622 S Ingraham Avenue - Built 1925
Uncovering Lakeland's Hidden Histories: The Story of 622 S Ingraham Avenue!
Did you know some of Lakeland's most iconic homes hold fascinating stories within their walls? We love digging into the past, and today we're thrilled to share a glimpse into another century-old home in our historic district: 622 S Ingraham Avenue! This beautiful residence is one of the 2025 Century Homes of the Biltmore-Cumberland Historic District and is now home to the Thompson family.
Contrary to county estimates, this home was newly constructed in 1925. Interestingly, the entire Biltmore Park subdivision remained a productive citrus grove until that year! With the development of the subdivision, a few homes, including this one, began to pop up along Hollingsworth Road and Ingraham Avenue (north of Palmetto).
A Century, Just Three Families (Until Now!)
What's truly remarkable about 622 S Ingraham Avenue is that, over its 100-year history, it has been home to only three families: the Montgomerys, the Newbergs, and the Cheeks. The Thompson family's recent purchase this summer marks the beginning of the home's second century with its fourth family!
Today, we'll dive into the story of the Montgomery family.
The Montgomerys: From Illinois to Lakeland's Boom
William Ulysess Montgomery was born in Illinois in 1866. He moved between Iowa and Nebraska during the late 1800s, where he was briefly married to Agnes Cook before divorcing. In 1912, William married Mary Mugan, and this time it was for good. By 1918, they were living in Limestone, Florida, where William worked as a real estate dealer. It was there, in 1919, that their only child, a daughter named Joy Farina Montgomery, was born.
The Montgomerys moved to Lakeland in 1925. William initially took a position with the State Wide Realty Company but quickly moved on to become a salesman for none other than the William P. McDonald Construction Company – the very company developing Biltmore Park! This must have been a very convenient job for him. William eventually became a superintendent of road construction (perhaps still with McDonald or another firm), and by 1940, he had transitioned to a completely different role as a state political campaign manager.
During my research into this home's history, I uncovered a wonderful picture from 1939, showing Mary with William seated behind her, and an unknown person facing them in the living room. I also managed to assemble a picture of the father, wife, and daughter, Joy. Joy, by the way, attended Florida Southern College, and I've included a picture of her from their 1940 yearbook. Sadly, I couldn't find details on what cut Joy's life short at the young age of 29. Perhaps it was an accident or something as common as pneumonia?
The Montgomery family remained at 622 S Ingraham Avenue until 1956. William passed away in 1943, followed by Joy in 1949, and then Mary in 1955. The entire family is buried in Oak Hill Burial Park here in Lakeland. For the final year the home remained in their family, Mary's older sister, Maggy Mugan, lived in the house to settle their belongings and estate. She sold the home to Andrew Newberg in 1956.
The Newberg family resided in the home until 1984, when they sold it to Mark William Cheek. Mark remained in the home for the next 40 years, until selling the property to an investment company in 2024. And that brings us back to the Thompson family, who purchased the home this year, becoming its newest stewards! It's truly amazing for a century-old home to have had so few owners, with each family living there for decades.
