Wedding Ceremony for Andy Serros and Helen Gentile in St. James Catholic Cathedral
The wedding ceremony for Andy Serros and Helen Gentile at St. James Cathedral on February 7, 1950. Serros was one of the founders of Orlando Remembered. This wedding was one of the last to be held in the old St. James Church before it was rebuilt to the current building. St. James Catholic Cathedral is located at 215 North Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida. In 1881, Bishop John Moore (b. ca. 1834-1901) purchased a block of land bound by Orange Avenue, Magnolia Avenue, Jefferson Street, and Robinson Street. On January 23, 1887, the cornerstone of the Holy Nativity Catholic Church was set under the leadership of Father Felix P. Swembergh (d. 1887). The building was designed by Kurz and Allison's Art Studio of Chicago in the American Gothic-style and was completed in June of 1891, under the guidance of Father Joseph J. Creed, who replaced Father Swembergh after his death in October 1887. It was renamed as St. James Catholic Church the following year. In 1889, a storm destroyed the church's roof and the City of Orlando condemned the building. The church was rebuilt in 1889 in the old Carpenter Gothic-style and seated 240. The church also had a school, St. Joseph's Academy, built in 1889. The school site is now where the Downtown Orlando Post Office is located. The building was torn down around 1950 and the new building, designed by Donovan Dean and Arthur White, was completed on January 20, 1952. In 1977, the building was designated as the diocese's cathedral due to the destruction of the St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral by fire. In July of 2009, the cathedral was closed for renovations and was re-dedicated on November 20, 2010.
Original black and white photograph, February 7, 1950: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
St. James Catholic Cathedral, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Centennial Book of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, Florida, 1874-1974
Centennial Book of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, which chronicles the history of the first 100 years of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke. The church is located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue in Dowtown Orlando, Florida, and was founded in 1867 by Francis W. Eppes (1801-1881), the nephew of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The congregation originally worshipped in a log cabin and services were conducted by Eppes, despite his status as a layman. In October 1882, William Crane Gray (1835-1919) was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida, which included Central Florida and Orlando, at the time. A new church building for St. Luke's was erected under Reverend C. W. Ward during that same year. The building was enlarged in 1884, and again in 1903. On March 31, 1902, Bishop Gray designated St. Luke's as the official Cathedral Church for South Florida and appointed Reverend Lucien A. Spencer as the cathedral's first dean. In 1922, the cathedral building was relocated to make room for a new cathedral designed by Frohman, Robb, and Little of Boston, Massachusetts. During that same year, the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida was admitted to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as the Diocese of South Florida. On April 13, 1925, Bishop Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. However, as the land bust struck Florida in 1926, the building remained only partially constructed and a temporary wall was built to seal the altar side of the church. Over the years, the building has received a number of structural additions and renovations, including an educational unit memorializing members of the congregation who died serving in World War II; the Chapter House erected in the 1950s; the renovation of the cathedral nave, the erection of the choir gallery over the narthex, and the installation of a 88-rank pipe organ in the early 1970s; and the removal of the temporary wall and the competition of the building's original design during 1986 and 1987. In 1970, the Diocese of South Florida was divided into three smaller dioceses; St. Luke's became the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Central Florida.
Original book: Centennial Book of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, Florida, 1874-1974. Orlando, Fla: Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 1974.
Cathedral Church of St. Luke
Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Denmark's Sporting Goods, located at 149 North Magnolia Avenue (formerly Main Street) in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Denmark's was founded in 1941 by Tom Denmark and quickly became one of Central Florida's largest sporting goods suppliers. The store sponsored the television show Hunting and Fishing with Don, hosted by Don McAllister, which aired from 1954 to 1972. In 1985, Denmark sold his company to lawyer Donald Wright, who later changed the name of the store to Florida Sports. By 1988, the company had closed for business.
Original black and white photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Denmark's Sporting Goods, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Fishing Lure from Denmark's Sporting Goods
A fish lure from Denmark's Sporting Goods, located at 149 North Magnolia Avenue (formerly Main Street) in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Denmark's was founded in 1941 by Tom Denmark and quickly became one of Central Florida's largest sporting goods suppliers. The store sponsored the television show Hunting and Fishing with Don, hosted by Don McAllister, which aired from 1954 to 1972. In 1985, Denmark sold his company to lawyer Donald Wright, who later changed the name of the store to Florida Sports. By 1988, the company had closed for business.
Original fishing lure: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Claude H. Wolfe, Inc. Buggy in Front of the Frigidaire Store
Claude H. Wolfe driving a horse and buggy to deliver refrigerators during World War II. This photograph was used as an advertising campaign for his Frigidaire store. Because gasoline was being rationed during WWII, Wolfe made his deliveries using a horse and buggy. Frigidaire was an appliance company that started in Indiana in 1916. In 1928, Wolfe opened a Frigidaire store at 130 North Orange Avenue, which was previously Jefferson Court Arcade, in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Later, the store moved to 19 East Washington Street. Frigidaire was an appliance company that originally sold refrigerators. Wolfe's pitch to get people to buy his product was to tell prospective customers that they could either continue buying blocks of ice for their ice boxes, or buy a refrigerator, which keeps itself cold and will not get infested with bugs, thus being more sanitary. Later, Frigidaire also sold stoves, room air conditioners, and washing machines. In 1959, the store moved to Garland Avenue, where the current Lynx bus station is located. The old building on Washington Street was later demolished to build the Regions Bank, also known as the Copper Whopper.
Frigidaire Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Fulford Van & Storage Company Calendar, 1948
A Fulford Van & Storage Company calendar for 1948. The company was founded by Jesse Curtis Fulford in 1913. The company moved from its original downtown address at 131-135 North Magnolia Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, to its new location at 3750 Bengert Street in 1973 and is still at that location as of 2014.
Fulford Van & Storage Company
Original calendar by Fulford Van & Storage Company, 1948: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Fulford Van & Storage Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Fulford Van & Storage Company was founded by Jesse Curtis Fulford in 1913. The company moved from its original downtown address at 131-135 North Magnolia Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, to its new location at 3750 Bengert Street in 1973 and is still at that location as of 2014.
Orange County Regional History Center
A Gibbs-Louis, Inc. clothing label. Founded in 1945 by Irving Gibbs, Gibbs-Louis was one of the most popular women's apparel stores in Downtown Orlando in the 1940s and 1950s. Along with the downtown location at 131 North Orange Avenue, there were three more Gibbs-Louis stores in nearby malls. In 1984, part of the downtown store collapsed; a wall caved in due to construction of a 20-story building next door. A year later, the store was restored. In 1990, when nearly all retail stores located in Downtown Orlando had closed, Gibbs-Louis was one of the few remaining. In late 1991, Irving Gibbs retired and sold the business to former executives of Ivey's, a department store that was later bought out by Dillard's. Only a year later, Gibbs-Louis went out of business and was replaced by Behr's Shoe Center. In 1998, Behr's closed as well. Today, the location is home to Annie's Bar and Grill.
Original label: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Gibbs-Louis, Inc., Downtown Orlando, Florida
Irvin Gibbs, the founder of Gibbs-Louis, Inc. Getting his start in his father's general store in Live Oak, Florida, Gibbs was a well-known man of fashion in Downtown Orlando, Florida. In 1935, he graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in business. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a lieutenant commander, he arrived in Orlando where he bought the women's store, Louis, in 1946. He added Gibbs to the store name, expanded the inventory, and Gibbs-Louis was created. Gibbs-Louis quickly became one of the most popular women's apparel stores in Downtown Orlando in the 1940s and 1950s. Along with the downtown location at 131 North Orange Avenue, there were three more Gibbs-Louis stores in nearby malls. In 1984, part of the downtown store collapsed; a wall caved in due to construction of a 20-story building next door. A year later, the store was restored. In 1990, when nearly all retail stores located in Downtown Orlando had closed, Gibbs-Louis was one of the few remaining. In late 1991, Irving Gibbs retired and sold the business to former executives of Ivey's, a department store that was later bought out by Dillard's. Only a year later, Gibbs-Louis went out of business and was replaced by Behr's Shoe Center. In 1998, Behr's closed as well. Today, the location is home to Annie's Bar and Grill.
Original color photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Sears, Roebuck & Company Intercom Telephone
An intercome telephone from the Sears, Roebuck & Company store, which was located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
Original intercom telephone: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Sears, Roebuck & Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Toy blocks from Kiddie Korner, a children's store that was also know as Kiddie Shoppe. The store was opened by Nat Berman and Pauline Berman at 66 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in the early 1930s. The shoppe later expanded to a larger location to sell junior clothing as well.
Original toy blocks: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Kiddie Korner , Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Main Street Market, located at 137 Main Street (present-day North Magnolia Avenue) in Downtown Orlando, Florida.
Main Street Market, Downtown Orlando, Florida
"Pennsylvania Polka" Decca Record from Associated Radio Store
A "Pennsylvania Polka" record manufactured by Decca Records, Inc. in New York City, New York. "Pennsylvania Polka" was performed by Lester Lee and Zeke Manners (1911-2000) on The Lawrence Welk Show. This particular copy was purchased from the Associated Radio Store, located at 149 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida.
Original record: Lee, Lester and Zeke Manners. Pennsylvania Polka. Decca Records, Inc.
Decca Records, Inc.
Associated Radio Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
General Electric Radio from Associated Radio Store
A General Electric Radio purchased from the Associated Radio Store, located at 149 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Before the advent of television, radio served as a major source of communication and entertainment. In 1885, Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) discovered that electricity could be sent through electromagnetic waves. This discovery would aid ships in communicating with each other when out at sea, rather than using pigeons and flags. Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) would further this research by transmitting electromagnetic energy wirelessly in 1893. In 1897, Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937) patented his own radio device and created a wireless radio transmission company. In 1901, he sent the first transatlantic signal, which was sent from Ireland and reached Canada.
General Electric
Original radio: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Roger Holler, Sr. with Sears, Roebuck & Company Fleet of Trucks
Roger Holler, Sr. originally worked for General Motors when he migrated to Orlando, Florida. Soon after relocating, Holler opened his own dealership with Chevrolet. In this photograph, Holler is seen wearing a cowboy hat with a fleet of Sears, Roebuck & Company trucks, possibly because he supplied the Sears store with the delivery trucks. The Sears store was located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
The Latest Merchandise News for Spring and Summer, 1939
A Sears, Roebuck & Company merchandise catalog for 1939. A Sears store was located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
Sears, Roebuck & Company
Original catalog, 1939: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
A Sears, Roebuck & Company blimp on the roof of the Sears store located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
The Sears, Roebuck & Company store located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
A replica of a Sears, Roebuck & Company watch from 1886. A Sears store was located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
Replicated pocket watch by Sears, Roebuck & Company Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
A Sears, Roebuck & Company window display showing women's swimsuits during the 1940s or 1950s. The Sears store was located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper.
St. James Catholic Cathedral, located at 215 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, around 1940. In 1881, Bishop John Moore (b. ca. 1834-1901) purchased a block of land bound by Orange Avenue, Magnolia Avenue, Jefferson Street, and Robinson Street. On January 23, 1887, the cornerstone of the Holy Nativity Catholic Church was set under the leadership of Father Felix P. Swembergh (d. 1887). The building was designed by Kurz and Allison's Art Studio of Chicago in the American Gothic-style and was completed in June of 1891, under the guidance of Father Joseph J. Creed, who replaced Father Swembergh after his death in October 1887. It was renamed as St. James Catholic Church the following year. In 1889, a storm destroyed the church's roof and the City of Orlando condemned the building. The church was rebuilt in 1889 in the old Carpenter Gothic-style and seated 240. The church also had a school, St. Joseph's Academy, built in 1889. The school site is now where the Downtown Orlando Post Office is located. The building was torn down around 1950 and the new building, designed by Donovan Dean and Arthur White, was completed on January 20, 1952. In 1977, the building was designated as the diocese's cathedral due to the destruction of the St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral by fire. In July of 2009, the cathedral was closed for renovations and was re-dedicated on November 20, 2010.
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke is located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue in Dowtown Orlando, Florida, and was founded in 1867 by Francis W. Eppes (1801-1881), the nephew of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The congregation originally worshipped in a log cabin and services were conducted by Eppes, despite his status as a layman. In October 1882, William Crane Gray (1835-1919) was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida, which included Central Florida and Orlando, at the time. A new church building for St. Luke's was erected under Reverend C. W. Ward during that same year. The building was enlarged in 1884, and again in 1903. On March 31, 1902, Bishop Gray designated St. Luke's as the official Cathedral Church for South Florida and appointed Reverend Lucien A. Spencer as the cathedral's first dean. In 1922, the cathedral building was relocated to make room for a new cathedral designed by Frohman, Robb, and Little of Boston, Massachusetts. During that same year, the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida was admitted to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as the Diocese of South Florida. On April 13, 1925, Bishop Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. However, as the land bust struck Florida in 1926, the building remained only partially constructed and a temporary wall was built to seal the altar side of the church. Over the years, the building has received a number of structural additions and renovations, including an educational unit memorializing members of the congregation who died serving in World War II; the Chapter House erected in the 1950s; the renovation of the cathedral nave, the erection of the choir gallery over the narthex, and the installation of a 88-rank pipe organ in the early 1970s; and the removal of the temporary wall and the competition of the building's original design during 1986 and 1987. In 1970, the Diocese of South Florida was divided into three smaller dioceses; St. Luke's became the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Central Florida.
Tile from the Cathedral Church of St. Luke
Original tile: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Central Florida Personalities: Walton MacJordan
Walton MacJordan (b. 1905) was born in 1905 in Kentucky and attended college at the University of Alabama. He moved to Georgia and started his career in retail by becoming the youngest manager of a department store in the South. In 1932, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and started working for Sears, Roebuck & Company as a merchandise manager. A year later, he relocated to Orlando where he became the manager of the Sears store located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue. MacJordan left Orlando in 1937 for Chicago, Illinois, to work at the headquarters of Sears as a General Merchandise Manager of all stores. In 1942, during World War II, MacJordan served in the United States Air Force. During his service as a lieutenant, he used his experience he had in retail to manage the supplies and maintenance for several bases. He soon became a public relations officer for the southeastern portion of the country and was promoted to captain. In 1945, he returned to Orlando to manage Sears again. MacJordan also served his community as chairman of the American Red Cross in Orlando in 1950 and a member of the board of directors of the Central Florida Exposition.
Photocopy of original black and white newspaper cartoon: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Sears, Roebuck & Company, Jacksonville, Florida
Sears, Roebuck & Company, Chicago, Illinois
Orlando Remembered Exhibit at Regions Bank
The exhibit created by Orlando Remembered at the Regions Bank building, located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The Orlando Remembered Committee of the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc. was created to "showcase artistic renderings of the time depicted, with artifacts and historical memorabilia from the location in an effort to preserve the memory of Orlando's history while acknowledging the potential of the City's future." The exhibit at Regions Bank memorializes several businesses and churches located around the Sears, Roebuck & Company building, including Frigidaire, the Cathedral of St. Luke, St. James Catholic Church, Denmark's Sporting Goods, Kiddie Korner, Main Street Market, Associated Radio Store, and Gibbs-Louis, Inc. The exhibit was designed by Bob Buck and the artwork was created by Jim Stohl.
Orlando Remembered
Original exhibit by Orlando Remembered: Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Kiddie Korner, Downtown Orlando, Florida
St. James Catholic Cathedral is located at 215 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. In 1881, Bishop John Moore (b. ca. 1834-1901) purchased a block of land bound by Orange Avenue, Magnolia Avenue, Jefferson Street, and Robinson Street. On January 23, 1887, the cornerstone of the Holy Nativity Catholic Church was set under the leadership of Father Felix P. Swembergh (d. 1887). The building was designed by Kurz and Allison's Art Studio of Chicago in the American Gothic-style and was completed in June of 1891, under the guidance of Father Joseph J. Creed, who replaced Father Swembergh after his death in October 1887. It was renamed as St. James Catholic Church the following year. In 1889, a storm destroyed the church's roof and the City of Orlando condemned the building. The church was rebuilt in 1889 in the old Carpenter Gothic-style and seated 240. The church also had a school, St. Joseph's Academy, built in 1889. The school site is now where the Downtown Orlando Post Office is located. The building was torn down around 1950 and the new building, designed by Donovan Dean and Arthur White, was completed on January 20, 1952. In 1977, the building was designated as the diocese's cathedral due to the destruction of the St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral by fire. In July of 2009, the cathedral was closed for renovations and was re-dedicated on November 20, 2010.
Original color digital images by Rachel Williams, July 24, 2014.
Sears, Roebuck & Company store, which was located at 111-113 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Sears moved into the first floor of Philips Apartments in 1931. Before Sears arrived, the building, as well as the city of Orlando, was experiencing economic decline. However, Sears proved so successful that the building had to expand and the property value of the entire building increased by 25 percent. In 1939, F. Monroe Alleman and Kenneth Kraft bought the Sears building for $300,000. Twenty years later, Alleman sold the building for $1.1 million, but Sears was kept open with 12 years left on its lease. In 1962, land on East Colonial Drive was bought to open a freestanding Sears store and a year later construction started. In 1973, the Sears on Colonial was incorporated with the Fashion Square Mall and it remains open today. On May 4, 1974, due to the expanding city and regional malls, the downtown Sears store closed its doors. Ten years later, the building was renovated and became what it is today, a bronze-colored glass tower nicknamed the Copper Whopper. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2014, the building was being occupied by Regions Bank.
Regions Bank Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Former Location of Associated Radio Store
The former location of the Associated Radio Store, located at 149 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2014. At the time that this photograph was taken, IKON Office Solutions was operating from this address.
Original color digital image by Rachel Williams, July 24, 2014.
IKON Office Solutions, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The former location of Gibbs-Louis, Inc. Founded in 1945 by Irving Gibbs, Gibbs-Louis was one of the most popular women's apparel stores in Downtown Orlando in the 1940s and 1950s. Along with the downtown location at 131 North Orange Avenue, there were three more Gibbs-Louis stores in nearby malls. In 1984, part of the downtown store collapsed; a wall caved in due to construction of a 20-story building next door. A year later, the store was restored. In 1990, when nearly all retail stores located in Downtown Orlando had closed, Gibbs-Louis was one of the few remaining. In late 1991, Irving Gibbs retired and sold the business to former executives of Ivey's, a department store that was later bought out by Dillard's. Only a year later, Gibbs-Louis went out of business and was replaced by Behr's Shoe Center. In 1998, Behr's closed as well. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2014, the location is home to Annie's Bar and Grill.
Behr's Shoe Center, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Annie's Bar and Grill, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The former location of Kiddie Korner, a children's store that was also know as Kiddie Shoppe. The store was opened by Nat Berman and Pauline Berman at 66 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in the early 1930s. The shoppe later expanded to a larger location to sell junior clothing as well. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2014, the building was housing three nightclubs: Skysixty, Bar BQ Bar, and Independent Bar (known locally as iBar). The former two bars changed ownership in August of 2014 and were renammed Sky Bar and Old '64, respectively.
Independent Bar, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Former Location of Fulford Van & Storage Company
The former location of Fulford Van & Storage Company in 2014. The company was founded by Jesse Curtis Fulford in 1913. The company moved from its original downtown address at 131-135 North Magnolia Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, to its new location at 3750 Bengert Street in 1973 and is still at that location as of 2014.
Former Location of Denmark's Sporting Goods
The former location of Denmark's Sporting Goods, located at 149 North Magnolia Avenue (formerly Main Street) in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Denmark's was founded in 1941 by Tom Denmark and quickly became one of Central Florida's largest sporting goods suppliers. The store sponsored the television show Hunting and Fishing with Don, hosted by Don McAllister, which aired from 1954 to 1972. In 1985, Denmark sold his company to lawyer Donald Wright, who later changed the name of the store to Florida Sports. By 1988, the company had closed for business.
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue in Dowtown Orlando, Florida, in 2014. The church was founded in 1867 by Francis W. Eppes (1801-1881), the nephew of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The congregation originally worshipped in a log cabin and services were conducted by Eppes, despite his status as a layman. In October 1882, William Crane Gray (1835-1919) was elected and consecrated as the first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida, which included Central Florida and Orlando, at the time. A new church building for St. Luke's was erected under Reverend C. W. Ward during that same year. The building was enlarged in 1884, and again in 1903. On March 31, 1902, Bishop Gray designated St. Luke's as the official Cathedral Church for South Florida and appointed Reverend Lucien A. Spencer as the cathedral's first dean. In 1922, the cathedral building was relocated to make room for a new cathedral designed by Frohman, Robb, and Little of Boston, Massachusetts. During that same year, the Missionary Jurisdiction of South Florida was admitted to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as the Diocese of South Florida. On April 13, 1925, Bishop Cameron Mann laid the cornerstone. However, as the land bust struck Florida in 1926, the building remained only partially constructed and a temporary wall was built to seal the altar side of the church. Over the years, the building has received a number of structural additions and renovations, including an educational unit memorializing members of the congregation who died serving in World War II; the Chapter House erected in the 1950s; the renovation of the cathedral nave, the erection of the choir gallery over the narthex, and the installation of a 88-rank pipe organ in the early 1970s; and the removal of the temporary wall and the competition of the building's original design during 1986 and 1987. In 1970, the Diocese of South Florida was divided into three smaller dioceses; St. Luke's became the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Central Florida.