747 Hollingsworth Road - Built 1925

Welcome to 747 Hollingsworth Road: A Century of Connections!

As we continue our journey through the historic Biltmore-Cumberland Historic District, we arrive at the next-door neighbor of our last featured home. Welcome to 747 Hollingsworth Road, a home rich in local connections and fascinating stories, now lovingly cared for by John and Melisa Camp.

Built in 1925, this home was likely constructed by its first resident, Harry J. Zimmerman, a building contractor. Harry and his wife, Beulah, lived in the home for just a year or two before selling it. But the story of the home’s origin is tied to an incredible local legend: Alvin Oates, of the Oates-Corley Furniture Company. Oates and his family were not only furniture magnates but also significant home builders. In fact, Alvin’s obituary claimed he was “regarded as the largest builder of homes in the United States!” This makes it highly plausible that the Oates family financed the home's construction, even if Harry Zimmerman did the building himself.

The iconic Oates Furniture building still stands today at the corner of South Florida Avenue and Orange Street, a testament to their legacy.

A Haven for Prominent Figures

The home’s early history is a revolving door of success. It quickly became a popular residence for prominent and well-connected Lakelanders.

In the late 1920s, the home was occupied by Gus and Marie Norstrom. Gus was also in the real estate business, with an office in the Spencer-Futch Building (surprise!). He only stayed for three years, but we know the next occupants were renting the home for $45 a month in the 1930 census, so either the Norstroms or Zimmermans still maintained ownership.

Then came Augustus H. and Lula DeVane, who, despite Augustus being a true titan of local business, were renting the home at the height of the Great Depression. This is a telling detail, showing that even wealthy businessmen were hesitant to commit to home ownership during this time. Augustus had a long run of accomplishments as the president of The Polk County Trust Company and the Mine & Mill Supply Company. His offices were in the DeVane-Stuart Building on Main Street. His daughter Daphne and her husband, James Potts, also lived with them. James's history with his father-in-law ran deep—he had worked for Augustus for several years, first as a bookkeeper and then as the secretary-treasurer for The Polk County Trust Company.

For the next 15 years, the home continued to serve as a temporary haven for a number of families with impressive connections to Lakeland’s growing industries:

1934-35: Major David & Helen Craig, on active duty.

1937-39: Washington & Sarah Thornton, a salesman for Southern Office Equipment Company.

1940-41: Link & Eunice Pressgrove, with Link as President of First Florida Security Company.

1942-44: Lefferts & Marguerite Mable, Assistant Manager of Package Research Laboratory.

1945: Briefly vacant.

A Home for Many

In 1945, the home’s next long-term residents, Leo & Catherine Hierholzer, came to town from Eustis, Florida. They had two sons, Edward (who would later attend Florida Southern) and Jon, and a curious fact about their six daughters: they were all named Mary! Their full names were Mary Virginia, Mary Elizabeth, Mary Catherine, Mary Margaret, Mary Agnes, and Mary Lee. Several of their children attended Lakeland High School, and we know that Jon went on to receive his doctorate from the American Institute of Biological Sciences and worked for the government in public health service. Leo worked as an agent for the Knight Life Insurance Company, while his wife Catherine was a teacher at the Lake Morton School. (A photo of this family will be attached to the post!)

The years 1960-1969 belonged to the Harley & Bessie Ellerbe family. Harley was a salesman for Lakeland Motor Parts, and Bessie was a clerk at Publix. Their middle three kids attended Lakeland High School, including their son David, who played on the Dreadnaught football team as #65 in 1962!

1970: The home was briefly vacant.

1971-77: It was occupied by Norma Browning.

1978-79: The home was vacant again.

From 1980 to 1989, Jeff & Margarita Judd called the home their own. Jeff was a local business owner with Judd’s Auto Repair, and for those wondering about the name, he was Sheriff Grady Judd’s uncle!

The next owners, Richard & Robin Powell, made the home their own for the next 15 years (1990-2005). Both were beloved elementary school teachers in Lakeland for many years, with Richard teaching at Rochelle and Robin at Lime Street and Dixieland.

Finally, the home's most recent resident before the Camps was Thomas & Kimberley Downs, from 2006-2019. Thomas is a lifelong resident of the area and the owner of Thom Downs Antiques shop downtown. Thomas even shared a fascinating piece of information: he once saw documentation from the Oates Furniture Building that confirmed the Oates family was involved in the financing of this very home!

And so, we arrive at the current owners, John and Melisa Camp. This incredible home has a history filled with fascinating business and civic leaders, and multiple generations of dedicated teachers. We hope that understanding the stories of its prior occupants will enrich their appreciation for this unique home and its place in Lakeland's history.