The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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Peter Augustus Ruhl

Peter Augustus Ruhl—known universally across the Florida press corps as “Pete” or “Pa” Ruhl—was a veteran newspaperman and printer who founded The Avon Park Press in November 1915 before becoming the long-serving editor of The Sebring White Way.[pensacola-1906-09-18][lakeland-1915-11-16][ocala-star-1916-08-07]

Early Newspaper Career in Florida (1895–1915)

Ruhl’s printing career in Florida began in the nineteenth century. In July 1895, the Ocala Evening Star reported that P. A. Ruhl, formerly of Ocala, was serving as editor of the Baker County Press in Macclenny.[ocala-star-1895-07-19] By 1904 he was resident in Gainesville, and in 1905 he became business manager of the Bartow Courier-Informant in Polk County.[pensacola-1906-09-18] In September 1906, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners appointed Ruhl as the county’s commissioner to direct its agricultural and industrial exhibition at the Florida State Fair in Tampa.[pensacola-1906-09-18] Contemporary editors described him as “not only one of the best printers in the state—he is one of the best known.”[pensacola-1906-09-18]

During the early 1910s, Ruhl moved southward along the Gulf coast and Peace River drainage. He served as editor and manager of the Fort Myers Press in Lee County through 1912 and early 1913.[punta-gorda-1913-01-30][lakeland-1915-11-05] In October 1915, he was installed as city editor of the Arcadia Daily News, the daily organ of the DeSoto County seat.[punta-gorda-1915-10-14]

Founding The Avon Park Press (1915–1916)

In early November 1915, Ruhl left Arcadia and traveled to Avon Park to establish an independent weekly.[lakeland-1915-11-05] He launched The Avon Park Press, issuing the first number on Friday, 12 November 1915 as editor and proprietor.[punta-gorda-1915-11-11][lakeland-1915-11-16] During the same period, Ruhl participated in the management of The Zolfo Truth in neighboring Zolfo Springs, establishing the contract-printing connection that sustained the Avon Park newspaper.[punta-gorda-1916-04-20]

In mid-April 1916, Ruhl resigned his editorial chairs at both Avon Park and Zolfo Springs to take editorial charge of The Sebring White Way.[desoto-news-1916-04-20][punta-gorda-1916-04-20] The De Soto County News observed on 20 April 1916 that Ruhl, “who is responsible for the birth of the Avon Park Press, has left it in the care of others, and accepted a promising proposition at Sebring.”[desoto-news-1916-04-20]

Later Career in Highlands County (1916–1930)

At Sebring, Ruhl conducted The Sebring White Way into the 1920s alongside his wife, affectionately known throughout the state press as “Ma Ruhl,” and their son.[ocala-star-1916-08-07][punta-gorda-1918-09-12] During World War I in the autumn of 1918, Ruhl took a civilian post in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Department in Atlanta while Mrs. Ruhl continued publishing the paper in Sebring.[punta-gorda-1918-09-12]

Ruhl was an active civic figure in the upper Lake Wales Ridge region during the campaign to create Highlands County. In April 1920, he represented Sebring at the DeSoto County Press Association meeting alongside George W. Adams of the Avon Park Printing Company and Stuart Hancock of Zolfo Springs.[punta-gorda-1920-04-08] In April 1921, he served as manager of the Sebring baseball franchise in the newly organized Ridge Baseball League alongside managers from Frostproof, Lake Wales, and Haines City.[lakeland-1921-04-01] In April 1930, Ruhl expanded his regional publishing ventures by purchasing The Okeechobee News.[brooksville-1930-04-10]

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. The Ocala Evening Star, The Ocala Evening Star, 19 July 1895, page 1: P. A. Ruhl, Editor of the Baker County Press (1895) · newspaper
  2. The Pensacola Journal, The Pensacola Journal, 18 September 1906, page 4: P. A. Ruhl Business Manager of Bartow Courier-Informant (1906) · newspaper
  3. The Punta Gorda Herald, The Punta Gorda Herald, 30 January 1913, page 5: P. A. Ruhl of Fort Myers, Formerly Editor of the Press (1913) · newspaper
  4. The Punta Gorda Herald, The Punta Gorda Herald, 14 October 1915, page 4: Peter A. Ruhl City Editor of Arcadia Daily News (1915) · newspaper
  5. The Lakeland Evening Telegram, The Lakeland Evening Telegram, 5 November 1915, page 5: P. A. Ruhl En-Route to Avon Park (1915) · newspaper
  6. The Punta Gorda Herald, The Punta Gorda Herald, 11 November 1915, page 4: Avon Park Weekly Paper Called The Press (1915) · newspaper
  7. The Lakeland Evening Telegram, The Lakeland Evening Telegram, 16 November 1915, page 4: The Press, with P. A. Ruhl, Editor and Proprietor (1915) · newspaper
  8. The De Soto County News, The De Soto County News, 20 April 1916, page 5: Avon Park Column on Pete Ruhl and Avon Park Press (1916) · newspaper
  9. The Punta Gorda Herald, The Punta Gorda Herald, 20 April 1916, page 4: P. A. Ruhl Severed Connection with Zolfo Truth (1916) · newspaper
  10. The Ocala Evening Star, The Ocala Evening Star, 7 August 1916, page 2: Peter Augustus Ruhl in Charge of Sebring White Way (1916) · newspaper
  11. The Punta Gorda Herald, The Punta Gorda Herald, 12 September 1918, page 4: Pete Ruhl in Quartermaster's Department and Ma Ruhl Editing White Way (1918) · newspaper
  12. The Punta Gorda Herald, The Punta Gorda Herald, 8 April 1920, page 3: DeSoto County Press Association Meeting (1920) · newspaper
  13. The Lakeland Evening Telegram, The Lakeland Evening Telegram, 1 April 1921, page 6: Ridge Baseball League Managers (1921) · newspaper
  14. The Brooksville Journal, The Brooksville Journal, 10 April 1930, page 2: The Okeechobee News Purchased by P. A. Ruhl (1930) · newspaper

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