1049 E Cumberland Street - Built 1925

Uncovering Lakeland's Hidden Histories: The Era of Longevity at 1049 E Cumberland Street

Today, we're featuring 1049 E Cumberland Street, a century-old home defined by an astonishing record of long tenure. This home has seen only eight families in its history, with just two of those families representing eight decades of residency! The current owner, Ms. Susan Thoreen, has held the title for 35 years alone.

The Early Years: Real Estate and the IRS

Prior to the current and immediate past residents, the home had five documented short-term occupants. Interestingly, many of these earliest residents were connected to key downtown landmarks:

First Occupants: Leonard & Louise Sanderson. Leonard worked as a technician in Dr. Richard Leffers' office on the 7th floor of our old friend, the Marble Arcade Building.

Real Estate: Glen & Frances Lassiter, who were the longest-tenured early occupants (first half of the 1930s). Glen worked in real estate as a department manager for Marshall-McLean Company, with offices eventually moving to the first floor of the Marble Arcade.

Civic Leaders: The short list also included J. Bunyan & Mary Smith, a collector for the IRS, and Guy & Gertrude Arendell, the Chief of the Fire Department.

The next family, however, would plant deep roots and become central to the story of this home.

The Sims Legacy: 43 Years of Journalism and Education

The heart of 1049 E Cumberland Street's history belongs to Harris & Ellen Sims, who lived here for an impressive 43 years.

Harris, originally from Georgia, and Ellen, from Jacksonville, made Lakeland their home starting around 1928. Before moving to Cumberland Street, they had been living nearby on Lexington (after their arrival in town to take a teaching position).

Harris Sims's career spanned both academia and the press, leaving a lasting impact on Lakeland:

Florida Southern College (1928–1940): For his first twelve years, Harris began in the department of journalism at FSC, quickly rising to become the department head and an assistant to the president of the college.

The Lakeland Ledger (1940–1964): In 1940, he accepted the position as editor for the Lakeland Ledger, a role he held for the next 24 years, eventually rising to Vice President and Editor of the newspaper before retiring.

In retirement, Harris returned to his roots, once again serving as a journalism instructor for FSC, which had previously awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Harris and Ellen raised their two children, Sally Vann and Howard Wilson, here before the children started families outside of Lakeland. The Sims family made this house their lifelong home; Harris and Ellen are both interred locally at Oak Hill Burial Park.

This home is a perfect illustration of longevity and dedication to community institutions. With the combined 43 years of the Sims family and the 35 years of the current owner, Ms. Susan Thoreen, 1049 E Cumberland Street stands as a testament to the stability of the Biltmore-Cumberland neighborhood.