Fountain at Eola Park, Orlando: "The City Beautiful" Postcard

Fountain at Eola Park, Orlando: "The City Beautiful" Postcard

Fountain at Eola Park Postcard

Orlando (Fla.)

Fountains--Florida

Parks--Florida

A postcard showing the Sperry Fountain on the southern shore of Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The fountain was named in honor of Frank E. Sperry (1843-1916), Mayor of Orlando from 1913 to 1916. Lake Eola and the surrounding park are one of the unusual features that sets the city of Orlando apart from other places. From its earliest days, Downtown Orlando was situated on the west side of the lake. As the town grew into a city, Lake Eola continued to be a focal point for the inhabitants, who used it for bathing, swimming, and fishing, while on its shores people picnicked and listened to concerts and religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin (1820-1893), who designated that it be a public park. It has remained one ever since. The rest of the park land was donated by the Musselwhite family and Mayor Sperry.

Once Sperry had settled in Orlando, he started the South Florida Foundry and Machine Works, which developed into a large enterprise and Orlando's first real industry. Sperry was active in the business for a number of years, but sold out his interest because of failing health. He also began to have a great interest in the growing of citrus in the county. He served as Mayor of Orlando and was also a member of the Park Commission. In 1913, while serving with the Park Commission, he donated the final piece of land on Lake Eola that completed a ring around the lake. On that land, he donated $2,000 to place a fountain that stands to this day and bears his name as a reminder of his generosity. The fountain, made of wrought iron was described as a "large acanthus leaf with a duck base surmounted by a bittern set in an octagonal masonry basin with eight vases." At the base of the fountain there is a plaque with the following statement: "This fountain donated by Frank E. Sperry, Mayor 1914 - 1916."

Color postcard of Lake Eola, Orlando, Fla. Front: photo of Lucerne Circle. Back: blank message side with information describing Edward's Park on Lake Ivanhoe, largest of Orlando's 33 lakes. Postcard published by Central cigar and Tobacco Co.and Orlando, Florida. Photography by Tichnor Quality Views, Boston, Mass.

Original color postcard: ""Fountain at Eola Park, Orlando, Florida: 'The City Beautiful.'" Central Cigar and Tobacco Company, Orlando, Florida: Thomas and Georgine Mickler Collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Central Cigar and Tobacco Company

ca. 1930-1949

ca. 1930-1949

Tichnor Quality Views

Digital reproduction of original color postcard: "Fountain at Eola Park, Orlando, Florida: 'The City Beautiful.'" Central Cigar and Tobacco Company, Orlando, Florida: Tag number DP0010656, Thomas and Georgine Mickler Collection, Central Florida Memory.

Original color postcard: "Fountain at Eola Park, Orlando, Florida: 'The City Beautiful.'" Central Cigar and Tobacco Company, Orlando, Florida.

Thomas and Georgine Mickler Collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Orlando Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

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1 color postcard

eng

Still Image

Sperry Fountain, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida

Donation

History Teacher

Geography Teacher

Originally published by the Central Cigar and Tobacco Company.

Copyright to this resource is held by University of Central Florida, Special Collections & University Archives and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.

Cepero, Laura

Rajtar, Steve. A Guide to Historic Orlando. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006.

Fountain at Eola Park, Orlando, Florida. "The City Beautiful" O-132

1 color postcard