The conclusion of The Fifty Years of Sebring, 1912–1962 summarizes a challenge to historians: “All histories share two characteristics: they omit far more than they tell, and they are unending.” Our purpose in these pages is to provide a glimpse of life in early Sebring. To the extent we have succeeded, we owe a great deal to the generosity of others.
This project would not have materialized without the steadfast assistance and guidance of Sebring Historical Society archivist Carole Goad. Her wide-ranging knowledge of Sebring’s people, places, and events is impressive, and her friendship and affable spirit are greatly appreciated. Volunteers Jackie Koza, Gary Harnage, and Elizabeth Walker provided helpful assistance in our research, and it has been a pleasure to work on this project with the Sebring Historical Society.
The invaluable assistance of Allen C. Altvater III deserves special recognition. Allen has done much to preserve the history of Sebring by updating and publishing works his grandfather Allen C. Altvater authored. For allowing us to reproduce photographs from the Allen C. Altvater Collection and for help identifying Sebring sites, we extend our gratitude. Others who provided assistance include Marie Williams Daniels, David Klatt, Sarah E. MacDonald, Betty Jo Priest, Thelma Pyle, Mike Sawyer, and Mandy Sheets. Arcadia Publishing has been wonderful to work with, from our initial conversations with Ingrid Powell, to the cheerful guidance of Kate Crawford and Lauren Bobier.
Special appreciation goes to Patricia Mays Hollenberg, a treasured friend for 37 years, and to Constance Marsh MacDonald and Malcolm M. MacDonald.
This project has been of intense personal interest. Susan Priest MacDonald is a proud 1976 graduate of Sebring High School, living in Sebring from 1969 until 1978, and her family remained in town until 2004. At the time of their marriage, she and Randall M. MacDonald learned that his grandmother Ruth Newcomb Greene MacDonald vacationed in Sebring as a young woman, visiting Kenilworth Lodge to golf. Sebring holds a special place for us, just as it does for so many others, and we look forward to seeing what comes next as the history of Sebring continues.