A History of Central Florida, Episode 49: La Garita
Episode 49 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: La Garita. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 49 features a discussion of La Garita. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Gary R. Mormino of the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg, Luis Martínez-Fernández of the University of Central Florida, and Harry Pecunia of the Asociación Borinqueña de la Florida Central.
Original 12-minute and 43-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/EduFzw7pC1E.
RICHES
Orange County Regional History Center
Asociación Borinqueña de la Florida Central, Orlando, Florida
Garita del Diablo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
A History of Central Florida, Episode 42: Jim Crow Signs
Episode 42 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Jim Crow Signs. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 42 features a discussion of racial segregation signs used in the Jim Crow South, which are housed at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Stephen Caldwell Wright of Seminole State College and Dr. Julian C. Chambliss of Rollins College.
Original 15-minute and 48-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. http://youtu.be/wvzC9ergWHg.
Florida Memory Project
Library of Congress
Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, Florida
Derns Elementary School, Orange County, Florida
Durrance Elementary School, Orlando, Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 44: Highwaymen Paintings
Episode 44 of A History of Central Florida podcasts: Highwaymen Paintings. RICHES Podcast Documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that explore Central Florida history and are locally produced. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 44 features a discussion of The Highway Men paintings displayed at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with painter Al Black and Gary Monroe of Daytona State College.
Original 12-minute and 7-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2015: RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida. https://youtu.be/OcET5mQlITQ.
RICHES of Central Florida
Letter from David Stark to W. R. Vincent (December 30, 1975)
National Archives and Records Administration (U.S.)
An official project of the Orange County Bicentennial Committee. "More than a Memory" is an insightful scrapbook of Central Florida's history. This letter is a correspondence between one of the book's three editors, David Stark, and W. R. Vincent. In the letter, Stark thanks Vincent for his participation in the project and attached reproductions of Ensminger's original glass plates.
Original letter from David Stark to W. R. Vincent, December 30, 1975: Photographic Collection, box 3, folder Ensminger, General Collection, Student Museum, Sanford Florida.
A painting by Mattie L. Starke, who was a librarian and Jones High School. The painting hangs in the Jones High School Located in the Parramore/Lorna Doone neighborhood of downtown Orlando, Jones High School was the first area public school for African-Americans. The original building was located on the corner of Garland Avenue and Church Street, but the school was renamed the Johnson Academy and moved to a new building on the corner of Chatham Avenue and West Jefferson Street. In 1921, the school was renamed in honor Principal L. C. Jones and a brick colonial revival building was constructed on the corner of Parramore Avenue and Washington Street. The school was finally moved to its current location at 801 South Rio Grande Avenue in 1952.
Original color painting: Jones High School Historical Museum, Orlando, Florida.
Jones High School
State Bank of Orlando Check to Burlington Savings Bank (January 4, 1905)
State Bank of Orlando check to Burlington Savings Bankdated January, 4th. 1905. The check was paid to the order of the State Bank of Orlando and the value received and charge was to Burlington Savings Bank of Burlington, Vermont in the sum of $300. The check was signed by Walter A Smith, who was a cashier of the State Bank of Orlando. The bank was formed in 1893 with Louis Massey as president. In 1919, the State Bank converted into the State Bank and Trust Company and also acquired the northeast corner of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard that year. A. G. Bentley constructed a ten-story building on that lot, designed by W. L. Stoddart in the 20th Century Commercial style with Neo-Classical elements. The building was used by the bank until it closed in 1929. In 1933, the Florida Bank at Orlando acquired the property. In 1927, the building was acquired by Orange County and served as governmental offices, including the office of the sheriff and supervisor of elections. In 2002, it housed the temporary home of Florida Atlantic Metropolitan University's Law School.
Original check to Burlington Savings Bank, January 4, 1905: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Newspaper article about Glee Club presentation of Arthur Sullivan's and William Schwenck Gilbert's H.M.S. Pinafore on at Seminole High School on March 31, 1944. Actors and roles included: Neil Powell as Sir Joseph Porter, Dick Aiken as Captain Corcoran, Bob Crumley as Ralph Rackstraw, Bob Callahan as Dick Deadeye, M. L. "Sonny" Raborn as Bill Bobstay, Wayde Rucker as Bob Beckett, Lucy Ward as Josephine, Bobbynette Beard as Cousin Hebe, and Mildred "Bouffie" Robson as Mrs. "Little Buttercup" Cripps. The opera was directed by Ruther Jackson, with Catherine Clark as accompanist and Carey Meekins as dance advisor. Located at 301 West Seventh Street in Sanford, Florida, Seminole High School was originally 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 newspaper article by Julian Stenstrom: "Names Make 'The News.'" The Sanford Herald, June 2, 1991, pages 1A and 5A: Private Collection of Walter Smith.
The Sanford Herald
Memorandum from Theodore Stern (May 20, 1988)
A memorandum from Theodore Stern, Executive Vice President of Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Energy and Utility Systems Group, regarding the restructuring of the Power Generation Business Unit (PGBU) in 1988. In 1983, the Westinghouse power generation business operation, starting with the Steam Turbine Generator Division, was taking shape in its new Orlando headquarters under the management team led by General Manager Dr. Stan Quick (under E. J. "Gene" Cattabiani, Vice President of the Power Generation Group). This series of letters, memoranda, and charts documents the changes in management leadership at the Orlando site from 1983 through 1998, when the Westinghouse Power Genration Business was acquired by Siemens. Following the announcement of the retirement of Dr. Quick in 1984, the management was led by the team of Bob Ractcliffe and Howard Pierce. In 1987, Tom Campbell was appointed General Manager of the Power Generation Technology Systems Division under Nat Woodsen and Jim Moore, Vice Presidents of the Power Systems Business Unit. In 1988, the Power Generation Business Unit (PGBU) was formed under Frank R. Bakos, Vice President and General Manager (under Executive Vice President Ted Stern), and, in 1995, Randy H. Zwirn took the helm as Vice President and General Manager of the PGBU. He remained at the executive level for 20 years, through the PGBU acquisition by Siemens in 1998 and beyond to 2016. Originally called the Westinghouse Electric Company, George Westinghouse (1846-1914) founded his manufacturing company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 8, 1886. In 1889, he renamed his business The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Westinghouse's primary products include turbines, generators, motors and switchgear related to the generation, transmission, and use of electricity. The company changed its name to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945. In 1981, the company began to relocate its division headquarters for the Steam-Turbine Generator Divisions from Pennsylvania (turbines from Lester and generators from Pittsburgh) to Orlando. The PGBU building was located in The Quadrangle, at 4400 Alafaya Trail.
Original 2-page typed memorandum from Theodore Stern, May 20, 1988: Private Collection of Harry L. Jaeger.
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, The Quadrangle, Orlando, Florida
The Oviedo Depot, originally located at 520 South Lake Jessup Avenue in Oviedo, Florida, in 1970. The depot was built in 1886 as part of Henry B. Plant's (1819-1899) railroad system. The Plant System ran from Jacksonville to Key West. The design of the depot was based on the design standards set by the Plant System. This standardized system for the Florida lines had three depot styles based on the population of the town or city it serviced. The Oviedo design was the small town wooden depot design, as opposed to the larger cities that had brick depots. The depot was later moved to its present location at 636 South Lake Jessup Road. During World War II, the roof of the depot was used as guide for patrolling planes that flew out of Sanford Airport. Along with the depot, there was originally a red warehouse for the produce and a water tank used for the train engines. In the 1970s, the depot was sold to the Connolly family, which chose to preserve it from demolition. The depot now sits on the Connolly's property as a guesthouse and its exterior is fully restored.
Print reproduction of original 4 x 3 inch black and white photograph by R. Randolph Stevens, 1970.
Arcadia Publishing
Letter from Henry L. Stimson to Edna P. Hancock (May 25, 1945)
A letter from U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to Edna P. Hancock dated May 25, 1945. In the letter, Sec. Stimson announces that Hancock's husband, Sergeant John B. Hancock (1913-1944), was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart from President Harry S. Truman. Sgt. Hancock was born in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1913, but later migrated to Auburndale, Florida. Hancock managed a Great Atlantic &amp
P) store in Haines City until he enlisted in the 45th Infantry Division's 179th Infantry Regiment. Sgt. Hancock served initially in Africa in 1943, until the 45th Infantry Division's participation in Operation Husky for the Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky. The division then went on to participate in the Allied invasion of Italy, where Sgt. Hancock was injured. He was returned to duty in February of 1944 to tour southern France. On November 1, 1944, Sgt. Hancock went Missing in Action (MIA) after serving in the Allied invasion of Southern France, codenamed Operation Dragoon. He was eventually buried in Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from Henry L. Stimson to Edna P. Hancock, May 25, 1945: Private Collection of Linda Hughes.
New York Giants (Baseball team)--History--20th century
Newspaper article on the history of the Mayfair Inn. Originally named after the Sanford Mayor and president of Seminole County Bank, construction of the Forrest Lake Hotel began in 1916. Local architect Elton J. Moughton designed the hotel. In 1925, Hotel Forrest Lake opened and became a popular destination for tourists visiting Sanford. By 1929, the hotel closed after the stock market crash and the downfall of Florida's tourism and real estate boom. William E. Kirchhoff leased the building in 1934 and the hotel reopened in 1935 with the new name Mayfair Hotel. Under Kirchhoff's ownership, the Mayfair Hotel became known as one of the finest hotels in the South. Kirchhoff sold the hotel in 1948 to Horace Stoneham, owner of the New York Giants. Stoneham then sold the building to the Bernard McFadden Foundation who later sold it to the New Tribes Mission. The New Tribes Mission's goal is to reach tribes who have no access to the Gospel through translated publications and missionary work.
Original newspaper article by Grace Marie Stinecipher: "Historical society tours Mayfair Inn," The Seminole Herald.
The Way We Were: Education News From 1952 Paper
A newspaper article written by Grace Marie Stinecipher's column in The Sanford Herald. This particular issue featured school news found in The Sanford Builder's edition from April 20, 1952. 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 U.S. 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 newspaper article by Grace Marie Stinecipher: The Sanford Herald, page 6A-7A.
Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, Florida
An oral history of Grace Marie Stinecipher (b. 1936), conducted by Diana Dombrowski on July 13, 2010. Stinecipher was born in Sanford, Florida on September 19, 1936. In this interview, she discusses her family history, growing up in Sanford, her career in education, living in Orlando and Winter Park, school integration, the effects of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford and Walt Disney World Resort on Sanford, the First Baptist Church of Sanford, her role as a church historian, organizing new churches and missions, her career in journalism, and her childhood experiences at New Smyrna Beach.
Stinecipher, Grace Marie. Interviewed by Diana Dombrowski. July 13, 2010. Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Chance Education Building, Sanford, Florida; Orlando, Florida
Naval Air Station Sanford, Sanford, Florida
Central Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida
Pinecrest Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida
Westview Baptist Church, Sanford, Florida
"Englishman in New York" by Arturo Sandoval
An audio recording of "Englishman in New York," Sting, and performed by Arturo Sandoval (b. 1949) live on-air on WUCF-FM on October 9, 1999. A protégé of trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), who was the first musician to bring Latin influences into American jazz, Cuban-born Sandoval became one of the most celebrated trumpeters of all-time, winning ten Grammy Awards, six Billboard Awards, and an Emmy Award. Sandoval defected to the United States while touring with Gillespie in 1990. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama (b. 1961) in 2013. Arturo Sandoval's Jazz Club was briefly open in Miami Beach, Florida, in the late 2000s. "Englishman in New York" was written and recorded by Sting for his 1987 album, ...Nothing Like the Sun.
Original 9-minute and 21-second audio recording: Sting. "Englishman in New York," by Arturo Sandoval: WUCF-FM, Orlando, Florida, October 9, 1999.
WUCF-FM
WUCF-FM, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club, Deauville Beach Resort, Miami Beach, Florida
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits.
Original color painting by James Stoll: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Downtown Orlando Information Center, Orlando, Florida.
Downtown Orlando Information Center, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Nick Serros' Fish and Poultry Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City Cab Company Taxi Service, Downtown Orlando, Florida
American Fire and Casualty Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Thomas Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Chamberlin Natural Foods, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Star Barber Shop, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Ferrell Jewelry, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Economy Auto Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
First Methodist Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Fems Printing Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
American Dry Cleaners, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Menendez Spanish Restaurant, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Foster’s Quality Foods, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wilmott Building, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Keene & Keene, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Bumby-Yothers House, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Irwin's Shoes, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Thomas Building, Ladies Uniforms, and Orlando Steam Laundry
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features the Thomas Building, which was an arcade that included several stores. The building was located at the intersection of Church Street and Magnolia Avenue, with a street address of 100 East Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Magnolia was previously called Main Street until the mid-1900s. Most of the block was occupied with small shops, such as Cervantes Spanish Restaurant, Family Loan Company, Roger Reality Company, and other shops. Slightly larger businesses such as the Astor Hotel, later the Bass Hotel, also existed on the block. The building was torn down and a new building was constructed in the late 1950s and demolished in the early 1960s. The Thomas Building was also sometimes referred to as the Church and Main Arcade. This lot, as well as the rest of the block, was later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
Ladies Uniforms, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Steam Laundry, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Brass Rail, Chamberlin Natural Foods, and Cervantes Spanish Restaurant
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features Brass Rail, Chamberlin Natural Foods, and Cervantes Spanish Restaurant. Brass Rail was a bar and restaurant. Cervantes was one of the first Spanish restaurants to come to Orlando. Cervantes was one of the first Spanish restaurants to come to Orlando, Florida. It was run by Paul Vines and his wife, Annie Vines, and their business partner, C. Menendez. The restaurant sat at 19 East Church Street and stayed at that location for nearly 20 years. The restaurant had moved to that location in 1937 and remained there until the mid-1950s, when it was replaced by J & G Fine Foods, owned by a Gladys Barnett. This lot, as well as the rest of the block, was later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
Cervantes Spanish Restaurant, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Chamberlin Natural Food, Downtown Orlando, Florida
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features Star Barber Shop and Ferrell Jewelry. Max Yacobian worked as a barber at Star Barber Shop since 1938, and perhaps as early as the late 1920s. By 1939, he became the sole proprietor of the barbershop located at 205 South Orange Avenuea. After cutting hair for over 25 years, he passed away sometime between 1953 and 1956. This lot, as well as the rest of the block, was later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features the City Cab Company Taxi Service, founded by Napoleon B. Broward as early as 1941. Broward left the company in 1943 and was replaced by the company's secretary treasurer, Paul Mears. Later renamed Mears Transportation, it became one of the largest taxicab companies in Orlando and still operates today.
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features Nick Serros' Fish & Poultry Company sometime around 1938. Nick Serros (b. 1888), the company owner, was born in Greece in 1888 and immigrated to the United States in 1923. He opened his business in the late 1930s. The business remained on the block until it was bought out to make way for the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza. In 1941, Serros' held a location of 117 South Court Street, but moved to 37 East Jackson Street by 1943. The following year, the business was listed at 37-41 E. Jackson and remained at that location until 1952.
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features the American Fire and Casualty Company. The Exchange Building was home to American Fire and Casualty Company, an Ohio-based insurance corporation that had offices in the top two floors of the building for 18 years. In 1946, the insurance company bought the building and renamed it the American Building. These lots, as well as the rest of the block, were later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
This painting accompanies the Orlando Remembered exhibit at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, located at 201 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The painting was created by James Stoll, who has contributed various works of art, as well as some scale model replicas, to several Orlando Remembered exhibits. This particular portion of the painting features the Hotel Bass, which operated under that title from 1946 to 1965. The hotel was owned by Walter C. Bass (1900-1973) and his wife, Ethel Bass. Located at 217 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, the building itself was built in 1907 and functioned as a hotel. The hotel has changed hands multiple times throughout its existence. Upon Bass' death his wife sold the hotel to Conway Kittredge for $52,000 and it was remodeled as an office space. This lot, as well as the rest of the block, was later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
This painting highlights notable businesses and the Orlando City Hall located in Downtown Orlando, Florida in 1951. Featured in the piece is South Street and the South West Corner of Boone Street. At the center of the piece is the Orlando City Hall which was constructed in 1906 originally to serve as the Orlando Public School. On the right is the headquarters of the American Fire and Casualty Company, which is the only distinguishable business in the piece. In 1951, visitors would have seen many flourishing businesses such as Howard's Grocery Company, Borden Dairy, Orlando Linen Service, as well as the Dixie Sales and Service Garage. The piece was painted by artist Jim Stoll in conjunction with Orlando Remembered.
Original oil painting by Jim Stoll: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando City Hall, Orlando, Florida.
Orlando City Hall, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Howard Grocery Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Linen Service, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Borden's Dairy, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dixie Sales & Service, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Joe Croy's Filling Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
McElroy Apartments, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Enzor's Pharmacy, Downtown Orlando, Florida
American First & Casualty Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando City Hall in Downtown Orlando, Florida, as it appeared from 1958 to 1991. The building was located on the corner of South Street and Orange Avenue and acted as the place of governance for the growing Orlando area. The painting was created by James Stoll and is paired with the Orlando Remembered Exhibit located in the Orlando City Hall Building, located at 400 South Orange Avenue. The 1958 city hall was designed by Richard Boone Rogers and constructed by the C. A. Finland Company of Tampa. Dedicated on October 3, 1958, the building was faced with Tennessee marble, Minnesota granite and terrazzo stones. The Orlando Utilities Commission was located within the building from 1958 to 1967, when it moved into a $3.5 million building at 500 South Orange Ave. The Orlando Police Department (OPD) remained in the previous city hall building, which was the original Orlando Public School, across the street. In January of 1972, OPD and the city jail relocated to the Municipal Justice Building at 100 South Hughey Avenue.
Missing Crew Report for Lieutenant Dean N. Post, Jr.
The Missing Crew Report for Lieutenant Dean N. Post, Jr. (1921-1944), filed by Major John A. Storch. Lt. Post was a pilot from Tampa, Florida, who served in the U.S. Army during World World II with the 357th Fighter Group of the 264th Fighter Squadron. His airplane crashed in Martimpré, France, on May 28, 1944, and was executed by German authorities after being hidden by French citizens in Gérardmer. Lt. Post is buried at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Dinozé, France.
Digital reproduction of original 2-page typewritten report by John A. Storch, May 28, 1944: National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
"I Should Care" by the John Whitney Trio
An audio recording of "I Should Care," composed by Axel Stordahl (1913-1963), Paul Weston (1912-1996), and Sammy Cahn (1913-1993), and performed by the John Whitney Trio live on-air on WUCF-FM on January 4, 2000. John Whitney served as director of both orchestral studies and the University of Central Florida Jazz Lab band during his 20 years with the university. Whitney also led the UCF Jazz Lab band in invited performances at Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland. He established himself as a conductor, performer, composer, arranger, and teacher in both classical and jazz arenas, founding and directing the Southern Tier Symphony in Allegany, New York, in 2003, until his death in 2014. "I Should Care" is a popular standard that was published in 1944 and first appeared in the 1945 film, Thrill of a Romance. It has been recorded by numerous artists, including Bing Crosby (1903-1977), Thelonious Monk (1917-1982), Nat King Cole (1919-1965), Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), and Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925)-1990).
Original 4-minute and 39-second audio recording: Stordahl, Axel, Paul Weston, and Sammy Cahn. "I Should Care," by the John Whitney Trio: WUCF-FM, Orlando, Florida, January 4, 2000.
Southern Tier Symphony, Allegany, New York
Sanford High School Arithmetic Assignment, 1908
An rithmetic assignment completed by a Sanford High School freshman Jossie Stumon in 1908. Sanford High 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 school assignment completed by Jossie Stumon, January 30, 1908: Sanford High School Collection, box 3A, folder Student Work 1907-1908, SCPS00510, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
An oral history interview of Ray Sturm (b. 1963), who served in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1989. Sturm was born in Winter Park, Florida, on October 22, 1963. He enlisted in the Army in 1983 and completed his basic training and advanced training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Sturm then served at Herzo Base in Herzogenaurach, Germany. He served in the 210th Field Artillery Brigade and 34th Infantry Division, and achieved the rank of Sergeant. This interview was conducted by Katie Hollingsworth in Orlando, Florida, on November 13, 2014. Interview topics include basic training and advanced training at Fort Jackson, Herzo Base, his rank as Sergeant, Fort Stewart, the 24th Infantry Division, comradery, Sturm's interest in music, and his post-military life.
Sturm, Ray. Interviewed by Katie Hollingsworth, November 13, 2014. Audio/video record available. Item DP0016004, UCF Community Veterans History Project, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, Florida.
Herzo Base, Herzogenaurach, Hesse, Germany
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Thirteenth Census Population for Militia District 1634, Jenkins, Georgia, 1910
The Thirteenth United States Census records for Jenkins County, Georgia for 1910. The census divides the population by sex, race, age, marital status, number of children, occupation, literacy, whether they owned or rented, farm or house, if they were a Civil War veteran, whether they were blind, deaf or dumb, the place of birth and mother tongue of foreign-born persons and their parents. If foreign born, the person was required to provide the year they immigrated, whether they were naturalized and if they were able to speak English. In this census, Crozier Williams (1895?-1948) (line 87, spelled Crazier Williams) was listed as eighteen years old and was held as a convict at the Jenkins County Convict Camp in Militia District 1634. Crozier Williams was born in Waynesboro, Georgia sometime between 1892 and 1895, according to various records of his life and service. In the years before World War I, Williams was arrested and held at the Jenkins County Convict Camp in Birdsville, Georgia. He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 and was eventually drafted for service on June 20, 1918 in Florida. He served in Company E of the 807th Pioneer Infantry. The unit was responsible for repairing and constructing roads, bridges, and railways. Williams received an honorable discharge on July 11, 1919 but continued to serve and was promoted on March 25, 1919 to Sergeant. After July 1919, Williams returned to his hometown, where he then lived with his wife, Neomia, and worked as a brakeman, a specialist in train brakes. He died in Dade, Florida in 1948 at the age of 53. He is buried in the St. Augustine National Cemetery at Plot D, Grave 77. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
United States Census Bureau
Digital reproduction of original census record by James E. Sullivan, May 4, 1910: Militia District 1634, Jenkins, Georgia; Roll: T624_199; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0106; FHL microfilm: 1374212.
A newspaper article about an issue of DC Comics' Green Lantern that would address homophobia. According to the author, the idea for addressing the issue of gay bashing—verbal or physical abuse directed at the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and others) community—was inspired by the friendship that cartoonist Judd Winick (b. 1970) developed with Pedro Zamora (1972-1994), his openly gay, HIV-positive castmate on MTV's The Real World: San Francisco. This article was published in The Watermark, Central Florida's local LGBTQ+ publication. Since 1994, The Watermark has been the cornerstone source of LGBTQ+ centered news for the Central Florida region. Founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando, the publication began generating bi-weekly issues beginning August 31, 1994. Since then, The Watermark has consistently published newspaper-style issues every other Thursday. Gaining traction, the publication expanded in 1995 to include Tampa and, in 1997, The Watermark became a permanent piece of LGBTQ+ culture when the publication initiated the first large-scale Gay Days Weekend event, the Beach Ball at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Before 1999, the publication printed 20,000 copies every week, distributing them to over 500 locations between its two major cities. Following 1999, the publication launched watermarkonline.com shifting to an online publication style. In 2016, Rick Claggett purchased The Watermark.
Original newspaper article: Sullivan, John E. "Holy Homophobia!." The Watermark Colors, Vol. 9, No. 19, September 12-25, 2002, page 1: Publications Collection, GLBT History Museum of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Watermark Media
Lake Apopka, Florida Fish Kill Report by Eugene W. Surber
A report by Eugene W. Surber on the May 1963 Lake Apopka Fish Kill. Surber describes his visit to Lake Apopka, Florida, and examines samples of dead and dying fish recovered from the lake. It is estimated that roughly 3 millions pounds of fish were killed in May 1963. Surber interviews several locals regarding aerial spraying of pesticide and its correlation to the Apopka fish kills. He concludes that pesticide the most likely cause of the fish kills, due to the extremely fast and intermittent nature of the kills.
Photocopy of original 5-page typewritten report: binder 1963, drawer 1938-1987, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Aquatic Biology Section, Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center
A to Z: Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District Brochure
A brochure detailing the creation of the Zellwood Farming District. The brochure gives a timeline of the district's creation and funding, and gives data regarding the District's economic output and employment. The brochure also discusses the District's impact on Lake Apopka.
Photocopy of original 15-page brochure by Henry Swanson: binder 1962, drawer 1938-1987, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Zellwood Drainage and Water Control District
Letter from Henry F. Swanson (January 21, 1966)
A letter from Henry F. Swanson (1902-1989) to supporters of agriculture in Orange County, Florida. Swanson was the Orange County Agricultural Extension Agent from 1948 to 1978. The Extension Service is a cooperative effort between the University of Florida (UF) and state and local governments to make agricultural and ecological research available to the public. In addition to his role as a public advocate for Central Florida agriculture, Swanson was well-known as an early advocate for protection of Central Florida aquifers. In this letter, he outlines the need for a water management plan that would protect valuable aquifer "recharge" areas and better control excess rainfall.
Original 2-page typewritten letter from Henry F. Swanson, January 21, 1966: binder 1966, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
College of Agriculture, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Letter from Henry F. Swanson (February 11, 1966)
A letter from Henry F. Swanson (1902-1989) to supporters of agriculture in Orange County, Florida. Swanson was the Orange County Agricultural Extension Agent from 1948 to 1978. The Extension Service is a cooperative effort between the University of Florida (UF) and state and local governments to make agricultural and ecological research available to the public. In addition to his role as a public advocate for Central Florida agriculture, Swanson was well-known as an early advocate for protection of Central Florida aquifers. In this letter, he describes a "greenbelt" of land in Central Florida that is a vital aquifer recharge area. Swanson also discusses the importance of agriculture, as a type of land use that does not prevent rainfall recharge (as real estate development would).
Original 2-page typewritten letter from Henry F. Swanson, February 11, 1966: binder 1966, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, 1952
The Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance of the Board of Supervisorsof the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District for 1952. The organization began in 1948 with a goal to assist in agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District began to also concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests also entailed inventory and evaluations for land uses and solving issues concerning soil and water resources. In the Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance from 1952, Albert R. Swartz, District Conservationist, writes to Homer L. Osborne, Chairman of the Board of the Seminole Soil Conservation District. Swartz states the kinds of assistance that would be made available by the Soil Conservation Service to the Seminole Soil Conservation District such as a Soil Conservationist, a Drainage Engineer, a Soil Scientist, an Engineer Aid, and a Conservation Aid. The two page document contains a planting materials list including Pensacola Bahia, early Hairy Indigo, ordinary Hairy Indigo, Blanket Indigo, Crotalaria Intermedia, Aeschynomene, Multiflora Rose, Crotalaria Lanceolata, Coastal Bermuda Grass Stolons, and Pangola Grass Stolons.
Original 2-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1952: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District
Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, 1953
The Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District for 1953. The organization began in 1948 with a goal to assist in agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District began to also concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests also entailed inventory and evaluations for land uses and solving issues concerning soil and water resources. In this year's report, the board gives an annual review of the accomplishments of the past and a summation of the objectives for the next year. In the Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance from 1953, Albert R. Swartz, District Conservationist, writes to Homer L. Osborne, Chairman of the Board of the Seminole Soil Conservation District. Swartz states the kinds of assistance that would be made available by the Soil Conservation Service to the Seminole Soil Conservation District such as a Soil Conservationist, a Drainage Engineer, a Soil Scientist, an Engineer Aid, and a Conservation Aid. The two page document contains a planting materials list including Blanket Indigo, Early Indigo, Yellow Lupine, Crotalaria Lanceolata, Coastal Bermuda Stolons, and Rescue Grass (Chapel Hill).
Original 2-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1953: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, 1954
The Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance of the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District for 1954. The organization began in 1948 with a goal to assist in agricultural interests. Over the years, the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District began to also concentrate on the development and management of recreational enterprises. Their interests also entailed inventory and evaluations for land uses and solving issues concerning soil and water resources. In the Transmittal of Schedule of Assistance from 1954, Albert R. Swartz, District Conservationist, writes to Homer L. Osborne, Chairman of the Board of the Seminole Soil Conservation District. Swartz states the kinds of assistance that would be made available by the Soil Conservation Service to the Seminole Soil Conservation District such as a Soil Conservationist, a Drainage Engineer, a Soil Scientist, an Engineer Aid, and a Conservation Aid. The two page report also indicates that due to the elimination of soil conservation service propagation nurseries, there were no estimates of available planting materials for the period betweem July 1st, 1954 through June 30th, 1955.
Original 2-page typewritten report by the Board of Supervisors of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District,1954: Folder SSWCD Statistical and Historical Information, 1948-1977, Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, Sanford, Florida.
Fifteenth Census Population for Cumberland, Maine, 1930
The Fifteenth United States census records for Cumberland, Maine, for 1930. The Census divides the population by categories of name, age, sex, race, marital status, occupants and relation to head of house, whether the home is owned or rented, value of home or rent, whether home is a farm residence, whether the home has a radio, college attendance, literacy, birthplace and birthplace of parents, citizenship status, language spoken before coming to United States, year of immigration, occupation or business, class of worker, whether worked the previous day, military status, and war or expedition participated in. A notable resident listed in this record is Paul Havener. Born in Oklahoma on March 23, 1923, Havener moved to Maine after the death of this father. He joined the United States Army Air Corp in February 1943, in Portland, Maine. He reached the rank of Corporal by the time he was discharged in 1945. While in the Army Air Corp, he trained as a tail gunner, protecting aircraft from enemy attacks at the tail or rear of the plane. He married Esther Caroline Brown on June 23, 1945. They had three children. Paul Havener passed away on October 8, 1992, at age 69, and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original census record by Herman P. Sweeter, April 22, 1930.
Naval Air Station Sanford Runway Construction
Runways (Aeronautics)--United States--Design and construction
The Naval Air Station Sanford constructed four runways starting in 1942. These 6,000 foot runways were built by local contractors and used to support the nearly 300 aircraft housed at Naval Air Station Sanford by the end of the Second World War. The Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford was commissioned on November 3, 1942 as a naval aviation training facility during World War II. The Navy continued to train pilots at NAS Sanford throughout the Korean and Vietnam Wars. NAS Sanford was temporarily decommissioned after World War II in 1946 and then recommissioned as the Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Sanford in 1950 due to the outbreak of the Korean War and the ongoing Cold War. Soon afterward, the station was renamed NAS Sanford and redesignated as a full naval air station. On February 6, 1959, NAS Sanford was dedicated as Ramey Field in honor of Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Ramey. In 1968, due to lack of funding caused by the Vietnam War, Congress directed the closure of NAS Sanford. The City of Sanford assumed authority over the former NAS Sanford facility the year after it closed and renamed it the Sanford Airport, which was managed by Commander J. S. "Red" Cleveland. The airport underwent various name changes over the next several decades: Sanford Regional Airport, Central Florida Regional Airport, Orlando-Sanford Regional Airport, and its current name, Orlando-Sanford International Airport. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, several Naval buildings were demolished and new buildings were constructed.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by George T. Swiggum, May 1942: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Museum
Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Dr. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, the founder of Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. Dr. Bethune was born in Mayesville, South Carolina, on July 10, 1875. In October of 1904, she founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. In 1923, the school merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville and then became affiliated with the Methodist Church the following year. The school served as a co-educational high school until 1931 when it became a junior college. In 1941, the school was accredited as a four-year college and was renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Dr. Bethune served as the college president from 1923 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1947. Dr. Bethune was also active in civil rights and women's rights. She founded the Southeastern Federation of Colored Women's Clubs (SFCWC) in 1920. She also campaigned for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 and was offered a position in his Black Cabinet after he won the election. Dr. Bethune died in Daytona Beach on May 18, 1955.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photographic print: Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Daytona Beach, Florida.
Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Mary McLeod Bethune Home, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida
A map of Oviedo drawn by Elizabeth T. as part of the Oviedo History Harvest in 2015 The map shows various locations in Oviedo, including Oviedo High School, the First Baptist Church of Oviedo
Lawton Elementary School, Oviedo Bowling Center, and the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. Elizabeth was 22 at the time that the map was drawn.
Original hand-drawn map by Elizabeth T., April 18, 2015: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
First Baptist Church of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
Lawton Elementary School, Oviedo, Florida
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Oviedo, Florida
Thirteenth Census Population for New York City, Borough of Manhattan, 1910
The Thirteenth United States Census records for the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York, for 1910. The census divides the population by categories of sex, race, age, marital status, number of children, occupation, literacy, whether they owned or rented, farm or house, if they were a Civil War veteran, and whether they were blind, deaf or dumb. A question was added regarding the place of birth and mother tongue of foreign-born persons and their parents. If foreign born, the person was required to provide the year they immigrated, whether they were naturalized and if they were able to speak English. A notable resident in this record is George P. McCann (1899-1991). McCann was born on September 12, 1899, to Charles and Annie McCann, who were Irish immigrants. George worked as his father's butcher shop before enlisting in the United States Navy in 1917. He completed culinary school and became a ships' cook. After his service, he married Helen Galvin in New York. They had two children: Thomas Benard and Vincent. When Thomas married a Florida woman, George and Helen moved with them to Florida. George died on April 20, 1991, at the age of ninety-one and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original census record by Albert J. Lumbruno, April 19, 1910.
Receipt of Payment for Edwin G. Eastman from M. Thayer (July 20, 1871)
This is a receipt acknowledging full payment in the amount of $10. The money was paid from the account of Edwin G. Eastman on July 20, 1871. The payment was made to what appears to be M. Thayer. It is not clear what service or product the payment covered. Eastman was an associate of Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891). The two initially met through their mutual service in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps during the American Civil War. Eastman served as an advisor and representative to Sanford for a brief period between 1870 and 1871. Eastman oversaw operations in the what would become Sanford, Florida, beginning in December 1870. He was put in charge by Henry Sanford to ensure the successful management of the sawmill built in 1870, He was also tasked with maintaining the various experimental groves owned by Sanford, first St. Gertrude's Grove and later Belair Grove. The more successful of the two, Belair Grove, was an experimental grove located three miles southwest of the city named after Sanford. It was part of the Sanford Grant, a 12,547.15-square-acre allotment of land purchased by Henry Sanford in 1870. In Belair, Sanford introduced over 140 varieties of citrus plants. All were tested to determine if Florida citrus growers could effectively grow and introduce new varieties into the burgeoning 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. Eventually, following Sanford's death in 1891, his wife, Gertrude Ellen Dupuy Sanford (1841-1902), handed over the operations of Belair to Sydney Octacius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) and Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948).
Original receipt: box 45, folder 1, subfolder 45.1.36, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Acknowledgement of Sale of Horses for Edwin G. Eastman from M. Thayer (July 20, 1871)
Sanford, Henry S. (Henry Shelton) 1823-1891
This is a receipt of payment for Edwin G. Eastman, created by M. Thayer on July 20, 1871. In the receipt, Thayer acknowledges the sale of two horses to Eastman for $750. Thayer attests in the handwritten receipt that both horses are of generally sound health. Eastman was an associate of Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891). The two initially met through their mutual service in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps during the American Civil War. Eastman served as an advisor and representative to Sanford for a brief period between 1870 and 1871. Eastman oversaw operations in the what would become Sanford, Florida, beginning in December 1870. He was put in charge by Henry Sanford to ensure the successful management of the sawmill built in 1870, He was also tasked with maintaining the various experimental groves owned by Sanford, first St. Gertrude's Grove and later Belair Grove. The more successful of the two, Belair Grove, was an experimental grove located three miles southwest of the city named after Sanford. It was part of the Sanford Grant, a 12,547.15-square acre allotment of land purchased by Henry Sanford in 1870. In Belair, Sanford introduced over 140 varieties of citrus plants. All were tested to determine if Florida citrus growers could effectively grow and introduce new varieties into the burgeoning 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. Eventually, following Sanford's death in 1891, his wife, Gertrude Ellen Dupuy Sanford (1841-1902), handed over the operations of Belair to Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) and Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948).
Original receipt: box 45, folder 1, subfolder 45.1.38, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Ocoee Project - Genre-based Bibliography (06-25-2020)
A genre-based bibliography for the Ocoee Project from the Alliance for Truth and Justice. The Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) is a volunteer-based organization that engages with the community to promote education concerning the truth of local history and to advocate justice for those who have been harmed by inequities born of prejudice. ATJ builds on the work of Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative as well as the local efforts of Democracy Forum, the West Orange Reconciliation Task Force, and the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board. This project is rooted in acknowledging the 1920 Election Day Massacre in Orange County and all of the violence committed in the name of white supremacy. Their mission statement says that they are "working to create a more hopeful, collaborative, and just society for every person in Orange County, Florida."
Original genre-based bibliography by the Alliance for Truth and Justice, Orange County, Florida.
Hylon Oliver Broadbrook (1893-1973) in the summer of 1897. Born on March 24, 1893, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Broadbrook was the son of John and Laura Broadbrook. He enlisted in the United States Army on May 21, 1913, prior to the outbreak of World War I. He joined the 16th Cavalry Regiment and was assigned to the Mexican Border War, which was a part of the Mexican Revolution. Broadbrook earned the rank of corporal on January 10, 1917, and Sargent on September 9, 1917. After his service in the Mexican Border War, Broadbrook attended Officer Training School in 1918, and Machine Gun School in 1919. After his service ended in May of 1920, Broadbrook returned to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he worked as a printer. He later died in Oswego, New York, on June 18, 1973, while visiting family. He is memorialized in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph.
Abstract of Military Service for Luther Wade Pilcher
The abstract of World War I military service for Luther Wade Pilcher (1898-1918). The document includes Pilcher’s surname, Christian name, Army serial number, whether White or Colored, home address, place of enlistment, place of birth, date of birth, organizations served in, with dates of assignments and transfers, grades, with date of appointment, engagement, wounds or injuries received in action, dates served overseas, date of discharge, and remarks. Pilcher was born in Dothan, Alabama, on January 1, 1898, to Richard and Della Pilcher. The second of five children, the family moved to Noma, Florida, in 1910. Luther's last known residence was in Chipley, Florida. Pilcher enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on May 4, 1915, and served in Haiti and Cuba from 1915-1917. After the United States entered World War I, the 5th Marine Regiment was activated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pilcher and his regiment left for France in August of 1917, arriving on the 22nd. The 5th was among the first of the American Expeditionary Forces to arrive in Europe. Pilcher and his regiment took part in the Battle of Belleau Wood in June of 1918. On June 6th, the bloodiest day of the battle, Pilcher was killed in action. He posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, and the French Fourragere for his service and sacrifice. He is buried in the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery at Plot B Row 10 Grave 68 in Belleau, France. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
The Florida Department of Military Affairs
Digital reproduction of original typewritten abstract of military service, 1925.
A colorized postcard depicting a scene of a group of men and women approaching the casino in Veteran City, Florida. On the left, a streetcar is seen transporting travelers. The streetcar began running in the area in 1905, and in January of 1906, the Casino opened to accommodate passengers awaiting boats to Pass-a-Grille. The Casino quickly became a popular destination for locals and travelers alike. Veteran City was planned as a retirement community for Civil War veterans. It was incorporated as Gulfport in 1910. This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 colored postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
An excerpt from a newspaper article published in The Miami News on November 19, 1944. The excerpt describes the service of Sellers Boynton Rogers (1917-1996), who is described a “medical aid man,” known commonly today as a Combat Medic. Born on October 25, 1917, in Arlington, Georgia, Rogers registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, while living in St. Petersburg, Florida. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 25, 1941, at Camp Blanding, Florida. Rogers served as a Combat Medic in the Pacific Campaigns of World War II. He participated in campaigns of New Georgia, Bougainville, Manila, and Luzon. He awarded the Silver Star for rescuing a comrade while under mortar fire in Lunzon. He also was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded during these actions. Rogers moved to Miami, Florida, following his discharge from the Army on September 12, 1945. He married Margaret E. Mann a year later, on August 8, 1946. He and Margaret spent the majority of their lives in the Miami area until his death on January 12, 1996. Sellers Rogers is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: The Miami News, November 19, 1944.
Sylvia Hummel and Clarence Huston Pygman
Clarence Huston Pygman (1898-1988) and Sylvia Hummel in front of a tree and three automobiles. The two were married in December of 1923. This image, donated by Maggie Neidigh, was taken the same month. Born on June 27, 1898, Pygman registered for the draft in September of 1918. At the time, he worked as a timekeeper for the Wabash Railroad Company. He entered the service on October 20, 1918, serving in the United States Army. After completing his service, Pygman moved back home with his parents and began teaching in public schools. On December 22, 1923, at twenty-five years old, Pygman married Sylvia Hummel. Less than four years later, they welcomed a daughter, Janet Eileen Pygman, on April 15, 1927. By 1930, Pygman rose to the position of principal in a Maywood area public school, and became a school superintendent by 1940. On July 12, 1952, Pygman married Alverna V. Nellis. Pygman and his wife moved to Fort Myers, Florida, in the 1970s, where they remained until Pygman passed away on November 29, 1988. Both Pygman and his wife are buried together in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph: Private Collection of The Pygman Family.
Clarence Huston Pygman and Alverna V. Nellis
Clarence Huston Pygman (1898-1988) and Alverna V. Nellis wearing colorful Poly Leis. Born on June 27, 1898, Pygman registered for the draft in September of 1918. At the time, he worked as a timekeeper for the Wabash Railroad Company. He entered the service on October 20, 1918, serving in the United States Army. After completing his service, Pygman moved back home with his parents and began teaching in public schools. On December 22, 1923, at twenty-five years old, Pygman married Sylvia Hummel. Less than four years later, they welcomed a daughter, Janet Eileen Pygman, on April 15, 1927. By 1930, Pygman rose to the position of principal in a Maywood area public school, and became a school superintendent by 1940. On July 12, 1952, Pygman married Alverna V. Nellis. Pygman and his wife moved to Fort Myers, Florida, in the 1970s, where they remained until Pygman passed away on November 29, 1988. Both Pygman and his wife are buried together in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original color photograph: Private Collection of The Pygman Family.
A newspaper article published in The Times Herald on August 9, 1929. The article describes Bryce Lafave (1920-1996), a young boy who underwent mastoid operation surgery two weeks before publication. Born on November 22, 1920, in Bay City, Michigan, Bryce Lafave served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He enlisted on May 26, 1942, and trained at Chanute Field in Illinois. Lafave married Yvonne Coldsnow in 1942, but they divorced in 1951. He later married Jeannette Louise Smith. Lafave fathered seven daughters between his two marriages. He and his wife moved to Florida by 1992, where he settled in the Tampa Bay area. Lafave died on January 22, 1996, and is buried at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: “Personal Mention.” The Times Herald, August 9, 1929.
Postcard of Anderson Bayou in Lynn Haven, Florida. A small creek runs through overgrown foliage and palms with a long dock in the distance. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message addressed to Willis [Emery] of North Anson, Maine. The message reads, "Dear [Brathie], I have had my papers sent to North Anson. Will you please take them from the office and keep them until we come to Maine [...] George". This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 black and white postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
A postcard with a photo of two natives on a buggy drawn by a steer and a horse. They pass a store which has a sign for ice cream in the window. In the distance behind them are houses. This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
A Written and Pictorial History of the Oviedo Area Colored Schools, 1890-1967
In 2001, former students of the African-American schools planned a class reunion for alumni who attended the schools between 1953 and 1967. The schools included were Oviedo Colored School (later called Oviedo Elementary School), Jackson Heights Elementary School, Geneva Colored School, Wagner Colored School, Kolokee Colored School, and Gabriella Colored School. This booklet details the history of black community's drive to create a place to educate the children of the community with a general overview and timeline of the consolidation of the Oviedo-area schools into two distinct campuses in the predominantly African-American Jackson Heights neighborhood. This document demonstrates segregation in education in Seminole County, Florida, a subject that has not be fully explored in relation to Oviedo's history.
Original 76-page booklet: The World Outside Reunion, "A Written and Pictorial History of the Oviedo Area Colored Schools": Judith Smith Publishing: Private Collection of Ida Boston.
Oviedo Elementary School, Oviedo, Florida
Jackson Heights Elementary School, Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo Junior High School, Oviedo, Florida
Kolokee Colored School, Kolokee, Geneva, Florida, Gabriella Colored School, Gabriella, Oviedo, Florida
Letter from John R. Thoman to A. D. Aldrich (July 25, 1963)
A letter of correspondence from John R. Thoman, the Regional Director of the Water Supply and Pollution Control Division of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, to A. D. Aldrich, the Director of the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. The letter discusses the analysis of the samples taken by Eugene W. Surber during his visit to Lake Apopka, Florida, in June 1963. Analysis of fish samples performed by chemists with the Department of Health found large concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were in the bass fish samples. According to the letter, Thoman does not believe these concentrations necessarily indicate DDT poisoning as the cause of death.
Photocopy of original 2-page typewritten letter from John R. Thoman to A. D. Aldrich, July 25, 1963: binder 1963, drawer 1938-1987, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Florida Game and Fresh Water Commission, Tallahassee, Florida
Letter from James Milton Thomas to Gary I. Sharp (November 10, 1975)
A letter from James Milton Thomas to Gary I. Sharp, dated November 10, 1975. In this letter, Thomas, an environmental consultant, writes to in support of Sharp's proposal that the State of Florida acquire the Gourd Neck Springs area for use as a public park. Thomas briefly describes various plant species that he has identified in his surveys of the area, including rare species like the Tulip Tree and the Needle Palm. Thomas also states that the area has both environmental and recreational value, and a park in the area may help alleviate overcrowding at other parks like Wekiwa Springs State Park. Thomas later served as the first president of the Friends of Lake Apopka (FOLA) after its formation in 1991, working as an advocate for restoration of the lake. Gourd Neck Springs is a small spring located in the southwest portion of Lake Apopka, in a small cove called “Gourd Neck” due to its distinctive shape. This area of the lake was considered in the 1960s as a potential nursery for fish. The Lake Apopka Technical Committee explored damming the Gourd Neck, separating it from the lake and preventing polluted lake water from entering, but these plans did not materialize. Efforts were also made in the 1960s to have the Gourd Neck area purchased by the State of Florida for use as a public park. The Gourd Neck Springs Park Association was formed in 1961 to study the site’s potential for a park and lobby for support from legislators. The land bordering the area was privately-owned by various individuals. One of these, Gary I. Sharp, continued seeking support for a park into the 1970s. While the project received support from Florida legislators and environmentalists, the land was never purchased by the state.
Photocopy of original 1-page typewritten letter from James Milton Thomas to Gary I. Sharp, November 10, 1975: binder 1975, Friends of Lake Apopka Archives, Ginn Museum, Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, Florida.
Westside Grammar Elementary School Report Card for Christine Kinlaw, 1961-1962
Westside Grammar Elementary School Report Card for Christine Kinlaw during the 1962-1963 school year. Kinlaw was evaluated by second-grade teacher Mary Thomas in various subjects, including reading, handwriting, spelling, language, arithmetic, social studies, science, health education, physical education, music, and arts and crafts. Kinlaw's family had attended Westside Grammar Elementary School since it was 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 report card by Mary Thomas: Celery City Printing Company, Sanford, Florida: Private Collection of Christine Kinlaw-Best.
Westside Grammar Elementary School, Sanford, Florida
The officers and men of the USS Carola at the Chateau Barracks in Brest, France, in June 1919. Built as a steam yacht in 1885 in Culzean, Scotland, the ship was acquired by the United States Navy on June 10, 1917. It was commissioned USS Carola IV (SP 812), on July 7, 1917. The boat was decommissioned on December 27, 1919, and sold to a resident of Brest, France. It was scrapped in 1957. A notable soldier in this image is Henry Lawrence Gau (1899-1988). Gau was born to Paul and Ann Gau in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on October 7, 1899. Both of Gau’s parents were immigrants who came from Germany and Canada. Gau had three siblings: Laura, Preston, and Chester. On June 6, 1917, Gau joined the United States Navy. While serving in World War I, Gau worked on the USS Carola and patrolled the coasts of France. In early 1920, Gau returned to live with his family. He married his second wife, Elizabeth, in August of 1937. Gau joined the Army in 1939 at the age of forty to serve in World War II, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He also later served in the Korean War. Gau moved to Florida in his later years, where he met and married his third wife, Mildred. They lived at Sun City Center, a retirement community on Florida’s West coast, where Gau joined the community’s Retired Officers Association. Gau was buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, in 1988. His wife joined him in 1996. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
An oral history interview of Curtis Joshua Rayam Jr. The interview was conducted by Eric Thompson at the Melrose Center at the Orlando Public Library in Orlando, Florida, on March 5, 2025. Rayam, born February 4, 1951, is a native of the Parramore neighborhood in Orlando and a successful opera and concert singer. Some of the topics covered include his family's move to Orlando in search of better educational opportunities, his experiences growing up in Parramore, and the influence of teachers and mentors such as Masie Cosby and Jessie B. Demps Smith. Rayam shares memories of attending Callahan Elementary School and Jones High School and reflects on the role that educators played in shaping his musical ambitions. He describes community life centered around churches such as Mt. Olive AME Church and Saint Mark AME Church and remembers the vibrant cultural and commercial activity in Parramore. He mentions streets such as Green Street, Jackson Street, Jefferson Street, and Orange Avenue, as well as businesses like Pyramid Cleaners and the Carver and Lincoln Theaters. He reflects on community figures including Chief Wilson, who attended the 1964 New York World’s Fair, as well as other key figures like Queenie Powell, Augusta Rogers, Alma Polope, and Georgia Wallace. He also discusses the work of Jessie B. Demps Smith at the Magnolia School. Rayam recalls his later studies at the University of Miami, the legacy of segregation, the importance of entrepreneurship, and the changes he has witnessed in Parramore over the decades, including poverty and homelessness.
Raya, Jr., Curtis. Interviewed by Eric Thompson, March 25, 2025. Audio record available. RICHES, Orlando, Florida.
Sixteenth Census Population for Jacksonville, Florida, 1940
The Sixteenth Unites States Census records for Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida for 1940. The census divides the population by name, age, sex, race, marital status, residence, home owned or rented, value of home or monthly rent, whether living on a farm, other residents of same address, relation to head of house, attended school or college after March 1940, highest grade completed, state or foreign country of birth, employment status, hours of work per week, duration of employment, and wages. Supplemental questions include the father and mother's birthplace, language spoken in home during childhood, veteran status, father's veteran status, social security, usual occupation and industry, class of worker, if women have been married more than once, age at first marriage if so, and number of children born. A notable resident listed in this record is Eugene Fricks. Fricks was born on March 26, 1893 to American parents. His father, William Barto Fricks, was from Georgia and his mother, Mattie Jacquess, was from Kentucky. From the 1920s to the 1930s, Eugene was married to his first wife, Ethel, with whom he had three children named Harley, Imogene, and Mattie. Fricks married his second wife, Grace, and had two children named Janette and Joseph. After his service in World War I, he had a career in aviation. Fricks retired from Pan-American Airways in 1961. He lived his remaining years in North Fort Myers and died on May 23, 1976. Fricks is buried in the Florida National Cemetery. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original census record by Roland Thompson, April 24, 1940.
Oral History of Patricia Ann Black and Billy Hardy
An oral history of both Patricia Ann Black (b. 1956) and Billy Hardy (b. 1956). Hardy was born on August 17, 1956, and Black was born 14 days later on August 31. Both grew up at the end of Tenth Street in Sanford, Florida. This oral history interview was conducted by Trish Thompson and Freddie Román-Toro. Hardy and Black attended Hopper Elementary School through sixth grade, Lakeview Middle School for seventh grade, Sanford Junior High School for eighth grade, Crooms High School for ninth grade, and Seminole High School through twelfth grade. They talk about what life was like in Sanford during segregation and what happened to make integration possible. Black talks about what her education in New York was like when compared to that in Sanford. Hardy discusses how football helped ameliorate tensions among blacks and whites. He also shares his experiences in the Army. Black and Hardy also discuss their childhood romance and how circumstances changed their relationship. Hardy also speaks about his time in technical school and his passion for cars. Other topics include the differences between attending school in New York and Florida, the Trayvon Martin case, and the sexual abuse of Black as a child.
Black, Patricia and Billy Hardy. Interviewed by Trish Thompson and Freddie Román-Toro. March 2013. Audio record available. Creative Sanford, Inc., Sanford, Florida.
Lakeview Middle School, Winter Garden, Florida
Sanford Junior High School, Sanford, Florida
Oral History of Calvert and Phyllis Conklin
An oral history of Calvert Conklin and Phyllis Conklin. Cal moved from Baltimore, Maryland, to Florida in 1963 and Phyllis was born in Florida. The couple met each other at the University of Illinois, where Cal pursued his doctorate degree after returning from the Korean War. In the interview, Cal and Phyllis discuss their involvement in the development of the historic section of Downtown Sanford. They also discuss their humanitarian experiences and awards. The couple then delves into the racial tensions within Sanford during integration, even going so far as to tell detailed stories of violence within the city and the alienation they experienced because they came from the North and openly mixed with African Americans.
Conklin, Calvert and Phyllis Conklin. Interviewed by Trish Thompson. Celery Soup, June 24, 2011. Audio record available. Creative Sanford, Inc., Sanford Florida.
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Sanford, Florida
Woman's Club of Sanford, Sanford, Florida
Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, Sanford, Florida
Good Samaritan Home of Sanford, Sanford, Florida
First Presbyterian Church, Sanford, Florida
A map of Oviedo drawn by Sarah Thorncroft as part of the Oviedo History Harvest in 2015. The map shows various locations along Aloma Avenue, which is part of Florida State Road 426, and Central Avenue, which is part of SR 419. These sites include Oviedo High School, the dentist's office of Dr. Gregory J. Jann, the First Baptist Church, the Lawton House, Lawton Elementary School, the post office, and Black Hammock. Thorncroft was 24 at the time that the map was drawn.
Original hand-drawn map by Sarah Thorncroft, April 18, 2015: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Office of Dr. Gregory J. Jann, Oviedo, Florida
"My Favorite Memory of Oviedo Is..." by Sarah Thorncroft
A document created by Sarah Thorncroft as part of the Oviedo History Harvest in 2015. In the document, the author is asked to describe her favorite memory of Oviedo, Florida. Thorncroft, who was 24 at the time, stated that attending Oviedo High School and attending the funeral of a teacher, Gary Barnett, were her favorite memories.
Original document by Sarah Thorncroft, April 18, 2015: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A postcard depicting docks along the Indian River in Cocoa, Florida. Non-indigenous fishermen first arrived in Cocoa, Florida, around 1860, and in 1882, settlement plats were made under the name Indian River City. In 1895, Cocoa was officially incorporated, following significant development and grown brought with the extension of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Indian River Railway to the area. Cocoa's population dropped following the Great Freeze of 1894-1895, which destroyed many citrus crops. Population growth returned in the 1920s, although the economy declined against during the Great Depression. During the Space Race, Cocoa and its surrounding areas benefited greatly from the development of the space industry, as well as the tourism industry.
Original 9 x 14 centimeter color postcard by Tichnor Bros., Inc.: Private Collection of Bob Van Horn.
View Along the Beautiful Indian River Postcard
A postcard depicting docks along the Indian River near Cocoa and Rockledge, Florida. The Indian River is a 121-mile long lagoon running from the Ponce de Leon inlet in New Smyrna Beach to the St. Lucie Inlet in Marion County. The lagoon was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais tribe of East Florida.
A postcard depicting Indian River Drive in Cocoa, Florida. Non-indigenous fishermen first arrived in Cocoa, Florida, around 1860, and in 1882, settlement plats were made under the name Indian River City. In 1895, Cocoa was officially incorporated, following significant development and grown brought with the extension of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Indian River Railway to the area. Cocoa's population dropped following the Great Freeze of 1894-1895, which destroyed many citrus crops. Population growth returned in the 1920s, although the economy declined against during the Great Depression. During the Space Race, Cocoa and its surrounding areas benefited greatly from the development of the space industry, as well as the tourism industry.
A postcard depicting Indian River Drive in Cocoa, Florida. The Indian River is a 121-mile long lagoon running from the Ponce de Leon inlet in New Smyrna Beach to the St. Lucie Inlet in Marion County. The lagoon was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais tribe of East Florida.
A postcard depicting the Clearwater Marina, also known as the Clearwater Beach Marina, located at 25 Causeway Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida. Present-day Clearwater was originally inhabited by the Tocobaga. The U.S. Army began construction of Fort Harrison around 1835 to serve as an during the Second Seminole War. The area, which was then known as Clear Water Harbor, experienced significant growth following the passage of the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842, which offered land to settlers who would bear arms and cultivate the land. In 1888, the Orange Belt Railway added an extension into Clearwater, adding to the town's growth. In 1891, the Town of Clearwater was incorporated with James E. Crane as its first mayor. In 1897, Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) built his Belleview Hotel, thus allowing Clearwater to become a popular vacation destination. Clearwater was designated as the county seat for Pinellas County when it seceded from Hillsborough County in 1912. In 1915, Clearwater was a reincorporated as a city in 1915. During World War II, the city became a major training area for American troops.
Luxurious Hotels Along Ocean Front at Miami Beach Postcard
A postcard depicting hotels along Miami Beach, Florida. The present-day area of Miami Beach was originally inhabited by the Tequesta. In 1870, Henry Lum and Charles Lum purchased a land grant for the area and set up a coconut venture. After the new business failed, the Lums eventually sold the land to John S. Collins and Thomas Pancoast. In 1913, with money loaned from Carl Fisher, Collins began constructed a bridge that would connect the island of Miami Beach to the Miami mainland. At the time of its completion, the bridge was the longest wooden wagon bridge in the world. Two years later, Miami Beach was incorporated as a city and J. N. Lumus was elected its first mayor. The city enjoyed a real estate boom over the next couple of years, when Millionaire's Row, a three-mile stretch of mansions, was developed. During World War II, the Miami area was used as a training center for the U.S. Army Air Corps, resulting in post-war population growth. South Florida experience another spurt in population growth when hundreds of thousands of people fled Cuba, following the takeover by Fidel Castro (1926-). In 1979, Miami Beach's Art Deco District, also known as South Beach or SoBe, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
A postcard depicting Barton Avenue in Rockledge, Florida. Barton Avenue is the site of the first residential subdivision in Rockledge. The Barton Avenue Residential District, which was designated on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992, runs from 11 to 59 Barton Avenue. This historic district has 26 structures, mostly in the Frame Vernacular architectural style with elements of Folk Victorian architecture, built in the late 1800s.
A postcard depicting the state of Florida, particular the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. Tallahassee was designated the capital of Florida in 1824 and the Old Capitol building was constructed in 1826. The building was never completed and was instead torn down in 1839. The present capitol building was completed in 1845 and expanded in 1902, 1923, 1936, and 1947.
Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida
Azalea Fringed Lagoon in Cypress Gardens Postcard
A postcard depicting the an azalea-fringed lagoon in Cypress Gardens. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over the years, it became one of the biggest attractions in Florida, known for its water ski shows, lush gardens, and Southern Belles. It also became known as the "Water Ski Capital of the World," because many of the sport's landmark firsts and the over 50 world records broken there. Numerous motion pictures were filmed at the Cypress Gardens, including portions of This is Cinerama, the first feature filmed in the widescreen format, as well as a string of Esther Williams films and television specials in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1950s, young women dressed in the crinolines reminiscent of the Antebellum South. During the American Civil War Centennial, young men dressed in Confederate uniforms would be photographed with the Southern Belles. With the addition of a custom photography boat named Miss Cover Girl in the early 1960s, the park became a popular site for the filming of television commercials. However, Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 and Legoland occupies the former lot at 1 Legoland Way in Winter Haven, Florida.
Postcard showing the Dickson-Azalea Park, owned by the City of Orlando. The park is located south of Robinson Street, north of Central Boulevard, and west of Rosearden Drive. Fern Creek runs through the park, which drains into Mayor Carl T. Langford Park located directly south of Dickson-Azalea. The park is intersected by Washington Street. Washington Street goes over the park with a early white concrete bridge, one of the landmarks of downtown Orlando. Much of Dickson-Azalea Park is below the street surface as if follows the banks of Fern Creek. The park is a garden with mostly native plants and Fern Creek is crossed by several paths and foot bridges.
Original 5.5 x 3.5 inch color postcard by Tichnor Quality Views, 1938: Orange News Company, Orlando, Florida: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Sanford Grammar School Report Card for Keith Butler, 1973-1974
Sanford Grammar School report card for fourth grader Keith Butler during the 1973-1974 school year. Students were evaluated in subjects such as mathematics, reading, language, spelling, handwriting, science, social studies, health, physical education, art, and music. Butler was evaluated by teacher Eva Tisdale and the principal during that school year was Clay C. Carroll. Originally established as Sanford High School, the main building was constructed 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 the corner of East Ninth Street and South Palmetto Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. After a desperate need for an addition to the school developed, the city granted the school $75,000. The school's lunchroom was opened on October 10, 1921, after months of fundraising efforts hosted by the Woman's Club. In November 23, 1984, the main school building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. However, despite objections from the community, the lunchroom was demolished on September 25, 2008. The main school building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012.
Original report card: Sanford Grammar Collection, Archives Box 4B, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from Colonel William E. Todd to Dr. Cal Fowler (December 4, 1961)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
A letter of correspondence from Colonel William E. Todd to Dr. Cal Fowler (1929-2013) dated December 4, 1961. In the letter, col. Todd invites Dr. Fowler, the former chief activation engineer, to attend ceremonies marking the completion of the U.S. Air Force's first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne, Wyoming. The ceremony was held at the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron Complex 11 in Nunn, Colorado.
Original 1-page letter and map from Colonel William E. Todd to Dr. Calvin D. Fowler, December 4, 1961: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Adobe Flash Player
Chronopoints
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming
566th Strategic Missile Squadron Complex 11, Nunn, Colorado
An oral history interview of educator David Tossie. The interview was conducted by Geoffrey Cravero and Diana Dizon over Zoom on November 8th, 2022. Some of the topics include early life and education in Oviedo, his favorite teachers, integration of Central Florida public schools, becoming an educator, thoughts on Historic Colored Schools Museum, and his final thoughts.
Tossie, David. Interviewed by Geoffrey Cravero and Diana Dizon, November 8, 2022. Audio record available. RICHES, Orlando, Florida.
Jackson Heights Elementary, Oviedo, Florida
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 6, 1884)
Sanford, Henry S. (Henry Shelton), 1823-1891
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 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.
Letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (February 28, 1884)
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.
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.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to James E. Ingraham (August 23, 1882)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to James Edmundson Ingraham (1850-1924), dated August 23, 1882. In the letter, Trafford informed Ingraham about the company efforts to buy lands from the U.S. Department of the Interior, an endeavor that was met with some difficulty because the governmental department "would not permit any one person to purchase more than 640 acres in one day" and "also refused to receive applications from persons outside the United States." Trafford also included a report of the lands in question. The report indicated the quality of the land, including its capacity for crop cultivation, its proximity to bodies of water, and its connection to lines of transportation and communication. The report highlights the questions and concerns regarding land investment during the period and also indirectly demonstrates the hardships faced by potential settlers in sparsely-settled regions. 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 James E. Ingraham, August 23, 1882: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.8, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (September 11, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated September 11, 1883. In the letter, Trafford informs Sanford about the struggles of the Sanford Sawmill, asking tersely "where is that hundred dollars a day that Crolly promised? Where is any profit at all?" Later in the letter, Trafford points to "gross mismanagement" as a primary culprit for the mill's struggles. It is unclear who the man referred to as "Crolly" is, as he does not appear elsewhere in the correspondence, but based on the context of the letter, it appears plausible that Crolly was someone closely linked to the Sanford Sawmill. 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, September 11, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.9, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (December 7, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated December 7, 1883. In the letter, Trafford provided a brief update about Sanford, Florida, noting that "we have quite a building boom." He also added that there was a need for a post office in the town of MacKinnon, a settlement that was along an unspecified railroad line. Finally, he expressed interest in meeting with Sanford to "go over" various land acquisitions. 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, December 7, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.10, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (December 28, 1883)
Safford, A. P. K. (Anson Peasley Keeler), -1891
A letter from William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated December 28, 1883. The letter provides updates on company lands in Anclote, Florida, and its environs. Beardall describes efforts to drain water from company land in Anclote, which was a small settlement near Tarpon Springs, with the ultimate goal of making the land cultivatable. In the letter, he also discusses the state of "communications from Cedar Keys[sic] and Tampa," which he found to be "very bad," mainly because the "Lake Buller Villa Co. arrangement of tri-weekly steamer having fallen thro[sic]." He also informed Sanford that guests continued to visit Tarpon Springs, "but not many," adding that a hotel in the area had recently opened and that "Governor Safford" was there overseeing development. He was presumably referring to Anson P. K. Safford (ca. 1830-1891), former Republican governor of the Arizona Territory from 1869 to 1877, who played a major role in the founding of Tarpon Springs. He also briefly informs Sanford about the founding of a town in Central Florida called Minneola, noting that it was beset by transportation issues because of the lack of a railroad connection. 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 E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, December 28, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.11, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (December 24, 1883)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), dated December 24, 1883. Contents included discussion of a petition for a Post Office in MacKinnon, Florida; indication that "fifteen cars of logs in today from Longwood - 15 more to come Wednesday"; and that William Beardall was returning to Sanford. 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, December 24, 1883: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.12, 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 (March 5, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, dated March 5, 1884. In it he requested signatures for a number of enclosed deeds. He also noted that the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) made $12,684.20 for the month of February 1884, adding that it was an increase of $10,964.20 over the same period from the previous year. Trafford was a company agent for the FLCC from 1882 to 1886. He served as the company’s local representative, managing the company office in Sanford, Florida. He was selected by the board of the FLCC, despite resistance from the President and Chairman of the Board, Henry Shelton Sanford. Unlike his predecessor, James Ingraham, Trafford provided Henry Sanford with little confidential, first-hand information about events in Florida. As a result, Sanford regularly advocated for Trafford’s replacement. However, the company’s other board members, distrustful of Henry Sanford’s business acumen, retained Trafford precisely because his first loyalties remained with the company in London and not Henry Sanford. His tenure as FLCC agent is reflective of the often tense relationship between Henry Sanford and his fellow board members as well as the increasingly limited influence Sanford had in company affairs. William Beardall, meanwhile, was an Englishman who worked for the FLCC at its local office in Sanford, Florida. He served as an assistant to the company agent, E. R. Trafford. He 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 E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, March 5, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.22, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Florida Land and Colonization Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (March 15, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, dated March 15, 1884. In the letter, Trafford requested Sanford's signature for five deeds. He also indicated that from March 1, 1884 to March 15, 1884, sales for the town of Sanford amounted to $5,960 and sold for St. Gertrude's Grove reached $5,200 for a total of $11,160. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. He served as the company’s local representative, managing the company office in Sanford, Florida. He was selected by the board of the FLCC, despite resistance from the President and Chairman of the Board, Henry Shelton Sanford. Unlike his predecessor, James Ingraham, Trafford provided Henry Sanford with little confidential, first-hand information about events in Florida. As a result, Sanford regularly advocated for Trafford’s replacement. However, the company’s other board members, distrustful of Henry Sanford’s business acumen, retained Trafford precisely because his first loyalties remained with the company in London and not Henry Sanford. His tenure as FLCC agent is reflective of the often tense relationship between Henry Sanford and his fellow board members as well as the increasingly limited influence Sanford had in company affairs. 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 E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, March 15, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.23, 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 (March 26, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, dated March 26, 1884. In the letter, Trafford requested Sanford's signature for two deeds. The two buyers were Isaac A. Hopper, who bought a lot for $350.00, and William Duryea, who purchased a lot for $700.00. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. He served as the company’s local representative, managing the company office in Sanford, Florida. He was selected by the board of the FLCC, despite resistance from the President and Chairman of the Board, Henry Shelton Sanford. Unlike his predecessor, James Ingraham, Trafford provided Henry Sanford with little confidential, first-hand information about events in Florida. As a result, Sanford regularly advocated for Trafford’s replacement. However, the company’s other board members, distrustful of Henry Sanford’s business acumen, retained Trafford precisely because his first loyalties remained with the company in London and not Henry Sanford. His tenure as FLCC agent is reflective of the often tense relationship between Henry Sanford and his fellow board members as well as the increasingly limited influence Sanford had in company affairs. William Beardall, meanwhile, was an Englishman who worked for the FLCC at its local office in Sanford, Florida. He served as an assistant to the company agent, E. R. Trafford. He 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 E. R. Trafford per William Beardall to Henry Shelton Sanford, March 26, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.24, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford (April 9, 1884)
A letter from E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, dated April 9, 1884. In the letter, Trafford provided a number of updates regarding the City of Sanford, Florida. First, he included several land grant certificates that awaited approval from the federal government. He expressed hope that Henry Sanford's "influence would push up" the issue on the government's priority list. Trafford also informed Sanford that "all the hotels close this week so I suppose things will quiet down." He also informed Sanford that the company had made "as much these last three months as the whole past fiscal year," noting that sales had reached $16,000 over a three month period. Among other topics, Trafford also informed Sanford that logs were arriving in Sanford, Florida via shipping on the St. Johns River. Trafford was a company agent for the Florida Land and Colonization Company (FLCC) from 1882 to 1886. He served as the company’s local representative, managing the company office in Sanford, Florida. He was selected by the board of the FLCC, despite resistance from the President and Chairman of the Board, Henry Shelton Sanford. Unlike his predecessor, James Ingraham, Trafford provided Henry Sanford with little confidential, first-hand information about events in Florida. As a result, Sanford regularly advocated for Trafford’s replacement. However, the company’s other board members, distrustful of Henry Sanford’s business acumen, retained Trafford precisely because his first loyalties remained with the company in London and not Henry Sanford. His tenure as FLCC agent is reflective of the often tense relationship between Henry Sanford and his fellow board members as well as the increasingly limited influence Sanford had in company affairs. 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 E. R. Trafford to Henry Shelton Sanford, April 9, 1884: box 54, folder 18, subfolder 54.18.25, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.