St. James Catholic Cathedral, located at 215 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. In 1881, Bishop John Moore purchased a block of land bound by Orange Avenue, Magnolia Avenue, Jefferson Street, and Robinson Street. On January 23, 1887, the cornerstone of the Holy Nativity Catholic Church was set under the leadership of Father Felix P. Swembergh. The building was designed by Kurz and Allison's Art Studio of Chicago, Illinois, in the American Gothic style. The structure was completed in June of 1891, under the guidance of Father Joseph J. Creed, who replaced Father Swembergh after his death in October 1887. It was renamed as St. James Catholic Church the following year. In 1889, a storm destroyed the church's roof and the City of Orlando condemned the building. The church was rebuilt in 1889 in the old Carpenter Gothic style and seated 240. It was torn down around 1950 and the new building, designed by Donovan Dean and Arthur White, was completed on January 20, 1952. In 1977, the building was designated as the diocese's cathedral due to the destruction of the St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral by fire. In July of 2009, the cathedral was closed for renovations and was re-dedicated on November 20, 2010.
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
RICHES of Central Florida
Holy Nativity Catholic Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
St. James Catholic Church, Downtown Orlando, Florida
St. James Catholic Cathedral, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Advertisement for A. E. Philips' drug store, which was established at the corner of East First Street and North Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida, in 1884. By 1892, Philips was the only druggist in Sanford, but in 1894, he handed over ownership of the drugstore to his brother, Lucien R. Philips. The pharmacy did not strictly sell drugs, but instead sold many types of items, including books and paper, toiletries, and cigars and tobacco. A. E. Philips established a new store in Clear Water Harbor, which was described as being on the Orange Belt Railroad. Philips had left during a difficult year, as the entire orange crop was wiped out by one of the worst freezes to hit much of Florida. Besides being a store owner and druggist, A. E. Philips was also a published writer on pharmaceuticals and well-respected within the community. Philips joined the Florida State Pharmaceutical Association in 1887. In 1891, he was in attendance during the fifth annual Florida State Pharmaceutical Association meeting in Jacksonville, where he submitted a paper that won a gold medal from the association. He also addressed the issue of large department stores undercutting the prices of local pharmacies. He proposed resolutions that the association denounce the practice of cutting prices and that the druggists should do whatever they could to keep drugs from being sold in department stores. Philips was also elected to the office of president, presumably of the association.
Digital reproduction of original 60 x 47 centimeter lithograph by Adam Beck and Clemens J. Pauli, 1884: John J. Stoner, Madison, Wisconsin: tag number DP0010700, Central Florida Memory, Orlando, Florida.
A. E. Philips Drug Store, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Another Cigar Factory: Sanford is the Location for Making Clear Havanas
Newspaper article on the arrival of a new Berriman Brothers cigar factory in Sanford, Florida, in 1910. The article reports that the third floor of the Sanford City Hall was modeled for a Berriman Bros. cigar factory, but was declared inadequate by the brothers. Instead, the Berriman Brothers planned to occupy the second floor of the Stone-Gove block. Their former room in city hall was planned to be used by Menendez Brothers & Verplank, according to the article. The Berriman Brothers operated a large, cigar manufacturer headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The brothers sold their firm to Wengle and Mandell in 1930 and the company transformed its production to undercoating products in 1950. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "Another Cigar Factory." The Sanford Herald, October 7, 1910: Cigars Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
The Sanford Herald
Berriman Brothers Cigar Factory, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Sanford City Hall, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Newspaper Articles on the Berriman Brothers Cigar Factory in Sanford
A newspaper article on the status and future of the cigar industry in Sanford, Florida. Published in The Florida Times-Union in 1910, the article states that Sanford does not expect to become a cigar center, but that the city will welcome all cigar factories that wish to locate there. The article also states that Berriman and Company was in need of approximately 50 employees for the holiday season. The Berriman Brothers operated a large, cigar manufacturer headquartered in Tampa. The brothers sold their firm to Wengle and Mandell in 1930 and the company transformed its production to undercoating products in 1950. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: The Florida Times-Union, October 7, 1910: Cigars Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
The Florida Times-Union
The lot of a former cigar manufacturer that was located on South Oak Avenue, in Sanford, Florida, in 1924. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Original digital color image by Laura Cepero, July 3, 2011.
Newspaper quotation from an Orlando citizen about new that a cigar manufacturer would be bringing one hundred families to Sanford, Florida. This item demonstrates that rivalry between businessmen and politicians of Sanford and Orlando. This rivalry began in 1875 when Henry Shelton Sanford, the founder of Sanford, offered free land for an Orange County courthouse on the condition that the county seat be moved to his town. Sanford was outbid by Orlando cattleman Jacob Summerlin, who lent the county $10,000 to keep the courthouse in his city. The rivalry culminated in the northern part of Orange County creating its own county, Seminole County, with Sanford as its county seat. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Former Location of the John J. Mauser Cigar Shop
The former location of a John J. Mauser cigar shop at 120 North Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida. The cigar shop occupied the space approximately between 1910 and 1922. John J. Mauser manufactured Lucky Sanford, Banker's Choice, and Clear Havana cigars. As of 2011, this building was occupied by St. Johns Realty Company, led by A. Bart Peterson. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Original digital color image by Laura Cepero, July 9, 2011.
John J. Mauser Cigar Shop, Downtown Sanford, Florida
St. Johns Realty Company, Downtown Sanford, Florida
A Sanford High School yearbook advertisement for Joe's Smoke House, a cigar shop owned by Joe Reizenstein and located in the Woodruff Building on the northwest corner of South Park Avenue and West First Street in Sanford, Florida, in 1919. The Woodruff Building, commonly known as the Bell Hotel, was built in 1895 and used popularly as a billiard parlor and cigar shop. The structure was demolished in October of 1964 and replaced by a parking lot. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Digital reproduction of original yearbook advertisement: Salmagundi, 1919. Sanford High School, Sanford, Florida, page 85: tag number DP0008870, Central Florida Memory, http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/119652.
Sanford High School
Joe's Smoke House, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Woodruff Building, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Sanford High School, Downtown Sanford, Florida
John J. Mauser: Manufacturer of Clear Havana Cigars
A newspaper article from the Industrial Edition of Sanford Chronicle, which was published by The Sanford Herald. The article is about John J. Mauser, a cigar manufacturer who opened a factory, located at 120 North Park Avenue, in Downtown Sanford, Florida in 1910. The cigar shop occupied the space from approximately 1910 to 1922. Mauser manufactured Lucky Sanford, Banker's Choice, and Clear Havana cigars. As of 2011, this building was occupied by St. Johns Realty Company, led by A. Bart Peterson. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article, 1910: "John J. Mauser: Manufacturer of Clear Havana Cigars." Sanford Chronicle, Industrial Edition, Winter 1910, page 62: DP0008192. Central Florida Memory. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/120274.
An advertisement for Lucien R. Philips' Rexalldrug store in 1917. The ad was published in Sanford High School's yearbook, Salmagundi. This drugstore was originally established by Lucien R. Philips' brother, A. E. Philips, at the corner of East First Street and North Park Avenue in Downtown Sanford, Florida. By 1892, A. E. Philips was the only druggist in Sanford, but in 1894, he handed over ownership of the drugstore to Lucien. The pharmacy did not strictly sell drugs, but instead sold many types of items, including stationery, Kodak supplies, ice cream, soda water, candy, cigars, and tobacco.
Digital reproduction of original yearbook advertisement, 1917: Salmagundi, 1917. Sanford High School, Sanford, Florida, page 69: tag number DP0010405, Central Florida Memory, http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/120698.
L. R. Philips & Company, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Lucien R. Philips & Company Advertisement
An advertisement for Lucien R. Philips' Rexall drugstore in 1910. The ad was published in the Industrial Edition of Sanford Chronicle, a newspaper published by The Sanford Herald. This drugstore was originally established by Lucien R. Philips' brother, A. E. Philips, at the corner of East First Street and North Park Avenue in Downtown Sanford, Florida. By 1892, A. E. Philips was the only druggist in Sanford, but in 1894, he handed over ownership of the drugstore to Lucien. The pharmacy did not strictly sell drugs, but instead sold many types of items, including stationery, Kodak supplies, ice cream, soda water, candy, cigars, and tobacco.
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article, 1910: "L. R. Philips & Company." Sanford Chronicle, Industrial Edition, Winter 1910, page 53: DP0008192. Central Florida Memory. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/120265.
Lucien R. Philips & Company, Downtown Sanford, Florida
A Lucky Sanford cigar box housed in the Sanford Museum, located at 520 East First Street in Downtown Sanford, florida.. The cigar box was manufactured by John J. Mauser, who opened a factory, located at 120 North Park Avenue. His cigar shop occupied the space from approximately 1910 to 1922. Mauser also manufactured Banker's Choice and Clear Havana cigars. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Original cigar box: John J. Mauser, Sanford, Florida. Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
New Cigar Factory: Sanford Will Be Center for Clear Havana Cigars in Future
A newspaper article about Florida-Cuba Cigar Company, a new cigar factory coming to Sanford, Florida, in 1919. The article describes the strategic location of the city for the growing cigar industry. The new factory was located on the second floor of Bishop Block, located at 301-309 East First Street in Downtown Sanford, and has churned out new cigar brands, such as the Tampa Trail, the Peg, the Some Brush, and others. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "New Cigar Factory: Sanford Will Be Center for Clear Havana Cigars in Future." June 6, 1919: Cigars Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Florida-Cuba Cigar Company, Downtown Sanford, Florida
Leather industry and trade--United States
A newspaper articleon the tobacco and leather industries in Florida. The article was written by C. D. Leffler, President of the Young Men's Business League, and published by Manufacturers Record: A Weekly Southern Industrial Railroad and Financial Newspaper. According to the article, Florida had "become a great cigar and tobacco centre, especially for [C]lear Havana goods," a cigar brand. The cigar industry was first brought to Florida by Cuban immigrants in the 1830s and became one of the most important industries in the Southeast by the last quarter of the 19th century, with Tampa serving as the cigar manufacturing center in the state. In the late 1800s, cigar factories began to appear in various other Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Cigar manufacturing first appeared in Sanford sometime between 1909 and 1912. The Florida cigar industry came to its peak in the first quarter of the 20th century, but then declined during the Great Depression and World War II, due to the accumulation of labor union conflicts over the years, the mechanization of production, and changing consumer demands. The industry was revitalized during the 1950s as production soared, despite the decline of the number of workers. Following the Cuban Revolution of the late 1950s and the U.S. embargo on Cuban products in 1962, the Florida cigar industry again declined. The Cuban embargo included tobacco, thus forcing American cigar rollers to begin using Dominican tobacco. The article also discusses prospects for the leather industry in Florida, which had a virtually unlimited supply of palmetto, a root plant commonly used in the tanning process. Lastly, Leffler briefly cites the starch, tapioca, and artesian water industries.
Photocopy of original newspaper article by C. D. Leffler: "Tobacco and Leather." Manufacturers Record: A Weekly Southern Industrial Railroad and Financial Newspaper, July 19, 1895, page 384: Cigar Making Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Manufacturers Record: A Weekly Southern Industrial Railroad and Financial Newspaper
The Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, located at 1201 South Mellonville Avenue in Sanford, Florida, in 2011. The stadium was built on the original site of the Sanford Municipal Athletic Field, which was erected in 1926. Many major league stars have played in the stadium including Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Tim Raines, and David Eckstein. Sanford Stadium is best known as the location where Jackie Robinson first took to the field in 1946 to play baseball as a member of a white Class AAA International League Team in Daytona Beach, which was partnered with the Montreal Royals. When Robinson took the field, however, the crowd booed him off before he could play. The police chief had threatened to cancel the game if Robinson took the field. Sanford Stadium was also used as the Spring Training Facility for the Boston Braves in 1942 and the New York Giants in 1951. In 2001, the stadium was refurbished, costing $2 million. During the 2009, Sanford Stadium was the home of the Seminole County Naturals of the Florida Winter Baseball League, which suspended operations during the season due to lack of funding. As of 2013, the stadium served as the home of the Sanford Babe Ruth Baseball League and the Sanford River Rats of the Florida Collegiate Summer League. The ballpark features 415 box seats and 1,600 bleacher seats.
Original color digital images by Geoffrey V. Cravero, July 26, 2011.
Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium, Sanford, Florida
Sanford Municipal Athletic Field, Sanford, Florida
Lyman High School Greyhounds Varsity Football Squad, 1966
Lyman High School's Greyhound varsity football squad for the 1965-1966 school year. Lyman is a Seminole County Public School located in Longwood, Florida. In 1923, a board of trustees agreed to construct a new school to accommodate the growing population in the Longwood and Altamonte Springs area. Construction began at 1725 County Road 427 in 1924 and opened in September 1924 with Professor Howard Douglas as its first principal. Lyman School, as it was originally called, was named after Howard Charles Lyman, a citizen who was active in planning the school's establishment but died a few days before construction began. In just two years, Lyman became an accredited junior high school and its campus had been expanded with six rooms. With W. J. Wells as principal, the Lyman School achieved accreditation through 12th grade in 1929. In 1963, the school was renamed Lyman High School when it became an accredited institution with Carlton D. Henley as principal. In 1966, Lyman High became integrated with both white and black students. A new campus was constructed at 865 South Ronald Reagan Boulevard in 1969. The original campus became R. T. Milwee Junior High School, named after Rayburn T. Milwee, Sr., who taught at Lyman from 1939 to 1949, served as principal from 1949 to 1952, and served as Superintendent of Seminole County Schools from 1952 to 1967. In 1970, Seminole County transitioned from the junior high school system to the middle school system, causing Lyman High School to now accommodate 9th grade in addition to 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. During the transition period from 1970 to 1971, the school mandated "double sessions," in which half of the school would attend from 7:00 am to 1:30 pm and the other half would attend from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm. In June of 1971, the Milwee Middle school, where Lyman's original campus was, closed and reopened as a satellite campus for Lyman High School during the 1971-1972 school year. For the 1972-1973 academic year, all Lyman students returned to the primary campus and the satellite campus was used for Lake Brantley High School instead. In 2000, Lyman established the Institute for Engineering, a magnet program emphasizing mathematics and science.
Print reproduction of original 7.75 x 4.75 inch black and white photograph by The Greyhound Staff of 1966: The Greyhound 1966, item 373.105 LYM 1966, (Longwood, FL: Lyman High School, 1966): Seminole County Public Schools Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
The Greyhound Staff of 1966
Oviedo High School Lions Punter Gordon Kent
Oviedo Lions football player, Gordon Kent, punting at a football game during the 1986-1987 school year. Oviedo High School is a Seminole County Public School located in Oviedo, Florida. Originally called the Oviedo School, the institution was first established in 1922 as a K-12 school. In 1948, the secondary grades separated from the elementary school. The upper grade levels formed Oviedo High School and moved to the campus at 601 King Street. Oviedo High School is notable for The Lion's Tale, the award-winning school newspaper recognized by various national and state scholastic press associations; its high ratings from the Governor's A+ Plan for Education; and its successful athletics programs.
Print reproduction of original 4.625 x 3.875 inch black and white photograph by Oviedian Staff of 1987: Oviedian 1987, item 373.105 OVI 1987, (Oviedo, FL: Oviedo High School, 1987): Seminole County Public Schools Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Oviedian Staff of 1987
The historic marker for Council Oak, located on South Ferncreek Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2002. This two-and-a-half-foot concrete marker with a brass plaque designates the traditional meeting place of the Native American chiefs during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842). The original location had the Council Oak, believed to be the largest living oak in all of Central and South Florida. In the late 1800s, the tree was struck by lightning and no longer exists. The marker was erected by the Orange County Historical Commission on August 19, 1970.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Council Oak Historic Marker, Orlando, Florida
The Davis National Guard Armory, located at 649 West Livingston Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. In September of 1937, the City of Orlando donated land and $80,000 to deter the U.S. National Guard from relocating outside of Orlando. The City dedicated the Orlando Armory on December 23, 1938. In 1941, the armory was used as a disbursing station for the United States Air Force and was also used as a recreation club. In May of that same year, the building as renamed for Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Davis (1898-1941), the first native of Orlando to be killed while serving in World War II. In 1951, the Armory was leased to the United States Naval Reserve and used as a training facility. In the 1960s, the military relocated the Armory to a new location on Primrose Street. The original building was converted to the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Orlando Armory, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Davis National Guard Armory, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex, Downtown Orlando, Florida
An oral history with Thomas D. Wright, a surfer and lawyer with Wright, Casey & Stowers, P.L. in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Wright was born in Florida on April 8, 1951. Other topics discussed in the oral history include growing up in New Smyrna Beach, how others perceive surfers, the evolution of surfing, how surfing affects society, surfboards preference, surfing contests, how New Smyrna Beach was affected by surfing, and plans to establish the East Coast Surfing Museum.
Wright, Thomas D. Interview by Dakota Hull. Daytona State College, New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Campus. August 1, 2013. Audio/video record available. Daytona State College, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Daytona State College
The Fort Gatlin Historic Marker, located near the corner of Summerlin Avenue and Gatlin Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Fort Gatlin was a U.S. Army fort established during the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-1842) on November 9, 1838, in Mosquito County, Florida. The fort was named in honor of Army Assistant Surgeon John S. Gatlin (1806-1835), a casualty of the Dade Massacre in 1835. The fort's location overlooked three lakes and was frequented by Seminole warriors led by King Philip, the Seminole Chief, and his son, Coacoochee. The fort was active until the Army withdrew from the area in 1849. A number of soldiers and their families settled in the area to grow citrus and raise cattle. In 1856, Fort Gatlin became the county seat for Orange County, formerly part of Mosquito County. The community changed the name to Orlando. In 1941, the U.S. Navy established the Underwater Sound Research Laboratory on Lake Gem Mary. The laboratory was closed in 1997. This historic marker was erected by the Orlando Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on March 27, 1924. Another historic marker was erected when Fort Gatlin was declared a Florida Historic Site and is sponsored by the Fort Gatlin Historical Group, Orange County Public Schools, the Orange County Government, and the Florida Department of State.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2004: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Underwater Sound Research Laboratory, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Fort Gatlin Historic Marker, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Fort Gatlin Historic Marker, located near the corner of Summerlin Avenue and Gatlin Avenue in Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Fort Gatlin was a U.S. Army fort established during the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-1842) on November 9, 1838, in Mosquito County, Florida. The fort was named in honor of Army Assistant Surgeon John S. Gatlin (1806-1835), a casualty of the Dade Massacre in 1835. The fort's location overlooked three lakes and was frequented by Seminole warriors led by King Philip, the Seminole Chief, and his son, Coacoochee. The fort was active until the Army withdrew from the area in 1849. A number of soldiers and their families settled in the area to grow citrus and raise cattle. In 1856, Fort Gatlin became the county seat for Orange County, formerly part of Mosquito County. The community changed the name to Orlando. In 1941, the U.S. Navy established the Underwater Sound Research Laboratory on Lake Gem Mary. The laboratory was closed in 1997. This historic marker was erected when Fort Gatlin was declared a Florida Historic Site and is sponsored by the Fort Gatlin Historical Group, Orange County Public Schools, the Orange County Government, and the Florida Department of State. An earlier historic marker was erected by the Orlando Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on March 27, 1924.
55 West, located at 55 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, during construction in 2007. 55 West is an apartment building that overlooks Church Street Station and stands next to the SunTrust Center. Construction was completed in 2009. 55 West is currently the fifth tallest building in Downtown Orlando. The building also houses a 7-Eleven and Loft 55, a restaurant/nightclub on the bottom floor.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, March 7, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
55 West on the Esplanade, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Angebilt Hotel, located at 37 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florda, in 2002. The building was constructed between 1921 and 1923. Plans to build the hotel were announced in June 1921 and construction cost $1 million. Florida's first registered architect, Murray S. King, designed the building in the twentieth century commercial style, complete with eleven stories and 240 hotel rooms. The Angebilt Hotel opened on March 14, 1923. The original owner was Joseph Fenner Ange, who moved to Orlando in 1913 from Martin County, North Carolina. Two months after the building's opening, Ange sold his interest in the hotel. In November 1924, a group of Orlando businessmen purchased the hotel for $1.25 million. Since its opening, the building has housed the Angebilt Hotel, the Bank of Orange and Trust Company, and the offices for two radio stations including Way Down By Orlando (WDBO), which was the first regular radio station in Orlando. As of 2010, it also is occupied by business offices and two restaurants.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Angebilt Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Bank of Orange and Trust Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Way Down By Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2003: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The former Harley Hotel building, located at 151 East Washington Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The site was originally occupied by Memorial High School, the second high school constructed in Orlando. In 1961, the school building was sold to hotel owners from Jacksonville. In 1963, the school building was razed and replaced by the Robert Meyer Hotel, which contained 250 rooms. The hotel became the Kahler Plaza Inn in 1972 and then the Harley Hotel in the late 1970s, when it was purchased by Harry Helmlsey. In the 1990s, the hotel was purchased and renamed Four Points by Sheraton Orlando, which closed in 2003. In 2004, developer David Eichenblatt began converting the hotel into the Metropolitan at Lake Eola condominiums, which contains 128 units as of 2013.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Memorial High School, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Robert Meyer Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Kahler Plaza Inn, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Four Points by Sheraton Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Metropolitan at Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The former Orlando Hotel building, located at 129-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida,in 2002. The site was originally occupied by the Slemons Department Store. In 1924, the current brick building was constructed by the J. C. Hanner Construction Company. The originally pressed metal ceiling, the mezzanine, and the tile awning of the second floor fade have been preserved from the original Orlando Hotel. The building was briefly occupied by a clothing store owned by Nat and Pauline Berman, who later sold it to Ben and Sam Arstein. In 1950, the building was purchased by the Belk-Lindsey Company. In 1973, Steve Fuller and Bob Snow purchased the property to begin the development of Church Street Station. The following year, it was transformed into the Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium.
Slemons Department Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Nat and Pauline Berman's Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Ben and Sam Arstein's Store, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Belk-Lindsey Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, 2007
The Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, located at 511 West South Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The hotel was constructed by one of Orlando's first African-American physicians, Dr. William Monroe Wells, to accommodate African Americans who could not otherwise find welcome lodging. Dr. Wells also built the South Street Casino, which was host to a various African-American performers traveling along the Chitlin' Circuit, including Ray Charles, B. B. King, Louis Armstrong, Guitar Slim, and Bo Diddley. In 1997, the building was acquired by the Association to Preserve African American Society, History and Tradition, Inc., which sought to restore and preserve the structure. Although the casino no longer remains, the original Wells' Built Hotel was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 2000. In June 2009, the hotel reopened as the Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture.
Wells' Built Hotel, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Wells' Built Museum of African American History and Culture, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Gormley Family around 1917. Photographed from left to right in the top row are W. Glenn Gormley, Charles Ernest Gormley Jr., Vera Gormley, George Gormley, and Willison Whitney. The bottom row pictures, from left to right, Nellie Gormley, Ray Gormley, Velma Gormley, and Charles Ernest Gormley, Sr. The Gormleys were originally from Kansas, but moved to Sanford, Florida, shortly before World War I. Charles Ernest Gormley, Sr. was the family patriarch and Nellie Gormley was his wife and the stepmother of his children: Charles, George, and Vera. The brothers, Charles and George, served alongside each other in France from August 13, 1917, to April 14, 1919. Charles, Jr.'s daughter, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, was the contributor of this photograph.
Reprinted 7 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Ralph R. Roszell, February 6, 2007: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
A Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter C. C. B. 348 ribbon owned by Jesse Street Roberts, the great aunt of the contributor of this item, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee. Roberts migrated to Sanford, Florida, from Wilmington, North Carolina, sometime around 1910. Following the American Civil War, numerous associations were founded by women to organize the burials, funerals, commemorations, and monuments honoring the Confederacy. The majority of these individual associations were merged into the National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy, led by Caroline Meriwether Goodlett and Anna Davenport Raines, on September 10, 1894 in Nashville, Tennessee, for daughters, granddaughters, and other female descendants of Confederate servicemen. In 1895, a meeting was held in Atlanta, Georgia, to change the name of the organization to the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). The UDC was officially incorporated in Washington, D.C., on July 18, 1919. Roberts was presumably a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy, though it is not clear if this particular chapter was integrated into the UDC.
Original ribbon: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
Daughters of the Confederacy
Lee, Luticia "Tish" Gormley
The former Harley Hotel building, located at 151 East Washington Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Lake Eola and the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain can be seen in the distance. The site was originally occupied by Memorial High School, the second high school constructed in Orlando. In 1961, the school building was sold to hotel owners from Jacksonville. In 1963, the school building was razed and replaced by the Robert Meyer Hotel, which contained 250 rooms. The hotel became the Kahler Plaza Inn in 1972 and then the Harley Hotel in the late 1970s, when it was purchased by Harry Helmlsey. In the 1990s, the hotel was purchased and renamed Four Points by Sheraton Orlando, which closed in 2003. In 2004, developer David Eichenblatt began converting the hotel into the Metropolitan at Lake Eola condominiums, which contains 128 units as of 2013.
Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Oral history told by Trish Thompson, Vice President of Creative Sanford, Inc. The interview was conducted by Autumn Reisz and Mark Miller on October 11, 2013 and focuses on Thompson's experiences with Creative Sanford and Celery Soup. Other topics include adapting the Swamp Gravy model to Celery Soup, how Creative Sanford and Celery Soup have evolved over time, the oral history interviewing process, partnering with the African-American community, the effects of the George Zimmerman trial on Sanford, adapting oral histories into community plays, goals of Creative Sanford and Celery Soup, community involvement and feedback, fundraising and the Celery Ball, production costs, preserving the legacy of Creative Sanford and Celery Soup, and maintaining community involvement. Creative Sanford, Inc. is a non-profit organization created to manage Celery Soup community theater productions. The original idea for the Celery Soup project came from Jeanine Taylor, the owner of a folk-art gallery on First Street in Sanford, Florida. Their first production was Touch and Go, which took several years of planning. The play focused on how the people of Sanford overcame obstacles throughout their history. Some of these stories include the fall of Sanford's celery industry, the Freeze of 1894-1895, and the closing of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford in the 1960s. Richard Geer and Jules Corriere, partners from Community Performance International, were in charge of assessing oral histories, converting them into scenes for the play, and writing original songs. Director Geer also used an all-volunteer cast from the local community, many of which were not experienced actors. During the process of producing the show, Creative Sanford decided to rehabilitate an historic building, the Princess Theater, which was located on 115 West First Street and owned by Stephen Tibstra. The Creative Sanford offices are housed in the Historic Sanford Welcome Center, located at 203 East First Street. As of December 2013, the Executive Board for Creative Sanford included President Brian Casey, Vice President Trish Thompson, Treasurer Linda Hollerbach, Secretary Dr. Annye Refoe, and Founder Jeanine Taylor. The Board of Directors consisted of Cheryl Deming, Juanita Roland, Wendy Wheaton, and Dr. Connie Lester, a professor of history at the University of Central Florida. Honorary Board Members included: Glenda Hood, former Florida Secretary of State and Mayor of Orlando; Valada Flewellyn, a local poet, author, and historian; and Jackie Jones, a local entertainer and arts advocate.
Thompson, Trish. Interviewed by Autumn Reisz and Mark Miller. Creative Sanford, Inc. Offices, Sanford Welcome Center. October 11, 2013. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Creative Sanford, Inc., Sanford, Florida
Oral history of Marilyn Maples, an actress in the Creative Sanford, Inc., and Celery Soup production of Remade - Not Bought. The interview was conducted by University of Central Florida Professor of History Dr. Scot French and graduate student Katie Kelley on October 19, 2013. Maples moved to Sanford, Florida, in 1993. As an actress, she played the roles of Marlene Baggs and Arthurene in Remade - Not Bought. Maples is also a member of the theatre committee, the volunteer coordinator, and a member of the marketing team for Creative Sanford and Celery Soup. The interview focuses mainly on Maples involvement with Creative Sanford and Celery Soup. Other topics include how Maples came to Sanford, how she became involved with Creative Sanford, the importance of preserving history through community theater, her acting roles in Remade - Not Bought, the Celery Soup production of Touch and Go, presenting difficult or dark history, segregation in Sanford, and Dr. George H. Starke.
Maples, Marilyn. Interviewed by Katie Kelley and Scot French. October 19, 2013. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Creative Sanford, lnc., Sanford, Florida
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Sanford, Florida
Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2001. Lake Eola and its surrounding park is one of the unusual features that sets Orlando apart from other cities. In the middle of the lake rests the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Orlando's unofficial symbol. The fountain was installed in 1912, costing $10,000. In 1957, a replacement originally called the Centennial Fountain was installed, costing $350,000. From its earliest days, Downtown Orlando was situated on the west side of the lake. As the town grew into a city, Lake Eola continued to be a focal point for the inhabitants, who used the lake for bathing, swimming and fishing, and its shores picnicking, listening to concerts, and participating in religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin who designated that it be a public park. It has remained one ever since. The rest of the park land was donated by the Musselwhite Family and Mayor Frank Sperry.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
An oral history told by Nancy Harris Ford, an actress in the Creative Sanford, Inc. and Celery Soup: Florida's Folk Life Play production of Remade - Not Bought. Ford was raised in Sanford, Florida, and lived there until she graduated from Seminole High School in 1973. She returned to Sanford around 2009 and became involved with Celery Soup, a community theater project operated by Creative Sanford. This interview was conducted by Drew Fedorka on November 16, 2013, and focuses on the historical figure and character of Dr. George H. Starke, an African-American physician in Georgetown in Sanford. Other topics include Ford's biographical information, her decision to return back to Sanford after 36 years elsewhere, how she became involved with Creative Sanford and Celery Soup, her involvement in Touch and Go and Remade - Not Bought, and segregation.
Ford, Nancy Harris. Interviewed by Drew Fedorka. UCF Public History Center. November 16, 2013. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Dr. George H. Starke's Office, Sanford, Florida
Dr. Edward D. Strickland's Office, Sanford, Florida
Sperry Fountain at Lake Eola Park Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The fountain was named in honor of Frank Ezra Sperry (1843-1916), Mayor of Orlando from 1914 to 1916. Born in Bethany, Connecticut, Sperry was a graduate of the Fort Edward Institute, a farmer, a grocer, and founder of Sperry Manufacturing Company. In 1885, he and his wife, Mary W. Pratt Sperry (1848-1932), migrated to Orlando and founded the South Florida Foundry and Machine Works, grew citrus, and served as a member of the Park Commission. In 1913, Sperry donated land to be added to Lake Eola Park, as well as $2,000 to erect a fountain. He passed away suddenly that same year while serving as mayor.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Sperry Fountain, Lake Eola Park, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Oral History of Luticia "Tish" Lee, Linda Maliczowski, and Catherine "Cathy" Dingle
Oral history of Luticia "Tish" Lee and her two daughters, Linda Maliczowski and Cathy Dingle. The interview was conducted by University of Central Florida Professor of History Dr. Scot French on October 20, 2013. Lee was born in Sanford, Florida in 1923 and lived in her family house, which was constructed in 1926, while growing up. Her father was a member of the American Legion and worked as a superintendent for the Crown Paper Company, and also as a carpenter. Following her high school graduation, Lee worked as a secretary for the local ice plant, which no longer stands. Other topics in the oral history include Sanford during World War II, the cannon at the American Legion Hall, the Lee family rolling pin and other family heirlooms, baking various foods, Lee's father, the grocery store run by Lee's mother and aunt, Lee's involvement with Creative Sanford, Inc. productions, a family fireless cooker, and the French house.
Lee, Luticia, Linda Maliczowski, and Cathy Dingle. Interviewed by Scot French. October 30, 2013. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
American Legion Campbell-Lossing Post 53, Sanford, Florida
Naval Air Station (NAS), Sanford, Florida
A wakeboard ramp on Lake Eola Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. Lake Eola and its surrounding park is one of the unusual features that sets Orlando apart from other cities. In the middle of the lake rests the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Orlando's unofficial symbol. The fountain was installed in 1912, costing $10,000. In 1957, a replacement originally called the Centennial Fountain was installed, costing $350,000. From its earliest days, Downtown Orlando was situated on the west side of the lake. As the town grew into a city, Lake Eola continued to be a focal point for the inhabitants, who used the lake for bathing, swimming and fishing, and its shores picnicking, listening to concerts, and participating in religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin who designated that it be a public park. It has remained one ever since. The rest of the park land was donated by the Musselwhite Family and Mayor Frank Sperry.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center Historic Marker, 2003
The historic marker for the Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, located at 101 North Parramore Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. From 1921 to 1922, a school for African-American children was constructed in Parramore and named after L. C. Jones, the third principal of Johnson Academy. The structure was designed by Howard Reynolds and built by Joseph Hanner. Later named Jones High School, the school was originally formed for students through grade ten. In 1952, the high school moved to a new location and the building was converted to Callahan Elementary School, the only elementary school serving the Parramore community. In 1970, Callahan Elementary became the only school in Orange County to close permanently due to desegregation. The site was converted into a community center and was renamed the Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in 1995.
Jones School, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Jones High School, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Callahan Elementary School, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, 2003
Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center, located at 101 North Parramore Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. From 1921 to 1922, a school for African-American children was constructed in Parramore and named after L. C. Jones, the third principal of Johnson Academy. The structure was designed by Howard Reynolds and built by Joseph Hanner. Later named Jones High School, the school was originally formed for students through grade ten. In 1952, the high school moved to a new location and the building was converted to Callahan Elementary School, the only elementary school serving the Parramore community. In 1970, Callahan Elementary became the only school in Orange County to close permanently due to desegregation. The site was converted into a community center and was renamed the Dr. J. B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in 1995.
A handwritten note listed the graduates of the Sanford High School Class of 1913 that attended the 50 Year Class Reunion held in June 1963. The graduates included: Albert Pattishall, lawyer and judge; Lenney Dean, minister; Wallace Crosby, engineer; Konner, doctor; Eleanor Gormley Roberts; Margaret Davis; and Selma Baker. The note was likely written by Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee. Sanford High School was originally established at 301 West Seventh Street 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 note, June 1963: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2007. Lake Eola and its surrounding park is one of the unusual features that sets Orlando apart from other cities. In the middle of the lake rests the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, Orlando's unofficial symbol. The fountain was installed in 1912, costing $10,000. In 1957, a replacement originally called the Centennial Fountain was installed, costing $350,000. From its earliest days, Downtown Orlando was situated on the west side of the lake. As the town grew into a city, Lake Eola continued to be a focal point for the inhabitants, who used the lake for bathing, swimming and fishing, and its shores picnicking, listening to concerts, and participating in religious services. Much of the land around Lake Eola was donated to Orlando by Jacob Summerlin who designated that it be a public park. It has remained one ever since. The rest of the park land was donated by the Musselwhite Family and Mayor Frank Sperry.
A fireless cooker and Lee Family heirloom in 2003. As of November 2013, the cooker was in the possession of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, who planned to will it to her daughter, Linda Lee Mallaskaski. The fireless cooker was originally owned by Lee's aunt, Mardy Lee, who arrived in Sanford, Florida, in 1910. Mardy would cook stones with a wood stove and then put the stones in the fireless cooker. She would then heat food in the pans and leave it in the fireless cooker overnight so that it would be ready to serve after church on Sundays. Fireless cookers are also known as hay boxes, straw boxes, insulation cookers, wonder ovens, and retained-heat cookers.
Photocopy of original 6 x 4 inch color photographs, September 29, 2003: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee
American Soldiers with Woman During World War I
Two American soldiers, presumably the Gormley brothers, with a woman during World War I. It is also likely that the woman photographed is a relative of the Gormleys. Charles Ernest Gormley and George Gormley were originally from Kansas, but moved to Sanford, Florida, with their family shortly before WWI. The brothers served alongside each other in France from August 13, 1917, to April 14, 1919. Charles' daughter, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, was the contributor of this photograph. Before entering World War I, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality, although the U.S. continued to supply the Allies: Great Britan, France, and Russia. The U.S. officially entered the war on April 6, 1917, in response to Germany's return to all-out submarine warfare on all commercial ships sailing for Great Britain and Germany's offer for military alliance to Mexico via the Zimmerman Telegram. The U.S. mobilized over four million military personnel through the course of American involvement in the war and lost 110,000 casualties. The U.S. vastly expanded its government and dramatically increase the size of its military during World War I.I.
Original 2.25 x 3.25 inch black and white photograph: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
Reprinted 4 x 6 inch black and white photograph, February 6, 2007: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
Lake Lucerne in Downtown Orlando, Florida, 2001. Lake Lucerne is one of two primary lakes connected with the earliest days of the City of Orlando. Along with Lake Eola, it defined one of the natural borders of the young town in the 1860s and 1870s. Lake Lucerne sits at the southern end of the Downtown Orlando area. Orange Avenue, the main north-south street through the city, crosses the lake on a causeway which nearly divides the lake in half. The East-West Expressway, also known as Florida State Road 408, passes directly to the north. The area was one of the first to be developed with houses outside the business district and continues to be one of the jewels of Orlando's park system.
A postcard showing United States Ship (USS) Nansemond (ID-1395), most likely around March 1919. Originally called Steamship (SS) Pennsylvania, this steamship was built by Hartland & Wolff in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1896 for the Hamburg-American Line. In 1917, the ship was seized by the United States Shipping Board (USSB). During World War I, Nansemond served in the Army Cargo and Transport Service until it was transferred to the U.S. Navy. On January 20, 1919, the steamship was commissioned in Hoboken, New Jersey, under Commander W. MacLeod of the U.S. Navy Reserve (USNR). USS Nansemond was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) and departed from New York on February 4, 1919. Carrying supplies for the U.S. Army, the ship arrived at Saint-Nazaire, France, on February 16 and then departed for Virginia on February 26. Carrying returning soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), Nansemond arrived at Newport News on March 11, 1919. In August, the steamship returned to New York to be decommissioned on August 25. USS Nansemond was returned to the USSB and then scrapped in 1924.
Original 5.5 x 3.5 inch sepia postcard, 1919: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
A U.S. Army squad of American soldiers, including brothers Charles Ernest Gormley and George Gormley, during World War I. The squad originally consisted of eight men per tent, but was later cut down to five men per tent. The Gormleys were originally from Kansas, but moved to Sanford, Florida, with their family shortly before WWI. The brothers served alongside each other in France from August 13, 1917 to April 14, 1919. Charles' daughter, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, was the contributor of this photograph. Before entering World War I, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality, although the U.S. continued to supply the Allies: Great Britan, France, and Russia. The U.S. officially entered the war on April 6, 1917, in response to Germany's return to all-out submarine warfare on all commercial ships sailing for Great Britain and Germany's offer for military alliance to Mexico via the Zimmerman Telegram. The U.S. mobilized over four million military personnel through the course of American involvement in the war and lost 110,000 casualties. The U.S. vastly expanded its government and dramatically increase the size of its military during World War I.
George Gormley Playing the Clarinet During World War I
George Gormley, an American soldier, playing the clarinet during World War I. Gormley was originally from Kansas, but he moved to Sanford, Florida, with his family shortly before WWI. Gormley served alongside his brother, Charles Ernest Gormley, in France from August 13, 1917 to April 14, 1919. His niece, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, was the contributor of this photograph. Before entering World War I, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality, although the U.S. continued to supply the Allies: Great Britan, France, and Russia. The U.S. officially entered the war on April 6, 1917, in response to Germany's return to all-out submarine warfare on all commercial ships sailing for Great Britain and Germany's offer for military alliance to Mexico via the Zimmerman Telegram. The U.S. mobilized over four million military personnel through the course of American involvement in the war and lost 110,000 casualties. The U.S. vastly expanded its government and dramatically increase the size of its military during World War I.
The holiday star located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The holiday star tradition was started in 1955 by two department stores: Ivey's and Dickson & Ives. The stores hung a large gold-colored star from the southwest corner of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue to the southeast corner. Wilson Reed, owner of Dickson & Ives at the time, is credited with the idea. The star used since 1984, which can be seen in this image, measured 13 feet in diameter and weighed over 500 pounds. In 2005, the original was replaced by a more ornate star.
Orange Avenue and Central Boulevar, Downtown Orlando, Florida
This is an undated narrative, written by Luticia "Tish" Lee, that describes the origins of a rolling pin that has become an heirloom of the Lee Family of Sanford, Florida. Lee wrote about this keepsake for which she had placed in her Love Cedar Chest, also known as a Hope Chest. While attending high school in 1940, Lee's parents gave her a hope chest, along with a bedspread crocheted by her mother. Also included inside was a rolling pin that her father, a member of the American Legion, had made from one of the wooden spokes from the wheel of a World War I-era cannon. The cannon was placed in front of American Legion Campbell-Lossing Post 53, located at 300 Seminole Boulevard, on January 17, 1936, but was dismantled for scrap metal during World War II. Lee married her husband James after the war on September 11, 1946. After her wedding, she began using the rolling pin.
Original handwritten narrative by Luticia "Tish" Lee: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Lee.
This newspaper article, from The Evening Herald, commemorating Dr. George H. Starke (1898-1978) for his services to the community. In 1971, the Sanford Mayor Lee P. Moore dedicated George Starke Park to Dr. Starke, located at 1501 West Third Street. He has also received honors from Dr. Luis Perez, Dr. Jorge Gomez, and Dr. Thomas Largen and was honored at the ""Appreciation Day Sunday" event held by the Sanford Chamber of Commerce and the Concerned Citizens Committee. Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Starke became one of only four African-American physicians to be accepted by Harvard University for residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He practiced for several years in Boston and then returned to Sanford in 1933 and continued to practice medicine until his death at age 80. For many years, Dr. Starke was the only African-American doctor in Sanford. Dr. Starke was also the first African-American doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association and the Seminole County Medical Association, as well as the second to join the American Medical Association. In 1971, the City of Sanford named George Starke Park, located at 1501 West Third Street, in his honor.
Original newspaper article: "A Big Thanks for Dr. Starke," The Evening Herald, September 13, 1977, page 4A: Dr. George H. Starke Folder, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford Florida.
Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, 2001
The intersection of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando in 2001, Florida. The SunTrust Center can be seen on the left and a Lynx bus stop can be seen on the right. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street in Orlando, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as Church Street Station. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Post 53's Original Post Home Located on Lake Monroe
The American Legion Hall Cannon, located at the 300 Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, Florida around 1939. The log cabin was originally used as the American Legion Campbell-Lossing Post 53, which received the property from the City of Sanford during the Armistice Day celebrations on November 11, 1924. Mayor Forrest Lake dedicated the structure to the "future generations who would be better off because of the work of the American Legion." The cabin was constructed through private donations from local citizens and businesses, such as the Hill Lumber Company. A cannon from World War I was placed in front of the building on January 17, 1936, but the cannon was dismantled for scrap metal during World War II. The Sanford Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States acquired the building in 1973 and the American Legion moved to 3506 South Orlando Drive and later to 2874 South Sanford Avenue. Due to deterioration and poor conditions, inspector Gary Winn recommended demolition, which City Manager Bill Simmons approved. The American Legion is a social veterans' organization for former and current members of the United States Armed Forces. The organization was chartered by the United States Congress on September 16, 1919, following World War I. The American Legion has been active in influencing political and social change, such as the founding of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, which was the forerunner of the Veterans Administration and later the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); efforts to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag; the creation of the American Legion Baseball program; the passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights; contributing to the launch of the National Association for Mental Health; sponsorship of an independent study on the effects of the exposure of Agent Orange, a herbicidal weapon, on veterans of the Vietnam War; as well as many other activities and achievements.
Photocopy of original 6.5 x 3.75 inch black and white photograph by R. E. Sodeblom: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Lee.
View of the American Legion Hut on Lake Monroe
The American Legion Hall, located at the 300 Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, Florida during the 1920s. The log cabin was originally used as the American Legion Campbell-Lossing Post 53, which received the property from the City of Sanford during the Armistice Day celebrations on November 11, 1924. Mayor Forrest Lake dedicated the structure to the "future generations who would be better off because of the work of the American Legion." The cabin was constructed through private donations from local citizens and businesses, such as the Hill Lumber Company. A cannon from World War I was placed in front of the building on January 17, 1936, but the cannon was dismantled for scrap metal during World War II. The Sanford Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States acquired the building in 1973 and the American Legion moved to 3506 South Orlando Drive and later to 2874 South Sanford Avenue. Due to deterioration and poor conditions, inspector Gary Winn recommended demolition, which City Manager Bill Simmons approved. The American Legion is a social veterans' organization for former and current members of the United States Armed Forces. The organization was chartered by the United States Congress on September 16, 1919, following World War I. The American Legion has been active in influencing political and social change, such as the founding of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, which was the forerunner of the Veterans Administration and later the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); efforts to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag; the creation of the American Legion Baseball program; the passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights; contributing to the launch of the National Association for Mental Health; sponsorship of an independent study on the effects of the exposure of Agent Orange, a herbicidal weapon, on veterans of the Vietnam War; as well as many other activities and achievements.
Photocopy of original 6.5 x 3.75 inch black and white photograph: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Lee.
The Lynx Central Station, located at 455 North Garland Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, during renovations in 2004. The former bus station was located at 78 West Central Boulevard, which is the site of City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1 as of 2013. Lynx is operated by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA) and serves the Greater Orlando area, including Orange County, Seminole County, and Osceola County, as well as limited service to Lake County, Volusia County, and Polk County. The CFRTA was formed in May 1972 under the name the Orange-Seminole-Osceola Transportation Authority (OSOTA). In 1984, the bus service was renamed the Tri-Country Transit (TCT). In 1992, the TCT began operating as Lynx and the OSOTA's name was officially changed to the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The Lynx Central Station was opened in 2004 and serves as the central hub of the bus network. The station is expected to serve as a station for the SunRail.
Lynx Central Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The American Legion Hall, located at the 300 Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, Florida. The log cabin was originally used as the American Legion Campbell-Lossing Post 53, which received the property from the City of Sanford during the Armistice Day celebrations on November 11, 1924. Mayor Forrest Lake dedicated the structure to the "future generations who would be better off because of the work of the American Legion." The cabin was constructed through private donations from local citizens and businesses, such as the Hill Lumber Company. A cannon from World War I was placed in front of the building on January 17, 1936, but the cannon was dismantled for scrap metal during World War II. The Sanford Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States acquired the building in 1973 and the American Legion moved to 3506 South Orlando Drive and later to 2874 South Sanford Avenue. Due to deterioration and poor conditions, inspector Gary Winn recommended demolition, which City Manager Bill Simmons approved. The American Legion is a social veterans' organization for former and current members of the United States Armed Forces. The organization was chartered by the United States Congress on September 16, 1919, following World War I. The American Legion has been active in influencing political and social change, such as the founding of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, which was the forerunner of the Veterans Administration and later the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); efforts to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag; the creation of the American Legion Baseball program; the passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights; contributing to the launch of the National Association for Mental Health; sponsorship of an independent study on the effects of the exposure of Agent Orange, a herbicidal weapon, on veterans of the Vietnam War; as well as many other activities and achievements.
Photocopy of original 6 x 4 inch color photograph: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Lee.
Charles Ernest Gormley Playing the Clarinet During World War I
Charles Ernest Gormley, an American soldier, playing the clarinet during World War I. Gormley was originally from Kansas, but he moved to Sanford, Florida, with his family shortly before WWI. Gormley served alongside his brother, George Gormley, in France from August 13, 1917, to April 14, 1919. His daughter, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, was the contributor of this photograph. Before entering World War I, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality, although the U.S. continued to supply the Allies: Great Britan, France, and Russia. The U.S. officially entered the war on April 6, 1917, in response to Germany's return to all-out submarine warfare on all commercial ships sailing for Great Britain and Germany's offer for military alliance to Mexico via the Zimmerman Telegram. The U.S. mobilized over four million military personnel through the course of American involvement in the war and lost 110,000 casualties. The U.S. vastly expanded its government and dramatically increase the size of its military during World War I.
Historic Lakefront Building to Be Demolished: Deteriorated Log Cabin is Too Dangerous to Save
This is a newspaper article describing the planned demolition of the an historic log cabin-style building located at 300 Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, Florida. The log cabin was originally used as the American Legion Campbell-Lossing Post 53, which received the property from the City of Sanford during the Armistice Day celebrations on November 11, 1924. Mayor Forrest Lake dedicated the structure to the "future generations who would be better off because of the work of the American Legion." The cabin was constructed through private donations from local citizens and businesses, such as the Hill Lumber Company. A cannon from World War I was placed in front of the building on January 17, 1936, but the cannon was dismantled for scrap metal during World War II. The Sanford Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States acquired the building in 1973 and the American Legion moved to 3506 South Orlando Drive and later to 2874 South Sanford Avenue. Due to deterioration and poor conditions, inspector Gary Winn recommended demolition, which was approved by City Manager Bill Simmons. The American Legion is a social veterans' organization for former and current members of the United States Armed Forces. The organization was chartered by the United States Congress on September 16, 1919, following World War I. The American Legion has been active in influencing political and social change, such as the founding of the U.S. Veterans Bureau, which was the forerunner of the Veterans Administration and later the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); efforts to pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag; the creation of the American Legion Baseball program; the passing of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights; contributing to the launch of the National Association for Mental Health; sponsorship of an independent study on the effects of the exposure of Agent Orange, a herbicidal weapon, on veterans of the Vietnam War; as well as many other activities and achievements.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: Pfeifauf, Nick. "Historic Lakefront Building to Be Demolished: Deteriorated Log Cabin is Too Dangerous to Save." The Sanford Herald, January 24, 1996: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Lee.
North Court Avenue at East Washington Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street in Orlando, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center (NTC) Orlando in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as the Church Street Station entertainment complex. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
The Orange Blossom Special, the last train at the Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry Bradley Plant. The building was demolished around 1890. The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972. In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after. The Orange Blossom Special, remained at the station until January of 2012. The 100-year-old engine was transported to the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish in order to make room for the new SunRail platform. Church Street Station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
South Florida Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station Entertainment Complex, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry Bradley Plant. The building was demolished around 1890. The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972. In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after.
The Church Street Market Building, located at the corner of West Pine Street and South Garland Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. In 1972, entrepreneur Bob Snow made plans to develop an entertainment complex in order to revitalize Downtown Orlando. Several restaurants, clubs, and other attractions opened in the 1970s. By 1985, the market, also known as Church Street Station, became the fourth-largest attraction in Florida, following Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. In 1989, Snow sold his interest to a subsidiary of Baltimore Gas and Electric company. Church Street Station completed a major expansion for $5.5 million in 1994. By 1998, the market began decreasing in popularity and was bought and sold by several owners until it went into bankruptcy under Lou Pearlman in 2007. In 2010, the Amway Center arena opened on West Church Street and stimulated a new influx of business.
Church Street Market, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Blue Star Memorial Highway Historic Marker, 2003
The Blue Star Memorial Highway historic marker, located on Conway Road near Lake Margaret Road in Conway in Orlando, Florida, in 2003. Blue Star Memorial Highways are marked to pay homage to the United States Armed Forces. The National Garden Clubs, Inc., now the National Council of State Garden Clubs, began the program to dedicate highways in 1945. In 1947, the Florida State Legislature designed U.S. Route 1 as the first Blue Star Memorial Highway in Florida. The marker in Orlando is sponsored by the Conway Garden Club in cooperation with the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and the Florida Department of Transportation.
Blue Star Memorial Highway Historic Marker, Conway, Orlando, Florida
This undated newspaper clipping advertises an "Appreciation Day Sunday" held by the Sanford Chamber of Commerce and the Concerned Citizens Committee for Dr. George H. Starke (1898-1978). The Chamber of Commerce hung a banner over First Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida, in Dr. Starke's honor. The event was held at the Sanford Civic Center, located at 401 East Seminole Boulevard. Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Starke became one of only four African-American physicians to be accepted by Harvard University for residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He practiced for several years in Boston and then returned to Sanford in 1933 and continued to practice medicine until his death at age 80. For many years, Dr. Starke was the only African-American doctor in Sanford. Dr. Starke was also the first African-American doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association and the Seminole County Medical Association, as well as the second to join the American Medical Association. In 1971, the City of Sanford named George Starke Park, located at 1501 West Third Street, in his honor.
Original newspaper article: "Dr. Starke Honored": Dr. George H. Starke Folder, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford Florida.
The holiday star located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The holiday star tradition was started in 1955 by two department stores: Ivey's and Dickson & Ives. The stores hung a large gold-colored star from the southwest corner of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue to the southeast corner. Wilson Reed, owner of Dickson & Ives at the time, is credited with the idea. The star used since 1984 measured 13 feet in diameter and weighed over 500 pounds. In 2005, the original was replaced by a more ornate star, which can be seen in this image.
Sanford Salutes Dr. G. H. Starke Sunday Sept 1
This newspaper clipping, presumably from The Sanford Herald, reproduces a photograph of Sanford's First Street with a banner commemorating Dr. George H. Starke (1898-1978) strung between several buildings. Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Starke became one of only four African-American physicians to be accepted by Harvard University for residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He practiced for several years in Boston and then returned to Sanford in 1933 and continued to practice medicine until his death at age 80. For many years, Dr. Starke was the only African-American doctor in Sanford. Dr. Starke was also the first African-American doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association and the Seminole County Medical Association, as well as the second to join the American Medical Association. In 1971, the City of Sanford named George Starke Park, located at 1501 West Third Street, in his honor.
Print newspaper reproduction of original photograph: The Sanford Herald, September 7, 1977: Dr. George H. Starke Folder, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Construction at the Orange Avenue Plaza Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as Church Street Station. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Orange Avenue Plaza, Downtown Orlando, Florida
50th Anniversary for Starke; Hundredth for City
This newspaper article commemorates Dr. George H. Starke's (1898-1978) 50 years of service to the Sanford community. Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Starke became one of only four African-American physicians to be accepted by Harvard University for residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He practiced for several years in Boston and then returned to Sanford in 1933 and continued to practice medicine until his death at age 80. For many years, Dr. Starke was the only African-American doctor in Sanford. Dr. Starke was also the first African-American doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association and the Seminole County Medical Association, as well as the second to join the American Medical Association. In 1971, the City of Sanford named George Starke Park, located at 1501 West Third Street, in his honor.
Original newspaper article: "50th Anniversary for Starke; Hundredth for City," The Sanford Herald, August 7, 1977: Dr. George H. Starke Folder, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford Florida.
Florida Agricultural and Technical University, Tallahassee, Florida
Robinson Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida in 2007. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando) in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as Church Street Station. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2007 : Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Robinson Street, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Bandshell on Lake Monroe - Sanford, Fla.
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
The Veterans Memorial Park bandshell on Lake Monroe during the 1950s. Veterans Memorial Park, located at 110 East Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, Florida, was built in 1925 and included a bandshell. A flagpole and fountain were dedicated in memory of World War I veterans in 1927.
Original black and white photograph: The Seminole Herald, Sanford, Florida.
Veterans Memorial Park, Sanford, Florida
City of Sanford Before the Great Fire of 1887
The City of Sanford riverfront in the 1880s, just before the Great Fire of 1887. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Original black and white drawing: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The docks at Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida, in 1882. Sanford's telegraph office and Henry Shelton Sanford's company store are located at the base of Palmetto Avenue. Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) was an American diplomat, lawyer, and businessman. Born in Derby, Connecticut, Sanford eventually joined the United States Diplomatic Corps in 1849. During his initial tenure in the Diplomatic Corps, Sanford served as Secretary of the American Legation at Paris. In 1853, he was promoted to the position of Chargé D'Affaires in France. In 1861, President Lincoln named Sanford as the U.S. Minister to Belgium. During the Civil War, Sanford served as a fiscal agent for the U.S. Government and supervised the U.S. Secret Service in Europe. After his tenure as Minister to Belgium, Sanford played a role in the establishment of the Congo Free State, a vast colony in Equatorial Africa under the direct control of the Belgian King Leopold II. In particular, it was Sanford who lobbied U.S. President Chester A. Arthur to recognize King Leopold's colony, a move that sparked broader international recognition of the Congo Free State. He also served as a delegate for the American Geographical Society at the International African Association Congress established by Leopold II and held in Brussels in 1887. Sanford organized the "Sanford Exploring Expedition," an expedition that served to answer scientific and commercial inquiries in the Congo. Aside from his diplomatic career, Sanford was also a businessman and investor. He made several real estate investments in Florida in the late 1860s and early 1870s, the most notable being the purchase of the "Sanford Grant" in May 1870. The grant encompassed over 20 square miles and provided the basis for the town that eventually bore Sanford's name. Sanford was convinced that Florida would prove a profitable place to invest. Anticipating significant traffic and commerce by waterway, Sanford bought a land grant positioned on Lake Monroe along the St. Johns River. The city of Sanford thus became deemed the "Gate City of South Florida" - the southernmost stop along the river. During the 1870s, Sanford invested significant amounts of money to the development of his city - he built a wharf, several hotels, a general store, and a sawmill - all of which he hoped would spur investment and growth in the city. Sanford also developed several experimental citrus groves in his Florida city. The first was St. Gertrude's Grove. The second and more successful grove was Belair, developed in the early 1870s. Though Sanford never lived in Florida, he did visit occasionally from the late 1860s until his death in 1891. His diplomatic and business duties kept him preoccupied abroad, and most of his development in Florida was undertaken by representatives and confidants. Following the "Great Freeze" of 1888, Sanford's Belair grove was destroyed. Sanford was committed to rebuilding the grove and, in the late stages of his life, he committed his energies to his Florida investments. He died several years later though, and his wife Gertrude, in an effort to settle debts owed in Europe and elsewhere following his death, sold many of Sanford's properties in Florida.
Original black and white photograph, 1882: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
City of Sanford After the Great Fire of 1887
The City of Stanford in the 1890s, after the Great Fire of 1887. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
The City of Sanford steamboat near Sanford, Florida. The steamboat was constructed by the Thompson & Clyde Shipyard in Jacksonville. On November 24, 1880, The City of Sanford was launched. The steamboat travedl between Sanford and Jacksonville 137 times and was able to carry 145 tons of goods. On April 24, 1882, The City of Sanford burned at Point La Vista, near Downtown Jacksonville. By the mid-1880s, Sanford had become a major distribution center due to the city's strategic location along Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. Even before Florida obtained statehood, steamboats frequented the St. Johns River carrying U.S. Army soldiers to Fort Mellon, located on the shores of Lake Monroe, to defend the area against Native Americans during the Seminole Wars. Steamboats were used at the fort and during the Battle of Camp Monroe to relocate Seminoles, explore the St. Johns River, and to distribute military forces. During the second half of the 1830s, steamboats were used to tow barges from the river to Lake Monroe in order to stimulate trade. The first commercial steamboat was developed as the Brock Line in the early 1850s. As trade grew, various wharves and docks were built in locations such as Mellonville Avenue, Palmetto Avenue, Oak Street, and Sanford Avenue. The Debary-Baya Merchant Line began transporting passengers in 1883, which further developed the steamboat industry. The line was purchased by the Clyde Line in 1886 and remained open until 1933. The growth of railroads was the primary cause of the decline of the steamboat industry.
Original drawing by John Wilson Somerville: Steamboats Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Museum of Seminole County History
Downtown Sanford, Florida, in 1952. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Original black and white photograph, 1952.
Downtown Sanford in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Last Barge to Dock at the Standard Oil Terminal on Lake Monroe Before Its Scheduled Closing This Saturday was Seen Today
Newspaper article about the last barge docked on the Standard Oil Terminal along Lake Monroe in Sanford, Florida. The terminal opened in 1931 and closed in 1969. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Original newspaper article, May 28, 1969.
The Riverfront in Sanford, Florida. 2011. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Original color digital image by Laura Cepero, June 4, 2011.
Veterans Memorial Park, located at 110 East Seminole Boulevard in Sanford, Florida, in 2011. The park was built in 1925 and included a bandshell. A flagpole and fountain were dedicated in memory of World War I veterans in 1927. The park was renamed Veterans Memorial Park in 1973 when it was rededicated to the memory of veterans of all American wars.
A History of Central Florida, Episode 8: European Earthenware
Episode 8 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: European Earthenware. A History of Central Florida Podcast series explores Central Florida's history through the artifacts found in local area museums and historical societies. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 8 features a discussion of the European ceramics found in the New World. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. George Long of University of Central Florida, Dr. Roger Grange of the University of South Florida, and Dr. Daniel S. Murphree of the University of Central Florida.
Original 10-minute and 59-second podcast by Bethany Dickens, 2013: "A History of Central Florida, Episode 8: European Earthenware." A History of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES
Florida Memory Project
Orange County Regional History Center
New Smyrna Museum of History
Florida History Online
Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center
New Smyrna Museum of History, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, St. Augustine, Florida
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center, Ocala, Florida
Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, Florida
Sanford's Riverfront from a north view during the 19th century, with a steamship pictured in the background. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Digital reproduction of original 5 x 8 inch black and white graph on Florida Memory Project: "North From Verandah." Reference Collection, shelf number 15174, call number RC07050, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
State Library and Archives of Florida
A History of Central Florida, Episode 7: Spanish Mission Bell
Episode 7 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Spanish Mission Bell. A History of Central Florida Podcast series explores Central Florida's history through the artifacts found in local area museums and historical societies. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 7 features a discussion of the Spanish mission bell recovered in the Ocklawaha River between Palatka and Ocala, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. John Worth of the University of West Florida and Dr. Daniel S. Murphree of the University of Central Florida.
Original 11-minute and 40-second podcast by Kevin Stapleton, 2013: "A History of Central Florida, Episode 7: Spanish Mission Bell." A History of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources
A History of Central Florida, Episode 6: Early Maps of Florida
Episode 6 of A History of Central Florida Podcast: Early Maps of Florida. A History of Central Florida Podcast series explores Central Florida's history through the artifacts found in local area museums and historical societies. These podcasts can involve the participation or cooperation of local area partners. Episode 6 features early maps of Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Ben Huseman of the University of Texas at Arlington and Dr. Daniel S. Murphree of the University of Central Florida.
Original 14-minute and 27-second podcast by Kendra Hazen, 2013: "A History of Central Florida, Episode 6: Early Maps of Florida." A History of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Florida Historical Society
Internet Archive
Florida Historical Society, Cocoa Beach, Florida
Oral history told by Peter Newman, playwright, director, and board member of Creative Sanford, Inc., a non-profit organization created to manage Celery Soup: Florida's Folk Life Play community theater productions. Celery Soup's first production was Touch and Go, a play about how the people of Sanford overcame obstacles throughout their history. This interview, conducted by Mark Miller, deals with topics such as the history of Creative Sanford, and Celery Soup, Newman's playwriting process, the Florida highwaymen, scripts that Newman wrote, the use of history as inspiration for plays, the importance of authenticity, the story of Dr. George H. Starke, dealing with sensitive issues and race relations, the interviewing process, and the community's reaction to Celery Soup's plays.
Newman, Peter. Interviewed by Mark Miller. Audio record available. RICHES of Central Florida.
Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Sanford, Florida
Sanford's riverfront in the late 1950s. Pictured is a gasoline tank and farm, which has since been replaced by Sailpointe Apartments at 401 West Seminole Boulevard. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Baggs' Produce Cart from "Remade - Not Bought"
the Baggs' Produce cart prop used in several scenes for Remade - Not Bought to symbolize the Baggs' grocery store. This store was part of the community for decades and has served as a de facto meeting place for residents of Sanford, Florida. Remade - Not Bought was a Celery Soup: Florida's Folk Life Play and Creative Sanford, Inc. play performed from October 18 through November 3, 2013. The play was written by Peter Newman, Brian Casey, Trish Thompson, Annye Refoe, and Laura Donaldson. Remade - Not Bought was directed by Nicholas Murphy, the artistic director of Cornerstone Theatre in Orlando, and includes original music by Ruth King. The play features stories real-life stories based on oral histories of Sanford residents.
Original color digital image by Autumn Reisz, October 11, 2013.
The Orange County Courthouse, located at 425 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. In 1857, B. F. Caldwell donated four acres of land at the northeast corner of Central Boulevard and Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue) for the original courthouse in Orange County. A two-story hand-hewn log structured was built in 1863, but burned down in 1868. A three-story frame courthouse, the county's fourth, was built by Augustus Hyer in 1875. In 1882, W. C. Green's Company built a fifth courthouse that was designed by A. S. Wagner. An eight-foot tall clock tower with a 1,500 pound bell, nicknamed "Big Ben," was added at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue. The sixth courthouse was constructed on land acquired by the county in 1924 in the Neoclassical Revival style. The building was designed by Murray S. King, completed by his son James R. King, and dedicated on October 12, 1927. The 1892 courthouse was demolished in 1957 and replaced in 1960 by a modern glass and steel annex structure connected to the 1927 building. In 1999, the annex was torn down after being abandoned due to asbestos. In the late 1990s, the 1927 courthouse was remodeled for $35 million as the Orange County Regional History Center. The current courthouse for the Ninth District is located on North Orange Avenue.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2011: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Orange County Courthouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, 2004
The City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, located at the corner of North Magnolia Avenue and Wall Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Inspired by a fire in 1883, Orlando's first volunteer fire department was established by William C. Sherman, who would be named Fire Chief. The organization also included Ben Bartlett, Tom Mann, J. Walter Hosier, J. W. Gettier, and Macy. The team used a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade, and a painter's ladder to extinguish fires. A major fire in 1884 and an article written by E. H. Gore in The Orange County Reporter resulted in the official organization of the Orlando Fire Department in 1885, with John Weeks as the first official Fire Chief. On March 25, 1919, Firehouse No. 1 moved from its original location on Oak Street (present-day Wall Street) to a new location at 19 North Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue). The new station cost $17,708 to construct and the old station was abandoned. In 2006, the Fire Department announced that a new Fire Station No. 1 would be located at 78 West Central Boulevard. The new building would be the three lower floors of a nine-story high-rise and would serve as the new headquarters for the City of Orlando Fire Department. The new fire station opened on December 2, 2009.
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Woven Tales and Signature Boards at the Princess Theater
A display wall in the Princess Theater, located at 115 West First Street in Sanford, Florida. This wall displays two important artifacts related to Creative Sanford, Inc.: "Woven Tales", materials woven during an earlier play; and the signature boards of all of the actors and volunteers who participated in previous performances. Creative Sanford is a non-profit organization created to manage Celery Soup community theater productions. The original idea for the Celery Soup: Florida’s Folk Life Play project came from Jeanine Taylor, the owner of a folk-art gallery on First Street in Sanford, Florida. Their first production was Touch and Go, a play focusing on the people of Sanford and their determination to overcome various obstacles, including the Freeze of 1894-1895, the fall of Sanford's celery industry, and the closing of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sanford in the 1960s. Richard Geer and Jules Corriere, partners from Community Performance International, were in charge of assessing oral histories, converting them into scenes for the play, and writing original songs. Director Geer also used an all-volunteer cast from the local community, many of whom were not experienced actors. In the process of producing the show, Creative Sanford decided to rehabilitate an historic building, the Princess Theater, which is located on 115 West First Street and owned by Stephen Tibstra. The Creative Sanford offices are housed in the Historic Sanford Welcome Center, located at 203 East First Street.
Sanford to Honor Dr. Starke for Half Century of Medical Service
This newspaper clipping, from the September 11, 1977 edition of the The Sentinel Star, offers a descriptive profile of Dr. George H. Starke's (1898-1978) history and accomplishments. Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Starke became one of only four African-American physicians to be accepted by Harvard University for residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He practiced for several years in Boston and then returned to Sanford in 1933 and continued to practice medicine until his death at age 80. For many years, Dr. Starke was the only African-American doctor in Sanford. Dr. Starke was also the first African-American doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association and the Seminole County Medical Association, as well as the second to join the American Medical Association. In 1971, the City of Sanford named George Starke Park, located at 1501 West Third Street, in his honor.
Original newspaper article by Keay Davidson: "Sanford to Honor Dr. Starke for Half Century of Medical Service," The Sentinel Star, September 11, 1977: Dr. George H. Starke Folder, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2001
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Federal District Courthouse, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2002
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2003
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2003. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral Chancery Office, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Orlando Post Office and Federal Courthouse, 2007
The United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse at 42-44 East Central Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The building was constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style from 1939 to 1941 and dedicated on April 14, 1941. It has been occupied by the United States Postal Service since 1941, the Federal District Courthouse from 1941 to circa 1974, and the office of the Roman Catholic Church since 2003. The building was renovated in the early 2000s and was modified for office and retail use, with the post office retaining 13,200 square feet. Plans included an adjacent parking garage on the north side, though that that aspect never came to fruition. St. James Roman Catholic Cathedral, located across Court Street from the post office, purchased the parts of the building not utilized by the post office and use it for Chancery office space.
An oral history with Kem McNair, a surfer, artist, musician, photographer, and owner of McNair Computer Arts LLC in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Born on December 27, 1952, McNair moved from southern Georgia to Central Florida around 1962. He learned to surf and became a member of the Surfari Club for many years. McNair has competed in various surfing contests and has won various championships, including the Florida Surfing Championship, and was a member of the Hobie Surf Team. Other topics discussed in the oral history include memories of Central Florida, the Surfari Club, learning how to surf, how surfing has changed over time, injuries McNair suffered from surfing, and traveling to surfing competitions.
McNair, Kem. Interview by Irene Pump and Lindsay Hemings. Daytona State College, New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Campus. July 18, 2013. Audio/video record available. Daytona State College, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Witch's Rock, Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Ollie's Point, Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
All Souls Catholic Church Historic Chapel, 2011
The All Souls Catholic Church, located at 800 South Oak Avenue in Sanford, Florida, in 2011. All Souls Catholic Church was founded by Father McFaul in 1882 and is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Central Florida. The original church building was completed in 1888, under the administration of the first missionary of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, Father Swembergh. The rectangular building was painted white, had four pillars in the front, and a gable roof. The church was destroyed by fire on January 25, 1932. Various testimonies and gossip surround the fire, offering inaccuracies to the date and cause of the incident. Because the building was destroyed during the Great Depression, parishioners struggled to rebuild the church. Following the fire, mass was held in a neighboring two-story structure built by the residing pastor, Father Patrick J. Bresnahan. Within the span of five years, church members were able to rebuild All Souls Church, and offered the community a larger, more prolific edifice to house church services. In 1951, the Catholic parish established the All Souls Catholic School, and staffed the academic institution with the first Sisters of Christian Charity to serve the State of Florida. The school was completed on September 7, 1954, and continued to add additional classrooms and activity spaces in 1960 and 1981. As of 2011, All Souls Catholic Church has expanded onto a 63-acre property located at 3280 West First Street.
Original color digital images by Kathleen MacDonald, July 20, 2011.
All Souls Catholic Church Historic Chapel, Sanford, Florida
A newspaper article about W. A. Patrick, president of the Seminole Tire Shop in Sanford, Florida. Patrick migrated to Sanford on March 10, 192,7 and established a tire repair business that also distributed Firestone and Crosley products. By 1932, his business was recognized as the "leading and most progressive of its kind" in Sanford, according to the article. At the time that the article was written, Patrick resided at 1513 Palmetto Avenue with his wife, Agnes Bartlett Patrick. W. A. Patrick was also a member of the Masons, the Elks Lodges, and the Christian Church. His store, the Seminole Tire Shop, erected one of the largest one-stop service stations in the city, which was located at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market that opened in 1934. The Seminole Tire Shop was incorporated in 1932 but is no longer active.
Original newspaper article: "Seminole Tire Shop ." The Sanford Herald: Who's Who of 1933, Vol. 24, No. 157, April 29, 1933. Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
LizArt Live! Auction at Orlando City Hall
The LizArt Live! auction at Orlando City Hall, located at 400 South Orange Avenue, in Downtown Orlando, Florida 2002. The statues range between 5 feet and six inches in height to seven feet and six inches in length. The lizard statues were originally located at various places in Orlando, such as the Orlando Centroplex, Lake Eola, the Expo Centre, and the Cultural Corridor, CityWalk at Universal Studios Orlando, the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando International Airport, Leu Gardens, and Loch Haven Park. The LizArt project was inspired by Chicago's cows on Parade, which was modeled after a public art project in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1998. Other cities have held similar projects, such as Cincinnati's pigs, Lexington's horses, Buffalo's buffalo, Virginia Beach's mermaids, New Orleans' fish, and Rhode Island's potato heads. The LizArt was auctioned on January 31, 2002.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, January 31, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Orlando City Hall, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Dr. Starke Wins Chase Senior Citizen Award
This newspaper clipping concerns the awarding of the Chase Senior Citizen Award to Dr. George H. Starke (1898-1978). The precise newspaper is unknown, but it is presumed to be The Sanford Herald. The year the award was given is believed to be 1974. Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Starke became one of only four African-American physicians to be accepted by Harvard University for residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He practiced for several years in Boston and then returned to Sanford in 1933 and continued to practice medicine until his death at age 80. For many years, Dr. Starke was the only African-American doctor in Sanford. Dr. Starke was also the first African-American doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association and the Seminole County Medical Association, as well as the second to join the American Medical Association. In 1971, the City of Sanford named George Starke Park, located at 1501 West Third Street, in his honor.
Original newspaper article by Jane Casselberry: "Dr. Starke Wins Chase Senior Citizen Award," The Sanford Herald: Dr. George H. Starke Folder, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford Florida.