1037 E Cumberland Street - Built 1925

1037 E. Cumberland Street: From Citrus Groves to a Grand Estate (1925–2026)

As we continue our journey through the neighborhood's 1925 builds, this home on Cumberland Street stands out. Its history is a journey from undeveloped groves to a property that has been lovingly maintained by families deeply tied to Lakeland’s citrus and educational history—including a remarkable 34-year era of service and stability.

Born in the Groves (1924–1925)

If you could go back to September 1922, this specific block of Cumberland didn't exist; Sanborn maps show it as undeveloped citrus groves. The transition happened quickly: the home was missing from the August 1924 Directory but was clearly visible in the May 1925 city aerial photos.

The Original Grocer: The Cook Era (1925–1934)

The first residents were Preston and Bertha Cook. Preston was the manager of the Lanier Grocery store, which at the time had two bustling locations on N. Florida Avenue and E. Main Street. After a decade, Preston shifted into bookkeeping for A.G. King Produce and later the Seaboard Oil Company. When the Cooks moved to College Avenue in 1934, they left behind a home that was about to see a decade of rapid transition.

Mechanics, Ministers, and Mid-Century Shifts

The 1930s and 40s saw several families call 1037 home as the neighborhood grew:

• Charles and Anna Swartz (1934–1936): Charles was a mechanic for the Lakeland Gear & Parts Company.

• Rev. Joseph and Laura Wells (1936–1938): Their short stay likely followed a pastoral reassignment.

• Henry and Clara Freeman (1940–1946): The Freemans provided steady residency through the WWII years.

• Sidney and Clara Gilbert (1947–1954): Sidney worked as an auto repairman for McLorty & Franzblan before the home moved into its longest eras of stability.

The Bergquist Years: A Mining Dynasty (1954–1966)

For thirteen years, the home belonged to Richard and Madge Bergquist. This era connects the home to the literal "foundations" of Lakeland. Richard served as the manager of Oak Ridge Sand, but mining was in his blood.

His father, Francis Raymond Bergquist, arrived in the area in 1919 and served as the general manager of Agrico for 45 years. Richard himself was born and raised in Pierce, Florida—a now-extinct "company town" south of Mulberry where his father managed the Agrico operations. The family were local pillars; Francis was a director of the Bank of Mulberry and a past president of the Mulberry Kiwanis Club. When the Bergquists lived on Cumberland, they represented a lineage of industrial leadership that shaped the very geography of Polk County.

The Britti Legacy: 34 Years of Service and Citrus (1966–2000)

The home then entered its most enduring chapter under Sgt. Major Eugene and Elizabeth "Betty" Britti. In a poetic coincidence, Eugene was born in 1919—the same year the Bergquist family first arrived in Polk County.

Eugene’s path to 1037 Cumberland was defined by duty. After marrying Betty in July 1940, he registered for the draft on July 1, 1941. Just ten days later, he was among 219 names drawn for service in Hagerstown, Maryland. Starting as a Private First Class, he rose rapidly through the ranks, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant by 1951.

By the time the Brittis moved to Cumberland Street in 1966, Eugene was a Sergeant Major and a familiar face at Florida Southern College. As an instructor in the Army ROTC program, he helped shape the lives of generations of cadets.

His wife, Betty Williams Britti, was equally woven into the fabric of our city, spending 25 years as the receptionist at the Department of Citrus. After Eugene’s passing in the late 1970s, Betty remained the steward of their home until 2000, concluding a 34-year family legacy at this address.

The Modern Era

Since the Brittis passed the torch in 2000, the home saw brief stays by the Pickering and Gorman families. It was during the Pickerings' tenure in 2002 that the property underwent its most significant physical change: the addition of the two-story accessory dwelling on the double lot.

In 2009, the property was purchased by Charles Beutel, who remains the current owner. As it hits the 100-year mark, 1037 E. Cumberland stands as a beautiful reminder of the families—from grocers and mechanics to ROTC instructors and mining veterans—who have made our district their home.