Tell

Several people have asked about Lowdermilk Park in Naples, Florida.

I did a google search and a clusty search and found that Lowdermilk Park is very nice and very popular but nothing about it's name or origin.
Then I got smart and sent a query to the City of Naples. Got a prompt reply.

Fred Lowdermilk was the first city manager for the City of Naples after it was rechartered from the Town of Naples in 1949. His term lasted until 1961, and the park was dedicated on July 4th, 1961 in his honor.

Juanita's book shows Fred Maxwell Lowdermilk was born in Sullivan Indiana on November 9th, 1895 and died in Naples Florida on November 19th, 1974.
It also shows that he was an Army 2nd Lt in WWI and that he donated the land for Lowdermilk Park.

Correction: Sent by Joe Lowdermilk - Thanks Joe!

Ask or Tell: The article about Fred Lowdermilk in Naples, Fl is correct in most case; however the part of him donating the land is incorrect. Fred Lowdermilk was my uncle and I live in Naples presently and have since 1970. Fred was offered the land but did not have the funds to purchase it but told the owner he would buy it for the city of Naples which he did.

The picture of the small lake is known as Lake Bertha which was Fred's first wife until she passed away and he did remarry at a later date. Both were characters and loved to party with friends. Many of the Royal Palm trees along the streets of Naples were planted by Fred and still are there today. Fred is known by many of the old timers here in Naples for several things ie: Putting an alligator in sewer drain to clean it out as the city did not have any equipment at the time to do the job.

Rose Mary was kind enough to send these pictures from their visit to the park in 2002.

Thanks Rose Mary!

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