J. L. Dillard’s Packing House

Several Dillard family members can be seen in this photo of the interior of the Dillard packing house. Standing in back, third from the left, are J. L. Dillard; his daughter, Mabel; his wife, Mattie Showalter; and his daughter, Gladys. Sarah Jane Fowler is standing third from left in the front. Early citrus pioneer families, such as the Dillards, packed oranges and grapefruit in wooden boxes to ship by the Orange Belt Railway and the Tavares and Gulf Railroad to Northern markets.