Although technically, this isn't the 2nd family in Okeechobee, it it the 2nd one we are highlighting in our Historic, off set multi's in town,
Okeechobee's 2nd Family was Richard E. and Annie B. Hamrick.
This park is named “Flagler Park” after Henry Flagler, the founder of the FEC Railroad. Okeechobee is fortunate to have one of the largest, most beautiful parks you will find in a town of our size. And, the credit for that is owed to Col. Richard E. and Annie Hamrick. When the FEC railroad laid out the City of Okeechobee, they formed corporations to sell the farmlands and building sites. The Okeechobee Company was one of those corporations, and it ultimately held the rights of dedication of the original plat of the City, including Flagler Park. That company eventually went bankrupt and those rights came to be controlled by a West Palm Beach attorney. Col. Hamrick was successful in purchasing those rights. The Colonel and Annie Hamrick intended that Flagler Park would remain dedicated for public use as a park forever to the benefit of the citizens of Okeechobee, free from commercial use. Their purchase of the rights to this area may well have saved us from having to pay for the use of the park over the years, or worse, having the park turned into commercial use by the prior owner of those rights. During their lives, the Hamricks granted certain uses within the park that would serve the public at large, such as the first public pool, Chamber of Commerce building, and public library. They also donated property on which the current Hospice of Okeechobee and Hamrick Home now sit. The Chamber of Commerce was granted the use of the park area at the 70-441 intersection. Just east of it was a playground and tennis courts. That playground later was allowed to be replaced by the public library, a tribute to Annie Hamrick’s devotion to the education of the children of Okeechobee. Col. Hamrick continued to support the library after Annie’s death. The City Police Department is now housed in the old library building.
Though a relative newcomer to the county, 28 year old R.E. Hamrick was appointed as the county’s first Superintendent of Public Instruction. During his tenure as Superintendent he oversaw the first graduation from Okeechobee High School. Though R.E Hamrick was not a military man, he was called “Col. Hamrick” by the townspeople. I am told that the title came from “Cracker Colonel” and was a way of referring to lawyers back in the early 1900s. After leaving the School Superintendent office, Col. Hamrick remained actively involved in the legal profession, real estate and cattle for the rest of his life.Col.
As an attorney, there is a story that Col. Hamrick at one time helped Al Capone get out of jail here in Okeechobee, when he was caught transporting illegal liquor through the county going between Miami and Chicago. Col. Hamrick helped him secure bail, not realizing who he was at the time.
Hamrick is also credited with starting one of the first dairies in the area, as well as bringing the first Brahma cattle.
The Colonel and his wife, Annie, had three sons, R.E. Jr., David, and Harvey. In addition to the task of caring for her husband and three sons, Annie received her degree in education from the Florida School for Women, now known as Florida State University. She established the first kindergarten in Okeechobee in the two-story building on Southeast Third Avenue, where for many years she started hundreds of children off on their educational journey and the wonders of learning.
At the posted coordinates, you will find information near the base of the flagpole needed to find the coordinates for the final cache location. The final can be found near one of the many places the Hamrick's donated to the city of Okeechobee. All you need to do is fill in the numbers.
The geocache can be found at N 27° A.BC W 080° D.EF
A = The number of years in which the first kindergarden in Okeechobee operated
B = The number of years Col. Hamrick served as superintendent of Okeechobee Schools
C = The number of letters that make up the name of this park
D = The last two digits of the year Col. Hamrick was instrumental in purchasing the rights of the dedication of the original plat of Okeechobee, + 2
E = The number of letters in Mrs. Hamrick's first name
F = The last two digits of the year Mrs. Hamrick passed, plus the last two digits of Okeechobee High School's first graduating class, + 2
You can validate your puzzle solution with
certitude.