1122 Hollingsworth Road
(aka McDonald Ave, aka FLW Way)

Uncovering Lakeland's Hidden Histories: The Grand Clayton-McDonald Residence of 1122 E McDonald Avenue

 

Did you know some of Lakeland's most iconic homes are no longer with us? Today, we're sharing the history of a grand lost pioneer, the former 1122 E McDonald Avenue (now Frank Lloyd Wright Way). Its story is crucial to understanding the earliest life and development of our historic district.

 

This grand residence stood on the southern boundary of the historic district, on the large lot currently occupied by the Robert's Academy.

 

Clanton Clayton: From Penniless Youth to Bank President

 

The story of this home truly begins with its pioneering owner, Clanton Mallory Clayton. Born in Wellborn, FL, Clanton arrived in Central Florida penniless as a young man, walking to Bartow to find work. His career is one of astonishing financial success:

 

• The Rise: After a brief stint with a train shipping company, he entered banking as a general office boy for the State Bank of Lakeland in 1900. After a decade of work, he rose to Cashier of Citizen's Bank of Lakeland (which became the First National Bank) before becoming President of First National Bank—a position he retired from in 1919.

 

• A Home for His Bride: Clanton married Cora Grace Sullivan in Lewistown, IL, in the fall of 1912, and directory records show them living in a two-story home at 923 South Boulevard (the corner of Amoretti, now Charles Street) from 1915–1919, a house he reportedly built for his bride.

 

By late 1920, Clanton and Cora moved into the grand home at 1122 E McDonald Avenue.

 

Pioneer Origins: The Mystery of the House's Age

 

The history of the land suggests it was occupied well before the 1920s boom:

 

• The Land’s Use: Directory research reveals that Michael & Nina Simon, listed as orange growers, were living in this location (then known as Hollingsworth Road/Lake Hollingsworth Drive) as early as 1915.

 

• The Enduring Mystery: When the Claytons moved in, they later referred to the house as their "new home." This leaves a wonderful mystery for our history: Did the Claytons purchase the citrus grove from the Simons and build another new, grand residence, or did the Simons already have a substantial home on the property that the Claytons purchased? We may never know for sure, but we do know the structure was one of the earliest homes in the entire district.

 

The Sale and the Legacy of Biltmore Park

 

Clanton's time in the home was tragically short; he died in 1923, not yet 50 years old. After a year of settling the estate, his wife Cora sold the property in 1924, returning to Success Avenue shortly afterward.

 

• The Sale: Cora sold the home and the citrus grove to George McDonald.

 

• The Development: Soon thereafter, William P. McDonald, the visionary contractor who had brought his company to Lakeland from New York, moved in and used the land to develop the Biltmore Park Subdivision.

 

• The Naming Legacy: The name Clayton Avenue is in honor of this family. It is even possible, though unresearched, that Jefferson Avenue was named after Clayton's father.

 

William McDonald and his family remained in the home until 1949, when they auctioned off the house and its contents in preparation for a move to Europe. The street name McDonald Place likely takes its name from this period, as the short street defined the boundary between the new Biltmore Park development and his own home’s expansive property.

 

The Loss of a Pioneer Home

 

The home's final chapter was tied to Florida Southern College. It was purchased by FSC and became the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house.

 

Two decades later, the grand home was removed for the construction of the Methodist Conference Center, which was modified in 2010 to become today’s Robert's Academy. The removal of the Clayton-McDonald Residence is part of a sobering tally of sixteen historic homes lost in our district due to development, the majority to college expansion:

 

While these structures are no longer with us, their stories—from Clanton Clayton's remarkable rise to the founding of Biltmore Park—remain a vital part of Lakeland's hidden history.