Richard Archbold and the Archbold Biological Station, A mural by Keith Goodson in Lake Placid, Florida, Mural Description Panel No. 7, Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, Florida, 19 November 2007, Fred E. Lohrer.

Archbold Biological Station founded in 1941 by Richard Archbold

“Richard Archbold and the Archbold Biological Station”
An outdoor mural by Keith Goodson
in Lake Placid, Florida

Mural Description by Fred E. Lohrer, 14 November 2007

Panel No. 7. A Pasture Landscape and Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc.

click on image for larger image

The landscape at the left shows Florida Cracker cows grazing at Archbold’s Reserve. A thunderstorm grows on the horizon. Frequent summer lightning storms supply the ignition for the wildfires that molded Florida's fire-dependent plant communities. An Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) perches on the frame of this landscape image, and a family of Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) crosses a clearing. The meadowlark is abundant in Florida’s dry prairies and pasture lands. The Bobwhite prefers recently-burned pine flatwoods, dry prairies, and scrub.

There was no electricity in the rural areas of America prior to the 1930’s. To end this hardship, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). With the REA, people of rural America could organize cooperatives and secure loans to electrify rural areas. In the fall of 1944, several local families came together to plan to bring “the electric” to the outlying areas of Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, and Hendry counties.

Richard Archbold was a leader in this effort and one of the founding Directors of what was to be named Glades Electric Cooperative. Archbold served Glades Electric in various capacities for more than 25 years (Director, 1945-1946; the first Vice-President, July 5, 1945 – January 30, 1947; President, January 30, 1947-January 26, 1956; Vice-President, January 26, 1956-1976). He received a Glades Electric 25-year Service Award on March 26, 1971. In the early days of the Cooperative, he personally traveled through Highlands and Glades counties signing-up residents for membership.

This panel shows an early Glades electric truck with Glades linesmen bringing electricity to a rural home. At the right is Willie Chapple, who began his career with the cooperative in 1957. He was a personal friend of Richard Archbold, often driving him throughout the countryside to explore the natural areas of the region. This year (2007) marks Chapple’s 50^th year as a valued employee of Glades Electric Cooperative, an organization near and dear to Richard Archbold’s heart.

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