July 16 is a notable day in Lake County history.
On July 16, 1888, a final and contested election was held to determine the permanent county seat for the newly formed Lake County.
Tavares received 1,162 votes, beating out Leesburg, which received 927 votes. Leesburg residents vehemently charged election fraud, but their protests were to no avail, and Tavares officially claimed the title of county seat.
On July 16, 1949, one of the darkest chapters in Florida’s civil rights history began. The persecution of the Groveland Four started with a 17-year-old white woman named Norma Padgett accusing four young Black men — Ernest Thomas, Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepher and Walter Irvin — of assaulting her and her husband after their car stalled on a rural road near Groveland.
The ensuing events involved lynch mobs, severe police brutality by Sheriff Willis McCall, coerced confessions, and the murders of both Thomas and Shepherd. It took 70 years for the state to formally acknowledge the gross miscarriage of justice, culminating in posthumous pardons for all four men in 2019. A historical marker acknowledging this history now stands outside the Old Lake County Courthouse in Tavares. Recently, restitution funds were greenlighted to the Groveland Four’s families.
On a lighter community note, the city of Leesburg signed a long-term lease with the Leesburg Boat Clubon July 16, 1962. The agreement allowed the club’s leadership to issue bonds to construct their clubhouse on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
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A historic reading in the Towne Square
A passage by Mike Cross, a dedicated local historian, seventh-generation Floridian, and member of the Lake Sumter chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is known for his community involvement, including participating in historical reenactments, bell-ringing ceremonies at the Clifford House, and marching in Central Florida parades.
What’s better than traveling back in time? Taking others back in time with you.
Yesterday, I proudly stood with my brothers as we read the Declaration of Independence at Veterans Park on July 8th, 2026, marking the 250th year of our country. Earlier this year, I spoke with Candy Davis, Regent of the Mary Ellen Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She asked me if I wanted to read, and without hesitation, I said YES!
As we planned and the event drew closer, Candy encouraged other members of the Lake Sumter Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) to read various parts of the Declaration.
It is a long read, and even though I probably could have managed it, it was far better to share the reading. It was my first time, and I believe theirs as well.
It was every bit as powerful as I had imagined. The SAR and the DAR members were all dressed in period clothing, and as the words were delivered, we were transported back in time to July 8th, 1776, when Colonel John Nixon read it to the assembled crowd in Philadelphia. The Committee of Five had been appointed in June to draft this Declaration. The five were: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. As this document was first being read, there would have been booing, catcalls, and “God Save the King!” yelled from a divided crowd.
So today, in 2026, we could not be more honored; nothing could be more important or more relevant than reading this Declaration of Independence. The weight of 91,312 days was palpable. The legacy of roughly eight generations in this new country could be felt as we read in front of the Mary Ellen Robertson DAR’s very own Liberty Tree at Veterans Memorial Park. How appropriate.
From our LSSAR Chapter, Fred LaBarron was our first reader, then Mathew Carter read the grievances, and I, Mike Cross, read the last part of the Declaration. Jacob Lane read the signers.
The Mary Ellen Robertson Chapter DAR had dedicated a Revolutionary War Monument at this park earlier this year, beginning our SAR-DAR partnership. Our strength is in our unity, and we are getting popular. One lady and her son came all the way from Fort Myers to participate, fully dressed up! I want to thank the Mary Ellen Robertson Chapter DAR for having us read the Declaration of Independence these 250 years later.
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Bye for now,
JG
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Hal Urban turns 102!
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
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By Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial | USA TODAY Network
