In February 1924, William L. Hutcheson, general president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and his committee decided to locate a home for retired carpenters and joiners in Lakeland because the property met all of their criteria.  It was "situated on a railroad siding, have lake frontage, possess a citrus grove and be near a city of temperate weather."  The home was dedicated in October 1928, and 36 retired carpenters and joiners moved in the following March. As many as 370 men stayed at one time, but by the 1970's there was little need for a home when retirees received pensions and Social Security payments, allowing them to live anywhere they wanted.  The home closed in 1976. The property was purchased by the First Assembly of God Church in 1980, changing its name to Carpenter's Home Church.  They constructed a new church building, but in 1989 renovated the original home for use as a school.

The collection consists of one folder (.1' in size) with copies of newspaper articles giving the history of the building, a 1928 book dedicating the home at the 22nd General Convention, 2 copies of a book of photographs of the home and residents enjoying activities, and a photograph  of the building under construction.  Also included in the collection are a letter  concerning the building of the arch at the entrance to the property and photographs of the arch and Joseph Kingsley Beazell who helped build it. The Carpenter's Court by Jack O. Johnson, 1988 (SC975.967 J67c) is part of our collection.  Additional newspaper articles are in the Vertical File.  

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