Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
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.
RICHES of Central Florida
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.
Veterans Memorial Park, Sanford, Florida
The former location of the Chase & Company office, located at 110 West First Street in Sanford, Florida, in 2011. The building served as Chase & Co.'s office since 1887 and its office for fire insurance beginning in 1917. The building is currently occupied by the University of Central Florida's Business Incubator office. Chase & Company was also one of the first vendors to lease a stall at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market when it opened in 1934. Chase & Company was established in 1884 by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965.
Original color digital image by Laura Cepero, July 24, 2011.
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
UCF Business Incubator, Sanford, Florida
Former Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company Office
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company
The former office of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company on 101 East First Street in Sanford, Florida as early as 1915. As of 2011, the building was being occupied by Betty Anne's Hair Styling. Southern Bell was originally part of the Bell Telephone Company, founded on July 9, 1877 in Boston, Massachusetts. Southern Bell, formerly called the Atlanta Telephonic Exchange, became a separate entity on December 20, 1879, in Atlanta, Georgia. The company was established to serve Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, parts of West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In 1917, operations for West Virginia were taken over by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia. On December 20, 1967, Southern Bell formed South Central Bell Telephone to operate in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Although originally incorporated in New York, Southern Bell was reincorporated in Georgia as SBT & T Company in 1983. As of 2013, the company operates as BellSouth Telecommunications and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, Sanford, Florida
Betty Anne's Hair Styling, Sanford, Florida
Vendors at the First Sanford State Farmers' Market
A table representing the vendors to rent stalls at the First Sanford State Farmers' State Market, where they were located, the number of stalls rented, and miscellaneous information. Vendors included B. E. Akin of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; the Sanford-Oviedo Truck Growers, Inc., a cooperative growing and shipping organization; the Brown Brothers; E. J. Cameron; B. R. Carroll; Chase and Company, a packer and shipper of citrus, celery, and other vegetables, as well as a manufacturer of crates, fertilizers, and insecticides; C. I. & M. Dingfelder, Abe Godsey; E. C. Harnage, a former officer of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway Company; W. E. Hathaway; Langford and Son; M. Moses, a grower and shipper of celery; A. B. Stevens, a producer of milk; Peter Thurston, a vegetable grower; William N. William, a dealer of tomatoes, avocados, limes, cucumbers, and peppers; Fred Zerrener; W. H. Britt; B. A. Howard, an executive committee member of the Florida Vegetable Growers' Association board; Stokes Seed Company, a packer and shipper of celery; H. C. Whelchel; W. B. Williams; and Ed Bullion, grower of limes, avocadoes, and vegetables. Bullion's broker, Edward Williams, was credited with the first official sale at the new farmers' market. H. J. Clause, broker for both the Sanford-Oviedo Truck Growers and for Peter Thurston, was credited with the second official sale. The idea for the Sanford State Farmers' Market was devised by Fred Dorner and Gus Schmach, both members of the Seminole Agricultural Club. The Sanford Chamber of Commerce president Harry Papworth also contributed to the development of the market. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) authorized construction plans on June 11, 1934. On June 20, 1934, the City of Sanford donated a portion of the Alex V. French properties to the Florida State Marketing Board, which selected the northwest corner of French Avenue and Thirteenth Street. The board approved the installation of telegraph and telephone equipment, as well as a three-pump filling station. The Sanford State Farmer's Market opened on December 18, 1934. By 1939, the Farmers' Market was bringing a total volume of business of $627,065.81. In 1941, business volume reached over $700,000. On April 4, 1957, a fire destroyed the building and caused damages estimated at $2.5 million. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Farmers' Market was expected to re-open by the fall of 1957. In 1991, plans were created to restore, preserve, and convert the citrus packing house into a museum.
Original dataset by Laura Cepero, August 3, 2011.
Sanford State Farmers' Market, Sanford, Florida
Sanford-Oviedo Truck Growers, Inc., Sanford, Florida
Acreage and Production of Grain Crops, Seminole County, 1929
A table representing acreage and production of grain and forage crops in Seminole County during 1929. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, and the number of farms reporting for each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified corn, cloves, tame and wild grasses, annual legumes, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes and yams as grain and forage crops.
Original table by Laura Cepero, July 20, 2011.
Acreage and Production of Grain Crops, Seminole County, 1934
A table representing acreage and production of grain crops in Seminole County, Florida, during 1934. Statistics identify the various grain crops grown in Seminole County, the acreage each crop occupied, production numbers for each crop, and how many farms reported that grew a particular grain crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified small grains, hay, corn, cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes and yams as grain crops. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Acreage and Production of Hay Crops and Miscellaneous Crops Harvested, Seminole County, 1939
A table representing acreage and production of hay and miscellaneous crops harvested in Seminole County during 1939. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, and the number of farms reporting for each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified hay and sorghum (for all purposes except for syrup) as hay crops. The census also identified Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams, cotton, tobacco, sugarcane (used for syrup), and root and grain crops (used for hogging or grazing) as miscellaneous crops. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Acreage and Quantity of Corn, Sorghums, and Small Grains, Seminole County, 1939
Aable representing acreage and quantity of corn, sorghum, and small grans in Seminole County during 1939. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, and the number of farms reporting for each crop. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
A table representing acreage and production of grain and forage crops in Seminole County, Florida, during 1929. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, and the number of farms reporting for each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified corn, cloves, tame and wild grasses, annual legumes, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes and yams as grain and forage crops. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Acreage of Principle Crops, Seminole County, 1924
A table representing the acreage of principle crops in Seminole County, Florida, during 1924. Crops such as corn, velvet beans, and dry edible beans were listed as grain and forage crops. Tame grasses and annual legumes were categorized as hay crops. Crops such as cotton, sugar cane, potatoes, and strawberries were listed as miscellaneous. Vegetables grown for sale included cabbages, melons, lettuce, onions, corn, and tomatoes. All of the fruits and nuts were listed under orchard fruits and nuts. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination. This trend is made apparent in the total value of principle crops listed by the U.S. Census of Agriculture in 1924. In 1919, principle crops were valued at $186,229 in comparison to drop in value in 1924 to $22,509 for the same identified crops.
Original table by Laura Cepero, July 21, 2011.
A table representing the acreage of field crops in Seminole County, Florida, during 1924. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, and the dollar value of each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified upland and Sea Island cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, rice, sugarcane and syrup, peas, and native grass and natal grass hay as field crops. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Production Numbers of Orchard Fruits and Nuts, Seminole County, 1924
A table representing the production numbers of orchard fruits and nuts in Seminole County, Florida during 1924. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, the number of trees for all ages, the number of trees of non-bearing age, the number of trees of bearing age, and vines of all ages. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified peaches, plums and prunes, grapes, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, and pecans as orchard fruits and nuts. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
A table representing farm statistics in Orange County, Florida, during 1904. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, and the dollar value of each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture identified upland and Sea Island cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, rice, sugarcane and syrup, peas, and native grass and natal grass hay as field crops. Mosquito County, a massive county south of St. Johns County that consisted of much of Central Florida, was established in 1824. In 1845, Mosquito County was renamed Orange County when Florida earned statehood. This new county included present-day Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia counties. Orange County was named so for the area's major fruit crop: oranges. The area was devastated by a freeze during the winter of 1895-1896, which allowed for subsequent land speculators to initiate a land boom in Florida, with Orlando becoming a "boom town." Seminole County separated from Orange on April 25, 1913 and was named for the Seminole tribes that originally inhabited the area. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Original table by Laura Cepero, July 18, 2011.
Crop Acreage by Year, Seminole County, 1919-1949
Bar chart representing crop acreage for Seminole County from 1919 to 1949. Corn was often planted in the summer after the celery fields were harvested. Because the fields still contained fertilizer from the previous celery production, there was often a high yield of corn in Seminole County. In 1926, it was reported that most of the corn produced in Seminole County was a cross between Hasting Prolific and Cuban flint, a hardy type resistant to corn weevils. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination. Mosquito County, a massive county south of St. Johns County that consisted of much of Central Florida, was established in 1824. In 1845, Mosquito County was renamed Orange County when Florida earned statehood. This new county included present-day Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia counties. Orange County was named so for the area's major fruit crop: oranges. The area was devastated by a freeze during the winter of 1895-1896, which allowed for subsequent land speculators to initiate a land boom in Florida, with Orlando becoming a "boom town." Seminole County separated from Orange on April 25, 1913 and was named for the Seminole tribes that originally inhabited the area. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Original bar chart by Laura Cepero, July 15, 2011.
Specified Crops Harvested, Seminole County, 1944
A table representing crop acreage, production and value for Seminole County, Florida, in 1944. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, the number of farms reporting for each crop, and the value of each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture produced statistics for corn, sorghum (used for all purposes except for syrup), oats cut for feeding (small grains), cowpeas (except for green manure), peanuts, peanuts vines used for hay, tame hay (excluding sorghum), Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams, sugarcane harvested for syrup, chufas harvested for nuts, and chufas used for hogging off. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
Specified Crops Harvested, Seminole County, 1949
A table representing crop acreage, production and value for Seminole County, Florida, in 1949. Statistics in the table identify various products produced in the county, how many acres each crop occupied, production number of each crop, the number of farms reporting for each crop, and the value of each crop. The U.S. Census of Agriculture produced statistics for corn, cowpeas, peanuts, velvet beans, hay crops (excluding cowpea and peanut hay), miscellaneous field seed crops (lupin seed, grass, etc.), Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, cotton, sugarcane and sorghum used for syrup, and root and grain crops hogged off or grazed (excluding corn, cowpeas, and peanuts). In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.
The Chabad of Greater Orlando, located at 708 Lake Howell Road in Maitland, Florida, in 2005. Chabad-Lubavitch is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish movements. "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for chochmah, binah, and da'at (wisdom, comprehension, and knowledge, respectively). "Lubavitch" is the name of the Russian town where the movement was founded by Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) in 1755. Like other Orthodox Judaic denominations, Chabad Jews strictly follow the laws and ethics of the Torah, the Jewish religious text. The worldwide Chab movement numbers approximate 200,000 adherents.
Original color photograph by Laura Lynn Cepero, 2005: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Chabad of Greater Orlando, Maitland, Florida
Baldwin Park, a neighborhood located southwest of Lake Baldwin in Orlando, Florida, sometime betwen 2005 and 2006. The neighborhood is 1,000 acres, is home to 8,000 residents, and includes 125 businesses. Baldwin Park was built at the former site of the Naval Training Center Orlando (NTC Orlando). The community is an example of New Urbanism, a design movement which features walkable neighborhoods with a range of housing styles and job types. The movement began in the early 1980s and is influenced by the principles of traditional neighborhood design (TND) and transit-oriented development (TOD).
Original color photographs by Laura Lynn Cepero: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Charlie Crist at the University of Central Florida, 2012
Former Governor Charlie Crist (b. 1956) speaking at a political rally at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida, on October 29, 2012. The rally was hosted by the UCF College Democrats and held on behalf of President Barack Obama (b. 1961), who was campaigning for his re-election bid in the Presidential Election of 2012. President Obama was originally scheduled to speak at the rally, but had to cancel due to emergency relief needs for Hurricane Sandy in the northeast. Former President Bill Clinton (b. 1946) and Democratic Senator Bill Nelson (b. 1942) also spoke at the rally. President Obama went on to win re-election, defeating his Republican opponent, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney (b. 1947). Governor Crist is best known as the 44th Governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011. After a career as an attorney, Crist entered politics as a Republican and served in the Florida Senate from 1993 to 1998. He also served as the Florida Education Commissioner from 2001 to 2003 and as the Florida Attorney General from 2003 to 2007. Following his governorship, Crist ran for the U.S. Senate. After being defeated by Marco Rubio (b. 1971) in the race for the Republican nomination, Crist left the Republican Party and ran as an independent, ultimately losing to Rubio. During the Presidential Election of 2012, Crist endorsed and campaigned for President Obama. On December 7, 2012, he officially joined the Democratic Party. He ran for Governor of Florida again in 2014, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott (b. 1952).
Original color digital images by Laura Lynn Cepero, October 29, 2012: Private Collection of Laura Lynn Cepero.
Memory Mall, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Bill Nelson Speaking at the University of Central Florida, 2012
Bill Nelson (b. 1942) speaking at a political rally at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida, on October 29, 2012. The rally was hosted by the UCF College Democrats and held on behalf of President Barack Obama (b. 1961), who was campaigning for his re-election bid in the Presidential Election of 2012. President Obama was originally scheduled to speak at the rally, but had to cancel due to emergency relief needs for Hurricane Sandy in the northeast. Former President Bill Clinton (b. 1946) and former Florida Governor Charlie Crist (b. 1956) also spoke at the rally. President Obama went on to win re-election, defeating his Republican opponent, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney (b. 1947). At the time that this photograph was taken, Senator Nelson was a Democratic Senator in the U.S. Senate, representing the State of Florida since 2001. Nelson originally began his political career in the Florida House of Representatives, serving from 1973 to 1979. From 1979 to 1991, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives. In January of 1986, Nelson flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia, becoming the second sitting member of the U.S. Congress to fly in space. In 1990, he retired from Congress to run for Governor of Florida, but was defeated by Lawton Chiles (1930-1998). He then served as the Florida State Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal from 1995 to 2001, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Bill Clinton Speaking at the University of Central Florida, 2012
Former President Bill Clinton (b. 1946) speaking at a political rally at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida, on October 29, 2012. The rally was hosted by the UCF College Democrats and held on behalf of President Barack Obama (b. 1961), who was campaigning for his re-election bid in the Presidential Election of 2012. President Obama was originally scheduled to speak at the rally, but had to cancel due to emergency relief needs for Hurricane Sandy in the northeast. Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist (b. 1956) and Democratic Senator Bill Nelson (b. 1942) also spoke at the rally and can be seen on stage in several of these photographs. President Obama went on to win re-election, defeating his Republican opponent, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney (b. 1947). President Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He is married to Hillary Clinton (b. 1847), who served as New York Senator from 2001 to 2009 and as U.S. Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. Before his presidency, President Clinton served as the 50th Attorney General of Arkansas from 1977 to 1979 and as the 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1992, respectively. As president, he presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history. His presidency is also known for passing welfare reform, his sex scandal with White House intern Monica Lewinsky (b. 1973), his impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice in regard to the Lewinsky affair, and his achievement of a budget surplus during the last three years of his administration. Following his presidency, he founded the William J. Clinton Foundation to address various international humanitarian causes.
The Oviedo Marketplace, located at 1700 Oviedo Marketplace Boulevard (present-day Oviedo Mall B oulevard) in Oviedo, Florida, in 2005. The first photograph shows Pizzeria Regina and Cajun Grill. The second photograph features Master Wok, Meditterranean Gourmet, and Subway. The third shows Gringo's, Sarku Japan, Chick-Fil-A, and Cajun Grill. Ben & Jerry's and Barnie's Coffee and Tea Company are featured in the fourth photograph. The fifth photograph again features Cajun Grill, Chick-Fil-A, Sarku Japan, and Gringo's. The sixth photograph shows Regal Cinemas and the last photograph features three retail stands in front of FYE. The Oviedo Marketplace opened in 1998 with General Growth Properties as its owner. The mall struggled financially following the economic recession in 2008, and in 2010, CW Capital purchased the mall. The mall's new manager, Urban Retail Properties, changed the name to the Oviedo Mall, installed a new play area for children, and began hosting various community events. In March of 2013, the Oviedo Mall was sold to 3D Investments.
Original color photographs by Laura Lynn Cepero, 2005: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
The 10th Annual Unity Heritage Festival, held at Shady Park, on the corner of South Pennsylvania Avenue and West New England Avenue, in Hannibal Square in Winter Park, Florida, in 2012. The festival is held annual on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as well as the day before. The festival was hosted by the City of Winter Park in order to "promote family history and raise funds for the Educational Fulfillment Fund for local economically disadvantaged youth," according to the city website. These images show various performers dancing and singing to a variety of songs by Motown artists, such as the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, and the Four Tops.
Original color photographs by Laura Lynn Cepero, January 16, 2012: Private Collection of Laura Lynn Cepero.
Shady Park, Hannibal Square, Winter Park, Florida
St. Stephen's Catholic Church, located at 575 Tuskawilla Road in Winter Springs, Florida, in 2005. On December 5, 1984, Bishop Thomas Joseph Grady (1914-2002) approved the establishment of a Catholic community to serve eastern Seminole County. Father John J. Bluett was assigned as the Founding Pastor of the church on February 5, 1984. While the church building was being constructed, the community celebrated its First Eucharistic liturgy with 800 congregants at Lake Howell High School on June 16, 1985. On February 22, 1986, Bishop Grady broke ground for the site and the church celebrated its first Eucharistic Celebration on April 16, 1987. In January of 2001, Father George Dunne began his ministry at the church, alongside Father Bluett.
Original color photographs by Laura Lynn Cepero, December 1, 2005: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
St. Stephens Catholic Church, Winter Springs, Florida
The Brevard Zoo, located at 8225 North Wickham Road in Melbourne, Florida, in 2000. Pictured in the photograph are, from left to right: an unidentified child, Alicia Lynn Cepero; Robert "Bobby" James Lenahan, Jr.; Laura Lynn Cepero; and Lynn Lenahan (née Sabatino). Construction for the zoo was spearheaded by the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. (ECZS) and began in 1992. The zoo opened on March 26, 1994.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 2000: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Gertrude Welsh and Lynn Lenahan at Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in January of 1989. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry B. Plant (1819-1899). The building was demolished around 1890 and the current Church Street Station Depot 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.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 1989: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Church Street Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Rainbow Elementary School's Chorus at Downtown Disney, 1998
The chorus of Rainbow Elementary School, a school in Winter Springs, at Downtown Disney, an entertainment complex located at 1780 East Buena Vista Drive in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in 1998. Originally called the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, the complex opened on March 22, 1975. In 1977, the complex was renamed Walt Disney World Village. Pleasure Island was added to the village on May 1, 1989, ad the complex was renamed the Disney Village Marketplace later that year. In 1995, Walt Disney World began to enhance and expand the complex, while also combing the Disney Village Marketplace and Pleasure Island into one district called Downtown Disney, which was introduced on September 7, 1998. On March 14, 2013, Disney announced that Downtown Disney would be revitalized as Disney Springs.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 1998: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Laura Lynn Cepero (b. 1987), Alicia Lynn Cepero (b. 1975), and Samantha Ariel Pryor (b. 1990) in Mystery Fun House, an Orlando attraction, in 2001. The attraction was founded by David A. Siegel on March 28, 1976, and was located at 5767 Major Boulevard. The fun house was closed in 2001.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 2001: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium, 1992
Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium in 1992. The siblings pictured in the photograph are, from left to right: David Cepero (b. 1978), Dennis Cepero (b. 1986), Laura Lynn Cepero (b. 1987), and Alicia Lynn Cepero (b. 1975). Gertrude Welsh, the great-aunt of the children, is standing in the back. Rosie O'Grady's was a restaurant that was once part of the Church Street Station entertainment complex in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry B. Plant (1819-1899). The building was demolished around 1890 and the current Church Street Station Depot 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.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 1992: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Lake Howell High School Senior Powderpuff Team, 2005
Lake Howell High School senior Powderpuff flag football team in 2005. Lake Howell High School is a public high school located at 4200 Dike Road in Winter Park, Florida. Although its mailing address is Winter Park, which is part of Orange County, the school is geographically located in Seminole County and serves students in Winter Springs and Oviedo. The school was established in 1975 and has over 2,000 students. The term "powderpuff" is used describe the participation of females in traditionally male sports, such as football, and the participation of males in traditionally female sports, such as cheerleading. Powderpuff football games are a tradition for many American high schools and universities. The first powderpuff football game was held on October 20, 1945, at Eastern State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota. The idea for a female football team arose out of the lack of male football players due to the military draft during World War II. Powderpuff became popularized in 1972 when two high schools in Connecticut, Mark T. Sheehan High School and Lyman Hall High School, held a game between their female students.
Original color photographs, 2005: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Lake Howell High School, Winter Springs, Florida
Members of the Cepero family at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in 1991. Photographed from left to right are Dennis Cepero (b. 1986), Ray (née Raúl) Cepero (b. 1947), David Cepero (b. 1978), Laura Lynn Cepero (b. 1987), and Alicia Lynn Cepero (b. 1975). Weeki Wachee, located at 6131 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, Florida, is best known for its famous tourist attraction, Weeki Wachee Springs. Weeki Wachee Springs features performances by underwater mermaids, a glass-bottom boat ride, and other natural attractions. The springs are named after the Seminole words for "little spring" or "winding river." In 1946, former U.S. Navy member Newt Perry (1908-1987) began to develop a tourist attraction at Weeki Wachee. By the 1950s, Weeki Wachee was one of the top tourist stops in the United States. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) purchased the site in 1959 and continued to expand. In 2008, Weeki Wachee was taken over by the state of Florida as a state park.
Original color photograph by Nancy Lynn Cepero, 1991: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill, Florida
The water ski show at Cypress Gardens in June of 1989. Billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park, Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936, as a botanical garden planted by Dick Pope, Sr. (1900-1988) and his wife, Julie Pope. Over the years, it became one of the biggest attractions in Florida, known for its water ski shows, lush gardens, and Southern Belles. It also became known as the "Water Ski Capital of the World," because many of the sport's landmark firsts and the over 50 world records broken there. Numerous motion pictures were filmed at the Cypress Gardens, including portions of This is Cinerama, the first feature filmed in the wide-screen format, as well as a string of Esther Williams films and television specials in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1950s, young women dressed in the crinolines reminiscent of the Antebellum South. During the American Civil War Centennial, young men dressed in Confederate uniforms would be photographed with the Southern Belles. With the addition of a custom photography boat named Miss Cover Girl in the early 1960s, the park became a popular site for the filming of television commercials. However, Cypress Gardens closed in 2009 and Legoland occupies the former lot at 1 Legoland Way in Winter Haven, Florida.
Original color photographs, June 1989: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Doobie Brothers and Santana Tribute Concert at the Daytona Beach Bandshell, 2014
A Doobie Brothers and Santana Tribute Concert at the Daytona Beach Bandshell on August 16, August 16, 2014. Two restaurants, My Pi Pizza! and Sloppy Joe's, and a movie theater, Paragon Theaters, can also be seen in the images. Located at 70 Boardwalk in Daytona Beach, Florida, this amphitheater was constructed between 1936 1937. The Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) began constructed in September of 1936 and the first program was presented on July 4, 1937. The bandshell was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic places on March 5, 1999.
Original color digital images by Ray Cepero, August 16, 2014: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Hurricane Charley Aftermath in Ormond Beach
The aftermath of Hurricane Charley in Ormond Beach, Florida. Hurricane Charley formed on August 9, 2004, and dissipated on August 15. Charley was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in southwest Florida and was the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Although Hurricane Charley weakened to 85 mph winds while passing over the Central Florida region, it still caused considerable damage, as seen in these photographs. Overall, the hurricane resulted in eight direct fatalities in Florida and cost the state over $13 billion in damage.
Original color photographs by Ray Cepero, August 2004: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Ormond Beach, Florida, in 2012. Ormond Beach is a city located in Volusia County, just north of Daytona Beach. Timucuan Indians frequented the area, but it was not settled until 1643, when a group of Quakers arrived after being blown off course. Although relations were originally friendly, Timucuan chief Oseanoha led a raid of the Quaker encampment in 1704, obliterating the population. By 1708, the Spanish settled in the area, until the British took control. In 1821, the U.S. acquired Florida from Spain, but settlement was delayed by the Second Seminole War. Following the American Civil War, the area became a popular tourist destination for wealthy travelers. In 1875, settlers from New Britain, Connecticut, founded the city as New Britain, but the city was incorporated in 1880 as Ormond. The city was named after James Ormond I, an Anglo-Irish-Scottish sea captain responsible for transporting Franciscan settlers to Florida on behalf of King Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784-1833). The St. Johns & Halifax Railroad arrived in 1886 and the Ormond Hotel was constructed in 1888. The first automobile races were held on a track of beach from Ormond south to Daytona Beach in 1902. As a result, Ormond Beach is nicknamed "The Birthplace of Speed."
Original color digital image by Ray Cepero, May 26, 2012: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Sunrise at Ormond Beach, Florida, in 2012. Ormond Beach is a city located in Volusia County, just north of Daytona Beach. Timucuan Indians frequented the area, but it was not settled until 1643, when a group of Quakers arrived after being blown off course. Although relations were originally friendly, Timucuan chief Oseanoha led a raid of the Quaker encampment in 1704, obliterating the population. By 1708, the Spanish settled in the area, until the British took control. In 1821, the U.S. acquired Florida from Spain, but settlement was delayed by the Second Seminole War. Following the American Civil War, the area became a popular tourist destination for wealthy travelers. In 1875, settlers from New Britain, Connecticut, founded the city as New Britain, but the city was incorporated in 1880 as Ormond. The city was named after James Ormond I, an Anglo-Irish-Scottish sea captain responsible for transporting Franciscan settlers to Florida on behalf of King Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784-1833). The St. Johns & Halifax Railroad arrived in 1886 and the Ormond Hotel was constructed in 1888. The first automobile races were held on a track of beach from Ormond south to Daytona Beach in 1902. As a result, Ormond Beach is nicknamed "The Birthplace of Speed."
Original color digital image by Ray Cepero, September 15, 2012: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
A variety of birds at Ormond Beach, Florida, in 2014. Some of the species of birds shown in the images include gulls, terns, sanderlings, dowitchers, and willets. Ormond Beach is a city located in Volusia County, just north of Daytona Beach. Timucuan Indians frequented the area, but it was not settled until 1643, when a group of Quakers arrived after being blown off course. Although relations were originally friendly, Timucuan chief Oseanoha led a raid of the Quaker encampment in 1704, obliterating the population. By 1708, the Spanish settled in the area, until the British took control. The city was named after James Ormond I, an Anglo-Irish-Scottish sea captain responsible for transporting Franciscan settlers to Florida on behalf of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. In 1821, the U.S. acquired Florida from Spain, but settlement was delayed by the Second Seminole War. Following the American Civil War, the area became a popular tourist destination for wealthy travelers. In 1875, settlers from New Britain, Connecticut, founded the city as New Britain, but the city was incorporated in 1880 as Ormond. The city was named after James Ormond I, an Anglo-Irish-Scottish sea captain responsible for transporting Franciscan settlers to Florida on behalf of King Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784-1833). The St. Johns & Halifax Railroad arrived in 1886 and the Ormond Hotel was constructed in 1888. The first automobile races were held on a track of beach from Ormond south to Daytona Beach in 1902. As a result, Ormond Beach is nicknamed "The Birthplace of Speed."
Original color digital images by Ray Cepero, February 12, 2014: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom, 1974
Nancy Lynn Cepero (b. 1954) walking across the bridge at Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom in 1974.Magic Kingdom, located at 1180 Seven Seas Drive, is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Construction for the resort began in 1967, after the death of Walt Disney (1901-1966). Magic Kingdom was the first park of the Walt Disney Resort to open on October 1, 1971. The park included 33 attractions in six themed areas: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Liberty Square. Tom Sawyer Island is an island in Frontierland that opened on May 20, 1973. It features references to Mark Twain's (1835-1910) novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Original color photograph by Ray Cepero, 1974: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Tom Sawyer Island, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida
Nancy Lynn Cepero (b. 1954), on the right, at Adventureland at Magic Kingdom in 1974. Magic Kingdom, located at 1180 Seven Seas Drive, is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Construction for the resort began in 1967, after the death of Walt Disney (1901-1966). Magic Kingdom was the first park of the Walt Disney Resort to open on October 1, 1971. The park included 33 attractions in six themed areas: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Liberty Square. Adventureland features themes of jungles in Africa, Asia, and South America.
Adventureland, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida
The aftermath of Hurricane Charley in Oviedo, Florida. Hurricane Charley formed on August 9, 2004, and dissipated on August 15. Charley was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in southwest Florida and was the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Although Hurricane Charley weakened to 85 mph winds while passing over the Central Florida region, it still caused considerable damage, as seen in these photographs. Overall, the hurricane resulted in 8 direct fatalities in Florida and cost the state over $13 billion in damage.
Original color photographs by Ray Cepero, August 2004: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Flamingos at Busch Gardens Tampa's Bird Gardens, 2010
Flamingos at the Bird Gardens of Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. The park opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. Busch Gardens originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
Original color digital images by Ray Cepero, February 13, 2010: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Bird Gardens, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
Bird Gardens at Busch Gardens Tampa, 2010
The Bird Gardens of Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. Garden Gate Cafcan bee seen to the left of the photograph, and Gwazi, a roller coaster that opened in 1999, can be seen in the distance. Busch Gardens opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. The park originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
Original color digital image by Ray Cepero, March 10, 2010: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Garden Gate Café, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
Gwazi, Morocco, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
Zebras at the Edge of Africa at Busch Gardens Tampa, 2010
Zebras at the Edge of Africa of Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. The park opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. Busch Gardens originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. The Edge of Africa was opened in 1997. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
Original color digital images by Ray Cepero, March 10, 2010: Private Collection of Ray Cepero.
Edge of Africa, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
Elephants at the Edge of Africa at Busch Gardens Tampa, 2010
Elephants at the Edge of Africa of Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. The park opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. Busch Gardens originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. The Edge of Africa was opened in 1997. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
Nairobi Train Station of the Serengeti Express Railway at Busch Gardens Tampa, 2010
The Nairobi Train Station of the Serengeti Express Railway of Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. The park opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. Busch Gardens originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. The Edge of Africa was opened in 1997. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
Nairobi Train Station, Nairobi, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
SheiKra, a roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa, a theme park located in Tampa, Florida, in 2010. SheiKra is a roller coaster that was added to the Stanleyville area of the park. Mark Rose, vice-president of design and engineering, proposed the idea for the roller coaster. Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV) planned and designed the coaster, which opened on May 21, 2005. Less than two years later, Busch Gardens announced that it would remove the floors of SheiKra's trains. The ride shut down temporarily on May 28, 2007, and reopened on June 16, 2007. Busch Gardens opened as a hospitality facility for Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. on March 31, 1959. Busch Gardens originally hosted a brewery with beer tastings, but it was closed in 1995 and the roller coaster Gwazi was constructed in its place. In 1965, Serengeti Plains, inhabited by African wildlife, opened. In 1971, the Serengeti Express Railway, a two-mile railroad surrounding the park, was opened. The Stanleyville section opened, including the Stanley Falls Flume in 1973. In 1976, the Congo area opened, featuring Busch Gardens' first roller coaster, Python. Various theme areas and attractions have been added to the park over the years. From 1976 through the 1990s, the theme park was called Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent, but was renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during that same decade. From 2006 to 2008, the park was renamed Busch Gardens Africa. In 2008, it returned to its original name. The park is currently owned by SeaWorld Entertainment and the Blackstone Groups. Busch Gardens includes several themed areas in addition to the Edge of Africa: Morocco, Stanleyville, Congo, Jungala, Pantopia, Nairobi, Crown Colony Plaza, and Egypt.
SheiKra, Stanleyville, Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa, Florida
A postcard depicting the Old Market in Charleston, South Carolina. Originally called the Centre Market, market was established in the 1790s and is now known as the City Market. The market and its surrounding district was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places collectively as Market Hall and Sheds. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 4 x 6 inch color postcard by the Charleston News Company: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Murray Boulevard, Showing Fort Sumter Hotel and Docks Postcard
A postcard depicting a view down Murray Boulevard in Charleston, South Carolina, with Fort Sumter Hotel on one side and the docks on the other. Fort Sumter Hotel was built in 1923 and was converted into condominiums in the 1980s. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Original 4 x 6 inch color postcard by the Gulf Stream Card and Distributing Company: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Fort Sumter Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina
A postcard depicting Magnolia Plantation and Gardens near Charleston, South Carolina. Magnolia Gardens, which introduced hundreds of varieties of the plant to the United States, has an extensive collection of camellia plants, and continues to organize and implement a worldwide search for Ancient Camellias which are in threat of extinction. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
A postcard depicting a view of the Sunken Gardens, which were built in 1901 for the Inter-State and West Indian Exposition, a business fair. After the fair was over, Charleston, South Carolina, established Hampton Park, where the Sunken Gardens remain as a landscaped lake. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Hampton Park, Charleston, South Carolina
A postcard depicting Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina. The harbor was the site of two major Civil War events: the Battle of Fort Sumter and the attack on the USS Housatonic, a Union warship, by the H. L. Hunley, a Confederate submarine. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
A postcard depicting the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. Officially known as the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, the bridge opened in 1929 to cross the Cooper River. The Cooper River Bridge was closed in 2005 and replaced by the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, Charleston, South Carolina
A postcard depicting the Exchange Building in Charleston, South Carolina. Also known as the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, the Custom House, and The Exchange, this structure was constructed from 1767 to 1671 and served a variety of civic purposes. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, Charleston, South Carolina
Old Powder Magazine During Revolutionary War Postcard
A postcard depicting the Powder Magazine in Charleston, South Carolina. This structure was constructed in 1713 to store gunpowder during the American Revolutionary War. The Powder Magazine now serves as a museum located at 79 Cumberland Street. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Powder Magazine, Charleston, South Carolina
A postcard depicting showing the Corner of Four Laws at the intersection of Broad Street and Meeting Street in Charleston, South Carolina. At the intersection are four historic sites: St. Michael's Episcopal Church, the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Charleston City Hall, and Charleston County Courthouse. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston City Hall, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston County Courthouse, Charleston, South Carolina
A postcard depicting a typical home in in Charleston, South Carolina. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
A postcard depicting the sword gate at the Simonton House in Charleston, South Carolina. While the gateway was added between 1815 and 1820, the house itself was built in 1776 This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Simonton House, Charleston, South Carolina
A postcard depicting The Battery in Charleston, South Carolina. The Battery is a defensive seawall and promenade named for a Civil War-era defense artillery battery located at the site. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Famous Middleton Oak, Middle Gardens Postcard
A postcard depicting the famous Middleton Oak tree at Middleton Gardens in Dorchester County, near Charleston, South Carolina. Now called Middleton Place, the site was formerly a plantation owned by a series of planters. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Middleton Place, Dorchester County, South Carolina
A postcard depicting Rainbow Row, a series of 13 historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. During the 1930s and the 1940s, the houses were painted pastel colors, coining the name Rainbow Row. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Point of Battery and Statue, Showing Junction of Ashley and Cooper Rivers Postcard
A postcard depicting The Battery at the junction of Ashley River and Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina. The Battery is a defensive seawall and promenade named for a Civil War-era defense artillery battery located at the site. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Views of the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina Postcard
A postcard depicting The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. Built in 1820, the original citadel stood on what is now Marion Square. In 1842, Governor John Peter Richardson III (1831-1899) called for the conversion of The Citadel and the nearby Arsenal into military academies. It was occupied by Federal troops during the American Civil War, but reopened in 1882. At that time, Marion Square was created in front of it as a military plaza. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Aerial View of Cooper River Bridge Postcard
A postcard depicting an aerial view of the Cooper River Bridge and Ocean Highway in Charleston, South Carolina. Officially known as the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge, the bridge opened in 1929 to cross the Cooper River. The Cooper River Bridge was closed in 2005 and replaced by the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Cypress Gardens, Semi-Tropical Wonderland Postcard
A postcard depicting Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The land was originally part of the Dean Hall rice plantation in 1750. During the Great Depression, after years of disuse, Benjamin Kittredge opened the property to the public as a duck hunting reserve. The property closed in 2015 after devastating flooding. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Charleston, S.C.: America's Most Historic City Postcard
Bars (Drinking establishments)--United States
A postcard depicting Pink House in the French Quarter of Charleston, South Carolina. This historic house was constructed with pink Bermuda stone between 1694 and 1712. The structure was used as a tavern in the 1750s, a house in the 1780s, an art studio during the early 20th century, and again as a house in the 1930s. This postcard is part of a collection of postcards kept by Lucile Campbell, a schoolteacher in Sanford, Florida, for 30 years. In 1931, she took advantage of a special rate for teachers and sailed to Europe, where she traveled for several months and is thought to have acquired many of these postcards. During the 1940-1941 school year, Campbell taught at Sanford Grammar School. Before her retirement in 1970, she taught at many other area schools, including the Oviedo School, Westside Grammar School, and Pinecrest Elementary School. Campbell used these postcards as aids in her classrooms to teach advanced subjects, such as Shakespearean drama. The collection, along with her other teaching aids, papers, and photographs, was later found at Sanford Grammar School after it became the University of Central Florida's Public History Center. Campbell's postcard collection and photographs provide insight into the life of a respected Florida educator.
Boat dock near Sanford, Florida. 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 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 98, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Water hyacinths on the St. Johns River near Sanford, Florida in the early 1900s. By the mid-1880s, Sanford, Florida 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 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 101, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Steamboats--Florida--Saint Johns River--History
Steamship Osceola along the St. Johns River near Sanford, Florida in the early 1900s. Osceola was built in 1913 at Jacksonville's Merill Stevens Shipyard for the Clyde Line Steamboat Company. The ship was captained by T.W. Lund and ran between Jacksonville and Sanford (a 140 mile trip) and could carry 60 passengers plus cargo. The ship was unusual in its design, with a recessed stern wheel that was enclosed within the hull of the ship. It was tied to an abandoned wharf and left to rot on the Northbank of Jacksonville in 1928.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 102, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Backside of Steamship Osceola, which was built in 1913 at Jacksonville's Merill Stevens Shipyard for the Clyde Line Steamboat Company. The ship was captained by T.W. Lund and ran between Jacksonville and Sanford (a 140 mile trip) and could carry 60 passengers plus cargo. The ship was unusual in its design, with a recessed stern wheel that was enclosed within the hull of the ship. It was tied to an abandoned wharf and left to rot on the Northbank of Jacksonville in 1928.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 104, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Live oak trees along Mellonville Avenue in the early 1900s. In 1836, the United States Army built a road (present-day Mellonville Avenue) to a location called Camp Monroe during the Second Seminole War. One year later, a group of Seminoles attacked the camp and killed a Captain Charles Mellon. A fort was built on the former campsite and named after the fallen captain, Fort Mellon. After the Seminole Wars and Florida becoming a state in 1845, the new town of Mellonville was established where it became the gateway for people wanting to settle in the Florida wilderness.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 106, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
When General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, Florida, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered. The businesses and docks located at Palmetto Avenue were important locations for commerce and business. Also pictured in the photograph is the Sanford General Store, founded by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) in March 1871. The store was created with hopes of bolstering the success of the Sanford Sawmill, opened the year prior. The creation of the store was the result of advising offered to Sanford by Edwin Eastman. Eastman advised that a general store would be the surest way to improve profitability of the ailing sawmill, as mill employees would be paid goods from the store. The general store’s initial years of operation were plagued by problems. The store suffered from periodic shortages of crucial supplies and local farmers, faced with poor agricultural production, had a difficult time turning their produce into the cash needed to purchase goods. The only way Sanford proved able to ensure consistent sales was through the extension of credit to local settlers. This approach proved untenable, however, as impoverished customers proved unable to pay their debts to the store. In January 1873, the store was owed $4,000 by delinquent customers, a number that ballooned to $25,000 by early 1879. As Sanford’s personal financial state suffered, maintaining the stock of groceries became increasingly difficult. By March 1879, Sanford, unable to continue the operation of the general store, disposed of the remaining supplies and leased the building, alongside the wharf and its attached warehouse, for three years terms at $550 per year.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1878: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item no. 6, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
First Street Between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue
First Street between Palmetto Avenue and Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1882. When General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered. Also pictured in the photograph was the Sanford General Store, founded by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) in March 1871. The store was created with hopes of bolstering the success of the Sanford Sawmill, opened the year prior. The creation of the store was the result of advising offered to Sanford by Edwin Eastman. Eastman advised that a general store would be the surest way to improve profitability of the ailing sawmill, as mill employees would be paid goods from the store. The general store’s initial years of operation were plagued by problems. The store suffered from periodic shortages of crucial supplies and local farmers, faced with poor agricultural production, had a difficult time turning their produce into the cash needed to purchase goods. The only way Sanford proved able to ensure consistent sales was through the extension of credit to local settlers. This approach proved untenable, however, as impoverished customers proved unable to pay their debts to the store. In January 1873, the store was owed $4,000 by delinquent customers, a number that ballooned to $25,000 by early 1879. As Sanford’s personal financial state suffered, maintaining the stock of groceries became increasingly difficult. By March 1879, Sanford, unable to continue the operation of the general store, disposed of the remaining supplies and leased the building, alongside the wharf and its attached warehouse, for three years terms at $550 per year. At the time that this photograph was taken in 1881, the store was being operated by Michael J. Doyle, an immigrant from Ireland and originally settled in Volusia County prior to the Civil War.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1882: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item No. 1, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Sanford Hotel House Park in Sanford, Florida in 1880. The Sanford House Hotel was built by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford. The Sanford House Hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories – two of which included porches – and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel’s landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from the hotel to the shores of Lake Monroe. Rates for a room in 1884 ranged from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1880: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item No. 4, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. Original 5 x 7 inch black and white postcard: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC , Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The intersection of First Street and Park Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1882. When General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1882: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Former building at First Street and Magnolia Avenue prior to the construction of the N.P. Yowell and Garner Woodruff Buildings. The building was named after Fort Reid, which was established by Colonel William Harney on July 7, 1840. Colonel Harney named the fort after Robert Raymond Reid, the fourth Territorial Governor of Florida. "Reed" is another common spelling used in Sanford. Newton P. Yowell first came to Central Florida in 1884 with his family. Nine years after arriving in Florida, Yowell borrowed money from his mother and friends and opened a dry goods store. Shortly after Yowell opened his store in Sanford, the freeze of 1894-1895 hit the community hard. Even though crops were damaged and many people left Sanford, the Yowell Store remained open and survived the hard economic times. After the freeze, Yowell began construction on a new two-story brick building that would become the new store.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Orange grove in Sanford, Florida. By the time that this photograph had been taken in 1897, citrus groves in Central Florida had mostly recover from the devastating Freeze of 1888. In 1871, General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891) began clearing land and planting citrus groves. He began planting citrus groves at St. Gertrude, an orange grove named after his wife. By 1873, General Sanford moved his orange growing endeavors to Belair, a tract of 145 acres three miles from Sanford. In 1894, General Sanford and other citrus growers suffered greatly as a result of record low and freezing temperatures. Since all of the year's crop yield was damaged as well as the trees, farmers in Sanford relied on celery as a new crop and source of income. Local business Chase & Company continued growing citrus and took over the operations at Belair to become one of Sanford's largest employers during the early twentieth century.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, June 3, 1897: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 113, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Interior View of Holy Cross Episcopal Church
The Holy Cross Episcopal Church, located at 410 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida. The photograph was likely taken before the building burned down in November of 1923. Gertrude Dupuy Sanford, the wife of General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891), established the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in 1873. The church was consecrated on April 20, 1873, and became the first Episcopal mission in Central Florida. The original Holy Cross was designed by famed architect Richard Upjohn in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. During the summer of 1880, the original Holy Cross was destroyed by a hurricane. Following the destruction of the original Holy Cross, Henry and Gertrude Sanford raised money for the construction of a second church. The second Holy Cross Church was completed in 1880, but was destroyed by a fire in 1923. The third church built on the site following the destruction of the second was designed by Elton Moughton, a local architect, and completed in 1924. The third Holy Cross church was built in the “pre-depression” Spanish Mediterranean style.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 107, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Sanford, Florida after the Great Fire of 1887. On September 27, 1887, "The Big Fire" burned and damaged the majority of the east side of Sanford. The fire began at Altree's Bakery on First Street and quickly spread through the wooden buildings in the city. The Sanford Fire Department helped extinguish the fire. Buildings such as the Sanford House Hotel were spared by placing wet blankets on the roof. Many of those buildings that were destroyed in the fire were immediately rebuilt using brick.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 108, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 109, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Intersection at Second Street and Oak Street
The intersection of Second Street and Oak Street in Sanford, Florida in 1884. When General Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) first established the City of Sanford, he laid out the streets on a grid plan. Streets running toward Lake Monroe were given names of native Florida trees, while streets running parallel to the lake were numbered.
Original 8.5 x 5.5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1884: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 114, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Holy Cross Episcopal Church, located at 410 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1880. Gertrude Dupuy Sanford, the wife of General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891), established the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in 1873. The church was consecrated on April 20, 1873, and became the first Episcopal mission in Central Florida. The original Holy Cross was designed by famed architect Richard Upjohn in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. During the summer of 1880, the original Holy Cross was destroyed by a hurricane. Following the destruction of the original Holy Cross, Henry and Gertrude Sanford raised money for the construction of a second church. The second Holy Cross Church was completed in 1880, but was destroyed by a fire in 1923. The third church built on the site following the destruction of the second was designed by Elton Moughton, a local architect, and completed in 1924. The third Holy Cross church was built in the “pre-depression” Spanish Mediterranean style.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 110, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Holy Cross Episcopal Church, located at 410 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida. Gertrude Dupuy Sanford, the wife of General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891), established the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in 1873. The church was consecrated on April 20, 1873, and became the first Episcopal mission in Central Florida. The original Holy Cross was designed by famed architect Richard Upjohn in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. During the summer of 1880, the original Holy Cross was destroyed by a hurricane. Following the destruction of the original Holy Cross, Henry and Gertrude Sanford raised money for the construction of a second church. The second Holy Cross Church was completed in 1880. The church pictured is most likely the second incarnation of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. It was destroyed in 1923 by a fire. The third church built on the site following the destruction of the second was designed by Elton Moughton, a local architect, and completed in 1924. The third Holy Cross church was built in the “pre-depression” Spanish Mediterranean style.
Church of the Holy Cross Destroyed in Hurricane of 1880
The Holy Cross Episcopal Church, located at 410 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida after the Hurricane of 1880. On August 29, 1880, a Category 2 hurricane made landfall near Saint Augustine, affecting areas from the Jupiter Inlet to the mouth of the St. Johns River to the Gulf of Mexico. Gertrude Dupuy Sanford, the wife of General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891), established the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in 1873. The church was consecrated on April 20, 1873, and became the first Episcopal mission in Central Florida. The original Holy Cross was designed by famed architect Richard Upjohn in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. During the summer of 1880, the original Holy Cross was destroyed by a hurricane. Following the destruction of the original Holy Cross, Henry and Gertrude Sanford raised money for the construction of a second church. The second Holy Cross Church was completed in 1880, but was destroyed by a fire in 1923. The third church built on the site following the destruction of the second was designed by Elton Moughton, a local architect, and completed in 1924. The third Holy Cross church was built in the “pre-depression” Spanish Mediterranean style.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photoprint by Chase & Company, 1880: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 117, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Holy Cross Episcopal Church, located at 410 South Magnolia Avenue in Sanford, Florida during Easter of 1901. Gertrude Dupuy Sanford, the wife of General Henry S. Sanford (1823-1891), established the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in 1873. The church was consecrated on April 20, 1873, and became the first Episcopal mission in Central Florida. The original Holy Cross was designed by famed architect Richard Upjohn in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. During the summer of 1880, the original Holy Cross was destroyed by a hurricane. Following the destruction of the original Holy Cross, Henry and Gertrude Sanford raised money for the construction of a second church. The second Holy Cross Church was completed in 1880, but was destroyed by a fire in 1923. The third church built on the site following the destruction of the second was designed by Elton Moughton, a local architect, and completed in 1924. The third Holy Cross church was built in the “pre-depression” Spanish Mediterranean style.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, April 4, 1901: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 118, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Sanford House Hotel Park, adjoining the Sanford House Hotel, overlooked the waterfront of Lake Monroe at Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1934. The hotel was built by Henry Sanford (1823-1891) with the intent of attracting tourists and providing housing for would-be wealthy settlers to the city of Sanford. The Sanford House Hotel was joined by the Lake Monroe House, a lower-cost alternative geared towards laborers, both of which were completed in 1876. Facing the waterfront, the hotel was located at the intersection of Commercial Street and Palmetto Avenue. The Sanford House Hotel featured three stories – two of which included porches – and enough rooms to serve 150 guests. The hotel’s landscaping included flower beds and citrus trees. A boardwalk led visitors straight from the hotel to the shores of Lake Monroe. Rates for a room in 1884 ranged from $15 to $20 per week. The 1887 fire came very close to the Sanford House, and it was feared that sparks would add it to the destruction. What saved it were wet blankets which were draped from the roof and windows. The Sanford House Hotel was torn down in May of 1920. At the turn of the century, the Sanford House Hotel was the center of all major city events and celebrations. While guide books from the period often included positive reference to the hotel, it failed to attract many visitors. The hotel did not make any profit during its first years of operation. By its third year, the 1879-1880 season, the hotel netted only $800 in profits. The hotel continued to make meager profits for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, it served as a central point of focus during city celebrations during the period.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, May 31, 1934: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 116, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1880: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30A, item CC 112, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Citrus fruit industry--Florida--Orange County
Aerial views of Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida in 1936. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photographs by Chase & Company, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 212, folder 8.18, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
One year old citrus buds at Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida in 1904. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 212, folder 8.18, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Three citrus workers at Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida in 1904. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Agricultural laborers fumigating citrus trees at Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida in 1904. Chase & Company was established by Joshua Chase and his brother Sydney in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Steamboats--Florida--St. Johns River--History
A dock in Sanford, Florida in 1934. Sanford's location on the shore of Lake Monroe played a significant role in the growth of the city as a commercial hub. Lake Monroe is a part of the St. Johns River which served as a commercial highway through central Florida before the railroads were built. Steamships carrying essential goods would travel up and down the St. Johns River and dock at piers in small towns along the way. Henry Sanford purchased the land for the city in 1870 and from the start he saw the potential for the site to become an important transportation location, saying that the new city would be the Gate City of South Florida. Throughout the 1870's and early 1880's commercial steamboats played a significant role in the development of Sanford. Henry Sanford encouraged investment in the growing town and formed a land company based in London to bring in new investors. Also during 1880 construction started on the South Florida Railroad. The line was to have a stop in Sanford and would help to continue to develop the city as a commercial center. The town grew prosperous from this business which led to the establishment of several wharves, a railroad station and a hotel. With the introduction of the railroad steamships became less important to the commercial business in Sanford, but the city was already established as a center for distribution. In 1913 Sanford was named the county seat to the newly formed Seminole County.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, May 31, 1934: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, item 117, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The giant bald cypress tree known as The Senator during the first quarter of the 20th century. As early as the late 1800s, this centuries-old tree was considered a tourist destination, but it wasn't until 1927 that a park was established around the tree. Senator Moses O. Overstreet donated six acres of land , which included the tree, to Seminole County to establish a park with the stipulation that a road would be built to take visitors into the park. The generosity of Senator Overstreet inspired residents to name the giant cypress tree "The Senator." Located at 761 General Hutchinson Parkway in present-day Longwood, Florida, the new park was named the Big Tree Park in honor of the main attraction. In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a bronze plaque at the site of the tree. The plaque was stolen in 1945. Based on a core sample taken by the American Forestry Association, The Senator was estimated to be 3500 years old in 1946. The Big Tree Park also features another giant cypress estimated to be 2000 years old. In 2005, local elementary students names the tree Lady Liberty. It was considered to be the companion tree to The Senator, as they were only 40 feet apart. The Senator continued to be a tourist attraction and local landmark until January 16, 2012, when it was lost in a fire.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, item 129, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Seminole Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida
Construction of the golf course at the Sanford Country Club and Golf Course in Sanford, Florida sometime between 1919 and 1924. The land was originally purchased as a portion of a 20,000-acre tract by General Joseph Finegan for $40. In 1870, Henry Sanford purchased the tract and sold some of it in 1878 to Charles Amory. In 1922, the city of Sanford bought 152-acres to design and construct a municipal 18-hole golf course. The course opened in October of 1922 with only four holes available for playing. The remainder of the golf course was opened in September of 1924. From the year 1927-1939, the golf course and country club experienced once of its most successful periods, seen some of golf's greatest athletes such as Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen. The club, for a time, saw a state of disrepair and depression. For a short time, the club became the Seminole County Club after renovation in 1945. Then, in the late 1940s, the New York Giants received the Mayfair Inn for Spring training which allowed them to take control of the golf course. This led to the most prosperous period of the golf course and country club becoming a part of the PGA tour between 1955 to 1957, seeing players like Arnold Palmer tee-off on the course. Now called the Mayfair Country Club, the club and golf course is located at 3536 Country Club Road in Sanford, Florida.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder Sanford Country Club and Golf Course, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Burning $1,572,650 Worth of Cancelled Bonds
The burning of canceled bonds from Mayor Forrest Lake's (1869-1939) on January 5, 1932. Before this scandal surfaced, Lake was considered an accomplished politician, who was elected eleven times, and helped create Seminole County. However, the pace of Mayor Forrest’s run turned sour when an article in the The Sanford Herald wrote an article with false facts about Lake’s use of city funds. According to the article, Lake sold "previously unsellable city bonds at a price of more than 95 percent of their face value; in reality, it was less than 90 percent. Lake was indicted following the investigation. It was proven that Lake sold the bonds for less, which caused the city to lose money, and he used illegal loans for personal use. This caused the city of Sanford to fall into $1,000,000 in debt, an increase in property tax, salary cuts, and cuts to public city services, such as the police department. After being sentenced for sixteen years, the City of Sanford protested Lake’s actions by burning over $1.5 million worth of cancelled bonds. Ex-Mayor Forrest Lake’s reputation has been tarnished, and today in Sanford, is considered to be “Sanford’s forgotten mayor.”
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photographs by Chase & Company, January 5, 1932: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
First Street Looking West from Sanford Avenue on the 4th of July
In 1870, a lawyer from Connecticut by the name of Henry Sanford purchased 12,548 acres of open land west of Mellonville. His vision was to make this new land a major port city, both railway and by water. Sitting on Lake Monroe, and the head of the St. Johns River, the city of Sanford earned the nickname of “The Gate City of South Florida.” Sanford became not only a transportation hub, but a leading citrus industry in Florida, and eventually globally. This image of First Street looking west from Sanford Avenue was taken on July 4, 1886, when businesses were developing and families were settling. However, in the following year, disaster and devastation hit the city of Sanford in the form of fires, freezes, and disease. In September of 1887, a bakery on on First Street caught fire, which lead to the rapid spread through other wooden buildings, eventually causing the east side of Sanford to disappear in devastation. Luckily, rebuilding began immediately with brick structures, rather than the flammable wood. This photo can provide an idea of what life was like during the 1880s in Sanford, and how quickly it can be destroyed.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, July 4, 1886: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Looking Southwest from First Street and Palmetto Avenue
Looking southwest from the intersection of East First Street and North Palmetto Avenue in Sanford, Florida in 1882. When Henry Shelton Sanford purchased land in central Florida, he developed citrus groves known as the Belair Groves and Experimental Gardens. The citrus industry of the 1870s was gaining interest nationally because of the success, and potential international success as well. Sydney Chase, Sr. of Pennsylvania found magazines and newspapers articles that there were great fortunes to be made in Florida in the citrus industry. Chase moved to Sanford, Florida in 1878, where he began working for Henry S. Sanford at the Belair Groves and Experimental Gardens. After learning the trade with his experience with Sanford, Chase and his brother Joshua created the Chase & Company in 1884. They began selling fertilizer and fire insurance to other citrus and produce growers. After making enough money, the Chase brothers bought their own citrus groves two years later. The Chase family and their business helped boost the citrus industry in Florida, especially in Sanford. They were so successful, other citrus growers from the state were asking for their help to sell their products. In high demand for help, the brothers began to build packinghouses. Not only was the citrus industry growing in Florida and throughout the United States, Sydney Chase took the industry global by traveling abroad to market their company and what Sanford had to offer.
Original 8.5 x 11 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1882: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder 3.30B, item CC 122, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Flagpole and Green at Sanford Country Club
Flagpole and green at the Sanford Country Club and Golf Course during construction in 1922. The land for the club and course was originally purchased as a portion of a 20,000-acre tract by General Joseph Finegan for $40. In 1870, Henry Sanford purchased the tract and sold some of it in 1878 to Charles Amory. In 1922, the city of Sanford bought 152-acres to design and construct a municipal 18-hole golf course. The course opened in October of 1922 with only four holes available for playing. The remainder of the golf course was opened in September of 1924. From the year 1927-1939, the golf course and country club experienced once of its most successful periods, seen some of golf's greatest athletes such as Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen. The club, for a time, saw a state of disrepair and depression. For a short time, the club became the Seminole County Club after renovation in 1945. Then, in the late 1940s, the New York Giants received the Mayfair Inn for Spring training which allowed them to take control of the golf course. This led to the most prosperous period of the golf course and country club becoming a part of the PGA tour between 1955 to 1957, seeing players like Arnold Palmer tee-off on the course. Now called the Mayfair Country Club, the club and golf course is located at 3536 Country Club Road in Sanford, Florida.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph by Chase & Company, 1922: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 211, folder Sanford Country Club and Golf Course, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Workmen clearing Hole #4 green at the Sanford Country Club using teams of horses and shovels. Sanford Country Club and Golf Course was originally purchased as a portion of a 20,000-acre tract by General Joseph Finegan for $40. In 1870, Henry Sanford purchased the tract and sold some of it in 1878 to Charles Amory. In 1922, the city of Sanford bought 152-acres to design and construct a municipal 18-hole golf course. The course opened in October of 1922 with only four holes available for playing. The remainder of the golf course was opened in September of 1924. From the year 1927-1939, the golf course and country club experienced once of its most successful periods, seen some of golf's greatest athletes such as Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen. The club, for a time, saw a state of disrepair and depression. For a short time, the club became the Seminole County Club after renovation in 1945. Then, in the late 1940s, the New York Giants received the Mayfair Inn for Spring training which allowed them to take control of the golf course. This led to the most prosperous period of the golf course and country club becoming a part of the PGA tour between 1955 to 1957, seeing players like Arnold Palmer tee-off on the course. Now called the Mayfair Country Club, the club and golf course is located at 3536 Country Club Road in Sanford, Florida.