A. D. Starbird Receipt for Isaac Vanderpool (May 8, 1894)
A receipt from A. D. Starbird receipt to Isaac Vanderpool for lumber supplies, dated May 8, 1894. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 8.25 x 7 inch receipt, May 8, 1894: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.011V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
A. D. Starbird Receipt for Isaac Vanderpool (May 14, 1894)
A receipt from A. D. Starbird receipt to Isaac Vanderpool for lumber supplies, dated May 14, 1894. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 7 x 8.25 inch receipt, May 14, 1894: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.012V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
A. D. Starbird Receipt for Isaac Vanderpool
A receipt from A. D. Starbird to Isaac Vanderpool for lumber supplies. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 7 x 8.25 inch receipt: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.013V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Letter from George B. Agnew to Isaac Vanderpool (May 21, 1895)
A letter from George B. Agnew to Isaac Vanderpool, dated May 21, 1895. On behalf of the National Produce Company as its secretary and treasurer, Agnew offers a business deal with Vanderpool in regards to the purchase of Florida fruits and vegetables for the wholesale market. The National Produce Co. was a produce wholesaler based at 635 Liberty Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 1-page letter from George B. Agnew to Isaac Vanderpool, May 21, 1895: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.014V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Letter from Jonathan French to Isaac Vanderpool (June 18, 1895)
A memorandum from Jonathan French to Isaac Vanderpool, dated June 18, 1895. On behalf of French & Company, French offers a business deal with Vanderpool in regards to the purchase of Florida fruits and vegetables for the wholesale market. French & Co. was a produce wholesaler based at 116 Warren Street in New York City, New York. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 1-page memorandum from Jonathan French to Isaac Vanderpool, June 18, 1895: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.015V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Savannah, Florida & Western Railway Company Receipt for Isaac Vanderpool (December 12, 1892)
A receipt from the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway Company to Isaac Vanderpool for the transportation of goods, dated December 21, 1892. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Duplicate of original 5.5 x 8.5 inch receipt: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.016V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Savannah, Florida & Western Railway Company Receipt for Isaac Vanderpool (February 28, 1893)
A receipt from the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway Company to Isaac Vanderpool for the transportation of goods from Longwood to Maitland, dated February 28, 1893. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Duplicate of original 5.5 x 8.5 inch receipt, February 28, 1893: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.017V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
J. A. Paul Receipt for Isaac Vanderpool (June 21, 1893)
A receipt from J. A. Paul to Isaac Vanderpool for groceries, dated June 21, 1893. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 4 x 8.25 inch receipt, June 21, 1893: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.018V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
A blank bank check from Isaac Vanderpool. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 2.75 x 7.75 inch bank check from Isaac Vanderpool: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.019V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Envelope from G. T. Smith to Isaac Vanderpool
An envelope from G. T. Smith to Isaac Vanderpool. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 3.5 x 6 inch envelope: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.020V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Letter from Jacobson to Isaac Vanderpool (September 16, 1894)
A letter from someone named Jacobson to Isaac Vanderpool, dated September 16, 1894, regarding the Mayo Property. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 2-page letter from Jacobson to Isaac Vanderpool, September 16, 1894: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.022V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Memorial Record in Memory of Mary Louisa Vanderpool
A memorial record for Mary Louisa Vanderpool (ca. 1880-1992), who passed away at the Orange County Hospital on December 12, 1922, at the age of 42. Vanderpool was born in Maitland, Florida, in 1880 and married her husband in 1906. Her memorial services were held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland and Vanderpool was buried at the Maitland Cemetery. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 12-page program, 1922: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.023V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Maitland, Florida
Invitation to the Springtime Chamber Music Concert at the Vanderpoel Mansion
An invitation to the Springtime Chamber Music Concert at the Vanderpoel Mansion, also known as the Vanderpoel House of History, located at 16 Broad Street in Kinderhook, New York. The concert was hosted by the Columbia County Historical Society on May 25, 1974. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Columbia County Historical Society
Original 4-page invitation by the Columbia County Historical Society, 1974: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.024V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Memorial Program for Charles E. Vanderpool
A memorial program for Charles E. Vanderpool (1906-1993), who passed away on December 17, 1993, in Miami, Florida. Vanderpool was born in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania on October 9, 1906. His memorial services were held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland and Vanderpool was buried at the Maitland Cemetery on January 15, 1994. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in TheGate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 4-page program, 1994: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.025V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
piscopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Maitland, Florida
The Eatonville Speaker edition for June 22, 1889. Eatonville, Florida, was incorporated as one of the first all-black towns in the country on August 15, 1887. The town was named after Josiah C. Eaton, one of the few white landowners who was willing to sell land to African Americans in order to incorporate the town. Eatonville is also known as the hometown of Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), noted African-American author of Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Original 4-page newspaper: Eatonville Speaker, June 22, 1889: Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Letter from J. A. Jacobson to Isaac Vanderpool (December 17, 1895)
A letter from J. A. Jacobson to Isaac Vanderpool, dated December 17, 1895, regarding a shipment of orange trees. The Vanderpools were one of the original families in Maitland, Florida, with Isaac Vanderpool, the patriarch of the family, buying 160 acres of land in the year 1870. In 1876, after facing a large financial loss and disaster in New York, Isaac and his wife, Harriet Vanderpool, permanently moved to the Maitland area. At the time of their arrival, the area only had about four or five family homesteads and orange groves. Vanderpool was part of the first committee to help incorporate the town of Lake Maitland. The committee included Vanderpool, Henry S. Kedney, George Packwood, and Richard Packwood. The Vanderpool family was also heavily involved in civic affairs, which included the establishment of the town of Eatonville by Vanderpool and Josiah C. Eaton. The Vanderpools were paricipants in the creation of the Florida Audubon Society and the organization of the Maitland Public Library. Harriet Vanderpool, along with Bishop Henry C. Whipple, founded the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, and, in 1927, she wrote the "Maitland Song," which the chamber of commerce adopted as the official song for the city. In 1887, Vanderpool became Mayor of Maitland and during this time, acquired land for the city first cemetery. In 1892, he built the first packinghouse in Maitland, which was featured in The Gate City Chronicle as the state most modern and best packinghouse.
Original 1-page letter from J. A. Jacobson to Isaac Vanderpool, December 17, 1895: Vanderpool Collection, accession number 2014.002.021V, room 2, case 2, shelf 10, box GV, Maitland Historical Museum, Art & History Museums - Maitland, Maitland, Florida.
Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) around 1895. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original 5 x 3.5 inch black and white photograph: box 1, folder 1, DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
DeForest Grove, sometime between 1895 and 1905. Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original 7 x 5 inch black and white photograph: box 1, folder 7, DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Two women, possibly relatives of Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902), at DeForest Grove, sometime between 1895 and 1905. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original 7.25 x 4.25 inch black and white photograph: box 1, folder 7, DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The DeForest Grove, sometime between 1895 and 1905, in Sanford, Florida. Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original 6.5 x 4.5 inch black and white photograph: box 1, folder 7, DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The DeForest Grove in 1905, in Sanford, Florida. Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original 7.25 x 4.25 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
African-American Laborer at DeForest Grove
An African-American agricultural laborer at DeForest Grove, sometime between 1895 and 1905. Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
The DeForest Grove after the freeze of 1895. Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original 7.25 x 4.25 inch black and white photograph: box 1, folder 3, DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Two women and two children, likely relatives of Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902), along with four African-Americans at the DeForest home in 1905. Called "The Palms," the DeForest home was located at 105 Aldean Drive in Sanford, Florida. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown.
Letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry (April 7, 1878)
A personal letter from Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) to his future wife, Anna M. Sperry. In the letter, DeForest discusses his conversation with Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), his correspondence with Mr. Day, Sperry's birthday, and his plans to travel north. DeForest (1857-1902), along with four African-Americans at the DeForest home in 1905. Called "The Palms," the DeForest home was located at 105 Aldean Drive in Sanford, Florida. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Sanford since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown.
Original letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry, April 7, 1878: DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry DeForest (December 6, 1881)
A personal letter from Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) to his wife, Anna M. Sperry DeForest. In the letter, DeForest discusses Henry Shelton Sanford's (1823-1891) recent illness, DeForest's love for his wife, and his desire for her to travel to Sanford, Florida, to visit him. DeForest (1857-1902), along with four African-Americans at the DeForest home in 1905. Called "The Palms," the DeForest home was located at 105 Aldean Drive in Sanford, Florida. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Sanford since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown.
Original letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry DeForest, December 6, 1881: DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry DeForest (December 8, 1881)
A personal letter from Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) to his wife, Anna M. Sperry DeForest. In the letter, DeForest discusses Henry Shelton Sanford's (1823-1891) recovery from an illness, DeForest's purchase of land from Sanford, the "celebrated occultist" Dr. Agnew's visit to Sanford, Mr. Case's hotel, and DeForest's hope to see Anna in the winter. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry DeForest, December 8, 1881: DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry DeForest (May 4, 1881)
A personal letter from Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) to his wife, Anna M. Sperry DeForest. In the letter, DeForest discusses their baby son, rainy weather, his boredom in Sanford, a letter he received from Loise Cornell, and Anna's travel to Savannah, Georgia. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original letter from Henry L. DeForest to Anna M. Sperry DeForest, May 4, 1881: DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from Anna M. Sperry DeForest to Henry L. DeForest (November 3, 1881)
Personal letter from Anna M. Sperry DeForest to her husband, Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902). In the letter, Anna discusses the weather, Mr. Day and Ed Shelton, and her son with DeForest. DeForest was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.
Original letter from Anna M. Sperry DeForest to Henry L. DeForest, November 3, 1881: DeForest Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
DeBary-Baya Merchant Line Dock at Sanford Stereoscope
Sanford's Riverfront looking north during late 19th century, with a steamship pictured in the background. By the mid-1880s, Sanford had become a major distribution center due to the city's strategic location along Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. Even before Florida obtained statehood, steamboats frequented the St. Johns River carrying U.S. Army soldiers to Fort Mellon, located on the shores of Lake Monroe, to defend the area against Native Americans during the Seminole Wars. Steamboats were used at the fort and during the Battle of Camp Monroe to relocate Seminoles, explore the St. Johns River, and to distribute military forces. During the second half of the 1830s, steamboats were used to tow barges from the river to Lake Monroe in order to stimulate trade. The first commercial steamboat was developed as the Brock Line in the early 1850s. As trade grew, various wharves and docks were built in locations such as Mellonville Avenue, Palmetto Avenue, Oak Street, and Sanford Avenue. The Debary-Baya Merchant Line began transporting passengers in 1883, which further developed the steamboat industry. The line was purchased by the Clyde Line in 1886 and remained open until 1933. The growth of railroads was the primary cause of the decline of the steamboat industry.
Original 7 x 4.25 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Donald Houston at Belair Grove in Sanforrd (present-day Lake Mary), Florida, around 1891. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) purchased 12,547.15 square acres of land known as the Sanford Grant. Sanford established an experiment station on a portion of the land, located three miles southwest of the city of Sanford. This is an image of Donald Houston, who acted as Sanford's superintendent and grove manager for Belair. Belair Grove extended across 145 acres; 95 of the acres produced orange growth representing a wide range of orange species known to Florida and 50 acres were lemon trees. In Belair alone, Sanford introduced over 140 varieties of citrus plants and worked to determine if Florida citrus growers could introduce new varieties into the growing citrus market. Sanford also grew exotic plants acquired from Central and South America, many of which survived the 1886 freeze. Sanford mainly used Belair as his own experiment station, but ultimately the findings and reports would be used by other citrus growers throughout Florida. After Sanford's death in 1891, Houston continued to correspond with Gertrude Dupuy Sanford, Sanford's widow, about the state of the groves. The 1894-1895 freezes destroyed most of the citrus crop, leaving frozen oranges covering the grounds because the weakened branches could not support the heavy frozen fruit. Following the great freeze of 1894-1895, Gertrude sold Belair to John Sanford, who in turn sold it to Sydney Octavius Chase (1860-1941) in 1902. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904, when Chase's brother and business partner, Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948), came back from an extended stay in California.
Original 2 x 1 inch black and white photograph: Henry S. Sanford Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Corner of East First Street and North Palmetto Avenue
The corner of East First Street and North Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida. Although the earliest type of stereoscope dates back to 1838, this stereoscope card is from a Holmes-style stereoscope invented by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) in 1861. The two separate images are printed side-by-side. When viewed with a stereoscopic viewer, the images appear to create one three dimensional image. Items in the foreground appear closer, items in the background appear farther away, and the overall image is also magnified. Published by J. G. Mangold of Palatka, Florida. This stereoscope boasts, "Always on hand a good assortment of Florida Stereoscopic and large views of Residences, Groups, Picnics, Excursions, etc."
Original 7 x 3.5 inch black and white photograph:Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
East First Street and North Palmetto Avenue, Sanford, Florida
Fountain at the Intersection of East First Street and North Park Avenue
The fountain at intersection of North Park Avenue and East First Street Sanford, Florida, in 1900. The fountain used free-flowing artesian wells under the city. The Lyman Bank, pictured on the right, was the first brick building in Sanford. Located at 101 West First Street, the building was originally constructed in 1883. In 1887, the bank changed hands and became the First National Bank No. 1. Building renovations, undertaken during the same year, included adding a marble facade, moving the front entrance to the corner of the building, and placing a clock at the front of the building. The town clock is currently located in Magnolia Square. First National Bank No. 1 is the oldest brick building in Sanford's downtown commercial district. The organizational meetings to create Rollins College were held in this building in 1885.
Original 10 x 6 inch black and white photograph: Vincent Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
East First Street and North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida
Horse Riding Contest Down Commercial Street
A cowboy racing on horseback along Commercial Street in Sanford, Florida. At the time that Sanford was founded, a substantial cattle industry thrived in the countryside near the new city. Cattle grazed on the prairies along the St. Johns River. Cowboys, also called cowmen, were employed by local ranchers, such as the Cameron and Beck families, to perform their cowboy skills at special events held in Sanford.
Original 7 x 5 inch black and white photograph: Vincent Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Henry Shelton Sanford and Family at Belair Grove
Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) and family at Belair Grove in Sanford, Florida. In 1870, Sanford purchased 12,547.15 square acres of land known as the Sanford Grant. Sanford was an American diplomat, lawyer, and businessman. Born in Derby, Connecticut, Sanford eventually joined the United States Diplomatic Corps in 1849. During his initial tenure in the Diplomatic Corps, Sanford served as Secretary of the American Legation at Paris. In 1853, he was promoted to the position of Chargé D'Affaires in France. In 1861, President Lincoln named Sanford as the U.S. Minister to Belgium. During the Civil War, Sanford served as a fiscal agent for the U.S. Government and supervised the U.S. Secret Service in Europe. After his tenure as Minister to Belgium, Sanford played a role in the establishment of the Congo Free State, a vast colony in Equatorial Africa under the direct control of the Belgian King Leopold II. In particular, it was Sanford who lobbied U.S. President Chester A. Arthur to recognize King Leopold's colony, a move that sparked broader international recognition of the Congo Free State. He also served as a delegate for the American Geographical Society at the International African Association Congress established by Leopold II and held in Brussels in 1887. Sanford organized the "Sanford Exploring Expedition," an expedition that served to answer scientific and commercial inquiries in the Congo. Aside from his diplomatic career, Sanford was also a businessman and investor. He made several real estate investments in Florida in the late 1860s and early 1870s, the most notable being the purchase of the "Sanford Grant" in May 1870. The grant encompassed over 20 square miles and provided the basis for the town that eventually bore Sanford's name. Sanford was convinced that Florida would prove a profitable place to invest. Anticipating significant traffic and commerce by waterway, Sanford bought a land grant positioned on Lake Monroe along the St. Johns River. The city of Sanford thus became deemed the "Gate City of South Florida" - the southernmost stop along the river. During the 1870s, Sanford invested significant amounts of money to the development of his city - he built a wharf, several hotels, a general store, and a sawmill - all of which he hoped would spur investment and growth in the city. Sanford also developed several experimental citrus groves in his Florida city. The first was St. Gertrude's Grove. The second and more successful grove was Belair, developed in the early 1870s. Though Sanford never lived in Florida, he did visit occasionally from the late 1860s until his death in 1891. His diplomatic and business duties kept him preoccupied abroad, and most of his development in Florida was undertaken by representatives and confidants. Following the "Great Freeze" of 1888, Sanford's Belair grove was destroyed. Sanford was committed to rebuilding the grove and, in the late stages of his life, he committed his energies to his Florida investments. He died several years later though, and his wife Gertrude, in an effort to settle debts owed in Europe and elsewhere following his death, sold many of Sanford's properties in Florida.
Original 8 x 5.25 inch black and white photograph: Henry S. Sanford Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Northwest Rooftop View of the Hester-Shephard Block
A rooftop view of the Hester-Shephard block, located at 109 South Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida. The block was named after M. K. Hester and Samuel W. Shepard. The three-story building was constructed after the September 1887 fire. From 1890 to 1974, the building housed the city's first fire station. The building also housed Sanford City Hall, the police station, and the jail. In 1923, Seminole County's only legal hanging occurred behind the building. In 1928, the top floor was condemned and removed. From the 1970s to the 1990s, Sanford Dry Cleaners was located there, until it was renovated as a private residence.
Sanford High School in 1905. The school was originally established at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 7.5 x 4.5 inch black and white photograph: accession number 97.02:06, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
On January 10, 1880, the City of Sanford broke ground for the construction of the South Florida Railroad station on Oak Avenue in Sanford, Florida. President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) famously participated in the groundbreaking ceremony. Originally only a 10-mile track between Sanford and Longwood, the line expanded to Orlando within the first six months of its operation. By 1883, Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) had purchased three-fifths of the South Florida Railroad Company and made it part of his Plant System and the Plant Investment Company (PICO). Shortly thereafter, in the winter of 1894-1895, a freeze hit Central Florida, destroying the entire citrus crop. This brought an end to what had been Sanford’s thriving citrus industry prompting the development of its vegetable industry. By the 1900s, Sanford was one of the largest vegetable shipping centers in the United States gaining the nickname of "The Celery City" for its most successful crop. Upon Plant's death in 1902, his widow sold his railroad system to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). The arrival of the ACL in Sanford brought many new railroad workers as the city grew into a hub for shipping produce to surrounding areas. Rand Yard, ACL’s freight yard, housed a car shop, engine servicing facility, small locomotive shop, and the state's largest railroad ice plant. In the early 1900s, Lake Jesup farmers demanded that the ACL build a line for them to ship their produce into town, but the railroad company refused. In response, the largest growers chartered the Sanford and Everglades Railroad with Sydney Octavius Chase (1860-1941) as the president. The new line was completed as an ACL branch at Lake Charm. The ACL purchased the new line in 1913 when the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) showed interest in buying it. The branch became the most profitable in the ACL system. By the mid-1900s, the amount of good farmland was shrinking in Sanford due to development, driving farmers further south to farms with more acreage. This, coupled with the establishment of a U.S. Naval Air Station in the town, turned the city's focus from agriculture to the military. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) Railroad and later was acquired by CSX. Today, the railroad station originally built by the ACL is no longer in use.
Plant Investment Company, Sanford, Florida
South Florida Railroad Station, Sanford, Florida
The W. J. Hill Store in Sanford, Florida. Although the earliest type of stereoscope dates back to 1838, this stereoscope card is from a Holmes-style stereoscope invented by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) in 1861. The two separate images are printed side-by-side. When viewed with a stereoscopic viewer, the images appear to create one three dimensional image. Items in the foreground appear closer, items in the background appear farther away, and the overall image is also magnified. Published by J. G. Mangold of Palatka, Florida. This stereoscope boasts, "Always on hand a good assortment of Florida Stereoscopic and large views of Residences, Groups, Picnics, Excursions, etc."
Original 7 x 3.5 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The Bell Hotel was located on Woodruff Block at East First Street and North Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida. Built in 1895, the hotel was known for Joe's Smokehouse and Silas Biggers' peanut wagon which sat out front. The Bell Café was owned by a Greek immigrant, Manuel Dandelake. The building was also popular for its billiard parlor and cigar shop. The structure was demolished in October 1964 and replaced by a parking lot.
Railroad Fountain During the Freeze of 1898
Several people in next to the sulfur fountain located at the park between the Plant Investment Company (PICO) office and the South Florida Railroad station, located at 209 North Oak Avenue in Sanford, Florida. This photograph was taken during the Freeze of 1898.
Original 8.5 inch x 5.25 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Old Railroad Spur at South Florida Railroad Station
Old railroad spur at the South Florida Railroad station, located at 209 North Oak Avenue in Sanford, Florida, with the Plant Investment Company (PICO) office to the far left of the photograph. The Lake Monroe and Orlando Railroad was organized in 1875. The charter planned to constructed a railroad from the St. Johns River port in Sanford south to Orlando. On October 16, 1878, the South Florida Railroad was incorporated but did not receive a charter until December 9, 1879, when it gained control over the Lake Monroe and Orlando Railroad charter. The first train on the new railroad ran between Sanford and Orlando on November 11, 1880. Henry Plant and his Plant System purchased three-fifths of the South Florida Railroad stock on May 4, 1883 and soon began laying tracks towards Tampa, whose railroad station opened on December 10, 1883. In 1893, the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, which was also a part of the Plant System, acquired the South Florida Railroad. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) acquired the entire Plant System in 1902. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, which is now operated by CSX.
Orlando Remembered Exhibit at the Orlando Public Library
An exhibit created by Orlando Remembered at the Orlando Public Library, located at 101 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The Orlando Remembered Committee of the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc. was created to "showcase artistic renderings of the time depicted, with artifacts and historical memorabilia from the location in an effort to preserve the memory of Orlando's history while acknowledging the potential of the City's future." The exhibit at the Orlando Public Library memorializes several institution located around the Albertson Public Library, including the Orlando Chamber of Commerce building, the City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, the Orlando Salvation Army buildings, and the home of fire chief Maxie G. Bennett.
Original exhibit by Orlando Remembered, Orlando Public Library, Orlando, Florida.
Orlando Remembered
Albertson Public Library, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Home of Maxie G. Bennett, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Junior Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Salvation Army, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Public Library, Downtown Orlando, Florida
A map of exhibits created by Orlando Remembered. The Orlando Remembered Committee of the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc. was created to "showcase artistic renderings of the time depicted, with artifacts and historical memorabilia from the location in an effort to preserve the memory of Orlando's history while acknowledging the potential of the City's future." Various exhibits around Orlando memorialize the history of the blocks at which they are located.
Original color map by Orlando Remembered.
Baldwin Park Navy Base, Orlando, Florida
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, Orlando, Florida
Downtown Orlando Post Office, Orlando, Florida
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Orange County Courthouse, Orlando, Florida
Rosaline Avenue and Central Boulevard, Orlando, Florida
Rutland Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
M. S. Brown Clothing Store Advertisement
A newspaper advertisement in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes an advertisement for M. S. Brown, a clothing retailer whose business was located at Gumpert's Block in Sanford, Florida.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper advertisements: The South Florida Argus, January 3, 1886: Microfilm Cabinet, reel BN06021, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
M. S. Brown Clothing Store, Sanford, Florida
A newspaper advertisement in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes an advertisement for the Lyman Bank, located at 101 West First Street in Sanford, Florida. The building was originally constructed in 1883 by Lyman Bank and had a brick facade. In 1887, the bank changed owenership and became the First National Bank No. 1. Building renovations took place the same year, which included adding a marble facade, moving the front entrance to the corner of the building, and placing a clock at the front of the building which would become the town clock located in Magnolia Square. First National Bank. 1 is the oldest brick building in Sanford's downtown commercial district. The organizational meetings to create Rollins College were also held in the same building in 1885.
F. E. Lane Wholesale and Retail Advertisement
A newspaper advertisement in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes an advertisement for F. E. Lane, a wholesale and retail dealer in hardware, stoves, and other items. Lane's store was located at the corner of East First Street and North Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida.
F. E. Lane Wholesale and Retail, Sanford, Florida
The South Florida Argus Advertisements (January 3, 1886)
Undertakers and undertaking--United States
A page of newspaper advertisements in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes advertisements for various Sanford-based businesses, including the Home Fertilizer Company, Chase and Company, and the Wigwam. The South Florida Argus was Republican paper published by Adolphus Edwards and printed in the Old Fort Reed Building on First Street in Sanford, Florida. The Sanford Journal, a Democratic newspaper, had its offices next door in the very same building. There was, of course, some rivalry between the two papers. After some time, Edwards gave up printing The South Florida Argus to become the local postmaster.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper advertisements: South Florida Argus, January 3, 1886: Microfilm Cabinet, University of Florida Library Reel BN06021, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
A newspaper article about Sanford, Florida, during the year of 1913. According to the article, the Sanford community had recovered from the Great Freeze of 1886 and was thriving economically by 1913. This page also included an article on the Ford Model A car and two stops on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) at Lake Mary. The present-day Sanford area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca/Joroco natives by the time that Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settle in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. In 1836, the U.S. Army built a road (present-day Mellonville Avenue) to Camp Monroe during the Second Seminole War. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon (1794-1837). The town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat of Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, a lawyer from Connecticut by the name of Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) purchased 12,548 acres of open land west of Mellonville. His vision was to make this new land a major port city, both railway and by water. Sitting on Lake Monroe, at the head of the St. Johns River, the city of Sanford earned the nickname of the Gate City of South Florida. Sanford became not only a transportation hub, but a leading citrus industry in Florida, and eventually across the globe. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed Celery City. In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper article: "It Was New Era in 1887." The Sanford Herald, April 26, 1968, Semi-Centennial Edition, page 4: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The Sanford Herald
Georgetown Pathways to History Project Heritage Marker #3
Heritage Marker #3 of the Georgetown Pathways to History Project, which was developed by the Georgetown Heritage Advisory Committee with assistance from the Sanford Museum and Sanford Historical Society. Georgetown was established by the city's founder, Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891, as a suburb for African-American residents in the 1870s. The neighborhood spans along Sanford Avenue, with its commercial district between First Street and Fifth Street and its historic district between Seventh Street and Tenth Street. Though originally much smaller, Georgetown spanned to its present boundaries from East Second Street to Celery Avenue and from Sanford Avenue to Mellonville Avenue. Georgetown thrived at its height from circa 1880 to 1940, particularly in agriculture and transportation. Special thanks for Heritage Marker #3 was given to Patricia Ann Black (1956-), the daughter of Pilgrim Black (1905-2002) and Lula Mae Haynes Black (1917-2007). Her father, Pilgrim, was featured on the marker. Pilgrim was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes (1917-2007) Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca. 1870-ca. 1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin. Pilgrim had to quit school at age 11 in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18 years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940-); Lula Yvonne Black (1942-); Charles Samuel Black (1945-); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca. 1947-), and Patricia Ann Black.
Original color marker by the Georgetown Heritage Advisory Committee, 2014: Department of Recreation, City of Sanford, Sanford, Florida.
Department of Recreation, City of Sanford
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 28, 1884)
Sanford, Henry S. (Henry Shelton), 1823-1891
A letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 28, 1884. In the letter, Beardall requested Sanford's signature for four enclosed deeds. Three people—A. E. Phillips, R. Muller, and W. G. Hill—all bought lots in the town of Sanford, Florida. The fourth person, J. O. Roan, bought 35 acres in Polk County. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 28, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.20, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
A History of Central Florida, Episode 9: St. Benedict Medal
Episode 9 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: St. Benedict Medal. A History of Central Florida Podcast series explores Central Florida's history through the artifacts found in local area museums and historical societies. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 9 features a discussion of the St. Benedict Medal found in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Emily Graham of Oklahoma State University, Dr. Roger Grange of the University of South Florida, and Dr. Daniel S. Murphree of the University of Central Florida.
Original 13-minute and 5-second podcast by Chip Ford, 2013: "A History of Central Florida, Episode 9: St. Benedict Medal." A History of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
A History of Central Florida
New Smyrna Museum of History
Florida Memory Project
New Smyrna Museum of History, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Oral History of Leonard Casselberry and Jane Casselberry
An oral history of Leonard and Jane Casselberry, conducted by Daniel Motta on May 30, 2012. In the interview, the Casselberrys discuss life in Casselberry, Florida, which was founded by Leonard's father, Hibbard Casselberry. Other topics discussed include the founding of Casselberry, working in the fern industry, the effect of World War II on the home front, how Leonard and Jane met, how Casselberry has changed over time, Hibbard Casselberry's involvement in growing azaleas and oak trees, and the Casselberrys' occupations after Leonard left the U.S. Navy.
Original 39-minute and 14-second oral history: Casselberry, Leonard and Jane Casselberry. Interviewed by Daniel Motta. UCF Community Veterans History Project. May 30, 2012. Audio record available. Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
An oral history intervied of Ed L'Heureux, conducted by Stephanie Youngers on November 12, 2010. L'Heureux was born in Gloversville, New York, in May of 1939, but migrated to Winter Park, Florida, at the age of five. In the interview, L'Heureux discusses growing up in Winter Park, fish fry events, his wife and family, his careers as an insurance agent and as an author, Rollins College, The Yearling, race relations in Winter Park, hurricanes, his father's trucking business, his service in the military, and the effects of the development of Walt Disney World on Central Florida.
Original 39-minute and 25-second oral history: L'Heureux, Ed. Interviewed by Stephanie Youngers. November 12, 2010. Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Winter Park Elementary, Winter Park, Florida
Oral History of Ima Jean Bostick Yarborough
An oral history interview of Ima Jean Bostick Yarborough, conducted by Joseph Morris on November 10, 2011. Yarborough was born on August 2, 1935 in Ocala, Florida, but spent much of her adult life working in the cattle industry in Geneva. In the interview, she discusses her childhood in Ocala, how Ocala has changed over time, living in Oxford, the cattle industry, life in Geneva, the 4-H program, and her husband's military service.
Original 1-hour and 56-second oral history: Yarborough, Ima Jean Bostick. Interviewed by Joseph Morris. November 10, 2011. Audio record available. Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
May Day Court at Sanford Grammar School, 1945-1946
May Day Court at Sanford Grammar School during the 1945-1946 school year. Ann Whitaker and Bob Killpatrick were the May Day Queen and King, respectively. Photographed as standing in the top row, from left to right, is Eileen Barnett, Carolyn Rolland, an unidentified student, Janette Ratliff, Phyllis Shames, an unidentified student, Bob Killpatrick, Ann Whitaker, Dorris Jones, Joan Wright, Mary Ann Wilkie, Dora Lee Richardson, Beverly Benton, Mary Ann Baker, Don Bronson, Ann Robarr, Sheila Moore, and Alice Brown. Seated in the front row is an unidentified student, Linda Leonard, June Bance, Lucia Goff, two unidentified students, William "Buddy" Moore, two unidentified students, Jackie MacDonald, Jean Wilson, and Felice Smith. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 10 x 7 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, Florida
Mrs. Harner's Fifth Grade Class at Sanford Grammar School, 1949
Mrs. Harner's fifth grade class at Sanford Grammar School in 1949. Some of the students photographed are Evelyn Landress, Catherine King, Wally Van Ness, Betty Alfond, Tommy Russell, Ruthie Nettles, Henry Cason, Kay Jenkins, Sam Dunn, Ernist Wright, Sarah Dunn, Richard Smith, Betty Vincent, Al Stonley, Jon Wyett, Donna Evans, and Nancy Cosh. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 11 x 8 inch black and white photograph, 1949: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Tropical Garden at Sanford Grammar School
The Tropical Garden at Sanford Grammar School. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 6 x 4 inch color photograph: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Grammar School in November 1984, around the time that the building was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 5 x 3.5 inch black and white photographs, November 1984: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
A classroom at Sanford Grammar School. Originally located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Sanford Grammar School was first established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original 5 x 3.5 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
A construction marker for Sanford High School, which was originally established at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Florida’s Purge: The Johns Committee Witch Hunt
Florida’s Purge: The Johns Committee Witch Hunt, known colloquially as The Committee, is a short film about the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee's investigation of communism and homosexuality amongst students and faculty at Florida colleges and universities. Commonly known as the Johns Committee, the committee was led by state senator and former governor Charley Eugene Johns (1905-1990). The committee was established in 1956 and originally focused on the investigation of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, an historically African-American university, for its faculty's and staff's involvement of the Tallahassee Bus Boycott (1956-1957). However, as the committee expanded its McCarthy era anti-communist witch hunt, it came to focus on the homosexual lifestyles of many faculty members and students at colleges and universities. After growing public critique of the committee's activities, it was eventually disbanded on July 1, 1965. The Committee centers on the anti-homosexual investigations of the Johns Committee. The film was produced and directed by University of Central Florida professor Dr. Robert Cassanello and Dr. Lisa Mills. Other producers include Slyvana Fernández and Logan Kriete, and Monica Monticello serves as associate producer. The screenplay was written by Monica Monticello, Kathryn Paulson, and Amy Simpson, with research conducted by Alex Boyce and Shay Cambre. Ben Taylor and Alex Wood were the cinematographers and the arts and graphics were created by Patrick Fenelon and Adrien Mills. The film was edited by Aaron Hosé, with the aid of assistant editors Chelsea Echols and David Mariutto. The Committee includes interviews with Ruth Jense-Forbell, a lesbian student interrogated by the Florida State University Police Department in 1964-1965; Chuck Woods, a homosexual student interrogated by the University of Florida Police Department while attending the university from 1959 to 1965; John Tileston, Sr., a UF police officer who investigated various faculty members and students, including Woods; Dr. Karen Graves, a professor of education at Denison University and the author of And They Were Wonderful Teachers: Florida’s Purge of Gay and Lesbian Teachers; Dr. Judith Poucher, a professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville; Bob Graham, a graduate of UF, the 38th Governor of Florida (1979-1987), and former U.S. Senator for Florida (1987-2005); and Dr. Fred Fejes, a professor of multimedia studies at Florida Atlantic University. Florida’s Purge: The Johns Committee Witch Hunt won various awards and accolades, including an Emmy Award.
Original 23-minute and 58-second motion picture produced by Dr. Robert Cassanello, Dr. Lisa Mills, Slyvana Fernández, and Logan Kriete: Florida's Purge: The Johns Committee Witch Hunt, RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 2013.
RICHES
Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, Tallahassee, Florida
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, New York City, New York
Mann and Mills Dry Goods Store and Lafayette Apartments
The Mann and Mills Dry Goods store at 31 South Main Street in Winter Garden, Florida. The building was constructed by James Lafayette Dillard (1858-1943) in 1922. Thomas Franklin Mann and Willie Mills migrated to Winter Garden in 1912, where they opened their original store in the Dillard and Boyd Building. They later relocated to the location in the photograph. The second floor featured the Lafayette Apartments was named in honor of Dillard. The building went through various owners over the years and during World War II, a man named Collie Biggers opened the Gem Theatre there to compensate for the popularity of the Garden Theatre. An array of businesses use the building now.
Original black and white photograph: Up From the Ashes Exhibit, Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Winter Garden, Florida.
Lafayette Apartments, Winter Garden, Florida
Mann and Mills Dry Goods, Winter Garden, Florida
Two men walking on Main Street past the South Apopka Supply Company in Winter Garden, Florida. Located at 32 South Main Street, the building was erected around 1915 and stood directly south of the 1912 Dillard and Boyd Building. The South Apopka Supply Co. building later housed Earl W. Ewing's Real Estate and Insurance Business and the R. C. Stevens Construction Company. The Shelby Hotel can also be seen in the distance, on the corner of East Plant Street and North Main Street.
South Apopka Supply Company, Winter Garden, Florida
The M. V. Dillard and Company Garage, located on the corner of Plant Street and Main Street, just north of the Shelby Hotel, in Winter Garden, Florida. The garage was owned by James Lafayette Dillard (1858-1943), a local icon in Winter Garden. The garage was managed by Dillard's son, Marvin Dillard, who also worked as a taxi driver, transporting young men between Winter Garden and Orlando on Saturday nights. The second floor was occupied by a Cuban couple from Ybor City, who were hired by Dillard to make cigars. Some time later, the second floor became an armory. Dillard migrated to Central Florida from Virginia with his wife, Mattie Showalter, in 1887. He established himself primarily as a citrus and vegetable grower, but he also operated the M. V. Dillard and Company Garage, which was managed by his son, Marvin Dillard. In addition, he founded the Bank of Winter Garden, served as Wnter garden City Commissioner and a Florida State Legislator, and helped rebuild Downtown Winter Garden after two destructive fires in 1909 and 1912. Some of the buildings that Dillard helped construct include the Dillard and Boyd General Merchandise Store, the Shelby Hotel, and the Mann and Mills Dry Goods Store. He also donated land to the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden.
The interior of James Lafayette Dillard's (1858-1943) citrus packing house, located on South Dillard Street in Winter Garden, Florida, just south of the Tavares and Gulf Railroad tracks. Also seen in the photographs are members of Dillard's family. Standing in back, third from the left are Dillard; his daughter, Mabel Dillard; his wife, Mattie Showalter Dillard; and his daughter, Gladys Dillard. Sarah Jane Fowler is standing third from left in front. Dillard migrated to Central Florida from Virginia with his wife, Mattie Showalter, in 1887. He established himself primarily as a citrus and vegetable grower, but he also operated the M. V. Dillard and Company Garage, which was managed by his son, Marvin Dillard. In addition, he founded the Bank of Winter Garden, served as Wnter garden City Commissioner and a Florida State Legislator, and helped rebuild Downtown Winter Garden after two destructive fires in 1909 and 1912. Some of the buildings that Dillard helped construct include the Dillard and Boyd General Merchandise Store, the Shelby Hotel, and the Mann and Mills Dry Goods Store. He also donated land to the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden.
Dillard Packing House, Winter Garden, Florida
James Lafayette Dillard and Mabel Dillard at Dillard's Orange Groves
A photograph of James Lafayette Dillard (1858-1943) and his daughter, Mabel Dillard, riding in a horse-drawn carriage through Dillard's orange groves. Dillard migrated to Central Florida from Virginia with his wife, Mattie Showalter, in 1887. He established himself primarily as a citrus and vegetable grower, but he also operated the M. V. Dillard and Company Garage, which was managed by his son, Marvin Dillard. In addition, he founded the Bank of Winter Garden, served as Wnter garden City Commissioner and a Florida State Legislator, and helped rebuild Downtown Winter Garden after two destructive fires in 1909 and 1912. Some of the buildings that Dillard helped construct include the Dillard and Boyd General Merchandise Store, the Shelby Hotel, and the Mann and Mills Dry Goods Store. He also donated land to the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden.
James Lafayette Dillard (1858-1943) is a local icon in Winter Garden, Florida. Dillard migrated to Central Florida from Virginia with his wife, Mattie Showalter, in 1887. He established himself primarily as a citrus and vegetable grower, but he also operated the M. V. Dillard and Company Garage, which was managed by his son, Marvin Dillard. In addition, he founded the Bank of Winter Garden, served as Wnter garden City Commissioner and a Florida State Legislator, and helped rebuild Downtown Winter Garden after two destructive fires in 1909 and 1912. Some of the buildings that Dillard helped construct include the Dillard and Boyd General Merchandise Store, the Shelby Hotel, and the Mann and Mills Dry Goods Store. He also donated land to the First Baptist Church of Winter Garden.
South Intersection of Main Street and Plant Street, Winter Garden
A southward view of Main and Plant Street in Winter Garden, Florida, prior to the fires of 1909 and 1912. The large building on the right is A. B. Newton's Dry Good Store, which was later replaced by Dillard and Boyd General Merchandise Store. Behind the dry good store is Croft and Jones Grocery. In the distance, on the left, is the Orange Hotel. Tavares and Gulf Railroad Company railroad cars are pictured in the background.
Intersection of Main Street and Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida
The business district of Winter Garden, Florida, photographed prior to the 1909 and 1912 fires that destroyed all of the buildings pictured. Winter Garden's business district was located at the intersection of East Plant Street and North Main Street. The building pictured in the middle is the Dillard and Boyd General Merchandise Store. The foremost building was used for Dr. James A. Davis' pharmacy and on the side is an advertisement for Dr. Bell's Pine Tar Honey.
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 6, 1884)
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 6, 1884. In the letter, Trafford requested Sanford's signature for two enclosed deeds. The first deed was for Helen M. Randall, who bought several lots in the town of Sanford. The second deed was for Gustaf Lundquist, who bought two 5-acre lots in the "Swede settlement" of the Sanford Grant lands. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 6, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.13, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 8, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) dated February 8, 1884. In the letter, Trafford discussed land acquisition efforts and speculation. He described the efforts of land purchasers to buy available acreage from the state's Internal Improvement Fund lands at roughly 640 acres a day or 20,000 acres per month. The letter indicates the speculative nature of the land acquisition and the efforts of the investors to buy the lands at a discount. Trafford noted that "the proposed extension of the Railroad is not known here yet—though I fear the telegraph operator has dropped a hint. Property is very cheap here - but will take a jump when RR is known—I think it would pay you to invest one or two thousand in improved property here—this is undoubtedly the finest pine region of the State." Trafford also discussed some of the costs needed to clear and develop the land. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 8, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.14, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 13, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 13, 1884. In the letter, Trafford requested Sanford's signature for two enclosed deeds. The first deed was for J. C. Thorpe and D. B. Graves, who bought a five-acre plot from the Sanford Grant land for $250. The second deed was for George E. Rogers, who bought the lot with the Sanford Grove in St. Augustine, Florida, for $350. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 13, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.15, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 15, 1884)
A letter from William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 15, 1884. In the letter, Beardall provided updates of several buyers' payments. He noted that J. C. Thorpe and D. B. Graves "are paid up all" and that George E. Rogers is "awaiting delivery of deed." Gustaf Lundquist, he added, "owes $100 which he is willing to pay on delivery of deed." Beardall was an Englishman who worked for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) at its local office in Sanford, Florida. He served as an assistant to the company agent, E. R. Trafford. Beardall had worked previously for the Scottish industrialist Sir William MacKinnon before joining the FLCC. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford with help from a group of British investors. Located at 13 Austin Friars in London, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a ₤10,000 cash payment and another ₤50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board. In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua and Marion counties. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. As a result of consistently meager profits from its inception, following Henry Sanford's death in 1891 many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 15, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.16, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 16, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 16, 1884. In the letter, Trafford provided Sanford with updates about Sanford, Florida. He notes that the signed deeds for Helen M. Randall and Gustaf Lundquist had been received. He also wrote that "the mill is now in full blast," indicating that 60,000 feet of logs just received from the railroad, the first raft of 70,000 feet will arrive from down the river tonight. Trafford concluded the letter optimistically noting that "everything improving [sic]." Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 16, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.17, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 21, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 21, 1884. In the letter, Beardall requested Sanford's signature for four enclosed deeds. The first deed was for Richard Forkert, who bought five acres from the Sanford Grant for $150. The second deed was for Nan Jackson, who bought a lot in the town of Sanford for $150. The third deed was for Heth Canfield and J. B. Cole, who bought numerous lots in St. Augustine. The fourth deed was for Lack Limpson, who bought 40 acres from the Arredondo Grant. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 21, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.18, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 25, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 25, 1884. In this brief letter, Trafford informed Sanford that several deeds had been received and that the town of Sanford, Florida had a concert to raise the needed funds for the completion of the Episcopal Church. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 25, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.19, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
A newspaper advertisement in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes an advertisement for a new grocery store located in Magruder's Block, diagonally opposite of the San Leon Hotel in Sanford, Florida. The store was run by William H. Adams, Sr.
William H. Adams, Sr's Grocery Store, Sanford, Florida
A newspaper advertisement for the South Florida Railroad. The Lake Monroe and Orlando Railroad was organized in 1875. The charter planned to constructed a railroad from the St. Johns River port in Sanford south to Orlando. On October 16, 1878, the South Florida Railroad was incorporated, but it did not receive a charter until December 9, 1879, when it gained control over the Lake Monroe and Orlando Railroad charter. The first train on the new railroad ran between Sanford and Orlando on November 11, 1880. Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) and his Plant System purchased three-fifths of the South Florida Railroad stock on May 4, 1883, and soon began laying tracks towards Tampa, whose railroad station opened on December 10, 1883. In 1893, the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, which was also a part of the Plant System, acquired the South Florida Railroad. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) acquired the entire Plant System in 1902. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL), which is now operated by CSX.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper advertisements: The South Florida Argus, January 3, 1886: Microfilm Cabinet, Reel BN06021, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
A newspaper advertisement in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes an advertisement for Trafford and Company, wholesale and retail dealers located at the corner of North Park Avenue and West Commercial Street in Sanford, Florida. The South Florida Argus was Republican paper published by Adolphus Edwards and printed in the Old Fort Reed Building on First Street in Sanford. The Sanford Journal, a Democratic newspaper, had its offices next door in the very same building. There was, of course, some rivalry between the two papers. After some time, Edwards gave up printing The South Florida Argus to become the local postmaster.
A newspaper advertisement in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes an advertisement for W. H. Fletcher, a roofer based in Sanford, Florida. The South Florida Argus was Republican paper published by Adolphus Edwards and printed in the Old Fort Reed Building on First Street in Sanford. The Sanford Journal, a Democratic newspaper, had its offices next door in the very same building. There was, of course, some rivalry between the two papers. After some time, Edwards gave up printing The South Florida Argus to become the local postmaster.
South Florida Argus Advertisements (January 6, 1886)
A page of newspaper advertisements in The South Florida Argus issue for January 3, 1886. This issue includes advertisements for the Kissimmee Land Agency, as well as several Sanford-based businesses, including Steele & Bassinger, Scott & Thrasher, L. M. Moore, S. Montgomery, John L. Ferguson, and the New York Jewelry Store. The South Florida Argus was Republican paper published by Adolphus Edwards and printed in the Old Fort Reed Building on First Street in Sanford, Florida. The Sanford Journal, a Democratic newspaper, had its offices next door in the very same building. There was, of course, some rivalry between the two papers. After some time, Edwards gave up printing The South Florida Argus to become the local postmaster.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper advertisements: The South Florida Argus, January 6, 1886: Microfilm Cabinet, Reel BN06021, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Kissimmee Land Agency, Kissimmee, Florida
South Florida Argus Vol 2., No. 15, January 6, 1886
The South Florida Argus Vol. 2, No. 15 issue for January 6, 1886. This issue included advertisements for several Sanford-based businesses, including Wilson's Collection Agency, Charles & Vandeman's drug store, the Lyman Bank, and Trafford and Company. The South Florida Argus was Republican paper published by Adolphus Edwards and printed in the Old Fort Reed Building on First Street in Sanford, Florida. The Sanford Journal, a Democratic newspaper, had its offices next door in the very same building. There was, of course, some rivalry between the two papers. After some time, Edwards gave up printing The South Florida Argus to become the local postmaster.
The South Florida Argus Advertisements (January 8, 1886)
A page of newspaper advertisements from The South Florida Argus issue for January 8, 1886. This issue includes advertisements for various Central Florida-based businesses, including the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC), the Apopka House, the Music House of Florida, and Ensminger Brothers. The South Florida Argus was Republican paper published by Adolphus Edwards and printed in the Old Fort Reed Building on First Street in Sanford, Florida. The Sanford Journal, a Democratic newspaper, had its offices next door in the very same building. There was, of course, some rivalry between the two papers. After some time, Edwards gave up printing The South Florida Argus to become the local postmaster.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper advertisements: The South Florida Argus, January 8, 1886: Microfilm Cabinet, Reel BN06021, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Ensminger Brothers Photography Studio, Sanford, Florida
Music House of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
Louis I. Stephens' Store, Sanford, Florida
FIRE!! The Fire Fiend's Destructive Work at Sanford
A newspaper article about a fire that occurred on August 18, 1886, in Sanford, Florida. According to the article, the fire was first discovered in the Trafford and Company hardware store, located at the corner of North Park Avenue and West Commercial Street. The fire spread to Parramore's Livery stables and the depot and offices of the South Florida Railroad Company.
Print reproduction of microfilmed newspaper advertisements: The South Florida Argus, August 19, 1886: Microfilm Cabinet, Reel BN06021, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Palmetto Avenue and First Street in Sanford, 1882
First Street between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida, in 1882. On the southeast corner of Palmetto and First is the town drug store, which also housed the post office. The two-story building to the south of the drug store is Hester & Sheppard's saloon. West of the drug store is the George A. Sawyer building. P. J. Parramore's livery stable can also been seen in the distance of the left-hand side of the photograph. An artesian well of sulphur water is photographed in the center of the Palmetto-First intersection. The backyard of the Sanford House Hotel is on the northwest corner of the intersection. Henry L. DeForest's general store is located northward across First Street. On First Street, west of DeForest's store, is Darady's saloon. The Stafford & Ellis hardware store and tinshop was located in the tall building across First Street. Rudoplh Muller's boardinghouse and barber shop is the wide house behind the large oak tree, with Louis Hoefer's bakery to the west.
Original 11 inch x 8.5 inch photograph by Upton, 1882: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Palm Avenue and First Street, Sanford, Florida
Michael J. Doyle's Dry Goods & Grocery Store, 1882
Michael J. Doyle's Dry Goods & Grocery Store in Sanford, Florida, in 1882. Doyle was an Irish immigrant who originally settled in Volusia County prior to the American Civil War. His store was most likely located on First Street between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue.
Michael J. Doyle's Dry Goods and Grocery Store, Sanford, Florida
Sanford Looking Northeast from the Sanford House Hotel
This photograph was taken from the porch of the Sanford House Hotel looking northeast. Sanford's telegraph office and Henry Shelton Sanford's (1823-1891) company store are located at the base of Palmetto Avenue. The docks at Palmetto Avenue can also be seen in the image. The Sanford House Hotel was built by Henry Sanford with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford, Florida. The hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories—two of which included porches—and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel’s landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from the hotel to the shores of Lake Monroe. Rates for a room in 1884 ranged from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
North Palmetto Avenue and East Commercial Street, Sanford, Florida
The former building at First Street and Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida, prior to the construction of the N. P. Yowell Building and Garner Woodruff Building. The building was named after Fort Reid, which was established by Colonel William S. Harney (1800-1889) on July 7, 1840. Col. Harney named the fort after Robert R. Reid (1789-1841), the fourth Territorial Governor of Florida. "Reed" is another common spelling used in Sanford. Newton P. Yowell first came to Central Florida in 1884 with his family. Nine years after arriving in Florida, Yowell borrowed money from his mother and friends and opened a dry goods store. Shortly after Yowell opened his store in Sanford, the freeze of 1894-1895 hit the community. Even though crops were damaged and many people left Sanford, the Yowell Store remained open and survived the hard economic times. After the freeze, Yowell began construction on a new two-story brick building that would become the new store.
Sanford Looking West from Commercial Street
This photograph was taken from Commercial Street looking West towards Oak Avenue in Sanford, Florida. The railroad dock can be seen in the distance. When Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered.
Waterfront Park at the Sanford House Hotel
This photograph is of the waterfront on Commercial Street in Sanford, Florida. The Palm Avenue Dock is in the distance and the foreground is the park at the Sanford House Hotel. There is a century plant in the center of walkway in the park. The Sanford House Hotel Park, adjoining the Sanford House Hotel, overlooked the waterfront of Lake Monroe at Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue in 1934. The hotel was built by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford. The Sanford House Hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories—two of which included porches—and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel’s landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from the hotel to the shores of Lake Monroe. Rates for a room in 1884 ranged from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
Telegram from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (April 3, 1882)
A telegram from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated April 3, 1882. The telegram reads "them welborne says suits all right[sic]." It is unclear what this sentence is in reference to. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original telegram from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, April 3, 1882: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.1, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (January 31, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated January 31, 1883. In the letter, Trafford assessed the value of land owned by Sanford at Fort Gardiner Island. In the letter, he concluded that he knew "of no place in the State of Florida, so desirable from its many advantages for the cultivation of the lemon[,] pineapple[,] and other fruits of that class." He also stated the Fort Gardiner Island was attractive because of its relative proximity to the city of Sanford and its position on Lake Kissimmee. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, January 31, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.2, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 10, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated February 10, 1883. The letter concerned the fate of one of Sanford's former employees, a Swedish immigrant who was arrested, presumably for theft, but never charged because of a lack of evidence. Trafford informed Sanford that the Swede had been advised to sue Sanford for some $3,000 in damages, adding that the ex-employee had indicated that he would be willing to drop the suit for a sum of $1,000. Trafford wrote that he had responded that it was a "case of black-mail" and that he thought that "we should put both him and his lawyers in jail." The letter demonstrates the role of Sanford's Florida agents and managers in maintaining affairs in Sanford's absence, as well as the conflicts between Sanford and the Swedish laborers. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, February 10, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.3, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (March 29, 1883)
Beck, James B. (James Burnie), 1822-1890
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated March 29, 1883. Among other topics, Trafford noted the withdrawal of state lands from market near Suwannee County, Florida. He also informed Sanford that Senator Beck was in Enterprise and would be "over [at Sanford, Florida] tomorrow." He was presumably referring to Senator James B. Beck (1822-1890), a Democratic Senator from the state of Kentucky and member of Senate Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard. The letter also mentioned that there were "five steamers at the Wharf." Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, March 29, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.4, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (May 12, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated May 12, 1883. In the letter, Trafford offered updates about a number of topics, including a lawsuit carried out by Alexander St. Clair-Abrams (1845-1931) against Sanford, the Plant Syndicate buying controlling interest of the South Florida Railroad, as well as improvements to Commercial Street in the City of Sanford, Florida. The letter, filled with sensitive rumors and sarcastic remarks concerning Sanford's rivals, lends insight into the relationship between Sanford and his local agents based in Florida. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, May 12, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.5, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (May 19, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated May 19, 1883. In the letter, Trafford updated Sanford on several areas of importance, including the company efforts to sell the Sanford House Hotel, the progress of the South Florida Railroad line extending to Tampa, various tracts of land for sale in Florida, improvements to 1st Street in Sanford, and also matters concerning company sales. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. The FLCC was a joint-stock venture that invested in Florida land development and sales in the 1880s and early 1890s. The company was formed by Henry Shelton Sanford with help from a group of British investors. The original impetus for the company's formation was Sanford's inability to continue his land acquisition and development efforts in Florida independently. Located at 13 Austin Friars, the company was officially registered in London on June 10, 1880. With the formation of the FLCC, all of Henry Sanford's Florida properties were transferred to the company in exchange for a £10,000 cash payment and another £50,000 in company stock. Sanford was named President and Chairman of the Board.In 1880, the company owned 26,000 acres scattered across Florida, including in the cities of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Sanford, as well as in Alachua County and Marion County. Almost from the outset, there was serious friction between the British board members and Henry Sanford. Disagreements erupted over business strategy, as Sanford frequently proposed initiatives deemed too bold for the cautious British investors. From 1882 to 1892, the company saw steady, if meager, profits. Most of its income came from the sale of lots in the city of Sanford. From 1885 until 1890, the company, while remaining solvent, continued to see declining profits. From 1886 to 1890, the profits were so modest that the company declined to pay dividends on its yearly profits. Needed improvements and developments in the city of Sanford during the late 1880s sapped much of the company's income. Following Henry Sanford's death in 1891, many of the investors lost the motivation to continue. On September 15, 1892, the various directors acted to dissolve the company. Its assets, including roughly 65,000 acres of Florida land, were divided among shareholders.
Original letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, May 19, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.6, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.