Purpose

To protect, preserve and to share records, photographs and stories of people, events and customs of the history of Sebring and Highlands County.

To promote interest in the collection of historic material and to issue a quarterly publication to its members.

History

Participants in a class reunion in 1962 enjoyed reminising so much that Floyd Schumacher (of Withers & Harshman Citrus Company) invited a few friends to a party where conversation for the entire evening was centered around the events of the early days of Sebring. As a result of the interest, Schumacher gathered a few friends at Ford Heacock’s office and a plan was developed to organize the Sebring Historical Society. The Society was chartered August 7, 1968, with Ray Graddy as president. Meanwhile, Allen Altvater had been meticulously collecting Sebring’s history. This priceless heritage was donated to the Society and stored in the basement of the old Sebring Post Office. The collection remained in the basement until the new library was built on Lakeview Drive in 1989. The generosity of Woodrow Harshman’s financial contribution made possible the Society Archive’s present location in the downtown Library building. Archivist is on duty during the regular hours when the Society is open. State-of-the art equipment (including a microfilm reader/printer) is available for researchers.