The JCPenney Building, located at the corner of Orange Avenue and Jefferson Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. James Cash Penney established his company in the early 1900s. The company was incorporated under the name J. C. Penney Company in 1913 with William Henry McManus as co-founder. The JCPenney Building in Downtown Orlando was built around 1959 and opened on July 21, 1960. The store moved to the Florida Mall in 1985 and the remaining building was converted into office and retail space in 1986.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
RICHES of Central Florida
JCPenney Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
S. H. Kress & Company Building Floor Plans
The floor plans for the Kress Building, located at 15 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The plans include marquise, plaster ceilo grilles, and plaster plans. S. H. Kress & Company is a chain of retail department stores founded by Samuel H. Kress in 1896. The building was designed with Art Deco details by Edward F. Sibbert, built by the G .A. Miller Company in 1930, and opened in 1936. The Kress store vacated the building in 1975. The Church Street portion of building housed King Henry's Feast, a dinner attraction, before it relocated to International Drive. After the restaurant left, this section of the building housed several stores and dining establishments. In 1978, the Kress Building was named an Orlando Historic Landmark.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Kress Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
S. H. Kress & Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
King Henry's Feast, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Kress Building, located at 15 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. S. H. Kress & Company is a chain of retail department stores founded by Samuel H. Kress in 1896. The building was designed with Art Deco details by Edward F. Sibbert, built by the G. A. Miller Company in 1930, and opened in 1936. The Kress store vacated the building in 1975. The Church Street portion of building housed King Henry's Feast, a dinner attraction, before it relocated to International Drive. After the restaurant left, this section of the building housed several stores and dining establishments. In 1978, the Kress Building was named an Orlando Historic Landmark.
The Kuhl-Delaney Building, located at 69 East Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. In 1882, James Delaney opened a grocery store in a wooden building at the corner of Pine Street and Magnolia Avenue. The building caught fire on January 12, 1884, and the fire spread to most of the business district, making it the worst fire in Orlando history. Delaney and Edward Kuhl constructed the Kuhl-Delaney Building, also known as the Phoenix Building, at the former site. In 1978, the building housed the Mather furniture store. In 1981, the building was renovated to accommodate an office for an architect. The renovations included the addition of a 1,500-square-foot mezzanine, the removal and modification of the ground floor facade, and the addition of tinted-glass windows to replace the original storefront display windows.
Kuhl-Delaney Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Kuhl-Delaney Building, located at 69 East Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. In 1882, James Delaney opened a grocery store in a wooden building at the corner of Pine Street and Magnolia Avenue. The building caught fire on January 12, 1884, and the fire spread to most of the business district, making it the worst fire in Orlando history. Delaney and Edward Kuhl constructed the Kuhl-Delaney Building, also known as the Phoenix Building, at the former site. In 1978, the building housed the Mather furniture store. In 1981, the building was renovated to accommodate an office for an architect. The renovations included the addition of a 1,500-square-foot mezzanine, the removal and modification of the ground floor facade, and the addition of tinted-glass windows to replace the original storefront display windows.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Masonic Temple, located on 205 East Central Boulevard, in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2002. The building was constructed in the 20th Century Commercial style in 1925 and was dedicated on January 13, 1926. The original owner was the Free and Associated Masons of Orlando from 1926 until 1982. The temple was purchased in 1982 for $660,000 and underwent extensive modifications, including an additional two stories. The building now serves as professional offices.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Masonic Temple, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The entrance of the McCrory Building, located at 101 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The Art Moderne-style structure, with parts from an 1888 building, was constructed by the J. G. Stores Corporation in 1942. McCrory operated its store and headquarters at this location until 1989. In 2003, the building was demolished.
J. G. McCrory's, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The McCrory Building, located at 101 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The Art Moderne-style structure, with parts from an 1888 building, was constructed by the J. G. Stores Corporation in 1942. McCrory operated its store and headquarters at this location until 1989. In 2003, the building was demolished.
The McEwan Sanitarium, located at 100 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2000. The two-story clinic was constructed in 1911 and expanded to three stories around 1920. The building served as the hospital of Dr. John McEwan, who arrived in Orlando in 1906, until 1925. Later occupants of the site include the Florida Public Service Corporation and the Florida Gas Company.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2000: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
McEwan Sanitarium, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Metcalf Building, located at 101 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. in 2002. The building opened in 1924 and was the third skyscraper in Orlando. A. G. Bentley built the structure for the Orlando Federal Savings and Loan Association. The Lucerne Pharmacy also occupied the site until 1926. In 1932, the site was owned by the Orlando Bank & Trust Company. The new bank eventually failed and the building was purchased by Henry Metcalf. In 1936, Liggett Drug Store occupied the site. The Household Finance Corporation was also housed in the building later. At the time that this photograph was taken in 2002, it was housing Citrus Bank.
Metcalf Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Federal Savings and Loan Association, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Lucerne Pharmacy, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Bank & Trust Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Liggett Drug Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Orlando SouthTrust Bank, located at 135 West Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. In 1887, the SouthTrust Corporation was founded as Birmingham Trust and Savings Company in Birmingham, Alabama. The bank was renamed the Birmingham Trust National Bank in 1946, when it received a charter to become a national bank. In 1972, the bank combined with three other Alabama banks as the Alabama Financial Group, Inc. Two years later, the company was renamed the Southern Bancorporation of Alabama and continued to buy banks throughout the state. The bank's name was changed to SouthTrust Corporation in 1981 and purchased the Central Bank of South Daytona Beach in Florida,which was its first purchase outside of Alabama. SouthTrust became one of the largest banks in the South in the 1990s. On June 21, 2004, SouthTrust merged with the Wachovia Corporation.
SouthTrust Bank, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Rutland Building, located at 63 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The original two-story structure was designed by F. Earl Deloe in the Art Moderne-style for Joseph Rutland's menswear store in 1941. In 1952, three additional stories were added. Rutland's closed its downtown store in the late 1960s, but remained open in the Colonial Plaza Shopping Center.
Rutland Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Joseph Rutland's Menswear Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Former State Bank and Trust Company Building, 2002
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. College of Law
The former site of the State Bank of Orlando, located at 1 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The bank was formed in 1893 with Louis Massey as president. In 1919, the State Bank converted into the State Bank and Trust Company and also acquired the northeast corner of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard that year. A. G. Bentley constructed a ten-story building on that lot, designed by W.L. Stoddart in the 20th Century Commercial style with Neo-Classical elements. The building was used by the bank until it closed in 1929. In 1933, the Florida Bank at Orlando acquired the property. In 1927, the building was acquired by Orange County and served as governmental offices, including the Sheriff's Office and Supervisor of Elections. In 2002, it housed the temporary home of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's College of Law.
State Bank and Trust Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Florida Bank at Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Teele Building, located at 123 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. This site was originally occupied by Joseph Bumby's warehouse for hay, grain, and fertilizer. In the late 1880s, W .L. and Silas Dolive operated a packing house from this location. In 1924, the Teele Building was constructed and housed Sam's Bar and Grill. Later, it became the site of Phineas Phogg's Balloon Works. Bliss Ultra Lounge also occupied a section of the building.
Joseph Bumby's Warehouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
W. L. and Silas Dolive's Packinghouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Sam's Bar and Grill, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Phineas Phogg's Balloon Works, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Bliss Ultra Lounge, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Teele Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Vivaldi Ristorante, located at 107 West Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Vivaldi is an Italian restaurant named after Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, a Baroque composer, Catholic priest, and violinist in Venice, Italy, during the 18th century. SouthTrust Bank can also bee seen in the background.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Vivaldi Ristorante, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wall Street Plaza, located at 26 Wall Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. Wall Street Plaza is a complex of locally-owned bars, restaurants, and nightclubs established in 1995. The plaza originally had just one bar and has grown to include eight venues, as of 2013, including: Wall Street Cantina, The Hen House, Hooch, Loaded Hog, Monkey-Bar, One-Eyed Jack's, Slingapour's, and Waitiki. Wall Street Cantina, a Mexican restaurant, can be seen to the right of the photograph. In 2014, Loaded Hog and One-Eyed Jack's were replaced by Shine and Slingapour's was replaced by Shine. Wall Street Plaza hosts various block parties and special events in Downtown Orlando.
Wall Street Plaza, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wall Street Cantina, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Woolworth-McCrory Building, located at 101 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. Woolworth's was a retail company established by Frank Winfield Woolworth in 1879. McCrory's was a chain of five-and-dime stores established by John Graham McCrorey in 1882. The Art Moderne-style structure in Downtown Orlando, with parts from an 1888 building, was constructed in 1942 by the J. G. Stores Corporation. McCrory operated its store and headquarters at this location until 1989. In 2003, the building was demolished.
Woolworth-McCrory Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Demolition of Woolworth-McCrory Building, 2003
Woolworth-McCrory Building, located at 101 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, during demolition in 2003. Woolworth's was a retail company established by Frank Winfield Woolworth in 1879. McCrory's was a chain of five-and-dime stores established by John Graham McCrorey in 1882. The Art Moderne-style structure in Downtown Orlando, with parts from an 1888 building, was constructed in 1942 by the J. G. Stores Corporation. McCrory operated its store and headquarters at this location until 1989. In 2003, the building was demolished.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, located 1 Citrus Bowl Place in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The Citrus Bowl was constructed in 1936 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) project. The football stadium was originally called the Orlando Stadium and could seat 8,900. The first annual bowl game, called the Tangerine Bowl and later renamed the Florida Citrus Bowl in 1982, was held on January 1, 1947. From 1947 to 1975, the stadium was known as the Tangerine Bowl Stadium, but was renamed the Citrus Bowl Stadium in 1976. From 1977 to 1982, the stadium was renamed the Orlando Stadium. It became the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in 1983. In 2014, it was renamed the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. The stadium was expanded to seat 12,000 in 1952; 18,000 in 1967; 48,000 in 1974; and 70,000 in 1989. From 1999 to 2002, the stadium added contour seating, two escalators, 107-foot wide video screen, a new sound system, and two full-color displays. The stadium has also been the home field of numerous football teams in various professional leagues, such as the Florida Blazers (1974), the Orlando Renegades (1985), the Orlando Thunder (1991-1992), the Orlando Rage (2001), the Florida Tuskers (2009-2010), and the Orlando Fantasy (2011). The Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium was also the venue of five soccer games for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as well as the venue for numerous concerts. The University of Central Florida used the facility for its football games, but relocated in 2005. The following year, Orange County and the City or Orlando committed $175 million for the first renovation of the stadium with an expected completion date of the fall of 2014.
Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The grand opening of the Orlando Skate Park, located at 400 Festival Way in Orlando, Florida, in 2003.
Clark C. Griffith Memorial at Tinker Field
Griffith, Clark (Clark Calvin), 1869-1955
The Clark C. Griffith Memorial at Tinker Field, located at 287 South Tampa Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Clark Calvin Griffith (1869-1955), also known as "The Old Fox," was a Major League Baseball pitcher, team manager, and team owner. He began his career in the MLB with the St. Louis Browns (present-day St. Louis Cardinals) in 1891. That same year, he played with the Boston Reds. From 1893 to 1900, he pitched for the Chicago Colts/Orphans (present-day the Chicago Cubs). Griffith both played and managed the Chicago White Stockings (present-day Chicago White Sox) from 1901 to 1902 and the New York Highlands (present-day New York Yankees) from 1903 to 1907. He retired as a player following the 1907 season, but reamined manager in 1908. He later managed the Cincinnati Reds from 1909 to 1911 and the Washington Senators (present-day Minnesota Twins) from 1912 to 1920. In 1920, he bought the Senators and continued as owner until his death in 1955. In 1946, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Tinker Field is named after Joseph B. Tinker, who was a shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, manager of the Orlando Tigers, and the first Floridian to be selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The first baseball field at this location was built in 1914. The stadium was dedicated in 1923 and could seat approximately 1,500 people. In 1934, a fence was added. The field was home of the Orlando Rays, a minor league baseball team, until they moved to the Cracker Jack Stadium in 2000. Tinker Field was also the Spring Training home for the Cincinnati Reds from 1923 to 1935, the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1934 to 1935, and the Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins from 1936 to the 1990s. On May 14, 2004, Tinker Field was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The field has also served as the home to the Orlando Electric Daisy Carnival, an electric dance music festival, in 2011 and 2012. The stadium currently seats 5,100 people.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook
The Tinker Building, located at 16-18 West Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. After moving to Orlando in 1920, Joseph B. Tinker constructed the Commercial-style in 1925, using glazed brick tiles and terracotta, for his real estate offices. Tinker was shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, manager of the Orlando Tigers, and the first Floridian to be selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The first floor housed the Singer Sewing Machine Company and other tenants have included the Balfour Hardware Store, starting in 1928. In 1941, the property was purchased by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and then later sold to Carey Hand. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1980.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Tinker Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Singer Sewing Machine Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Balfour Hardware Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Tinker Building, located at 16-18 West Pine Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. After moving to Orlando in 1920, Joseph B. Tinker constructed the Commercial-style in 1925, using glazed brick tiles and terracotta, for his real estate offices. Tinker was shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, manager of the Orlando Tigers, and the first Floridian to be selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The first floor housed the Singer Sewing Machine Company and other tenants have included the Balfour Hardware Store, starting in 1928. In 1941, the property was purchased by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and then later sold to Carey Hand. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1980.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Tinker Field Stadium, located at 287 South Tampa Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Tinker Field is named after Joseph B. Tinker, who was a shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, manager of the Orlando Tigers, and the first Floridian to be selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The first baseball field at this location was built in 1914. The stadium was dedicated in 1923 and could seat approximately 1,500 people. In 1934, a fence was added. The field was home of the Orlando Rays, a minor league baseball team, until they moved to the Cracker Jack Stadium in 2000. Tinker Field was also the Spring Training home for the Cincinnati Reds from 1923 to 1935, the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1934 to 1935, and the Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins from 1936 to the 1990s. On May 14, 2004, Tinker Field was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The field has also served as the home to the Orlando Electric Daisy Carnival, an electric dance music festival, in 2011 and 2012. The stadium currently seats 5,100 people.
Headstone for Dr. David Fort Anderson and Eliza Harrop Kenderdine Anderson at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of Dr. David Fort Anderson (1830-1923) and Eliza Harrop Kenderdine Anderson (1844-1886) at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Dr. Anderson was the grandson of United States congressman, Isaac Anderson (November 22, 1760 - October 27, 1838) and served as the postmaster of the Conway area until 1907. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery, Conway, Orlando, Florida
Headstone for Joseph Katz Barber, Ronald Joseph Barber, and Dixie Pharr Barber at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of Joseph Katz Barber (1902-1959), Ronald Joseph Barber (1925-1928), and Dixie Pharr Barber (1904-1998) at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Joseph Katz Barber served as Orange County Commissioner from 1937 to 1943 and also grew citrus and raised cattle in the Conway area. Buried with him is his son, Ronald, and his wife, Dixie, who began serving as the Supervisor of Registration for Orange County and received the Jaycee Good Government Award in 1962. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Headstone of David Mizell, Jr. at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of David Mizell, Jr. (1808-1884), an early settler on Lake Mizell, at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Mizell became the first chairman of the Orange County Commission in 1869 and served until through 1871. He also served on the Florida State Legislature and was one of the signers of the state's Constitution of 1868. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Headstone for Joseph A. Barber at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of Joseph A. Barber (1860-1920) at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Born on Lake Conway, Barber became the first tax collector for Osceola County in 1890 and served in said position for four years. He also served as a member of the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Headstone for Morgan Montgomery Mizell at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of Morgan Montgomery Mizell (1841-1907) at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Mizell was the son of David Mizell, Jr. and Mary Pearce Mizell. He served in the Third Seminole War during 1856. Mizell served again during the Civil War as second lieutenant of E. T. Kendrick's Company Old Guards and Mounted Rangers. He married Emma Roper Mizell and fathered four children: Ida Mizell, Beulah Mizell Perry (who later married William Perry), Fletcher Mizell, and Eulene Mizell Smith (who later married W. I. Smith) Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Headstone for Sarah Crawford Cullen at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of Sarah Crawford Cullen (1893-1957) at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Cullen, the daughter of Senator George White Crawford and Sarah Mizell, served as chairman of the Orange County Democratic Committee. Cullen married Frank Wheeler Cullen and together, they had three children: Ethel Cullen, Cara Bell Cullen, and John Cullen. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery, 2011
The Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2011. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2011: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Headstone for William Harrison Holden, Nancy A. Mizell Holden, and Florence C. Holden at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of William Harrison Holden (1826-1913), Nancy A. Mizell Holden (1836-1902), and Florence C. Holden (1876-1903) at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. William Harrison Holden arrived in Orlando from Virginia in 1865, after serving Watson's Company Florida Mounted Troops during the Civil War. The Holden family settled on the south side of Lake Holden and homesteaded 1,200 acres of land. Holden raised cattle on his land and was the first to bring the Brahman bull to the Florida strain of cattle. He also was known as one of Central Florida's largest commercial citrus growers and began the first grapefruit grove in the area. Holden served the Orange County Commission from 1874 to 1887 and sat as a member of the Convention Committee in Tallahassee in October of 1875. Holden's wife, Nancy, was the daughter of David Mizell, Jr., the first white settler of Winter Park. She and Holden had six children together: William Holden, Norman Holden, John Holden, Mary Holden, Cora Holden, and Florence C. Holden. Also buried here is the Holden's youngest daughter, Florence. Both Nancy and florence died of tuberculosis. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Headstone for George White Crawford at Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery
Headstone of George White Crawford at the Conway United Methodist Church Cemetery in 2003. Crawford arrived in Orlando, Florida, from Tennessee in 1873. During the Civil War, he served as second lieutenant of the 5th Tennessee Infantry for the Confederate Army. Crawford settled in the Conway area and began raising cattle and growing citrus. He was also elected three times to the lower house of the Florida State legislature and once to the Florida State Senate. Crawford also served as the Justice of the Peace. He married Sarah Mizell, the daughter of David Mizell, Jr., who was a pioneer settler of Winter Park. The Crawfords had four children: Sarah Crawford (who married Frank Cullen), Ethel Crawford, Cora Belle Crawford, and John Crawford. Located at 3401 South Conway Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, the Conway United Methodist Church (UMC) was formed in 1870 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS). In 1874, Morgan Montgomery Mizell and his wife donated two acres of land to build a church for the congregation. One acre was designated for the cemetery and a log cabin-like structure was constructed on the other acre, which was located at the corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road. Reverend James D. McDonald was the first to lead the church. In 1881, a new wood-frame building was constructed and was used by the Prospect MECS until it was replaced by Callaway Hall in 1959. A new sanctuary was completed in 1973. The hall was remodeled in 1994 and currently serves as the administration building. The cemetery includes graves of several members of the English Colony, which was platted in 1892 as the East Conway Churchyard Cemetery.
Greenwood Cemetery, located at 1603 Greenwood Street in Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The cemetery was established in 1880 and officially named Greenwood Cemetery at the suggestion of Samuel Robinson and Cassius Boone. In 1911, the cemetery was expanded to 40 acres. The entrance of Greenwood Cemetery was relocated from Gore Street to Greenwood Street in 1919. In the 1940s, the cemetery expanded to 100 acres, and Section K, which was reserved for African-American residents, was opened. In 1943, a portion of the cemetery was designated for veterans of World War I and World War II. Portions had previously been designated for Union veterans of the American Civil War, Confederate veterans of the American Civil War, and veterans of the Spanish-American War. The portion for World War veterans was initially reserved for "veterans of the white race," but the race restriction was later lifted in the 1960s.
Headstone for July Perry at Greenwood Cemetery
Headstone of Julius "July" Perry (1868-1920) in the Section K of the Greenwood Cemetery, located at 1603 Greenwood Street in Orlando,Florda, in 2002. An African-American landowner in Ocoee, July Perry is best known as a victim of mob violence during the Ocoee Massacre (also known as the Ocoee Race Riot) that occurred on November 2, 1920. On Election Day, during the presidential election of 1920, Mose Norman made several attempts to vote at the polls, but was turned away by white mobs. The mobs also targeted and jailed Perry, who was believed to be hiding Norman. While being held in the Downtown Orlando jail, Perry was captured and lynched by the mob. Up to 56 other African Americans were killed and many African-American buildings were razed. Those who survived were threatened or forced to leave. The cemetery where July Perry is buried was established in 1880 and officially named Greenwood Cemetery at the suggestion of Samuel Robinson and Cassius Boone. In 1911, the cemetery was expanded to 40 acres. The entrance of Greenwood Cemetery was relocated from Gore Street to Greenwood Street in 1919. In the 1940s, the cemetery expanded to 100 acres, and Section K, which was reserved for African-American residents, was opened. In 1943, a portion of the cemetery was designated for veterans of World War I and World War II. Portions had previously been designated for Union veterans of the American Civil War, Confederate veterans of the American Civil War, and veterans of the Spanish-American War. The portion for World War veterans was initially reserved for "veterans of the white race," but the race restriction was later lifted in the 1960s.
Lake Hill Cemetery, located at 5950 Old Winter Garden Road in Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The cemetery, just west of Orlando, is the site of the remains of various early settlers of the city, including Aaron and Mary Jernigan. Originally called Patrick Cemetery, the graveyard was originally located between Lake Lorna Doone and Rock Lake, and held the remains of members of the Beasley, Ivey, Patrick, and Roberson families. The four families formed the Lake Hill Cemetery Association in 1884 and moved the previously buried remains to the new Lake Hill Cemetery in Orlo Vista.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Headstone for Aaron David Jernigan at Lake Hill Cemetery
Florida. Legislature. House of Representatives
The headstone of Aaron David Jernigan (1813- 1891) at Lake Hill Cemetery, located at 5950 Old Winter Garden Road in Orlando, Florida, in 2001. He was born to Aaron Jernigan and Martha Patsey Deas Jernigan in Camden County, Georgia. The Jernigans are descendants of Sir Thomas Jernigan, an English immigrant to Virginia. Aaron David Jernigan lived for several years in Tallahassee before moving to Orange County with his wife, Mary Ann Hogan Jernigan, in 1843. The couple settled on the shore of Lake Holden, where they raised cattle. Jernigan also planted various crops on a plot near Lake Conway. Additionally, he served as the captain of the Florida Mounted Militia, which guarded against attacks by Seminole Indians. In 1846, Jernigan was elected as an Orange County state house representative in the Florida Legislature. He and his wife had three children: Aaron David Jernigan, Martha Jernigan Tyler, and Andrew Jackson Jernigan. Although the area is now called Orlando, the town was originally named Jernigan until 1857. Jernigan died in 1891.
Lake Conway, Belle Isle, Orlando, Florida
Headstone for John Bonnelll Ivey at Lake Hill Cemetery
Headstone of John Bonnell Ivey (1834-1923) at Lake Hill Cemetery, located at 5950 Old Winter Garden Road in Orlo Vista in Orlando, Florida, in 2001. Ivey was the son of Robert Ivey and Priscilla Bonnell Ivey. He married Elizabeth Matilda Ann Roberson Ivey in 1954 and had six children with her: Hettie Caroline Ivey, Emma Rossaline Ivey, Lewis Henry Ivey, Robert Edmund Ivey, John Bonnell Ivey, and Joshua Robert Ivey. After his wife passed away in 1872, Ivey remarried Ann Beasely Ivey and had six additional children: Mary Jane Ivey, William Rufus Ivey, Julia Martha Ivey, Ida Viola Ivey, Mathias Lee Ivey, and Cora Gertrude Ivey. Ivey was appointed as the first sheriff and tax collector for Orange County by Provisional Governor William Marvin, shortly after the Civil War. He was later elected Justice of the Peace and Acting Coroner for the county. The cemetery, just west of Orlando, is the site of the remains of various early settlers of the city, including Aaron and Mary Jernigan. Originally called Patrick Cemetery, the graveyard was originally located between Lake Lorna Doone and Rock Lake, and held the remains of members of the Beasley, Ivey, Patrick, and Roberson families. The four families formed the Lake Hill Cemetery Association in 1884 and moved the previously buried remains to the new Lake Hill Cemetery in Orlo Vista.
Lake Hill Cemetery, Orlo Vista, Orlando, Florida
Orange Hill Cemetery, located approximately at 1700 East Michigan Street in Orlando, Florida, in 2001. Forty acres of land for the graveyard was purchased by Orange County in 1904 to use for the burial of paupers. The cemetery was active from 1917 to 1961. The first documented burial was of Richard Johnson, who died of "insanity" at the county jail on May 8, 1907. There are limited records of who was buried at Orange Hill Cemetery or how many graves there are, although a survey conducted in 1955 indicated that there were 522 gravesites. In 1997, Orange County officials and the Orange County Historical Society began efforts to properly maintain the cemetery.
Powell Cemetery, located at 3858 South Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The cemetery is located on land originally owned by Isaac and Sarah Ann Powell. The cemetery is approximately a quarter of an acre and has 32 gravestones, many of which date back to the American Civil War.
African American churches--Southern States
Ebenezer United Methodist Church (UMC), located at 594-596 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The earliest structure at this location was a wooden church built in 1872 on Terry Avenue. Ebenezer was the first African-American Methodist church in Orlando. In 1927, the congregation built the Gothic-style brick structure that occupies the lot on the corner of Church Street and Terry Avenue. The congregation moved to 1224 26th Street in 1971.
Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Orlando, Florida
First United Methodist Church of Orlando, 2003
The First United Methodist Church (UMC) of Orlando, located at 142 East Jackson Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. In 1859, Methodist circuit riders began conducting services in Orlando. Originally called the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (MECS), the congregation was formally organized in 1880 by Reverend Thurlow Bishop. In 1881, the congregation purchased the lot at the southwest corner of Magnolia Avenue and Jackson Street and constructed a church there. In 1895, the present sanctuary was built with a larger wood frame and a bell tower. The current church building was constructed in 1913 in Greek Classical Revival style with yellow brick. The building cost $50,000. The sanctuary was remodeled in 1942 and the church built several additional buildings throughout the years: Wesley Hall in 1922, Ashbury Hall in 1949, and the Ledbetter Building in 1956. The congregation was renamed the First United Methodist Church of Orlando in the 1960s.
First United Methodist Church, Orlando, Florida
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Orlando, Florida
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, 2003
The First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, located at 106 East Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The building was constructed in 1889 in the Carpenter Gothic style. The church was organized in 1876 with Reverend Henry Keigwinas the first pastor. It first congregated in the Union Free Church, as well as a room in the local courthouse. From 1884 to 1887, the congregation met in a church on West Central Avenue. When that church was lost in a fire, they chose to move to the east side of town. The church purchased the property bounded by Church Street, Jackson Street, Magnolia Avenue, and Rosalind Avenue in 1889 and still remains there as of 2011. In 1902, the Congregational Church of Orlando merged with the First Presbyterian Church. In 1912, the sanctuary was enlarged to seat 1,000 congregants. A second tower was added at that time as well. In 1914-1915, a major renovation was undertaken that completely changed the look of the building. The congregation added stained glass windows and the church was covered with stucco. It was changed from a traditional Gothic style to the newer Spanish Colonial style with white stucco, curved arches instead of Gothic, pointed features. The original peaked roofs were hidden with the use of curvilinear elements. The stained glass windows, which were designed and made by the Jacoby Art Glass Company of St. Louis, Missouri, were preserved after the building was demolished in 1958 and are stored in the Heritage Center at the church and in the Meditation Room at Westminster Towers. Murray S. King served as the remodeling architect, while Frank Meyers was the contractor.
First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Orlando
The Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Orlando, located at 701 West South Street, in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2003. This African-American congregation was organized in 1919 and originally met in various locations. When land was purchased for the construction of a church, congregants made rusticated concrete blocks to construct the walls of the building in the Gothic architectural style. The church was completed in 1921.
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Sioux Villa, located at 60 Waverly Place in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. In 1906, this two-story bungalow was built for Mahlon Gore on the south shore of Lake Lucerne. Gore was born in Climax, Michigan, on February 4, 1837. In 1861, he enlisted in the Second Michigan Infantry, serving only three moves. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Iowa with his wife, Josephine Lucinda Dawley Gore, who he had married in 1860. Together, they had one child: Eva Gore Robinson. After homesteading in the Dakota Territory, Gore decided to moved to Orlando, Florida, in 1880, due to his poor health. In the 1880s, he purchased The Orange County Reporter shortly after his arrival and was elected to the Orlando City Council. Gore served as Mayor of Orlando from 1893 to 1896. His wife passed away around 1903 and he moved into Sioux Villa in 1906. He died on June 27, 1916. Gore's second wife, Caroline Groninger Gore, opened their home, which was then located at 211 Lucerne Circle, to a congregation of Unitarian Universalists led by Reverend Eleanor Gordon during the winter of 1910. On January 8, 1911, the home served as the site of the first service of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. The church was formally organized the following year in the home of Edward McNeill, located at 309 Robinson Street. The congregation held some of its earliest services in the Lucerne Theatre before purchasing land at the northeast corner of Central Boulevard and Rosalind Avenue in on January 1, 1913. The church building was designed by Ida Annah Ryan and Isabel Roberts in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style. The Unity Chapel held its first service on February 16, 1913, and was formally dedicated on March 16. By 1954, the congregation had outgrown Unity Chapel and moved to a new church located at 1901 East Robinson Street. In 1957, the chapel's last service took place. Sam Murrell constructed a new building, called the Murrell Building, that was designed by Richard Boone Rogers in 1957.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
First Unitarian Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
St. James Catholic Cathedral, located at 215 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. In 1881, Bishop John Moore 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. The building was designed by Kurz and Allison's Art Studio of Chicago, Illinois, in the American Gothic style. The structure 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. It 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.
Holy Nativity Catholic Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
St. James Catholic Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
St. James Catholic Cathedral, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The historic marker for Council Oak, located on South Ferncreek Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2002. This two-and-a-half-foot concrete marker with a brass plaque designates the traditional meeting place of the Native American chiefs during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842). The original location had the Council Oak, believed to be the largest living oak in all of Central and South Florida. In the late 1800s, the tree was struck by lightning and no longer exists. The marker was erected by the Orange County Historical Commission on August 19, 1970.
Council Oak Historic Marker, Orlando, Florida
The Davis National Guard Armory, located at 649 West Livingston Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. In September of 1937, the City of Orlando donated land and $80,000 to deter the U.S. National Guard from relocating outside of Orlando. The City dedicated the Orlando Armory on December 23, 1938. In 1941, the armory was used as a disbursing station for the United States Air Force and was also used as a recreation club. In May of that same year, the building as renamed for Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Davis (1898-1941), the first native of Orlando to be killed while serving in World War II. In 1951, the Armory was leased to the United States Naval Reserve and used as a training facility. In the 1960s, the military relocated the Armory to a new location on Primrose Street. The original building was converted to the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex.
Orlando Armory, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Davis National Guard Armory, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Fort Gatlin Historic Marker, located near the corner of Summerlin Avenue and Gatlin Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Fort Gatlin was a U.S. Army fort established during the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-1842) on November 9, 1838, in Mosquito County, Florida. The fort was named in honor of Army Assistant Surgeon John S. Gatlin (1806-1835), a casualty of the Dade Massacre in 1835. The fort's location overlooked three lakes and was frequented by Seminole warriors led by King Philip, the Seminole Chief, and his son, Coacoochee. The fort was active until the Army withdrew from the area in 1849. A number of soldiers and their families settled in the area to grow citrus and raise cattle. In 1856, Fort Gatlin became the county seat for Orange County, formerly part of Mosquito County. The community changed the name to Orlando. In 1941, the U.S. Navy established the Underwater Sound Research Laboratory on Lake Gem Mary. The laboratory was closed in 1997. This historic marker was erected by the Orlando Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on March 27, 1924. Another historic marker was erected when Fort Gatlin was declared a Florida Historic Site and is sponsored by the Fort Gatlin Historical Group, Orange County Public Schools, the Orange County Government, and the Florida Department of State.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2004: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Underwater Sound Research Laboratory, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Fort Gatlin Historic Marker, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Fort Gatlin Historic Marker, located near the corner of Summerlin Avenue and Gatlin Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Fort Gatlin was a U.S. Army fort established during the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-1842) on November 9, 1838, in Mosquito County, Florida. The fort was named in honor of Army Assistant Surgeon John S. Gatlin (1806-1835), a casualty of the Dade Massacre in 1835. The fort's location overlooked three lakes and was frequented by Seminole warriors led by King Philip, the Seminole Chief, and his son, Coacoochee. The fort was active until the Army withdrew from the area in 1849. A number of soldiers and their families settled in the area to grow citrus and raise cattle. In 1856, Fort Gatlin became the county seat for Orange County, formerly part of Mosquito County. The community changed the name to Orlando. In 1941, the U.S. Navy established the Underwater Sound Research Laboratory on Lake Gem Mary. The laboratory was closed in 1997. This historic marker was erected when Fort Gatlin was declared a Florida Historic Site and is sponsored by the Fort Gatlin Historical Group, Orange County Public Schools, the Orange County Government, and the Florida Department of State. An earlier historic marker was erected by the Orlando Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on March 27, 1924.
55 West, located at 55 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, during construction in 2007. 55 West is an apartment building that overlooks Church Street Station and stands next to the SunTrust Center. Construction was completed in 2009. 55 West is currently the fifth tallest building in Downtown Orlando. The building also houses a 7-Eleven and Loft 55, a restaurant/nightclub on the bottom floor.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, March 7, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
55 West on the Esplanade, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Angebilt Hotel, located at 37 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florda, in 2002. The building was constructed between 1921 and 1923. Plans to build the hotel were announced in June 1921 and construction cost $1 million. Florida's first registered architect, Murray S. King, designed the building in the twentieth century commercial style, complete with eleven stories and 240 hotel rooms. The Angebilt Hotel opened on March 14, 1923. The original owner was Joseph Fenner Ange, who moved to Orlando in 1913 from Martin County, North Carolina. Two months after the building's opening, Ange sold his interest in the hotel. In November 1924, a group of Orlando businessmen purchased the hotel for $1.25 million. Since its opening, the building has housed the Angebilt Hotel, the Bank of Orange and Trust Company, and the offices for two radio stations including Way Down By Orlando (WDBO), which was the first regular radio station in Orlando. As of 2010, it also is occupied by business offices and two restaurants.
Angebilt Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Bank of Orange and Trust Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Way Down By Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The former Harley Hotel building, located at 151 East Washington Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The site was originally occupied by Memorial High School, the second high school constructed in Orlando. In 1961, the school building was sold to hotel owners from Jacksonville. In 1963, the school building was razed and replaced by the Robert Meyer Hotel, which contained 250 rooms. The hotel became the Kahler Plaza Inn in 1972 and then the Harley Hotel in the late 1970s, when it was purchased by Harry Helmlsey. In the 1990s, the hotel was purchased and renamed Four Points by Sheraton Orlando, which closed in 2003. In 2004, developer David Eichenblatt began converting the hotel into the Metropolitan at Lake Eola condominiums, which contains 128 units as of 2013.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Memorial High School, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Robert Meyer Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Kahler Plaza Inn, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Four Points by Sheraton Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Metropolitan at Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The former Orlando Hotel building, located at 129-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida,in 2002. The site was originally occupied by the Slemons Department Store. In 1924, the current brick building was constructed by the J. C. Hanner Construction Company. The originally pressed metal ceiling, the mezzanine, and the tile awning of the second floor fade have been preserved from the original Orlando Hotel. The building was briefly occupied by a clothing store owned by Nat and Pauline Berman, who later sold it to Ben and Sam Arstein. In 1950, the building was purchased by the Belk-Lindsey Company. In 1973, Steve Fuller and Bob Snow purchased the property to begin the development of Church Street Station. The following year, it was transformed into the Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium.
Slemons Department Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Nat and Pauline Berman's Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Ben and Sam Arstein's Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Belk-Lindsey Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, 2007
The Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, located at 511 West South Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The hotel was constructed by one of Orlando's first African-American physicians, Dr. William Monroe Wells, to accommodate African Americans who could not otherwise find welcome lodging. Dr. Wells also built the South Street Casino, which was host to a various African-American performers traveling along the Chitlin' Circuit, including Ray Charles, B. B. King, Louis Armstrong, Guitar Slim, and Bo Diddley. In 1997, the building was acquired by the Association to Preserve African American Society, History and Tradition, Inc., which sought to restore and preserve the structure. Although the casino no longer remains, the original Wells' Built Hotel was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 2000. In June 2009, the hotel reopened as the Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture.
Wells' Built Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center Historic Marker, 2003
The historic marker for the Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, located at 101 North Parramore Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. From 1921 to 1922, a school for African-American children was constructed in Parramore and named after L. C. Jones, the third principal of Johnson Academy. The structure was designed by Howard Reynolds and built by Joseph Hanner. Later named Jones High School, the school was originally formed for students through grade ten. In 1952, the high school moved to a new location and the building was converted to Callahan Elementary School, the only elementary school serving the Parramore community. In 1970, Callahan Elementary became the only school in Orange County to close permanently due to desegregation. The site was converted into a community center and was renamed the Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in 1995.
Jones School, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Jones High School, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Callahan Elementary School, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, 2003
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, located at 101 North Parramore Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. From 1921 to 1922, a school for African-American children was constructed in Parramore and named after L. C. Jones, the third principal of Johnson Academy. The structure was designed by Howard Reynolds and built by Joseph Hanner. Later named Jones High School, the school was originally formed for students through grade ten. In 1952, the high school moved to a new location and the building was converted to Callahan Elementary School, the only elementary school serving the Parramore community. In 1970, Callahan Elementary became the only school in Orange County to close permanently due to desegregation. The site was converted into a community center and was renamed the Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in 1995.
A wakeboard ramp on Lake Eola Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. Lake Eola and its surrounding park is one of the unusual features that sets Orlando apart from other cities. In the middle of the lake rests the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Orlando's unofficial symbol. The fountain was installed in 1912, costing $10,000. In 1957, a replacement originally called the Centennial Fountain was installed, costing $350,000. 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 the lake for bathing, swimming and fishing, and its shores picnicking, listening to concerts, and participating in religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin 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 Frank Sperry.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Sperry Fountain at Lake Eola Park Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The fountain was named in honor of Frank Ezra Sperry (1843-1916), Mayor of Orlando from 1914 to 1916. Born in Bethany, Connecticut, Sperry was a graduate of the Fort Edward Institute, a farmer, a grocer, and founder of Sperry Manufacturing Company. In 1885, he and his wife, Mary W. Pratt Sperry (1848-1932), migrated to Orlando and founded the South Florida Foundry and Machine Works, grew citrus, and served as a member of the Park Commission. In 1913, Sperry donated land to be added to Lake Eola Park, as well as $2,000 to erect a fountain. He passed away suddenly that same year while serving as mayor.
Sperry Fountain, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2001. Lake Eola and its surrounding park is one of the unusual features that sets Orlando apart from other cities. In the middle of the lake rests the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Orlando's unofficial symbol. The fountain was installed in 1912, costing $10,000. In 1957, a replacement originally called the Centennial Fountain was installed, costing $350,000. 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 the lake for bathing, swimming and fishing, and its shores picnicking, listening to concerts, and participating in religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin 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 Frank Sperry.
The former Harley Hotel building, located at 151 East Washington Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Lake Eola and the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain can be seen in the distance. The site was originally occupied by Memorial High School, the second high school constructed in Orlando. In 1961, the school building was sold to hotel owners from Jacksonville. In 1963, the school building was razed and replaced by the Robert Meyer Hotel, which contained 250 rooms. The hotel became the Kahler Plaza Inn in 1972 and then the Harley Hotel in the late 1970s, when it was purchased by Harry Helmlsey. In the 1990s, the hotel was purchased and renamed Four Points by Sheraton Orlando, which closed in 2003. In 2004, developer David Eichenblatt began converting the hotel into the Metropolitan at Lake Eola condominiums, which contains 128 units as of 2013.
Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2007. Lake Eola and its surrounding park is one of the unusual features that sets Orlando apart from other cities. In the middle of the lake rests the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Orlando's unofficial symbol. The fountain was installed in 1912, costing $10,000. In 1957, a replacement originally called the Centennial Fountain was installed, costing $350,000. 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 the lake for bathing, swimming and fishing, and its shores picnicking, listening to concerts, and participating in religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin 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 Frank Sperry.
Lake Lucerne in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2001. Lake Lucerne is one of two primary lakes connected with the earliest days of the City of Orlando. Along with Lake Eola, it defined one of the natural borders of the young town in the 1860s and 1870s. Lake Lucerne sits at the southern end of the Downtown Orlando area. Orange Avenue, the main north-south street through the city, crosses the lake on a causeway which nearly divides the lake in half. The East-West Expressway, also known as Florida State Road 408, passes directly to the north. The area was one of the first to be developed with houses outside the business district and continues to be one of the jewels of Orlando's park system.
Blue Star Memorial Highway Historic Marker, 2003
The Blue Star Memorial Highway historic marker, located on Conway Road near Lake Margaret Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Blue Star Memorial Highways are marked to pay homage to the United States Armed Forces. The National Garden Clubs, Inc., now the National Council of State Garden Clubs, began the program to dedicate highways in 1945. In 1947, the Florida State Legislature designed U.S. Route 1 as the first Blue Star Memorial Highway in Florida. The marker in Orlando is sponsored by the Conway Garden Club in cooperation with the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and the Florida Department of Transportation.
Blue Star Memorial Highway Historic Marker, Conway, Orlando, Florida
The Church Street Market Building, located at the corner of West Pine Street and South Garland Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. In 1972, entrepreneur Bob Snow made plans to develop an entertainment complex in order to revitalize Downtown Orlando. Several restaurants, clubs, and other attractions opened in the 1970s. By 1985, the market, also known as Church Street Station, became the fourth-largest attraction in Florida, following Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. In 1989, Snow sold his interest to a subsidiary of Baltimore Gas and Electric company. Church Street Station completed a major expansion for $5.5 million in 1994. By 1998, the market began decreasing in popularity and was bought and sold by several owners until it went into bankruptcy under Lou Pearlman in 2007. In 2010, the Amway Center arena opened on West Church Street and stimulated a new influx of business.
Church Street Market, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry Bradley Plant. The building was demolished around 1890. The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972. In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
South Florida Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station Entertainment Complex, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Orange Blossom Special, the last train at the Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry Bradley Plant. The building was demolished around 1890. The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972. In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after. The Orange Blossom Special, remained at the station until January of 2012. The 100-year-old engine was transported to the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish in order to make room for the new SunRail platform. Church Street Station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
North Court Avenue at East Washington Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street in Orlando, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center (NTC) Orlando in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as the Church Street Station entertainment complex. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
The Lynx Central Station, located at 455 North Garland Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, during renovations in 2004. The former bus station was located at 78 West Central Boulevard, which is the site of City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1 as of 2013. Lynx is operated by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA) and serves the Greater Orlando area, including Orange County, Seminole County, and Osceola County, as well as limited service to Lake County, Volusia County, and Polk County. The CFRTA was formed in May 1972 under the name the Orange-Seminole-Osceola Transportation Authority (OSOTA). In 1984, the bus service was renamed the Tri-Country Transit (TCT). In 1992, the TCT began operating as Lynx and the OSOTA's name was officially changed to the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The Lynx Central Station was opened in 2004 and serves as the central hub of the bus network. The station is expected to serve as a station for the SunRail.
Lynx Central Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, 2001
The intersection of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando in 2001, Florida. The SunTrust Center can be seen on the left and a Lynx bus stop can be seen on the right. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street in Orlando, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as Church Street Station. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Orange Avenue and Central Boulevar, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The holiday star located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The holiday star tradition was started in 1955 by two department stores: Ivey's and Dickson & Ives. The stores hung a large gold-colored star from the southwest corner of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue to the southeast corner. Wilson Reed, owner of Dickson & Ives at the time, is credited with the idea. The star used since 1984, which can be seen in this image, measured 13 feet in diameter and weighed over 500 pounds. In 2005, the original was replaced by a more ornate star.
The holiday star located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The holiday star tradition was started in 1955 by two department stores: Ivey's and Dickson & Ives. The stores hung a large gold-colored star from the southwest corner of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue to the southeast corner. Wilson Reed, owner of Dickson & Ives at the time, is credited with the idea. The star used since 1984 measured 13 feet in diameter and weighed over 500 pounds. In 2005, the original was replaced by a more ornate star, which can be seen in this image.
Construction at the Orange Avenue Plaza Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as Church Street Station. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Orange Avenue Plaza, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Robinson Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida in 2007. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as Church Street Station. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2007 : Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Robinson Street, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, 2004
The City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, located at the corner of North Magnolia Avenue and Wall Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Inspired by a fire in 1883, Orlando's first volunteer fire department was established by William C. Sherman, who would be named Fire Chief. The organization also included Ben Bartlett, Tom Mann, J. Walter Hosier, J. W. Gettier, and Macy. The team used a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade, and a painter's ladder to extinguish fires. A major fire in 1884 and an article written by E. H. Gore in The Orange County Reporter resulted in the official organization of the Orlando Fire Department in 1885, with John Weeks as the first official Fire Chief. On March 25, 1919, Firehouse No. 1 moved from its original location on Oak Street (present-day Wall Street) to a new location at 19 North Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue). The new station cost $17,708 to construct and the old station was abandoned. In 2006, the Fire Department announced that a new Fire Station No. 1 would be located at 78 West Central Boulevard. The new building would be the three lower floors of a nine-story high-rise and would serve as the new headquarters for the City of Orlando Fire Department. The new fire station opened on December 2, 2009.
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Orange County Courthouse, located at 425 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. In 1857, B. F. Caldwell donated four acres of land at the northeast corner of Central Boulevard and Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue) for the original courthouse in Orange County. A two-story hand-hewn log structured was built in 1863, but burned down in 1868. A three-story frame courthouse, the county's fourth, was built by Augustus Hyer in 1875. In 1882, W. C. Green's Company built a fifth courthouse that was designed by A. S. Wagner. An eight-foot tall clock tower with a 1,500 pound bell, nicknamed "Big Ben," was added at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue. The sixth courthouse was constructed on land acquired by the county in 1924 in the Neoclassical Revival style. The building was designed by Murray S. King, completed by his son James R. King, and dedicated on October 12, 1927. The 1892 courthouse was demolished in 1957 and replaced in 1960 by a modern glass and steel annex structure connected to the 1927 building. In 1999, the annex was torn down after being abandoned due to asbestos. In the late 1990s, the 1927 courthouse was remodeled for $35 million as the Orange County Regional History Center. The current courthouse for the Ninth District is located on North Orange Avenue.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2011: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Orange County Courthouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2001
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Federal District Courthouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2002
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2003
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral Chancery Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2007
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
LizArt Live! Auction at Orlando City Hall
The LizArt Live! auction at Orlando City Hall, located at 400 South Orange Avenue, in Downtown Orlando, Florida 2002. The statues range between 5 feet and six inches in height to seven feet and six inches in length. The lizard statues were originally located at various places in Orlando, such as the Orlando Centroplex, Lake Eola, the Expo Centre, and the Cultural Corridor, CityWalk at Universal Studios Orlando, the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando International Airport, Leu Gardens, and Loch Haven Park. The LizArt project was inspired by Chicago's cows on Parade, which was modeled after a public art project in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1998. Other cities have held similar projects, such as Cincinnati's pigs, Lexington's horses, Buffalo's buffalo, Virginia Beach's mermaids, New Orleans' fish, and Rhode Island's potato heads. The LizArt was auctioned on January 31, 2002.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, January 31, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Orlando City Hall, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Memorandum of Understanding between the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District and the United States Department of Agriculture, 1948
The 1948 Memorandum of Understanding between the Seminole Soil Conservation District and the United States Department of Agriculture. The Seminole Soil Conservation District organization began in 1948 with a goal of assisting agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole County Soil and Water Conservation District also began to concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests included inventory and evaluations for land uses and solving issues concerning soil and water resources. In the 1948 memorandum, the Board articulates a goal to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture in order to achieve certain objectives pertaining to soil conservation and erosion control. The five page Memorandum discusses the implementation of a work plan for the Seminole Soil Conservaiton District. The memorandum is signed by R. F. Cooper and C. R. Dawson of the Seminole Soil Conservation District.
Original 5-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1949: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District
Program of the Seminole Soil Conservation District, 1948
The Program of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District for 1948. The organization began in 1948 with a goal to assist in agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District began to also concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests also entailed solving issues concerning soil and water resources. In the 1948 program, the Seminole Soil Conservation District discusses agriculture and plans to confront issues pertaining to water control, land use, soil depletion, wind and water erosion, pasture development, and woodland and wildlife management. The nine page program is signed by R.F. Cooper, C.A. Wales, T.L. Lingo, R.T. Milwee, and Tom McLain, Jr.
Original 9-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1948: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Work Plan of the Seminole Soil Conservation District, 1948
The Work Plan of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District for 1948. The organization began in 1948 with a goal to assist in agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District began to also concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests also entailed inventory and evaluations for land uses and solving issues concerning soil and water resources. The purpose of the 1948 work plan was to outline the approach to problems as stated in the program from that year. The seven page work plan discusses issues such as land use, cropland, erosion, pastureland, water control, soil improvement, crop rotation, woodland and wildlife management, farm planning, and the use of conservation surveys.
Original 7-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1948: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding Between the Seminole Soil Conservation District and the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, 1948
Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding Between the Seminole Soil Conservation District and the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for 1948. The Seminole Soil Conservation District began in 1948 with a goal to assist in agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District began to also concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests also entailed inventory and evaluations for land uses and solving issues concerning soil and water resources. The 1948 Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding supplements the 1948 Memorandum of Understanding. The eight page document explains what the District and the the Service will do, such as selecting a District Conservationist, keeping current records, providing field equipment, and taking part in erosion control and soil conservation. The document is signed by R.F. Cooper, C.R. Dawson, and H.H. Hennett.
Original 8-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1948: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from Carolyn S. Cope to Dorothy Barbour (September 19, 1979)
A letter from Carolyn S. Cope was sent in response to an inquiry from Dorothy Barbour regarding outparcel land surrounding the Florida Mall. Cope was a real estate broker at of Two XI, Inc., located in Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida. The mall was designed and constructed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, founded by Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. (1909-1994) in 1944. Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. (b. 1946) joined his father's business and together they became known as the "kings of the shopping mall." By the late 1980s, the DeBartolo Corporation had constructed 51 shopping malls, including 21 in Florida. The Florida Mall, located on the corner of Sand Lake Road and Orange Blossom Trail, was designed to appeal to Central Florida's large tourist economy and opened in March of 1986. Originally, the mall sat on 250 acres, contained over 1.3 million square feet of shopping space, and featured over 160 stores.
Original 1-page typed letter from Carolyn S. Cope to Dorothy Barbour, September 19, 1979: Pine Castle Historical Society, Pine Castle, Florida.
Two XI, Inc., Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida
Home of Dorothy Barbour, Orlando, Florida
An oral history of 89-year-old Odetta Copper (b. 1921), who was born on June 26, 1921, in France, Florida. She migrated to Sanford in 1946. Copper tells of her strict upbringing and the hardship she faced when growing up with her parents and nine siblings. In the interview, she also describes what it was like working on the farm, what holidays were like, and how times have changed.
Copper, Odetta. Interviewed by Bev [last name unknown]. February 25, 2010. Audio record available. Creative Sanford, Inc., Sanford Florida.
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 14: Calvary Assembly and Benny Hinn, Part 1
Episode 14, Part 1 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: Calvary Assembly and Benny Hinn. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 14 explores the impact of mega-church Calvary Assembly of God, located at 1199 Clay Street in Winter Park, Florida, and evangelical Benny Hinn. This podcast includes narratives by Dr. Michael Hammond, Jack Norman, Gene Polino, and Debbie Carey on Benny Hinn and Calvary Assembly, an evangelical mega-church in Winter Park, Florida. Originally called the Orlando Gospel Tabernacle, the church was founded on Miller Avenue by Pastor John Hall in 1953 and joined the Assemblies of God the following year. The church was renamed the Calvary Assembly of God when Dr. Dale Zink became pastor in 1961. The church grew rapidly during the 1960s, 1970, and 1980s and was influential in the evangelism of Hinn.
Original 16-minute and 6-second podcast by Joseph Francis Corbett II and Rustin "Rusty" Lloyd, September 15, 2011: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 14: Calvary Assembly and Benny Hinn, Part 1." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
Orlando Gospel Tabernacle, Winter Park, Florida
Calvary Assembly of God, Winter Park, Florida
Building Permit for the Oviedo Woman's Club
A building permit for the new clubhouse for the Oviedo Woman's Club (OWC). The permit approved L. L. Faulk and Son has the building contractor for the construction of the new clubhouse. The permit was signed by the town auditor and clerk, Dorothy M. Courier, on April 3, 1961. The Oviedo Woman's Club, which was founded in 1906 as the Oviedo Magazine Club by seven charter members: H. B. McCall, Edith Meade, Georgia Lee Wheeler, Lillian Lee Lawton, Mattie Aulin Wheeler, Milcah Yonge, and Mary King. The first clubhouse was constructed in 1914 and also served as Oviedo's first library. In 1916, the club joined the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs (FFWC) and officially changed its name to the Oviedo Woman's Club. In 1923, the woman's club was federated under the umbrella of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs (GFWC). A new clubhouse was built in 1961 on property donated by R. L. Croom, a former member, which is located at 414 King Street. The Oviedo Woman's Club is involved in many civic projects, including the annual Great Day in the Country Arts and Crafts Festival, the Spring Fundraiser, Tasting Luncheons, and Celebrate Spring Teas.
Original permit by Dorothy M. Courier, April 3, 1961: Private Collection of Beatrice Gestrich.
Oviedo Woman's Club
Letter from Ernest H. Cowen to Gary Sharp (December 4, 1974)
This letter, from Ernest H. Cowen, Manager of the Orlando Area Chamber of Commerce's Civic Affairs Department, to Gary Sharp, states Cowen's belief that a park in the Gourd Neck area would help attract public support for the larger project of restoring Lake Apopka and the Oklawaha River Basin, by emphasizing the area's suitability for recreational use. Cowen states that Environmental Resources Committee of the Orlando Chamber also supports this potential project. Cowen urges that the State of Florida purchase the land using funds from the Environmental Endangered Lands Program. Gourd Neck Springs is a small spring located in the southwest portion of Lake Apopka, in a small cove called “Gourd Neck” due to its distinctive shape. This area of the lake was considered in the 1960s as a potential nursery for fish. The Lake Apopka Technical Committee explored damming the Gourd Neck, separating it from the lake and preventing polluted lake water from entering, but these plans did not materialize. Efforts were also made in the 1960s to have the Gourd Neck area purchased by the State of Florida for use as a public park. The Gourd Neck Springs Park Association was formed in 1961 to study the site’s potential for a park and lobby for support from legislators. The land bordering the area was privately-owned by various individuals. One of these, Gary Sharp, continued seeking support for a park into the 1970s. While the project received support from Florida legislators and environmentalists, the land was never purchased by the state. The Environmental Endangered Lands Program (EEL) was formed in 1972 as part of the larger Land Conservation Act of 1972. The EEL program was initially funded through the sale of state bonds. The program was designed to help the state acquire lands considered Environmental sensitive and was not designed for creating areas for recreational use. Potential sites for acquisition could be suggested by citizens, county and state governments, and non-profit organizations. After evaluation for Environmental value, potential sites would be approved by the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Natural Resources and finalized by the Governor. In 1979, the former Executive Director, Harmon Shields, was indicted on corruption charges involving the lands-acquisition process. Following this scandal, the EEL program was replaced by Conservation and Recreation Lands Program. This change replaced the program's funding with tax revenues instead of bond sales, and formed the Land Acquisition Selection Committee, made up by six executive directors of Florida Environmental agencies, to select sites for approval by the governor. The Division of State Lands was also created as a division of the Department of Natural Resources to over-see mapping and evaluation of potential sites for acquisition.
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from Ernest H. Cowen to Gary Sharp, December 4, 1974: binder 1974, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 4: Gentrification and Urban Renewal: Revitalizing Central Florida’s African American Communities
Episode 4 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: Gentrification and Urban Renewal. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 4 examines some of the factors that led to the ultimate decline of what was once a relatively prosperous African-American community in Central Florida, the efforts that have gone into restoring them, and the effectiveness of those campaigns. Primarily looking at the history of the Parramore district and Hannibal Square, discussion topics range from the effects of urban development and gentrification to the ways in which these communities have fought to preserve their heritage and improve their neighborhoods.
Original 27-minute and 59-second podcast by Geoffrey Cravero, April 1, 2011: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 4: Gentrification and Urban Renewal: Revitalizing Central Florida’s African American Communities." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 22: Hannibal Square
Episode 22 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: Hannibal Square. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 22 explores Hannibal Square, or the westside of Winter Park, which was populated primarily by African Americans. Winter Park was established in the 1860s around the railroad tracks, which served commerce and travel in order to establish a vacation town for wealthy white visitors. Hannibal Square was officially founded in the 1801 to provide a source for African-American labor to build and serve the vacation destination. While deeply segregated for years, railroad jobs and domestic service positions led to higher levels of education, business and home ownership, and relative prosperity for black residents. This podcast includes interviews with Dr. Julian C. Chambliss and Fairolyn Livingston.
Original 20-minute and 48-second podcast by Geoffrey Cravero, January 12, 2012: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 22: Hannibal Square." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 38: The Wells Built Hotel
Episode 38 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: The Wells Built Hotel. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 38 focuses on the Wells' Built Hotel, which was constructed at 511 West South Street in Orlando, Florida in 1921. The hotel was constructed by one of Orlando's first African-American physicians, Dr. William Monroe Wells, to accommodate African-Americans who could not otherwise find welcome lodging due to segregation. Dr. Wells also built the South Street Casino, which was host to a various African-American performers traveling along the Chitlin' Circuit. In 1997, the building was acquired by the Association to Preserve African American Society, History and Tradition, Inc., which sought to restore and preserve the structure. Although the casino no longer remains, the original Wells' Built Hotel was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 2000. In June 2009, the hotel reopened as the Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture.
Original 18-minute and 1-second podcast by Geoffrey Cravero, September 14, 2012: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 38: The Wells Built Hotel." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
Wells Built Hotel, Parramore, Orlando, Florida
Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, Parramore, Orlando, Florida
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 49: An Interview with Paul Ortiz, Part 1
Episode 49, Part 1 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: An Interview with Paul Ortiz. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 49 features an interview with Paul Ortiz, an historian at the University of Florida and author of Emancipation Betrayed: The Hidden History of Black Organizing and White Violence in Florida from Reconstruction to the Bloody Election of 1920, which chronicles the history of African-Americans organizing in Florida after the end of slavery.
Original 16-minute and 51-second podcast by Geoffrey Cravero, February 26, 2013: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 49: An Interview with Paul Ortiz, Part 1." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES
Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 50: An Interview with Paul Ortiz, Part 2
Episode 50, Part 2 of RICHES Podcast Documentaries: An Interview with Paul Ortiz. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 50 features an interview with Paul Ortiz, an historian at the University of Florida and author of Emancipation Betrayed: The Hidden History of Black Organizing and White Violence in Florida from Reconstruction to the Bloody Election of 1920, which chronicles the history of African-Americans organizing in Florida after the end of slavery.
Original 18-minute and 17-second podcast by Geoffrey Cravero, February 26, 2013: "RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 50: An Interview with Paul Ortiz, Part 2." RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.
An oral history interview of Mick Dolan, a radio personality, news and traffic reporter, voiceover actor, promotions director, talk show producer and social media blogger based in Central Florida. The interview was conducted by Geoffrey Cravero at the Salem Media Group radio stations in Altamonte Springs, on July 30, 2015. Topics covered in the interview include how Dolan got into broadcasting, his experiences working on The Baxter and Mark Show, Clear Channel’s impact on broadcasting, the evolution of the Orlando music scene, including some of his favorite musicians and venues, Rock Super Bowls at the Tangerine Bowl, interviewing David Lee Roth and George Thorogood, being onstage for The Who, his attempt to put together a country music fantasy camp with CMT’s Camp Nashville, what he’s been up to lately, and his final thoughts and advice to young musical artists and broadcasters.
Dolan, Mick. Interviewed by Geoffrey Cravero. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Florida
Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Salem Media Group, Altamonte Springs, Florida
Original photographs of two groups of novena prayer candles placed in front of Pulse nightclub in tribute to the victims of the mass shooting that occurred there. Among the candles are keepsakes, stuffed animals, photographs of victims, drawings, paintings, flowers, arts and crafts. Pulse was located at 1912 South Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida. In the early hours of June 12, 2016, an American born security guard named Omar Mir Seddique Mateen shot and killed 49 people and wounded an additional 53 at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Mateen, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), was shot and killed by the Orlando Police Department after a three-hour standoff. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in United States history, the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since the September 11th attacks of 2001, and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in United States history. Most of the victims were Latino, as the club was hosting a Latin Night at the time of the massacre.
Original color photographs: RICHES of Central Florida, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Original photographs of memorial items placed in front of Pulse nightclub in tribute to the victims of the mass shooting that occurred there. Among the items are photographs, stuffed animals, homemade signs, art, candles, banners, t-shirts, flags, and flowers. Pulse was located at 1912 South Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida. In the early hours of June 12, 2016, an American born security guard named Omar Mir Seddique Mateen shot and killed 49 people and wounded an additional 53 at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Mateen, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), was shot and killed by the Orlando Police Department after a three-hour standoff. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in United States history, the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since the September 11th attacks of 2001, and the deadliest incident of violence against LGBT people in United States history. Most of the victims were Latino, as the club was hosting a Latin Night at the time of the massacre.