Pre-Cooler at the Nelson and Company Packing Plant, 1973
The Nelson and Company Packing plant and a pre-cooler. The company was originally founded by Steen Nelson and Gus Nelson and called Nelson Brothers. The company changed its name to Nelson and Company after it became a three-way partnership between the brothers and Benjamin Franklin Wheeler. In 1923, Wheeler became sole owner after buying out the company. The Wheeler Fertilizer Plant was a holding of Nelson and Company. The original plant was destroyed in a fire in 1947, but eventually rebuilt six months later. Nelson and Company is located in what is now the Nelson and Company Historic District, and was incorparated in September of 2001. The 80-acre district encompasses four of Nelson and Company's historic buildings. This photograph was taken by Henry DeWolf in 1973 for an aerial survey of Oviedo.
Original 20 x 16 inch color photograph by Henry DeWolf: Private Collection of Arthur Evans.
Nelson and Company Packing Plant, Oviedo, Florida
Wheeler Fertilizer Plant, Oviedo, Florida
Nelson and Company Packing Plant and Wheeler Fertilizer Plant, 1973
The Nelson and Company Packing Plant, as well as the Wheeler Fetilizer Company Plant. The company was originally founded by Steen Nelson and Gus Nelson and called Nelson Brothers. The company changed its name to Nelson and Company after it became a three-way partnership between the brothers and Benjamin Franklin Wheeler. In 1923, Wheeler became sole owner after buying out the company. The Wheeler Fertilizer Plant was a holding of Nelson and Company. The original plant was destroyed in a fire in 1947, but eventually rebuilt six months later. Nelson and Company is located in what is now the Nelson and Company Historic District, and was incorparated in September of 2001. The 80-acre district encompasses four of Nelson and Company's historic buildings. This photograph was taken by Henry DeWolf in 1973 for an aerial survey of Oviedo.
Original 20 x 16 inch color photographs by Henry DeWolf: Private Collection of Arthur Evans.
The Citizens Bank of Oviedo, which originally opened on East Broadway Street on July 2, 1946. The land on which the bank sits was originally the Bill Browning celery farm. The Citizens Bank of Oviedo took in over half a million dollars in deposits on its first day, with B. F. Wheeler as president, C. R. Clonts as vice president, and Charles Shaffer as the cashier. In 1949, the bank moved to the Memorial Building, which is located at 38 South Central Avenue. This photograph was taken by Henry DeWolf for an aerial survey of Oviedo, Florida. On March 25, 1974, the Citizens' Bank of Oviedo reopened at 156 Geneva Drive. The bank is now the Citizens' Bank of Florida with locations throughout Seminole County.
Citizen's Bank of Oviedo, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
A watercolor drawing of the Kolb family home in Oviedo, Florida, in 2000. This item was drawn Jacqui Johnson, a neighbor of the Kolbs, as a gift for Julie Kolb, the matriarch of the family.
Original 7 x 9 inch watercolor drawing by Jacqui Johnson: Private Collection of Dane Kolb.
2008 Oviedo High School Golden Bananas Best Supporting Actor Trophy
Oviedo High School Best Supporting Actor Golden Bananas Award, 2008. It was awarded to Dane Kolb for his performance as The Wizard in the Oviedo High School Theatre Department's production of the musical comedy, Once Upon a Mattress. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Oviedo High School
Original 6 x 18 inch trophy: Oviedo High School Golden Bananas Award for Best Supporting Actor, Dane Kolb, 2008: Private Collection of Dane Kolb.
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
A newspaper article from The Seminole Star of an 85-foot yacht from Fort Pierce arriving in the sheltered harbor of Lake Monroe in Sanford, Florida. According to the caption, the harbor ranked high among Central Florida marinas for berthing and other services. The photograph was taken by Bob Frey around 1977.
Original newspaper article: Frey, Bob. "Elegant Visitor." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
And Then There's Henry Walcott...Not So Pleased
A newspaper article about Henry Walcott, an Oviedo resident who has watched the small community grow into the bustling town it became after the arrival of Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) during the 1960s. This article is significant in that Walcott is able to describe Oviedo as it once was, giving insight into Oviedo's past. The article was published in The Seminole Star around 1970 and its photographs were taken by Janice Abrams.
Original newspaper article: "And Then There's Henry Wolcott...Not So Pleased." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
Wheeler, Mae King Reign Over Festivities: Thousands Celebrate Oviedo Centennial
A newspaper article detailing Oviedo centennial celebrations at Oviedo High School on March 9, 1979. Senator Richard Bernard Stone was in attendance for the fesitivities and helped to crown Mae King and B. F. Wheeler Jr., manager of the Wheeler Fertilizer Plant, as Queen and King of the Centennial. The article was published in The Oviedo Outlook on March 15, 1979.
Original newspaper article: "Wheeler, Mae King Reign Over Festivities: Thousands Celebrate Oviedo Centennial." The Oviedo Outlook, March 15, 1979: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
Between the Celery Stalks: Theodore Mead Sure Left His Mark on Oviedo
A newspaper column in The Oviedo Outlook entitled "Between the Celery Stalks." Here, local residents could submit interesting stories or tidbits for inclusion in the newspaper. This particular column, written by Janet Foley, was about horticulturalist local Oviedoan, Theodore "Teddy" Luqueer Mead and his housing development called Mead Manor. Originally from New York, Mead's long interest in biology and botany brought him to Florida during the late 19th century, when he settled first in Eustis, then later Oviedo on Lake Charm, with the intent of growing oranges. Mead and his wife would become integral members of the social fabtic of the Oveido community.
Original newspaper article: Foley, Janet. "Between the Celery Stalks: Theodore Mead Sure Left His Mark on Oviedo." The Oviedo Outlook: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
A newspaper article about farmer George M. Arie who built a treehouse off State Road 419 in an area known as Arie Corner. The article details how it moved the tree, built the treehouse and where he resided at the time of publication.
Original newspaper article: Frey, Bob. "This Tree House Tops All." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
An area map of Oviedo, Florida, and its surrounding areas. A number of advertisements from the businesses surrond the perimeter of the map. While the date is unknown, the map is believed to have been published sometime between 1970 and 1978. The Timucuan Native Americans originally inhabited the area of present-day Oviedo, although the remains of their settlements have disappeared. Homesteaders arrived along the shores of Lake Jesup in 1865 just after the Civil War ended and began growing celery and citrus. The area was called the Lake Jesup Community until March 13, 1879, when postmaster Andrew Aulin, a Swedish immigrant, chose the name Oviedo.
Original map by Willett Ad Maps: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
Citizen's Bank of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo Body and Paint Shop, Oviedo, Florida
RCA C&R TV Sales and Services, Oviedo, Florida
Eileen's Creative Mud Ceramics, Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo Child Care Center, Inc., Oviedo, Florida
Cedar Chest of Fashion Fabrics, Oviedo, Florida
A newspaper article from the The Seminole Star about a burglary that occurred at the Sanford Grammar School in Sanford, Florida. Five underaged youths were involved in the burglary and charged with stealing approximately $175 in school supplies candy, and snacks. All stolen goods were recovered outside the school. Sanford Grammar School which is now the Sanford Student Museum and Public History Center, is a Romanqsque Revival style building designed by Florida architect Wilbur B. Talley and built in 1902. Also known as Sanford High School and the Margaret K. Reynolds building, it was designated as a National Historic Place in 1984.
Original newspaper article: "Youths Charged with Burglary." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, Florida
A newspaper article from The Seminole Star discussing the Tax Study Commission that was formed to analyze the issue of double taxation in Seminole County, Florida. The 12-member commission was chaired by State Senator John Vogt (D-Cocoa Beach) and was scheduled to meet in Courtroom A of the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Florida. Other members included Tom McDonald, Bo Simpson, Dick Crenshaw, Don Rathel, Tony Russi, and John Krider of Sanford; and Joann Henningsen, Ray Lewis, J. Bruce Thorne, William Fernandez, Johnny Conley, and John Evans, Jr. of Oviedo.
Original newspaper article: "Tax Study Group Meets Wednesday." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
Seminole County Courthouse, Sanford, Florida
A newspaper article from The Seminole Star discussing the construction on the Keller Road Sewer Treatment Plant in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The construction was completed by the Tuttle-White Construction Company of Orlando and the Lee Construction Company of Sanford. The construction, at time of the publication, was nearly 72 percent complete, with the plant becoming fully operational by September of that year.
Original newspaper article: "Altamonte to Vote on Sewer Bill." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
Altamonte Springs City Hall, Altamonte Springs, Florida
A newspaper article from The Seminole Star discussing the Altamonte Springs-Casselberry Chamber of Commerce's leasing issue with the city government. The Chamber of Commerce had been paying $1 a year to rent out a city-owned building. Florida Attorney General Robert Shevins, who said the terms of the agreement were to be renoegoitated, because the city could not charge the Chamber of Commerce lesser rent than they would any other organization.
Original newspaper article: "CofC, City to Meet on Building Lease." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
A newspaper article from The Seminole Star discussing a feasibility study regarding project plans to construct an exchange for Florida State Road 46A and Interstate Highway 4. A committe was set to review the plans for the proposed project. However, Altamone Springs Mayor Norman Floyd expressed his opinion that funds should upgrading interchanges at SR 436 and 434. After retiring in 1980, Floyd was the last mayor of Altamonte Springs as the city changed to a city manager form of local govenrment.
Original newspaper article: "County Reviews SR 46A Plans." The Seminole Star: Private Collection of Sue Blackwood.
The A. Duda and Sons farm in Slavia, Florida, in the 1970s. Andrew Duda, Sr. immigrated from Slovakia to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1909, later settling in Central Florida to try his hand at farming. Initially successful growing Irish potatoes, the market value of the crop could not cover shipping costs and the Duda family struggled financially to survive. Soon after they returned to Cleveland, where Duda and his sons worked in a factory to support the family. By 1926, the Duda family had saved enough money to return to Slavia. This time, their crops prospered and they formed A. Duda and Sons. The family owned company remains in existence today and is an international brand with locations across the globe.
Original 4 x 6 inch color photograph: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
A. Duda and Sons Celery Farm, Slavia, Florida
The A. Duda and Son's packing house in Slavia, Florida, around 1945. This photograph features of number African-American workers packing the celery crop for shipping and distribution. Andrew Duda, Sr. immigrated from Slovakia to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1909, later settling in Central Florida to try his hand at farming. Initially successful growing Irish potatoes, the market value of the crop could not cover shipping costs and the Duda family struggled financially to survive. Soon after they returned to Cleveland, where Duda and his sons worked in a factory to support the family. By 1926, the Duda family had saved enough money to return to Slavia. This time, their crops prospered and they formed A. Duda and Sons. The family owned company remains in existence today and is an international brand with locations across the globe.
Original 4 x 6 inch black and white photograph: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
A Mule Train on the A. Duda and Sons farm in Slavia, Florida, sometime between 1940 and 1945. Mule Trian was the name of the motorized factory that Duda farm workers used to harvest celery from the 1940s through the 1970s. It was named after a popular song in the 1950s. Andrew Duda, Sr. immigrated from Slovakia to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1909, later settling in Central Florida to try his hand at farming. Initially successful growing Irish potatoes, the market value of the crop could not cover shipping costs and the Duda family struggled financially to survive. Soon after they returned to Cleveland, where Duda and his sons worked in a factory to support the family. By 1926, the Duda family had saved enough money to return to Slavia. This time, their crops prospered and they formed A. Duda and Sons. The family owned company remains in existence today and is an international brand with locations across the globe.
Original 4 x 6 inch black and white photographs: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
Harvest at the A. Duda and Sons Celery Farm in Slavia
The A. Duda and Sons farm in Salvia, Florida, around 1940. African-American workers are photographed cleaning up a celery field after a harvest. Andrew Duda, Sr. immigrated from Slovakia to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1909, later settling in Central Florida to try his hand at farming. Initially successful growing Irish potatoes, the market value of the crop could not cover shipping costs and the Duda family struggled financially to survive. Soon after they returned to Cleveland, where Duda and his sons worked in a factory to support the family. By 1926, the Duda family had saved enough money to return to Slavia. This time, their crops prospered and they formed A. Duda and Sons. The family owned company remains in existence today and is an international brand with locations across the globe.
Oviedo Citizens in Action (OCIA) at the Oviedo School in Oviedo, Florida, around 1969. OCIA is a community organization that fought for equal and civil rights within the Greater Oviedo area. The group helped to desegregate a number of local businesses, including a barbershop, through non-violent protest. Although the OCIA is a predominantly African-American organization, the organization also includes members of all races. The still organizes today and is lead by President Danny McKinney, as of 2015.
Original newspaper photograph: The Sanford Herald: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
The Sanford Herald
War Ration Book Four: Prince Butler Boston
This World War II-era war ration book belonged to Prince Butler Boston, a prominent African American leader in Oviedo, Florida, who was integral to creating a vibrant black community in Seminole County through industry and his patronage. Boston was the son of a Georgia slave owner, Dr. Alexander Atkinson, who moved to Central Florida in 1885, when Boston was 14 years old. After the citrus freeze during the 1890s, Atkinson abandoned citrus growing and moved to Miami, leaving most his land to Boston. Boston was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for nearly 61 years, beginning in 1886 until his death in 1947. He was ordained as a deacon in the church and also became the superintendent of the Sunday school, as well. Once membership in the church began to grow, he designed a second choir stand and two additional classrooms. Boston also gave five acres of land to the church to build a cemetery, which is now known as the Boston Hill Cemetery. In May 1942, the U.S. Office of Price Administration froze prices on everyday goods, such as coffee, sugar, and gasoline. Families were issued war ration books and tokens, which dictated how many and how much goods could be purchased by any one family. Various types of rationing included certificate rationing, differential coupon rationing, point rationing, and uniform coupon rationing. Sugar is an example of uniform coupon rationing which provided equal shares of a single product to every American; point rationing issued coupons for points. Theses points could be used for any combination of items in processed foods and meats. Differential coupon rationing provided products based on varying needs. These products included gasoline and fuel oil. In the case of certificate rationing, individuals had to demonstrate need for the products, such as tires, cars, and stoves.
Original war ration book: U.S. Office of Price Administration: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
A legal document for the dedication of five acres land for the Boston Hill Cemetery, an African-American cemetery located at 199 Boston Cemetery Road in Oviedo, Florida. The dedication deed was signed by Prince Butler Boston and E. Garvin, who were representing the Board of Trustees of the Boston Cemetery, on October 12, 1926. The document was approved by N. E. Douglass, the Seminole County Clerk, on November 3, and was then approved by A. M. Weeks, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the following day, The deed was then notarized on June 6, 1927, and approved by surveyor Allen H. Stone on November 4, 1928. Prince Butler Boston was the son of a Georgia slave owner, Dr. Alexander Atkinson, who moved to Central Florida in 1885, when he was 14 years old. After the citrus freeze during the 1890s, Atkinson abandoned citrus growing and migrated to Miami, leaving most his land to his son. Boston was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for nearly 61 years, beginning in 1886 until his death in 1947. He was ordained as a deacon in the church and also became the superintendent of the Sunday school. Once membership in the church began to grow, he designed a second choir stand and two additional classrooms.
Original 1-page dedication deed: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
The 1850 and 1860 Census, Schedule 2, Slave Inhabitants
Underwood, Joseph R. (Joseph Rogers), 1791-1876
Two pages from a larger digital article, "The 1850 and 1860 Census, Schedule 2, Slave Inhabitants," from the AfriGeneas Library, which dedicates itself to literature concerning African-American genealogy, as well as researching African ancestry in the Americas. This excerpt discusses a Congressional debate from the first session of the 31st Congress. The focus of the debate was whether to name slaves (listing their name, age, sex, etc.) using the newly proposed U.S. Census tables, or to simply enumerate them, getting an aggregate number for census purposes.
Original digital article: Paterson, David E. "The 1850 and 1860 Census, Schedule 2, Slave Inhabitants": Private Collection of Ida Boston.
A Written and Pictorial History of the Oviedo Area Colored Schools, 1890-1967
In 2001, former students of the African-American schools planned a class reunion for alumni who attended the schools between 1953 and 1967. The schools included were Oviedo Colored School (later called Oviedo Elementary School), Jackson Heights Elementary School, Geneva Colored School, Wagner Colored School, Kolokee Colored School, and Gabriella Colored School. This booklet details the history of black community's drive to create a place to educate the children of the community with a general overview and timeline of the consolidation of the Oviedo-area schools into two distinct campuses in the predominantly African-American Jackson Heights neighborhood. This document demonstrates segregation in education in Seminole County, Florida, a subject that has not be fully explored in relation to Oviedo's history.
Original 76-page booklet: The World Outside Reunion, "A Written and Pictorial History of the Oviedo Area Colored Schools": Judith Smith Publishing: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
Oviedo Elementary School, Oviedo, Florida
Jackson Heights Elementary School, Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo Junior High School, Oviedo, Florida
Kolokee Colored School, Kolokee, Geneva, Florida, Gabriella Colored School, Gabriella, Oviedo, Florida
A map of the Boston Hill Cemetery, an African-American cemetery located at 199 Boston Cemetery Road in Oviedo, Florida. The dedication deed was signed by Prince Butler Boston and E. Garvin, who were representing the Board of Trustees of the Boston Cemetery, on October 12, 1926. The document was approved by N. E. Douglass, the Seminole County Clerk, on November 3, and was then approved by A. M. Weeks, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the following day, The deed was then notarized on June 6, 1927, and approved by surveyor Allen H. Stone on November 4, 1928, Prince Butler Boston was the son of a Georgia slave owner, Dr. Alexander Atkinson, who moved to Central Florida in 1885, when he was 14 years old. After the citrus freeze during the 1890s, Atkinson abandoned citrus growing and migrated to Miami, leaving most his land to his son. Boston was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for nearly 61 years, beginning in 1886 until his death in 1947. He was ordained as a deacon in the church and also became the superintendent of the Sunday school. Once membership in the church began to grow, he designed a second choir stand and two additional classrooms.
Non-certified copy of original map: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
Minutes of Shareholders' Meeting of The Oviedo Voice, Inc. (April 15, 1993)
The meeting minutes from the shareholders' meeting of The Oviedo Voice, Inc. held on April 15, 1993. The Oviedo Voice, was the local newspaper that served Oviedo, Florida and its surrounding communities for nearly 23 years. A few of the shareholders' are descendants of Oviedo's Founding families, including Arthur Evans and Ces Lawton. The bulk of the minutes written by Secretary Frances Crews focused on the officer nominations for the new board. Other discussion included advertisement sales, a new computer accounting system, and a telemarking program.
Original minutes by Frances Crews, April 15, 1993: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
A Time to Keep: History of the First Methodist Church of Oviedo, Florida, 1873-1973
A centennial celebration program booklet for the First United Methodist Church, located at 300 Ruth Street in Oviedo, Florida. The program covers the events of the day, centennial celebrations, the church history, and a number of hymns and sermons. The Methodist Church has a far-reaching history in the South that goes back to the schism of 1844. Divided by the issue of slavery, Southern churches moved to create their own polity during a conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The Southern church eventually reunited with the elder Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as the Methodist Presbyterian Church in 1939, becoming a single polity. In 1940, more conservative congregations dissented from the merge and formed the Southern Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church was finally created on April 23, 1968, when the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged.
Original program, 1974: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
First United Methodist Church of Oviedo
First United Methodist Church, Oviedo, Florida
Ella Milner in front of the Citizen's Bank of Oviedo, which originally opened on East Broadway Street on July 2, 1946. The land on which the bank sits was originally the Bill Browning celery farm. The Citizens Bank of Oviedo took in over half a million dollars in deposits on its first day, with B. F. Wheeler as president, C. R. Clonts as vice president, and Charles Shaffer as the cashier. In 1949, the bank moved to the Memorial Building, which is located at 38 South Central Avenue. On March 25, 1974, the Citizens' Bank of Oviedo reopened at 156 Geneva Drive. The bank is now the Citizens' Bank of Florida with locations throughout Seminole County.
Original 4 x 6 inch color photographs by Dan Beistel, 1980: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
City Sewerage System Nearing Construction
In August of 1973, The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973 reported that the Oviedo's new sanitary sewer system was still on schedule to be built that year. Through a joint effort between a group of developers, engineers, and city officials, the 10-acre site, just south of the city limits and east of Florida State Road 520, should generate enough revenue according to most projections.
Original newspaper article: "City Sewerage Nearing Construction." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
The Oviedo Outlook
Arthur Lott Acquitted of Assault: Circuit Jury Convicts Man on Resisting Charge
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on August 1, 1973. The article discusses the case of Arthur Lott, who was convicted by a circuit court jury of a lesser charge of resisting arrest without violence for his altercation with police office Arthur Barkley during a routine traffic stop. Lott was acquitted of aggravated assault charges, despite allegations that he pulled a knife on Officer Barkley. Lott was ultimately ordered to pay a $250 fine and received a two-year suspension.
Original newspaper article: "Circuit Jury Convicts Man on Resisting Charge." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
Cigarettes Mower, Stolen; $1,200 Construction Theft
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on August 1, 1973. This article details a number of thefts that were reported to the Oviedo City Police Department in August of 1973. These thefts included cigarettes, a mower, and a $1,200 construction theft.
Original newspaper article: "Cigarettes Mower, Stolen; $1,200 Construction Theft." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973: Private Collection on Dan Beistel.
Oviedo City Police Department, Oviedo, Florida
Teachers, Students Undergo Major Schedule Changes
A newspaper article published by The Lion's Tale, Oviedo High School's student newspaper, in February of 1984. This article discusses the schedule changes affecting certain English teachers and their students in order to maintain funding from the Enhanced Writing Program. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: Keene, Karen. "Teachers, Students Undergo Major Schedule Changes." The Lion's Tale, Vol. XIII, No. 5, February 1984: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
The Lion's Tale
OHS Students Earn Credits by Examination
A newspaper article published by The Lion's Tale, Oviedo High School's student newspaper, in February of 1984. This article discusses the Secondary Level Examination Program (SLEP), which grants high school credits to students that successfully passed tests for courses. Several students from Oviedo High School, Lake Brantley High School, and Lake Mary High School earned credits from the examination. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1932 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: "Students Earn Credits by Examination." The Lion's Tale, Vol. XIII, No. 5, February 1984: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs, Florida
Lake Mary High School, Lake Mary, Florida
A newspaper article published by The Lion's Tale, Oviedo High School's student newspaper, in February of 1984. This article is about OHS honor student Belinda Bakalla, who was designated a Tusculum Scholar. Tusculum College in Greenville, Tennessee, awards each Tusculum Scholar a scholarship that covers tuition in full. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: "Bakalla Designated Tusculum Scholar." The Lion's Tale, Vol. XIII, No. 5, February 1984: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
A newspaper article published by The Lion's Tale, Oviedo High School's student newspaper, in February of 1984. This article is about OHS senior Ed Norton, who was chosen as the recipient of the La Sertoma Club award. The La Sertoma Club is an international, non-partisan, non-political, non-profit, and non-sectarian organization that focuses on youth and community needs and scholarships for over 80 years. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1932 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: Walter, Cheryl. "Norton Awarded by La Sertoma Club." The Lion's Tale, Vol. XIII, No. 5, February 1984: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
A newspaper article published by The Lion's Tale, Oviedo High School's student newspaper, in February of 1984. This article reports on the new RAISE initiative, which established new requirements for Florida student athletes and how these requirements, as well as the academic standards set by the Florida High School Sports Association, have affected the OHS athletics program. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: "Requirements for Athletes 'Raised'." The Lion's Tale, Vol. XIII, No. 5, February 1984: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hayslett Win Freezer and Beef
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on July 7, 1971. This article is about Oviedo's Fourth of July celebration that took place the previous weekend. According to the article, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hayslett of Chuluota, Florida, won a General Electric freezer and a side of beef. A number of businesses and local community members participated in the celebration and sponsored a several games and prizes.
Original newspaper article: "Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hayslett Win Freezer and Beef." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 7, 1971: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
John Courier Field, Oviedo High School, Oviedo, Florida
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on July 7, 1971. This article is the publication of an open letter by Oviedo High School band director, Richard A. Feinberg, asking for donations for the marching band. The article also outlines upcoming football games and marching band performances. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: Feinberg, Richard A.. "Patron Donations Help Band." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 7, 1971: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on July 7, 1971. This article discusses the Seminole-Goldenrod Fire Association membership drive. Goldenrod formed its volunteer fire department in the 1950s with its own trucks and erected a building on Palmetto Avenue in Goldenrod, Florida, to serve both Orange County and Seminole County residents. Around 1969, Orange County established a fire department at that location at 4755 Palmetto Avenue. In order to service the Seminole County residents of Goldenrod, the volunteer fire department moved to this location and became the Seminole-Goldenrod Volunteer Fire Department. The location was later taken over by Seminole County and renamed the Seminole County Fire Station 23.
Original newspaper article: Mathers, Marilyn. "Fire Association to Begin Drive." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 7, 1971: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
Seminole-Goldenrod Volunteer Fire Department, Goldenrod, Florida
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on July 7, 1971. This article reports that the Oviedo City Police Department will begin to have 24-hour police protection.
Original newspaper article: "Oviedo with 24 Hour Police Protection." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 7, 1971: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
A newspaper photograph published by The Oviedo Outlook on July 7, 1971. This photograph shows a car stuck in a ditch off of Florida State Road 426 in Slavia, Florida. According to the caption, the driver's car slipped off the road when it was raining.
Original newspaper article: "...And Another Learns His Lesson." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 3, July 7, 1971: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.
Ben Ward, Jr. at the Mead Manor subdivision in Downtown Oviedo, Florida. This photograph from a newspaper article about the history of Mead Manor and Ward, a real estate developer, and his involvement in the project, as well as other ongoing development projects, such as Grove Hill. Named for horticulturalist Dr. Theodore Luqueer Mead, Mead Manor was developed by the Oviedo Land Company, which was formed by B. F. Wheeler, John Evans, Bill Martin, Ben Ward, Rex Clonts, Robert Lee, Bernie Blackwood, and Bob Williams. With the advent of Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) during the 1960s, development began in order to take advantage of the arrival of faculty and staff from the university. Mead Manor is credited with beginning the land development boom in Oviedo, leading to other residential subdivisions, such as Alafaya Woods and Grove Hill.
Photocopy of original 4 x 3 inch black and white newspaper photograph: Private Collection of Colene Ward.
A newspaper article that examines Oviedo's growth through the creation of number of subdivisions, most notably Mead Manor. Named for horticulturalist Dr. Theodore Luqueer Mead, Mead Manor was developed by the Oviedo Land Company, which was formed by B. F. Wheeler, John Evans, Bill Martin, Ben Ward, Rex Clonts, Robert Lee, Bernie Blackwood, and Bob Williams. With the advent of Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida) during the 1960s, development began in order to take advantage of the arrival of faculty and staff from the university. Mead Manor is credited with beginning the land development boom in Oviedo, leading to other residential subdivisions, such as Alafaya Woods and Grove Hill.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "Oviedo." Homebuyer, Spring 2000: Private Collection of Colene Ward.
Mitchell Hammock Road when it was an unpaved dirt road in Oviedo, Florida, in 1989. Oviedo City Council members signed a deal with Seminole County officials and a developer to pave Mitchell Hammock Road and turn it into a major highway. The developer, the Anden Group, paid for the road to be paved from Lockwood Road to Florida State Road 426. The City of Oviedo would pay for the addition of two lanes. Developing Mitchell Hammock became a priority because of the development of the Twin Rivers and Alafaya Woods communities by the Anden Group, which would generate a huge amount of traffic congestion, thus necessitating pavement.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographs by Karen Jacobs, 1989: Private Collection of Karen Jacobs.
East Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, Florida
Mitchell Hammock Road in 1990, just after being paved. Oviedo City Council members signed a deal with Seminole County officials and a developer to pave Mitchell Hammock Road and turn it into a major highway. The developer, the Anden Group, paid for the road to be paved from Lockwood Road to Florida State Road 426. The City of Oviedo would pay for the addition of two lanes. Developing Mitchell Hammock became a priority because of the development of the Twin Rivers and Alafaya Woods communities by the Anden Group, which would generate a huge amount of traffic congestion, thus necessitating pavement.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographs by Karen Jacobs, 1990: Private Collection of Karen Jacobs.
Mitchell Hammock Road when it was being paved in 1989. Oviedo City Council members signed a deal with Seminole County officials and a developer to pave Mitchell Hammock Road and turn it into a major highway. The developer, the Anden Group, paid for the road to be paved from Lockwood Road to Florida State Road 426. The City of Oviedo would pay for the addition of two lanes. Developing Mitchell Hammock became a priority because of the development of the Twin Rivers and Alafaya Woods communities by the Anden Group, which would generate a huge amount of traffic congestion, thus necessitating pavement.
Intersection at Lockwood Boulevard and East Mitchell Hammock Road
Lockwood Boulevard was a dirt road until 1990, when the City of Oviedo and the Anden Group, a local developer, paved Mitchell Hammock Road between Florida State Road 426 and Lockwood Boulevard, in order to alleviate traffic congestion due to the growth of the Alafaya Woods and Twin Rivers developments. Construction began in 1989 and was completed in 1990. Since 1990, the pasture and woodland that surrounded Longwood Boulevard have become the Twin Rivers development and golf course, as well as Riverside Park.
Lockwood Boulevard and East Mitchell Hammock Road, Oviedo, Florida
The transcription of a eulogy given by Harry H. Boston, Jr. after the death of his father, Harry "Big Newt" Homer, Sr. Boston, who was an integral part of Oviedo's African-American community. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia, he graduate from Valdosta State College (now Valdosta State University). After college, he joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a medic during World War II. After migrating to Oviedo, Florida, Boston built a baseball diamond where local black youths played. The teams were known as the Oviedo Black Hawks for boys and Oviedo Lady Black Hawks for girls. On his bus, affectionately nicknamed the "Big Newt Bus," Boston would take the teams to games across Florida and other states as far north as Tennessee. The City of Oviedo honored him by naming Boston Hill Park, located at 777 South Central Avenue, in his honor. On May 21, 1994, the city also proclaimed that date Harry "Big Newt" Boston Day. Boston passed away on October 3 of that same year at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital in Winter Park.
Original 1-page typed transcription by Harry H. Boston, Jr., 1994: Private Collection of Jacqueline Morgan.
The funeral program for Harry "Big Newt" Homer, Sr. Boston, who was an integral part of Oviedo's African-American community. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia, he graduate from Valdosta State College (now Valdosta State University). After college, he joined the U,S, Army, where he served as a medic during World War II. After migrating to Oviedo, Florida, Boston built a baseball diamond where local black youths played. The teams were known as the Oviedo Black Hawks for boys and Oviedo Lady Black Hawks for girls. On his bus, affectionately nicknamed the "Big Newt Bus," Boston would take the teams to games across Florida and other states as far north as Tennessee. The City of Oviedo honored him by naming Boston Hill Park, located at 777 South Central Avenue, in his honor. On May 21, 1994, the city also proclaimed that date Harry "Big Newt" Boston Day. Boston passed away on October 3 of that same year at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital in Winter Park.
Original 6-fold program, 1994: Private Collection of Jacqueline Morgan.
Golden's Funeral Homes, Inc., Winter Park, Florida
In Memory of Harry "Big Newt" Boston, Sr.
This is the dedication from former members of the Oviedo Black Hawks baseball team for Harry "Big Newt" Homer, Sr. Boston, who was an integral part of Oviedo's African-American community. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia, he graduate from Valdosta State College (now Valdosta State University). After college, he joined the U,S, Army, where he served as a medic during World War II. After migrating to Oviedo, Florida, Boston built a baseball diamond where local black youths played. The teams were known as the Oviedo Black Hawks for boys and Oviedo Lady Black Hawks for girls. On his bus, affectionately nicknamed the "Big Newt Bus," Boston would take the teams to games across Florida and other states as far north as Tennessee. The City of Oviedo honored him by naming Boston Hill Park, located at 777 South Central Avenue, in his honor. On May 21, 1994, the city also proclaimed that date Harry "Big Newt" Boston Day. Boston passed away on October 3 of that same year at the Winter Park Memorial Hospital in Winter Park.
Original 4-page pamphlet by the Oviedo Black Hawks, May 2000: Private Collection of Jacqueline Morgan.
An oral history of Ida Boston, conducted by Porsha Dossie on April 18, 2015. Boston is a resident of Oviedo, Florida, and a retired school bus driver for the Seminole County Public Schools. In 1956, she married her husband, Russell Boston, who is the grandson of Prince Butler Boston, a leading figure in Oviedo's black community. In this oral history, Boston discusses the legacy of Prince Butler Boston, establishing a colored cemetery, funding colored schools in the Oviedo area, and the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Boston also discusses black life in Oviedo, including membership in the Oviedo Citizens in Action Committee (OCIAC), which desegregated public places in Oviedo and fought for integration of Oviedo's schools.
Boston, Ida. Interviewed by Porsha Dossie, April 18, 2015. Audio/video record available. Oviedo History Harvest, Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
RICHES of Central Florida
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Oviedo, Florida
Home of the Boston Family, Oviedo, Florida
Home of Prince Butler Boston, Oviedo, Florida
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Oviedo
The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, located at 311 East Broadway Street in Oviedo, Florida, sometime between 1875 and 1950. In 1875, members of the African-American community came together to build a small place of worship. Adjacent to the church was a traditional one room "Red School House." By 1913, another room was added due to the increase in students. In the "little room," first through fourth grades were taught, while fifth through eighth grades were taught in the "big room." By 1923, the building had begun to deteriorate and $2,000 were appropriated to renovate. However, plans were made to purchase a building that was formerly used for white students on South Division Street. For 10 years, three teachers taught with little to no resources. By 1950, a number of classrooms were added and the ninth and tenth grades were added to the school. During the 1950s, all of the Oviedo area colored schools were consolidated. A new site was built where the younger grades were held, while the older grades remained at the old site. The school went through a variety of names: Orange Academy, Seminole Academy, Oviedo Junior High School, and Oviedo Elementary School. On December 8, 1961, the Seminole County School Board officially approved the name chosen by students and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members: Jackson Heights.
Original black and white photograph: The World Outside Reunion, "A Written and Pictorial History of the Oviedo Area Colored Schools": Judith Smith Publishing: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
R. W. Estes Celery Company Ledger, 1947-1950
An account ledger for the R. W. Estes Celery Company, Estes' personal accounts, and the personal accounts of Estes' wife, Ruth H. Estes. R. W. Estes Celery Company was a celery growing and shipping business in Oviedo, Florida. The R. W. Estes Celery Company Precooler Historic District is located at 159 North Central Avenue and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 2001.
Original ledger: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
R. W. Estes Celery Company, Oviedo, Florida
Homestead Documentation for Benjamin James
The homestead documentation for Benjamin James. James' homestead was located in the southwestern portion of present-day Oviedo. James was born Savannah, Georgia, and migrated to Hastings, Florida, where he met his wife, Esther James. The couple married on January 24, 1913, at what then was called The Woods, on the eastern side of the town of Gabriella, near Bear Gully Lake. The couple had nine children, in addition to the four children from Esther's previous marriage. On July 8, 1921, James filed a homestead for 160 acres for his growing family at The Woods. Following a hurricane devastated Miami on September 11, 1926, the James family opened their property to Floridians left homeless in the aftermath. These refugees became the first settlers of the Jamestown and included Bob and Flossie Wells, George and Nettie Davis, and Morris J. "Preacher" and Margaret Williams, the Nails, the Olivers, the Perrys, the Bryants, the Evans, the Brannons, the Walkers, and the Ryans. James is the only African American to have a Central Florida town named after him.
Original homestead document: Private Collection of Kathy Parry.
Benjamin James Homestead, Jamestown, Oviedo, Florida
Homestead Documentation for Colnel B. Holmes
The homestead documentation for Colnel B. Holmes. Holmes' homestead was located in Oviedo, Florida. According to the documentation, Holmes was born in Marietta, Georgia, and grew potatoes and corn were on his homestead. Little else is known of this homesteader.
Homestead Documentation for Henry Jackson
The homestead documentation for Henry Jackson. Jackson, an African American raised by a white family, homesteaded 40 acres on both sides of Long Lake in Oviedo, Florida. The area became a predominantly black settlement, now known as Jackson Heights. For 25 years he worked for Oliver P. Swope and N. F. Lezette clearing land.
Henry Jackson Homestead, Jackson Heights, Oviedo, Florida
Whitaker's Old Country Store, a junk resale store located on East Broadway Street across the street from the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, near the old railroad tracks of the Orlando-Winter Park Railroad, also known as the Dinky Line.
Original black and white photograph: Oviedo Historical Society, Downtown Oviedo, Florida.
Whitaker's Old Country Store, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
Browdy's Mini-Mart, a convenience store located at the north side of the intersection of Avenue B and East Broadway Street/County Road 419 in Downtown Oviedo, Florida.
Browdy's Mini-Mart, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo Florists and Oviedo City Cleaners, Inc.
The intersection of Broadway Street and Central Avenue in Downtown Oviedo, Florida. Oviedo Florists was located on the corner of the intersection at 40 West Broadway Street, with Oviedo City Cleaners, Inc. just next door at 30 West Broadway Street. The laundromat was established on April 5, 1976, with Frances A. Crews as its Director. The company filed for dissolution on September 26, 2008.
Oviedo Florists, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo City Cleaners, Inc., Downtown Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo Drug and Meat World, two local stores located in Oviedo, Florida, in 1979. The two stores were located on the corner of East Broadway Street/County Road 419 and Florida State Road 426.
Original black and white photograph, 1979: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Looking west along East Broadway Street towards Central Avenue in Oviedo, Florida. The shops in the photograph include a pet food and supply store, Pot Latch, a barber shop, and Albert's Jewelers, which was located at 24 East Broadway Street.
Original black and white photograph: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Lake Charm Fruit Company Packing House, 1942
The Lake Charm Fruit Company Packing House, located along Geneva Road, on the south side of County Road 419 in Oviedo, Florida, in 1942. The Lake Charm Fruit Co. was established on January 22, 1923. Although the backside of the photograph states that the packing house burned down in the 1970s, it was actually destroyed in a fire in 1961. The company officially dissolved on October 21, 1974.
Original black and white photograph, 1942: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Lake Charm Fruit Company Packing House, Oviedo, Florida
The Dance Floor at Sweetwater Park, located at 201 East Magnolia Street in Oviedo, Florida, circa 1942. In 1926, Theodore Luqueer Mead and his wife, Edith Katharine Antill Edwards Mead, donated five acres of wooded hammock land to be used for the park. The Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC) Originally spent a number of years trying to develop the park, but ultimately deferred the project to the Town of Oviedo. The OWC later donated benches to the park in 1950.
Three African-American farm workers on a celery field in Oviedo's Black Hammock. Oviedo's earliest settlers grew citrus and celery on the area's mucky, rich topsoil. While citrus was the dominant crop for some time, celery took the lead after the Great Freeze of 1894-1895, which destroyed many citrus groves in the Central Florida area. Oviedo's celery industry flourished, especially during World War II, and thus contributed to Central Florida's unprecedented growth and development during that period.
Charles Simeon Lee on Lettuce Farm in Black Hammock
Charles Simeon Lee (1892-1991) on his lettuce farm in Black Hammock, an area along Lake Jesup in Oviedo known for its groves, farms, and nurseries. Early settlers to the area grew citrus, celery, lettuce, and other vegetables on Oviedo's mucky, rich topsoil. A farmer and the youngest son of Orange County Commissioner James Hiram Lee, Sr. (1844-1920) and Laura Agusta Barnett Lee (1851-1940). Lee was born on October 27, 1892, and married Goldie Eva Beckley Lee (1892-1976) on April 21, 1915. During the Great Depression, Lee grew celery and bought 20,000 acres to start a cattle ranch. He passed away on November 9, 1991.
Seaboard Air Line Railroad Train in Black Hammock
A Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) train in Black Hammock of Oviedo, Florida, on May 25, 1927. The train was shipping Sunrise and Big Win brands of celery. Oviedo's earliest settlers grew citrus and celery on the area's mucky, rich topsoil. While citrus was the dominant crop for sometime, celery took the lead after the Great Freeze of 1894-1895, which destroyed many citrus groves in the Central Florida area. Oviedo's celery industry flourished, especially during World War II, and thus contributed to Central Florida's unprecedented growth and development during that period.
Original black and white photograph, May 25, 1927: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Old Downtown Oviedo, Florida, looking east from the intersection of Broadway Street/County Road 419/Florida State Road 426 and Florida State Road 434/Florida State Road 419. A Coca-Cola sign can be seen the right side of the photograph. The two-story building on the left was later replaced by the Townhouse Restaurant, which is located at 9 East Broadway Street.
Chuluota Baptist Church Sixty-Fifth Anniversary
A history of the Chuluota Baptist Church from its founding to its 65th anniversary in 1939. The congregation's first services were held in November of 1874 in the home of W. C. Jacobs with Reverend R. W. Lawton and Reverend George Gandez leading religious services. Many of the church's founding congregants were migrants from Whiteville, North Carolina. The church was officially founded two months later as Harmony Baptist Church on January 8, 1875. A log church was constructed about one mile east of Chuluota, near Lake Pickett. In 1883, church meetings were moved to a schoolhouse near the southern portion of Chuluota. A new church building was built and dedicated as Harmony Baptist Church of Chuluota, located at 201 Lake Mills Road, in 1888. The Sunday school was established on November 10, 1889. Construction for a new concrete building began in 1955 and was dedicated in 1956. An education wing was added in 1961. The church is now known as the First Baptist Church of Chuluota.
Original typewritten document, November 16, 1939: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Harmony Baptist Church, Chuluota, Florida
Chuluota Baptist Church, Chuluota, Florida
The Oviedo Depot, located at 636 South Lake Jessup Road in Oviedo, Florida, in 1975. The depot was Originally constructed at 520 South Lake Jessup Avenue in 1886 as part of the Henry Bradley Plant railroad system. The design of the depot was based on the design standards set by the Plant System. This standardized system for the Florida lines had three depot styles based on the population of the town or city it serviced. The Oviedo design was the small town wooden depot design, as opposed to the larger cities that had brick depots. The depot was later moved to its present location at 636 South Lake Jessup Road. During World War II, the roof of the depot was used as guide for patrolling planes that flew out of Sanford Airport. Along with the depot, there was Originally a red warehouse for the produce and a water tank used for the train engines. In the 1970s, the depot was sold to the Connolly family, which chose to preserve it from demolition. The depot now sits on the Connolly's property as a guesthouse and its exterior is fully restored.
The Nelson and Company Packing Plant, located in what is now the Nelson and Company Historic District. The company was Originally founded by Steen Nelson and Gus Nelson and called Nelson Brothers. The company changed its name to Nelson and Company after it became a three-way partnership between the brothers and Benjamin Franklin Wheeler. In 1923, Wheeler became sole owner after buying out the company. The 80-acre historic district was incorporated in September of 2001 and encompasses four of Nelson and Company's historic buildings.
Nelson and Company Packing Plant, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
A Sunday school picnic at White's Wharf, located near Lake Jesup in Oviedo, Florida, in 1910. Some of the individuals appearing in the photograph are J. C. Brainan, J. H. Lee, Olauc Howard-Huret, Frank Anderson, Sid Brown and his wife, H. B. McCall, and Hugh White. White's Wharf marks the approximate location where John Bartram and William Bartram camped during their excursion along the St. Johns River in 1765-1766. William G. White migrated to the area in the late 1870s and built a store here in 1879. White moved his store to Orlando in the 1880s. The site was also known as Clifton Springs, which is a name in honor of the hometown of Dr. Henry Foster, a wealthy grower from Lake Charm in Oviedo. Many Oviedo residents used the site as the location for their annual May picnics, which began in 1880. The picnics were hosted by a joint committee of the local Baptist and Methodist churches. The wharf is now known as Hiley's Fish Camp.
Original black and white photograph, November 12, 1910: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
T. W. Lawton Elementary School, located at 151 Graham Avenue in Oviedo, Florida, in 1931. Originally called the T. W. Lawton Elementary School, the one-room schoolhouse was first constructed in 1876 in order to serve the three families that lived on Old Orlando Road, near Bear Gully. Julia Golden was the first teacher and most of the students were African Americans. When one of the families moved to Clonts Quarters during the first year, the school moved with them. In 1899, the school was moved to the middle of town. In 1922, Seminole County built a four-room brick schoolhouse with an auditorium seating 75-80. White students attended the new schoolhouse, while black students remained at the original school, then called Oviedo Colored Elementary School and later renamed Jackson Heights. In 1923, the new school had its first graduating class. H. J. Laney was the school principal at the time that this photograph was taken and Thelma Lee Clonts, the contributor of the picture, was beginning her education at the school with Katy Walken as her teacher. The school's name was later changed to T. W. Lawton Elementary School and is now known as Lawton Elementary School.
Photocopy of original black and white photograph, October 1, 1931: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
T. W. Lawton Elementary School, Oviedo, Florida
The Lee Family on the front porch of their home along Lake Charm in Oviedo, Florida. Photographed standing, from left to right, are Lillian Della Lee (ca. 1883-1977); William "Wiley" Lee (1869-1905); John Theodore Lee (1871-1959); George Lee; B. F. Wheeler; and James Hiram Lee, Sr. (1844-1920). Seated in the photograph are Annie Ethel Lee; Laura Agusta Barnett Lee (1851-1940); James Hiram Lee, Jr. (1890-1959); and Charlotte "Lottie" Lee (1887-1984). The family patriarch, James Hiram Lee, Sr., was a veteran of the Confederate military, Lee served as an Orange County Commissioner, before Seminole County was established. The county courthouse was constructed in 1892, while Lee was chairman of the commission. Lee's wife, Laura, migrated from Columbia County to Oviedo and married Lee in 1867. The couple settled near Lake Charm in the Lake Jesup community (present-day Oviedo) in 1874 and had nine children. Wiley Lee married Fannie Vaughan Lee (1873-1944) and later committed suicide in 1905. James, Jr. served in the military during World War I. Lottie married Thomas Willington Lawton (1882-1963), the first elected Superintendent of Schools of Seminole County. Lillian married Winborn Joseph Lawton, Sr. (1881-1971), who served as a trustee of the First Baptist Church of Oviedo, a secretary and treasurer for the church's Sunday school, an insurance agent, and a citrus grower. She was also a charter member and the former present of the Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC), the former president of the Woman's Missionary Society, and a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Oviedo. Annie married Walter Pascal Carter (1879-1939). George married Benjamin Franklin Wheeler, a prominent citrus grower, celery cultivator, and politician.
Photocopy of original black and white photograph: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
James Hiram Lee, Jr. and Charles Simeon Lee with Friends
James Hiram Lee, Jr. (1890-1959) and Charles Simeon Lee (1892-1991), sons of James Hiram Lee, Sr. (1844-1920) and Laura Agusta Barnett Lee (1851-1940), with other children in Oviedo, Florida. C. S. Lee was born on October 27, 1892, and married Goldie Eva Beckley Lee (1892-1976) on April 21, 1915. During the Great Depression, Lee grew celery and bought 20,000 acres to start a cattle ranch. He passed away on November 9, 1991. Other boys seen in the photograph include blue Anderson, Joe Leinhart, a McKnight boy, Cater Lawton, Robert Lawton, William Clark, and Fred Poiller.
The Whitney-Wolcott House, located at 6297 Lake Charm Circle, near Lake Charm in Oviedo, Florida. After buying property from Dr. Henry Foster in 1886, Calvin Whitney built his Victorian Revival-style, two-story winter home near Lake Charm. Whitney, who was the president of the A.B. Chase Piano Company, partnered with Dr. Foster in 1889-1890 to form the Lake Charm Improvement Company, which built a bulkhead, drained from the lake, and removed muck from the bottom. Whitney and Dr. Foster hired a Philadelphia-based mason to construct a sidewalk around the lake. The home was later owned by O. Gus Wolcott. Another well-known inhabitant of the house was Wyatt Wyatt, author of Catching Fire and Deep in the Heart, in the 1990s.
Robert Floyd King and Minnie Lee King at a Black Hammock Celery Field
Robert Floyd King and Minnie Lee King (ca. 1918-2002) at a celery field in Black Hammock, an area in Oviedo, Florida, in the early 1920s, when Minnie was four or five. Minnie graduated from Oviedo High School in 1936 and later married George C. Means. As an active members of the community Minnie Lee King Means helped organize the Oviedo Garden Club and the Oviedo Historical Society. She was also a member of the Oviedo Woman's Club. Minnie's husband was a salesman for the Wheeler Fertilizer Company from 1947 to 1985.
T. W. Lawton Elementary School, located at 151 Graham Avenue in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the T. W. Lawton Elementary School, the one-room schoolhouse was first constructed in 1876 in order to serve the three families that lived on Old Orlando Road, near Bear Bully. Julia Golden was the first teacher and most of the students were African Americans. When one of the families moved to Clonts Quarters during the first year, the school moved with them. In 1899, the school was moved to the middle of town. In 1922, Seminole County built a four-room brick schoolhouse with an auditorium seating 75-80. White students attended the new schoolhouse, while black students remained at the original school, then called Oviedo Colored Elementary School and later renamed Jackson Heights. In 1923, the new school had its first graduating class. H. J. Laney was the school principal at the time that this photograph was taken and Thelma Lee Clonts, the contributor of the picture, was beginning her education at the school with Katy Walken as her teacher. The school's name was later changed to T. W. Lawton Elementary School and is now known as Lawton Elementary School.
Original color photographs: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
James Hiram Lee, Sr. (1844-1920). a veteran of the Confederate military. Lee served as an Orange County Commissioner, before Seminole County was established. The county courthouse was constructed in 1892, while Lee was chairman of the commission. Lee's wife, Laura, migrated from Columbia County to Oviedo and married Lee in 1867. The couple settled near Lake Charm in the Lake Jesup community (present-day Oviedo) in 1874 and had nine children, including William "Wiley" Lee (1869-1905); John Theodore Lee (1871-1959); Mary Louise Lee (1876-1877); Annie Ethel Lee Carter; James Hiram Lee, Jr. (1890-1959); Charles Simeon Lee (1892-1991), George Lee Wheeler, and Lillian Della Lee Lawton (ca. 1883-1977).
Laura Agusta Barnett Lee (1851-1940), who migrated to the Oviedo area from Columbia County, Florida. Barnett married James Hiram Lee, Sr. (1844-1920), a veteran of the Confederate military, in 1867 and the couple settled near Lake Charm in the Lake Jesup community (present-day Oviedo) in 1874. Her husband served as an Orange County Commissioner, before Seminole County was established. The county courthouse was constructed in 1892, while Lee was chairman of the commission. Together, the Lees had nine children, including William "Wiley" Lee (1869-1905); John Theodore Lee (1871-1959); Mary Louise Lee (1876-1877); Annie Ethel Lee Carter; James Hiram Lee, Jr. (1890-1959); Charles Simeon Lee (1892-1991), George Lee Wheeler, and Lillian Della Lee Lawton (ca. 1883-1977).
The Oviedo band at a Sunday school picnic at White's Wharf, located near Lake Jesup in Oviedo, Florida, in 1911. Some of the individuals appearing in the photograph are Cater Lawton, Karl Graff, Hugh White, bandmaster Stuman, John McCulley, McKnight, Joe Leinhart, McKnight, Edward McCall; Henry Bun McCall, Charles Lee, and Seaboard Air Line Railroad agent Koppel. White's Wharf marks the approximate location where John Bartram and William Bartram camped during their excursion along the St. Johns River in 1765-1766. William g. White migrated to the area in the late 1870s and built a store here in 1879. White moved his store to Orlando in the 1880s. The site was also known as Clifton Springs, which is a name in honor of the hometown of Dr. Henry Foster, a wealthy grower from Lake Charm in Oviedo. Many Oviedo residents used the site as the location for their annual May picnics, which began in 1880. The picnics were hosted by a joint committee of the local Baptist and Methodist churches. The wharf is now known as Hiley's Fish Camp.
Original black and white photograph, December 13, 1911: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Joe Lee on Charles Simeon Lee's Celery Farm
Joe Lee, an African-American laborer, with Blue Goose celery at Charles Simeon Lee, Sr.'s farm in Oviedo, Florida, in 1928. The two Lees were of no relation. C. S. Lee (1892-1991) was born on October 27, 1892, and married Goldie Eva Beckley Lee (1892-1976) on April 21, 1915. During the Great Depression, Lee grew celery and bought 20,000 acres to start a cattle ranch. He passed away on November 9, 1991.
Original black and white photograph, 1928: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Old Downtown Oviedo, Florida. The Timucuan Native Americans Originally inhabited the area of present-day Oviedo, although the remains of their settlements have disappeared. Homesteaders arrived along the shores of Lake Jesup in 1865 just after the Civil War ended and began growing celery and citrus. The area was called the Lake Jesup Community until March 13, 1879, when postmaster Andrew Aulin, a Swedish immigrant, chose the name Oviedo.
A map of Lake Charm, a 19-acre lake located in the Lake Jesup Watershed of Oviedo, Florida, sometime between 1865 and 1870. The map shows mostly orange groves and farmland owned by a handful of individuals: Walter Gwynn, Dr. Henry Foster, Mary E. Foster, and Catherine M. Remington. Walter Gwynn (1828-1897), comptroller for the State of Florida, bought the land south of Lake Jesup in 1859 and built his home on Lake Charm in 1868. His daughter, Martha Gwynn, is credited with naming the lake. In 1870, Dr. Henry Foster migrated to Lake Charm from New York and began growing oranges. He later developed the area as a resort in the 1880s.
Original map: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
The Memorial Building, located at 38 South Central Avenue in Downtown Oviedo, Florida, in 1974. The building was dedicated during the tenure of Mayor Lee Gary in honor of Oviedo's veterans. At the time that the photograph was taken, the Memorial Building housed Oviedo City Hall, which include the Mayor's Office, the City Clerk's Office, the Oviedo Water Department, the Oviedo Municipal Court, and the Oviedo Police Department. The city hall and the police department are now located at 400 Alexandria Boulevard. The Memorial Building is currently being used for event rentals.
Original color newspaper photograph, 1974: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Northbound on Central Avenue in Downtown Oviedo, Florida, in 1974. A number of businesses can be seen in the photograph, including Oviedo Florists, located at 40 West Broadway Street; Oviedo City Cleaners, Inc., located at 30 West Broadway Street, and Citizens Bank of Oviedo, located at 156 Geneva Drive. Oviedo City Cleaners was established on April 5, 1976, with Frances A. Crews as its Director. The company filed for dissolution on September 26, 2008. Citizens Bank of Oviedo opened on July 1, 1946. The land on which the bank sits was Originally the Bill Browning celery farm. The Citizens Bank of Oviedo took in over half a million dollars in deposits on its first day, with B. F. Wheeler as president and Charles Shaffer as the cashier. Citizens' Bank of Oviedo is now the Citizens' Bank of Florida with locations throughout Seminole County.
Oviedo City Cleaners, Inc., Oviedo, Florida
Citizens Bank of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
A Fourth of July barbecue at Sweetwater Park, located at 201 East Magnolia Street in Oviedo, Florida. Theodore Luqueer Mead and his wife, Edith Katharine Antill Edwards Mead, donated five acres of wooded hammock land to be used for the park. The Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC) Originally spent a number of years trying to develop the park, but ultimately deferred the project to the Town of Oviedo. The OWC later donated benches to the park in 1950. The event was hosted by American Legion Post 243 to raise funds for a chlorinator for the town swimming pool. Post 243 is currently located at A491 West Broadway Street. The American Legion is a social veterans' organization for former and current members of the United States Armed Forces. The organization was chartered by the United States Congress on September 16, 1919, following World War I. The American Legion has been active in influencing political and social change, such as the founding of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, which was the forerunner of the Veterans Administration and later the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); efforts to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag; the creation of the American Legion Baseball program; the passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights; contributing to the launch of the National Association for Mental Health; sponsorship of an independent study on the effects of the exposure of Agent Orange, a herbicidal weapon, on veterans of the Vietnam War; as well as many other activities and achievements.
Thomas Willington Lawton and Winborn Joseph Lawton, Sr. at the Lawton General Store
Thomas Willington Lawton (1882-1963) and his brother, Winborn Joseph Lawton, Sr. (1881-1971), at the Lawton General Store in Oviedo, Florida. T. W. Lawton graduated from Rollins College in 1903. He later received his master's degree from Andover Newton College in Boston, Massachusetts. Following college, Lawton returned to Oviedo, where he married Charlotte "Lottie" Lee (1887-1984) and served as the principal of the Oviedo School from 1905 to 1907. In 1916, he became the first elected Superintendent of Schools of Seminole County. He held that post until 1952 and passed away 11 years later in 1963. Lawton Elementary School is named in his honor. W. J. Lawton, Sr. served as a trustee of the First Baptist Church of Oviedo, as well as a secretary and treasurer for the church's Sunday school. He graduated from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, in 1900. Lawton married Lillian Della Lee (ca. 1883-1977) and had four children: Elizabeth Lawton Laney, Kathryn Lawton, John. K. Lawton, and Winborn Joseph Lawton, Jr. Lawton was in the mercantile business, worked as an insurance agent, and grew citrus.
The Nelson and Company Packing Plant, located in what is now the Nelson and Company Historic District, in 1979. The company was Originally founded by Steen Nelson and Gus Nelson and called Nelson Brothers. The company changed its name to Nelson and Company after it became a three-way partnership between the brothers and Benjamin Franklin Wheeler. In 1923, Wheeler became sole owner after buying out the company. The 80-acre historic district was incorporated in September of 2001 and encompasses four of Nelson and Company's historic buildings.
History of the First Baptist Church, Oviedo, Florida: First 100 Years, 1869-1969
A history of the First Baptist Church of Oviedo from its founding in 1869 to its centennial celebration in 1969. The book begins with a brief history of the Central Florida area, followed by a history of Oviedo. The first service for the First Baptist Church was led by Reverend W. G. Powell on the property of W. H. Luther, located along Lake Jessup Avenue. The first church building was made of wood and was located on what was the property of Lois Ruddell at the time that this book was written. The old building served the church until 1887, later became the house of the Beasley family, and was finally torn down. A new wooden church building was erected in 1887 and remained in use until 1926. The brick church building constructed later on is still in use by CrossLife Church.
Original 32-page booklet: History of the First Baptist Church, Oviedo, Florida: First 100 Years, 1869-1969, 1969: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
First Baptist Church of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
The centennial edition of The Oviedo Outlook published in 1979 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Oviedo, Florida. The newspaper begins with a brief history of Oviedo, followed by articles devoted to important members of the community, including Evelyn Cheek Lundy and John Lundy, Thad Lee Lingo, Jr. and Lacy Aire Lingo, Clare Wheeler Evans, Wayne Jacobs and Karen Jansen Jacobs, Thomas Moon, Marguerite Partin, Frank Wheeler, Katherine Lawton, Tom Estes, Ed Yarborough and Ima Jean Bostick Yarborough, Virginia Balkcom Mikler, Paul Mikler, Sparks Lingo Ridenour and John Ridenour, Ray "Rex" Clonts and Thelma Lee Clonts, Jean Jordan and Harold Jordan, the Malcolm family, Edward Duda, Penny Mitchem Olliff and Leon Olliff, Louise Wheeler Martin and Bill Martin, Miriam "Mimi" Wheeler Bruce and Douglas Allen, Viola Smith, and Cay Westerfield.
Original 28-page booklet: The Oviedo Outlook: Centennial Edition, 1979: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
First Methodist Church of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Slavia, Oviedo, Florida
The Oviedo Outlook, Volume 4, Number 40, May 26, 1977
Volume 4, number 40 of The Oviedo Outlook, published on May 26, 1977. The Oviedo Outlook was published every Thursday at 173 West Broadway Street in Oviedo, Florida. The newspaper was operated by the NPN Corporation, president and general manager Lawrence E. Neely, vice president and managing editor James "Randy" R. Noles, and secretary-treasurer and business manager Marilyn Neely. Topics discussed in various articles in this issue include a meeting between Oviedo City Council members and Seminole County Commissioners, a fish fry held in honor of former Chief of Police George Kelsey, Oviedo's new city plan, the history of the First Baptist Church of Chuluota, Oviedo High School's (OHS) Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) chapter, Circuit Judge Robert McGregor's ruling on a rape case, athlete awards at OHS, poetry wards for students of Jackson Heights Middle School (JHMS), a burglary at T.W. Lawton Elementary School, the death of Lillian Della Lee Lawton, graduation at Florida Technological University (present-day University of Central Florida), Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) elections at JHMS, and results of the Oviedo Little League. This issue also includes a classified section and numerous advertisements through the issue. This issue is missing pages 5 through 8.
Original 8-page newspaper edition: The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Oviedo City Hall, Memorial Building, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
First Baptist Church of Chuluota, Chuluota, Florida
Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, Sanford, Florida
Florida Technological University, Orlando, Florida
Jackson Heights Middle School, Oviedo, Florida
Langford Resort Hotel, Winter Park, Florida
Home of Lillian Della Lee Lawton, Oviedo, Florida
First United Methodist Church of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
Suspicious Councilmen Agree to Meet with Commissioners
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article discusses the planned meeting between members of the Oviedo city council and Dick Williams, chairman of the Seminole County Commission, on June 2, 1977. According to the article, city council members were suspicious of the county's plans. The continuation of the article is missing.
Original newspaper article: "Suspicious Councilmen Agree to Meet with Commissioners." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 1: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article discusses a fish fry to raise money for former Oviedo Chief of Police, George Kelsey, who had undergone surgery for a degenerative bone ailment. The event was held at the Fin and Feather Restaurant on June 4 and was sponsored by the Greater Oviedo Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Oviedo Police Benevolent Association (PBA). The continuation of the article is missing.
Original newspaper article: "Kelsey Fish Fry Slated June 4." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 1: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Oviedo's Plan: A Variety of Rules on Everything from Roads to Recreation
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article describes the Oviedo Comprehensive Plan developed by the Local Planning Agency (LPA). Plans include rules and regulations for land use, natural resources, housing, community services and facilities, transportation, parks and recreation, potable water, and sewage and solid waste disposal.
Original newspaper article: Noles, Randy. "Oviedo's Plan: A Variety of Rules on Everything from Roads to Recreation." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 1 and 4: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Letters From the People: VICA Sponsor Thanks Citizens
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article features a letter to the editor by Wayne E. Lanham, an instructor at Oviedo High School and the sponsor of the school's chapter of Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). VICA is career and technical student organization founded in 1965. In the letter, Lanham thanks members and sponsors of the high school's VICA. In 1999, the national organization changed its name to SkillsUSA-VICA and then shortened it to SkillsUSA in 2004.
Original newspaper article: "Letters From the People: VICA Sponsor Thanks Citizens." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Something to Think About: Rape Ruling a Travesty
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article discusses a recent ruling by Circuit Judge Robert McGregor regarding a rape case in the Seminole-Brevard Circuit Court. According to the article, Judge McGregor dismissed sexual battery charges against a convicted rapist because the victim did not resist "to the degree that the law expects." Larry Neely, the author of the article, argues that the ruling is in appropriate and that victim's rights should be respected.
Original newspaper article: Neely, Larry. "Something to Think About: Rape Ruling a Travesty." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A newspaper column published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. "Over the Coffee" was a weekly column by Donna Neely and Ralph Neely. This week's column discussed the work of archaeologist Dr. Ron Wallace of Florida Technological University (FTU) in Chuluota, renovations on Oviedo City Hall, the Florida Road Department, and handicap parking. The column also includes a quote by investor and statesman Bernard Baruch and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Original newspaper column: "Over the Coffee." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The describes the fundraising efforts by Gary Metcalf, a former drum major at Oviedo High School, who was trying to raise money to travel with the Continental Singers to Europe. At the time that the article was posted, Metcalf was attending North Texas State University. Metcalf received contributions from Wayne Johnson of Orangewood Feed and Tack and the First Baptist Church of Oviedo.
Original newspaper article: "Metcalf Fund Short." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
OHS Honors Outstanding Athletes at Banquet
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article describes Oviedo High School's Athletic Banquet that was held at the Sanford Civic Center and lists the various awards and recipients. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations of its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education of and its successful athletics programs.
Original newspaper article: "OHS Honors Outstanding Athletes at Banquet." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 2: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.