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There's a strong sense of community at Nalcrest. "We look out for each other. I guess that comes from being part of the union," says Fred Taeger, a member of Long Island, New York Merged Branch 6000 and a former president of the Huntington, New York branch before it merged.
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| Roselyn Browne, Johnstown, PA Branch 451, wife of Barry Browne |
"I remember when we told our friends we were moving to Nalcrest for the winter a frequent response was 'What are you going to do with old people all day?' Well, the answer is as much or as little as you choose to do.
“My special interest is photography and Nalcrest is rich in its wildlife. Take a walk around our lagoons and you may see an alligator or two, great blue herons, sandhill cranes and their tiny chicks and wild turkeys outside our door.
“Nalcrest celebrates life. We have had a party for all couples having their 50th anniversary. We've even had three weddings in two weeks!" |
Every afternoon Fred plays pinochle with a dozen friends and on Thursday morning he's part of a group of 24 who tee off at a golf course a half-hour away.
He says the people who live here love it. There are always a few who are dissatisfied, but that's human nature.
General Manager Jerry Kane agrees. He took the job in 1997 following 16 years as president of Jamaica, New York Branch 562 and 10 years New York State President.
"I love it—what's not to like?" Mr. Kane asks. "Everything you need is right here in Nalcrest or in Lake Wales just eight miles away. Twice a day our Nalcrest van will transport residents to Lake Wales for a nominal fee for shopping, doctor appointments and other errands."
Located in Central Florida about 70 miles east of Tampa just south of Route 60, Nalcrest is about midway between the Gulf Coast and Vero Beach on the Atlantic Coast. Its 500 apartments are clustered in 66 one-story buildings spread over 153 acres around two large lagoons popular with residents who fish and boat. Another 150 acres of undeveloped land surrounds the complex.
Edged with the oaks dripping Spanish moss, 15-square-mile Lake Weohyakapka adjoins Nalcrest. The impression is of a community set inside a nature preserve.
"Many times I sit in my office and watch the hawks circle," Mr. Kane says. "One time upwards of 30 wild turkeys walked by, and sandhill cranes peck at the windows when they see their reflection. In the evening you see huge owls, the size of fire hydrants."
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| Jim Bright, Wellsville, OH Br. 385 |
"The neatest aspect of Nalcrest has to be its tenants. While the community itself offers clubs of every description, athletic endeavors of many types and the proximity of Polk County's major cities - Orlando and Tampa - bring social and cultural events to our doorstep, it is the kindness, caring and compassion of our friends and neighbors that goes the furthest toward creating this special community. This confluence of people from differing regions, backgrounds and cultures creates a unique blended microcosm. The total package is pretty cool." |
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"This being Florida, there are alligators and armadillos and I've never seen so many frogs," he laughs.
Lake Weohyakapka (Walk-in-the-Water) forms the backdrop of Nalcrest's recreation area and sports complex, named for NALC President Emeritus Vincent R. Sombrotto. Residents enjoy the heated, Olympic-size swimming pool and hot tub year-round, as well as shuffleboard, horseshoes, basketball, bocce, miniature golf and tennis. The softball field and driving range are located further from the lake.
"Everything is free," notes Mr. Kane, "even the golf balls and clubs."
Also free is use of the Nalcrest fitness center, which contains "all the equipment our good residents brought down here and realized they didn't have room for in their apartment," he says with a smile." In addition, two different exercise classes meet twice weekly—one in the pool and the other in Brennan Hall.
Bingo is very popular and attracts more than 200 players every Monday evening. "For $5 you can play all night. Prizes range from $25 to $250 and the profits are used for charitable works in the Nalcrest community.
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John and Annette Alversa,
S. Ozone Park, NY Branch 294 |
"When my husband mentioned retirement it was something I thought we would do when we got old. We moved here and I told my husband I would give it a try. But soon I never wanted to leave. We woke up one morning in a world filled with people just like us. Alive, filled with enthusiasm and ready to start a new life. We were 25-year-olds in 60-year-old bodies.
“There is something for everyone, but if it doesn't exist come on down here and start it. There are many residents who are always ready to try something new.” |
Clubs of every description bring like-minded residents together for project planning, instruction, community service or just socializing. The Branch 1A Auxiliary, for instance, organizes newspaper recycling, greets newcomers and celebrates major birthdays and anniversaries. Creative residents find self-expression with the Palette Pals, a club that meets Monday afternoons, as well as free art classes on Wednesday morning led by a local artist.
Nalcrest's Travel Club arranges trips of various lengths at rock-bottom prices. "Someone suggests a destination and if there's general agreement they get more information and put a proposal together," Mr. Kane explains. "Then they post a sign-up list for the community. "No one makes a profit or goes free—those savings are passed on to the group so everyone goes a little cheaper," he stresses.
Excursions range from more than a week to several ays in Las Vegas or Biloxi for gambling, to half days at the dog track or dinner theater.
Doherty's dream
come true
Dances, bingo and club meeting are among the activities held in the 500-seat William C. Doherty Auditorium, named for the NALC president committed to making Nalcrest a reality. After serving in NALC's top post from 1941 to 1962 and then as the first U.S. ambassador to Jamaica, Doherty moved into a Nalcrest apartment and stayed there until just before his death in 1987.
 Bill Doherty turned the first shovel of earth on July 1, 1962, and Nalcrest—it stands for National Association of Letter Carriers Retirement, Education, Security and Training—began to take shape in central Florida.
Down the road is one of only a handful of union-built communities in the country, but Fedhaven went bankrupt years ago. No so for Nalcrest, which remains nonprofit. In 2002, the Nalcrest Foundation made its final mortgage payment and is no longer under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations.
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Nate and Florence Priestley,
New Haven, CT Branch 19 |
“Living at Nalcrest allows one to enjoy life as it was meant to be. The leasing fee is reasonable, the quality of living conditions are exceptional, the location is remote enough to provide privacy and safety from the large cities, but still be close enough to have access to doctors, hospitals and other needed facilities.
“No one is even alone or left out during the Holiday Season. This means a lot as the years pass." |
Because of HUD rules Nalcrest was open to everyone, not just NALC members. Now it is open to NALC members in good standing only. So be sure to keep paying your union dues after retirement! Currently about 80 percent of the 800 residents are letter carriers or married to letter carriers.
Nalcrest's low rents—one-bedroom apartments lease for $335 a month, efficiencies for $315—contribute to its popularity, and there is a waiting list for vacant apartments.
"It's a myth that you have to wait years and years for an apartment," states Mr. Kane. "Yes, there are some people who've been on the list a long while, but when we've contacted them with a vacancy, they've declined to move at that time, so they remain on the list.
"If someone is truly interested in coming here, they give us a Postal Money Order representing two months' rent. When we have a vacancy we call them," he explains. "We've put people into apartments with six months to a year after receiving their postal money order.
Mr. Kane encourages interested members to come for a look or, better yet, to stay at one of the branch apartments that are for rent. "Four branches lease apartments so members have a better understanding of what Nalcrest is about," he notes, "and they're willing to rent to members of other branches." Nalcrest also has one guest apartment, which can be rented up to one year in advance.
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| Richard and Josephine (Fish & Jib) Trout, Greensburg, PA, Branch 84 |
“It has always been our dream to live in Florida for the winter months. Nalcrest is the answer to our dream.
“Our family also benefits from our being able to live in Florida for the winter. Our children and grandchildren love to come and visit.
“There is a saying: 'We're all in the same boat.' Here in Nalcrest, 'We're all in the same union - NALC.'
"Nalcrest is almost heaven with a zip code." |
"When you see the interaction and friendliness of the community you can't help but be impressed," says Mr. Kane. "The main reason residents decide to leave here is to move closer to children and grandchildren, especially during times of poor health."
Close to Utopia
"Happily, there have been no problems," reports Mr. Kane. "A resident once thought his bike was stolen. Three days later, his wife noticed it in the Town Center—where he had left it. Her husband had forgotten he had biked there and had walked home."
Town Center is home to Nalcrest's management office and a cluster of conveniences, including a post office, laundromat, small market, restaurant, barbershop, hair salon and chapel. Mr. Kane's wife, Mary, helps tend the lending library for books and videos, and there is also a game/billiards room and TV lounge.
Watching over the activity is the statue of Richard F. Quinn, president of the NALC in 1895. Depicted proudly in uniform, Quinn stands as a symbol of all letter carriers; but he is also the community's "official" letter carrier by default—city delivery doesn't serve the area. Residents receive mail at their post office box located in the Post Office in the Town Center.
"With all the amenities available at Nalcrest," says Nate and Florence Priestley of New Haven, CT branch 19, "all of your goals and dreams will be fulfilled and your memories will be endless. Nalcrest is the perfect residence for all retired NALC members." |
