"AND, THIS IS" - Allen explains the story behind this tiffany hat and umbrella rack he has by the door at his Auburndale home.

By MARY DECKER
News-Chief Staff Writer

AUBURNDALE -- An Auburndale man, who dresses daily in the garb of the 1890's and has gained a historian's reputation in his native city of Auburndale and Polk County, claims that he was born "many years too late."
Carl Allen, who was appropriately named Auburndale's Bicentennial chairman this year, lives a life surrounded by history -- in his house and in his business.
Allen's home, from bedroom to dining room, is decorated in the old, the unusual, the historical and the valuable --and the amazing thing is that Allen has a story to tell about every piece of his antique belongings.
If his home is not enough to overwhelm, just take a tour of his restaurant located in front of his home off U.S. 92.
Allen's Restaurant, serving down-home country food is almost in a state of clutter with historical pieces hanging from every bit of wall space available. It is here at his restaurant that Allen and his wife Jewel deck out in turn of the century clothing to give their clientele an authentic escape back into history.
The 57-year-old historian admits that he has always been a collector "who saved things when other people didn't.
"I've always loved history, especially Auburndale and Polk County history. Auburndale is a town based in some great history. It has never grown that much. It is a nice little town with good people," said Allen, admitting that when most people look at a sunset over Lake Ariana they see only the sunset, "but my wife and I see the Indians and the first pioneer families who lived along the lake's boundary."
In response to his desire to know about Auburndale history, Allen began to visit residents from past generations. "When I started to see a generation leaving, I realized I had to learn as much about it as I could. I started visiting the old-timers around Auburndale, asking them to tell me all they could remember about their grandparents, parents, (etc.) and about Auburndale. I questioned them on why their families had come to Florida and why they had settled in Auburndale," said Allen who often taped his sessions with the old-timers to keep their record for posterity.
The old-timers, who Allen calls the backbone of Auburndale, have twice enjoyed "Old Timers' Day" at Allen's Restaurant.
Arrangements for the old-time get together are strictly voluntary on Allen's part. "I don't get anything out of it but pleasure. I like to see the old people who have made me happy, happy again. We all have such a great time. Over 700 people, including old-timers from all over the county, came to the last Old Timers' Day," said Allen, mentioning that the oldsters were entertained by the Imperial Polecats, a banjo and guitar duo from Lakeland whose ages range in the seventies.
"We try and really bring back the old days. The ladies are even escorted into the restaurant by young men dressed in cowboy outfits," said Allen.
The Auburndale historian, who escapes to the modern world of a Honda 350 motorcycle and a 35mm camera for fun, says that in the old days people "either ate it up, wore it out or made it do." His pioneer strength philosophy carries over to the pioneers of Auburndale. "The people of Auburndale had all the pride and strength you will ever see in a town. Most of the people who came to Florida, came here running. They went through so much. A person didn't, have to wonder what they were, their character showed in their faces," Allen reminisced.
According to Allen, Auburndale started as a town named Sanitaria. In 1883 a post office was located at the W.L. Patterson store on Lake Ariana, and the new location was called Sanitaria. The following year, the railroad refused to build a station at Sanitaria but did build one a few miles west, naming the new site Auburndale.
"In July, 1884, Auburndale came into being with settlers beginning to settle around Lake Ariana. Soon Auburndale began to take shape with farming and a cattle industry at its beginnings," said Allen. "There were several stores in the downtown area, including the Walker building."
Dynamite stored in the Walker building, according to Allen, lead to a great fire in 1913. "The whole town was destroyed. Food had to be shipped in from Lakeland over dirt roads. But, people survived, and it made Auburndale even stronger."
Going from Auburndale's rich history to the history constantly surrounding him, Allen proudly showed off a brass bedstead and matching "slipper" box as one of his prized possessions.
Touring the house, Allen is barely able to top talking from one thing to the next. "Here is a buddy stove dating back nearly 100 years, 'and, that's a labor bench which pregnant women use to use while in labor. Oh, let's see, here is a wash stand and an original spittoon dating back into the 1800's."
"And here," said Allen, catching his breath and pointing to a yellow globe lamp, "grocery stores use to give these lamps away when persons bought $5 worth of groceries."
China cabinets, tables, chairs and individual artifacts, all with a history, abound in the Allen home. He shows off continual "firsts" through the tour.
Pointing to his wife's modern sewing machine, Allen says, "there is more than 100 years difference between that machine and this one hidden in this wood cabinet."
Into the restaurant, Allen is ready for another tour. He claims to have the doorknobs from the first Elks Club hanging on the restaurant's walls. "There's one of the first electric razors, and, here is what the first slaves in American called a midwife," said Allen, as he points to a heavy rope-like belt he claims women wore around their waist while pregnant. "They only had one labor pain because of it," says Allen.
His historical collections take in, arrowheads which he and his wife gathered from around Auburndale, the keys from the first Polk County jail, a castle lock, an 1878 Hurdygurdy musical box, a Wells Fargo strongbox, a special parade torch used over 100 years ago, a meat tenderizer patented on Christmas Day, 1877 and a mineral oil cover used on televisions to enlarge the screen for viewing.
And, believe it, the valuable trinkets must number in the 'thousands
.