654, Page 504 (Instrument #446041).[hcor-904-16][hcor-1115-880]
  • Consolidation of Sole Title in Preston B. Weeks (1986): Following the dissolution of the Weeks marriage on 3 October 1983 (Highlands County Case No. 83-297-F, Official Records Book 768, Page 585), Ruth Weeks Allen (formerly Martha Ruth Weeks) executed a warranty deed on 4 September 1986 (recorded 5 September 1986 in Official Records Book 904, Pages 16–18, Instrument #593200) conveying her interest in the hotel property to Preston B. Weeks, whose post office address was listed as 19 East Main Street, Avon Park, Florida.[hcor-904-16] The deed carried $2,331.00 in Florida documentary stamp tax, reflecting a stated consideration of $466,200.00, and was accompanied by a Mortgage Modification Agreement with E. F. Callaway dated 5 September 1986 and recorded 9 September 1986 in Official Records Book 904, Page 453.[hcor-904-16][hcor-1115-880]

Preservation of the DeSoto-Era Liquor Covenants in Block 48

Exhibit “B” (Permitted Title Exceptions — Jacaranda Hotel) of the 4 September 1986 deed (Official Records Book 904, Page 18) also enumerates seventeen early townsite deeds recorded in DeSoto County prior to the 1921 creation of Highlands County that imposed perpetual restrictions against the sale or service of alcoholic beverages on the lots comprising Block 48:[hcor-904-16]

“5. Those restrictions regarding service of liquor contained within the following deeds recorded in the DeSoto County Public Records: Deed Book 22 Page 630; Deed Book 50 Page 199; Deed Book 19, Page 371; Deed Book 29 Page 303; Deed Book 15 Page 195; Deed Book 28 Page 327; Deed Book 24 Page 153; Deed Book 28 Page 360; Deed Book 24 Page 529; Deed Book 25 Page 522; Deed Book 28 Page 158; Deed Book 31 Page 438; Deed Book 27 Page 419; Deed Book 27 Page 701; Deed Book 28 Page 322; Deed Book 29 Page 636; and Deed Book 20 Page 175.”[hcor-904-16]

The 1988–1990 Acquisition by the South Florida Community College Foundation

The South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. held its first organizational meeting on 15 May 1984 and was incorporated as a Florida non-profit corporation (Document No. N03622) on 13 June 1984.[sfsc-history][hcor-1115-878] According to the college’s institutional chronology, the Foundation acquired the Hotel Jacaranda in 1988 as part of an effort to support the economic redevelopment of downtown Avon Park while providing student dormitory housing and an instructional hotel and restaurant facility for the college’s hospitality and culinary programs.[sfsc-history]

When field surveyors from Historic Property Associates documented Main Street in 1989 and Bureau of Historic Preservation historians Stephen A. Olausen and Barbara E. Mattick prepared the National Register nomination in February 1990 (listed 22 March 1990), the college was already operating the hotel as a hospitality training center.[nrhp-90000486] Unfamiliar with the distinction between the county government and the college’s non-profit foundation, the nomination authors wrote that the building had been “recently purchased by Highlands County and is now used as a part of the Community College system as a hotel and restaurant training center.”[nrhp-90000486]

Formal closing and transfer of fee-simple title took place four months after the National Register nomination was drafted. On 29 June 1990, Lake Placid attorney Michael A. Rider recorded two consecutive instruments in the Highlands County Official Records:

  1. Warranty Deed (OR Book 1114, Pages 1378–1379, Instrument #0711070, recorded 29 June 1990 at 3:33 p.m.): Grantor Preston B. Weeks conveyed the four Hotel Jacaranda tracts in Block 48 of the Town of Avon Park (Section 22, Township 33 South, Range 28 East, citing Plat Book 1, Page 58) to South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc., a Florida Non-profit Corporation, whose address was recorded as 600 West College Drive, Avon Park, Florida 33825.[hcor-1114-1378] The deed bears $3,300.00 in Florida documentary stamps ($0.55 per $100), establishing a purchase price of $600,000.00.[hcor-1114-1378][hcpao-jacaranda]
  2. Mortgage Deed and Security Agreement (OR Book 1114, Pages 1380–1384, Instrument #0711071, recorded 29 June 1990 at 3:34 p.m.): Executed on behalf of South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. by its president, Wendell W. Williams, and attested by its secretary, Mary Ellen Ward, the mortgage secured a loan of $86,400.00 from SunBank/South Central Florida, National Association of Sebring across the same four parcels in Block 48.[hcor-1114-1380]
  3. Corporate Status Certificate and Release of the 1980 Callaway Mortgage (OR Book 1115, Pages 878–881, Instruments #0711783 and #0711784, recorded 10 July 1990): On 2 July 1990, E. F. Callaway and Katherine S. Callaway executed a Satisfaction of Mortgage in Newton County, Georgia, acknowledging full payment and cancellation of the 1980 $500,000 Weeks mortgage (OR Book 654, Page 504) and its 1986 modification (OR Book 904, Page 453).[hcor-1115-880] Attorney Michael A. Rider recorded the release on 10 July 1990 immediately after a Certificate of Corporate Status issued by Florida Secretary of State Jim Smith on 26 June 1990 confirming the active non-profit standing of South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc.[hcor-1115-878][hcor-1115-880]

Following closing, the Foundation completed a comprehensive restoration of the hotel in 1991, recorded on the Highlands County Property Appraiser’s permanent building card as AYB: 1926 ... (RESTORED 1991).[hcpao-jacaranda]

The 1994 Sun Bank/Mid-Florida Gift Conveyance

The 1986 and 1990 deeds conveyed only the East 1/2 of Lots 10 and 11 in Block 48 alongside the West 50 feet of Lots 9 and 12, Lots 14 and 15, the North 20 feet of Lot 18, and portions of Lots 13, 16, and 17.[hcor-904-16][hcor-1114-1378] On 21 March 1994 (recorded 29 March 1994 in Official Records Book 1252, Page 311, Instrument #0832838), Sun Bank/Mid-Florida, N.A., formerly known as Avon Citrus Bank, acting through Senior Vice President John C. Shoop and witnessed by Lucille J. Edwards and T. Lynn Whidden, executed a statutory warranty deed conveying the West 120 feet of Lots 10 and 11, Block 48, Town of Avon Park to The South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. (23 E. Main Street, Avon Park).[hcor-1252-311] The deed recites on its face:

“This conveyance is a gift from the Grantor to the Grantee. No monetary consideration has been paid.”[hcor-1252-311]

Today the unified parcel (A-22-33-28-010-0480-0100, 19 East Main Street) remains titled in South Florida State College Foundation, Inc. (600 West College Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825).[hcpao-jacaranda]

Date Instrument Grantor Grantee Consideration / Terms
5 June 1980 (rec. 11 June 1980) Mortgage (OR 654/504, #446041) Martha Ruth Weeks & Preston Weeks E. F. Callaway & Katherine S. Callaway $500,000.00 purchase-money mortgage on Hotel Jacaranda parcels
4 Sept. 1986 (rec. 5 Sept. 1986) Warranty Deed (OR 904/16, #593200) Ruth Weeks Allen (f/k/a Martha Ruth Weeks) Preston B. Weeks $466,200.00 ($2,331.00 doc stamps); conveys undivided title to Preston B. Weeks
1988 Operational acquisition Preston B. Weeks South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. Initial acquisition and assumption of operations for student housing and hospitality training
29 June 1990 Warranty Deed (OR 1114/1378, #0711070) Preston B. Weeks South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. $600,000.00 ($3,300.00 doc stamps); conveys fee-simple title to four tracts in Block 48
29 June 1990 Mortgage (OR 1114/1380, #0711071) South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. SunBank/South Central Florida, N.A. $86,400.00 mortgage signed by Pres. Wendell W. Williams and Sec. Mary Ellen Ward (satisfied 27 April 1995, OR 1292/1738)
2 July 1990 (rec. 10 July 1990) Satisfaction of Mortgage (OR 1115/880, #0711784) E. F. Callaway & Katherine S. Callaway Martha Ruth Weeks & Preston Weeks Releases 1980 $500,000 mortgage (OR 654/504) and 1986 modification (OR 904/453)
21 March 1994 (rec. 29 March 1994) Gift Warranty Deed (OR 1252/311, #0832838) Sun Bank/Mid-Florida, N.A. (f/k/a Avon Citrus Bank) The South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. Gift ($0); conveys West 120 feet of Lots 10 and 11, Block 48

References

Where this comes from

Evidence
corroborated — More than one independent source agrees.
Review
unverified — Drafted from sources but not yet checked by a volunteer.
Rights
society

Sources

  1. Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Warranty Deed from Ruth Weeks Allen to Preston B. Weeks, 4 September 1986, recorded 5 September 1986, Highlands County Official Records Book 904, Pages 16–18 (Instrument #593200) (1986) · official
  2. Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Warranty Deed from Preston B. Weeks to South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc., 29 June 1990, Highlands County Official Records Book 1114, Pages 1378–1379 (Instrument #0711070) (1990) · official
  3. Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Mortgage Deed and Security Agreement from South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. to SunBank/South Central Florida, N.A., 29 June 1990, Highlands County Official Records Book 1114, Pages 1380–1384 (Instrument #0711071) (1990) · official
  4. Florida Department of State and Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Florida Department of State Certificate of Corporate Status for South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. (Document No. N03622), dated 26 June 1990, recorded 10 July 1990, Highlands County Official Records Book 1115, Pages 878–879 (Instrument #0711783) (1990) · official
  5. Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Satisfaction of Mortgage from E. F. Callaway and Katherine S. Callaway to Martha Ruth Weeks and Preston Weeks, dated 2 July 1990, recorded 10 July 1990, Highlands County Official Records Book 1115, Pages 880–881 (Instrument #0711784) (1990) · official
  6. Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Warranty Deed from Sun Bank/Mid-Florida, N.A. (f/k/a Avon Citrus Bank) to The South Florida Community College Foundation, Inc., dated 21 March 1994, recorded 29 March 1994, Highlands County Official Records Book 1252, Page 311 (Instrument #0832838) (1994) · official
  7. Highlands County Property Appraiser, Highlands County Property Appraiser Parcel Record A-22-33-28-010-0480-0100 (19 E. Main Street, Avon Park, FL 33825, Jacaranda Hotel) (2026) · official
  8. Stephen A. Olausen and Barbara E. Mattick, Bureau of Historic Preservation, Tallahassee, for the National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Avon Park Historic District (Reference No. 90000486) (1990) · official
  9. South Florida State College, South Florida State College: 1965–2025 (Institutional History) (2025) · official

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