First Baptist Church of Winter Garden

J. L. Dillard donated the land on which the imposing First Baptist Church building stands at 125 East Plant Street. Here it is shown under construction ca. 1922. Before the present building was erected, a sawmill operated by Will Pennington occupied this site. Scaffolding for the bricklayers is seen along with the crane, which was used to set the four massive portico columns. Savannah builder R. W. Wimbish supervised its construction and was also responsible for overseeing the construction of the Edgewater Hotel (1926) at 99 West Plant Street, and the former Black Building (1921; now known as the Cappleman Building) at 101-121 West Plant Street. The Baptist congregation moved to Winter Garden from Ocoee in 1896 and originally worshiped in a wooden building located across the street at the southwest corner of Plant and Woodland Streets.