County Might Take Over Lockett Estate

By GARY PINNELL

SEBRING — The Highlands County Historic Preservation Commission intends to ask the county commission to accept the Edna Pearce Lockett homestead.

Currently, Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies is offering the county $500,000 to take possession of the 14-acre homestead, which used to belong to Lockett, one of the state’s first female legislators. The Pearce family were pioneers.

The county commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Highlands County Government Center in Sebring.

Commission Chairman Guy Maxcy, who attended Thursday afternoon’s preservation committee meeting, said he’ll have to hear the entire presentation, but currently he leans toward accepting the preservation commission’s proposal, if it costs the county no money. The preservation committee has said it will seek grants to keep the project in black ink.

Commissioners Barbara Stewart and Edgar Stokes have attended previous preservation commission meetings, and have spoken cautiously about taking over the estate. Stokes said a crowd of people was easy to attract during a preservation day at the estate, but few tourists showed during the rest of the year.

Louisa Kerwin, an FAU professor, asked the preservation members to guide Saturday’s tour of the Pearce homestead, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The homestead is located near the intersection of U.S. 98 and the Kissimmee River, east of Lorida. The day includes self-guided walking tours, two free boat trips, and an introduction to Florida animals.

For more information, call 462-0025.