Charles "Charlie" Brantley, a musician born in West Tampa, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tampa, Florida, around the turn of the 20th century. Brantley began his music career in 1935, when he joined the Florida Collegians, a group of Tampa musicians. Influenced by bandleader Louis Jordan, he started his own group, Charlie Brantley and His Original Honey Dippers, in 1944. Brantley gave young musicians the opportunity to break into the music scene by performing with his band and would often allow them to stay at his home on 1901 Cherry Street in Tampa. When a young Ray Charles came to Tampa in the fall of 1946, Brantley hired him as a piano player and allowed him to stay at his house. Brantley founded the Negro Musical Association in the late 1940s and continued to perform with his band until June 1949, when a severe heart and nerve condition forced him to quit playing and take on a management role. Brantley passed away on Christmas Day in 1964.
Original black and white photograph: Profiles: Bands & Artists, Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society.
Tampa Bay Music Scene Historical Society
Home of Charlie Brantley, West Tampa, Tampa, Florida
Charles Ernest Gormley Playing the Clarinet During World War I
Charles Ernest Gormley, an American soldier, playing the clarinet during World War I. Gormley was originally from Kansas, but he moved to Sanford, Florida, with his family shortly before WWI. Gormley served alongside his brother, George Gormley, in France from August 13, 1917, to April 14, 1919. His daughter, Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee, was the contributor of this photograph. Before entering World War I, the United States maintained a policy of neutrality, although the U.S. continued to supply the Allies: Great Britan, France, and Russia. The U.S. officially entered the war on April 6, 1917, in response to Germany's return to all-out submarine warfare on all commercial ships sailing for Great Britain and Germany's offer for military alliance to Mexico via the Zimmerman Telegram. The U.S. mobilized over four million military personnel through the course of American involvement in the war and lost 110,000 casualties. The U.S. vastly expanded its government and dramatically increase the size of its military during World War I.
Original 2.25 x 3.25 inch black and white photograph: Private Collection of Luticia "Tish" Gormley Lee.
Lee, Luticia "Tish" Gormley
Charles Simeon Lee on Lettuce Farm in Black Hammock
Charles Simeon Lee (1892-1991) on his lettuce farm in Black Hammock, an area along Lake Jesup in Oviedo known for its groves, farms, and nurseries. Early settlers to the area grew citrus, celery, lettuce, and other vegetables on Oviedo's mucky, rich topsoil. A farmer and the youngest son of Orange County Commissioner James Hiram Lee, Sr. (1844-1920) and Laura Agusta Barnett Lee (1851-1940). Lee was born on October 27, 1892, and married Goldie Eva Beckley Lee (1892-1976) on April 21, 1915. During the Great Depression, Lee grew celery and bought 20,000 acres to start a cattle ranch. He passed away on November 9, 1991.
Original black and white photograph: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A newspaper article published by The Central Florida Press on June 20, 1930. The article is about a missing person named Charles W. Summersill. According to the article, the 19-year-old had gone missing while driving from Geneva to Chuluota in his father's 1926 Essex Coach. E. T. Summersill, the youth's father, filed a missing person report at Sheriff's Office in Sanford, Florida. E. T. Summersill worked as a railroad engineer for the Osceola Cypress Company from 1919 until 1942.
Original newspaper article: "Charles Summersill Missing at Geneva." The Central Florida Press, Vol. 1, No. 9, June 20, 1930, page 1: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A page from the 1960 City Directory for St. Charles, Illinois. The public record served to provide an alphabetical list of citizens by head of household, their address, and relevant occupational information. A spouse’s name is listed next to the head of household. Names of employers and information about migration to other towns are also included. A notable resident listed is Jerry Bumgarner (1935-1983). Born on November 8, 1935, in St. Charles, Illinois, Bumgarner was an active member of the high school C Club, track, and football teams. On June 25, 1954, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at nineteen years old. He served in the 7th Engineer Battalion and retired on June 24, 1956, reaching the rank of E2, Private First Class. He married Janice M. Colegrove and the couple lived in St. Charles until they moved to Clearwater, Florida. Bumgarner passed away on March 1, 1983. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
City of St. Charles, Illinois
Digital reproduction of original yearbook page.
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.
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.
Charleston Municipal Yacht Basin and Roper Hospital Postcard
A postcard depicting the first community hospital in the Carolinas, Roper Hospital, behind the Municipal Yacht Basin 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.
Original 3 x 5 inch color postcard by Mason M. Rivers: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Roper Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston Municipal Yacht Basin, Charleston, 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.
Charley Williams at a screening of the 60-minute documentary, "The Yard", at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. The event took place on March 7, 2019, from 6:30pm to 9:00 pm, with a $10 suggested donation. The screening of the film was followed by a panel discussion that included the filmmaker. Partners in the event included Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Peace and Justice Institute (Valencia College), Bridge the Gap Coalition, Global Peace Film Festival, Hannibal Square Heritage Center, League of Women Voters of Orange County, UCF RICHES Program, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. (Orlando Chapter). The Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) is a volunteer-based organization that engages with the community to promote education concerning the truth of local history and to advocate justice for those who have been harmed by inequities born of prejudice. ATJ builds on the work of Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative as well as the local efforts of Democracy Forum, the West Orange Reconciliation Task Force, and the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board. This project is rooted in acknowledging the 1920 Election Day Massacre in Orange County and all of the violence committed in the name of white supremacy. Their mission statement says that they are "working to create a more hopeful, collaborative, and just society for every person in Orange County, Florida."
Original color photographs by Emily Wray: Alliance for Truth and Justice, Orange County, Florida.
RICHES
First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Charley Williams and John Ashworth at a screening of the 60-minute documentary, "The Yard", at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. The event took place on March 7, 2019, from 6:30pm to 9:00 pm, with a $10 suggested donation. The screening of the film was followed by a panel discussion that included the filmmaker. Partners in the event included Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Peace and Justice Institute (Valencia College), Bridge the Gap Coalition, Global Peace Film Festival, Hannibal Square Heritage Center, League of Women Voters of Orange County, UCF RICHES Program, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. (Orlando Chapter). The Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) is a volunteer-based organization that engages with the community to promote education concerning the truth of local history and to advocate justice for those who have been harmed by inequities born of prejudice. ATJ builds on the work of Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative as well as the local efforts of Democracy Forum, the West Orange Reconciliation Task Force, and the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board. This project is rooted in acknowledging the 1920 Election Day Massacre in Orange County and all of the violence committed in the name of white supremacy. Their mission statement says that they are "working to create a more hopeful, collaborative, and just society for every person in Orange County, Florida."
Charley Williams, William "Bill" Rawls, Jr. and John Ashworth
Charley Williams, William "Bill" Rawls, Jr. and John Ashworth at a screening of the 60-minute documentary, "The Yard", at the First Unitarian Church of Orlando. The event took place on March 7, 2019, from 6:30pm to 9:00 pm, with a $10 suggested donation. The screening of the film was followed by a panel discussion that included the filmmaker. Partners in the event included Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Peace and Justice Institute (Valencia College), Bridge the Gap Coalition, Global Peace Film Festival, Hannibal Square Heritage Center, League of Women Voters of Orange County, UCF RICHES Program, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. (Orlando Chapter). The Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) is a volunteer-based organization that engages with the community to promote education concerning the truth of local history and to advocate justice for those who have been harmed by inequities born of prejudice. ATJ builds on the work of Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative as well as the local efforts of Democracy Forum, the West Orange Reconciliation Task Force, and the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board. This project is rooted in acknowledging the 1920 Election Day Massacre in Orange County and all of the violence committed in the name of white supremacy. Their mission statement says that they are "working to create a more hopeful, collaborative, and just society for every person in Orange County, Florida."
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
Charlotte "Lottie" Lee (1887-1989) sometime in the early 19th century. Lee married Thomas Willington Lawton (1882-1963), who is best known as principal of the Oviedo School from 1905 to 1907 and as the first elected Superintendent of Schools of Seminole County from 1916 to 1952.
Original 6 x 5 inch black and white photographic print: Private Collection of Vicki Clonts.
Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
A portrait of Charlotte Clark Ford, which is housed at the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida. Ford was the Dean of Instruction at Bethune-Cookman College. Originally the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls, Bethune-Cookman was established by African-American educator and civil rights activist Dr. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune in October 1904. In 1923, the school merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville and then became affiliated with the Methodist Church the following year. The school served as a co-educational high school until 1931 when it became a junior college. In 1941, the school was accredited as a four-year college and was renamed Bethune-Cookman College.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photographic print: Sun room, image 131, Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Daytona Beach, Florida.
Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida
Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Mary McLeod Bethune Home, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Florida
Palmer Memorial Institute (Sedalia, N.C.)
Portrait of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, which is housed at the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida. Brown was born June 11, 1883, in Henderson, North Carolina. In 1902, she founded the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina. The school was housed in a small log cabin and combined a standard educational curriculum with industrial training. Brown was able to raise enough money to erect a new school building in 1905 and the school became nationally renowned by the 1920s. Brown also received national attention for her activities and was frequently invited to lecture at various colleges around the country. In 1941, she published The Correct Thing To Do—To Say—To Wear, a book which featured her educational philosophies and maxims. Brown continued to run the Palmer Institute until she retired in 1952. Through her work, Brown became a good friend to Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and was active in the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the Southern Commission for Interracial Cooperation, and the Negro Business League. Brown was also the first African-American woman to join the national board for the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). She passed away on January 11, 1961.
Original black and white photograph: Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Daytona Beach, Florida.
Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute, Gibsonville, North Carolina
Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, Daytona Beach, Florida
The Chase & Company building near the railroad in Sanford, Florida, on March 3, 1936. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by A. Wieboldt, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101, item CC14, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Bulk Fruit Equipment at Isleworth Grove
Bulk fruit equipment at Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida, in January of 1953. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase 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 8 x 10 black and white photograph, January 1953: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 215, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
A Chase celery field, most likely in Sanford, Florida, in 1965. The origins of Sanford's connection to celery farming began on December 26, 1894, when a freeze damaged the area's citrus groves. They began to recover during a warm and wet January which promoted new shoots, but a second freeze hit on February 7, 1895, practically wiping them out. The 24 degree temperature was the coldest known in Florida to that point. The freeze was so intense that the sap froze inside the trunks, many of which split open, sounding like gunshots, and crashed to the ground. The population quickly dropped from five thousand to two thousand, as the groves were abandoned. I. H. Terwilliger stayed after the freezes and is believed to have planted the first celery grown in Sanford in 1896. J. N. Whitner and B. F. Whitner, Sr. planted 3/4 acre in 1897 with celery imported from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Chase & Company also converted to celery cultivation and by 1898, celery became the crop synonymous to Sanford. Chase & Co. 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.
Original color photographs, May 18, 1965: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 215, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company citrus exhibit at an exposition. 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.
Original 6 x 7 black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.103, item CC46, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Celery in a Chase & Company car ca. 1920-1921. Pictured in the photograph are Thomas Jones and William A. Leffler. 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.
Original 5 x 7 black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.103, item CC47, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Fieldworkers harvesting celery in Slavia, Florida, in 1929. 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. Slavia was established in 1911 when the Slavia Colony Company purchased about 1,200 acres of land west of Oviedo. The earliest settlers of the community came from rural areas in Central Europe who were attracted to Florida's warm climate and rich soil. By the mid-1920s, celery became Slavia's leading cash crop.
Original 3 x 5 inch black and white photograph, March 2, 1929: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.100, item CC4, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Invoice (April 19, 1962)
Invoice from Chase & Company paying $86.66 to Pilgrim Black (1905-2002), the father of Patricia Black, for the use of his vehicles for hauling products or equipment for the week ending April 19, 1962. Pilgrim Black was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin. Pilgrim had to quit school at age eleven in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18n years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940- ); Lula Yvonne Black (1942- ); Charles Samuel Black (1945- ); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca.1947- ), and Patricia Ann Black (1956- ).
Original invoice by Chase & Company, April 19, 1962: Private Collection of Patricia Ann Black
Invoice from Chase & Company paying $153.55 to Pilgrim Black (1905-2002), the father of Patricia Black, for the use of his vehicles for hauling products or equipment for the week ending June 12, 1962. Pilgrim Black was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin. Pilgrim had to quit school at age eleven in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18n years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940- ); Lula Yvonne Black (1942- ); Charles Samuel Black (1945- ); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca.1947- ), and Patricia Ann Black (1956- ).
Original invoice by Chase & Company, June 12, 1962: Private Collection of Patricia Ann Black.
Chase & Company Lifts and Carts at Isleworth Grove
Superintendent Bruce N. Jones standing next to bulk fruit equipment at Isleworth Grove in January of 1953. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase 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.
A Chase & Company mule train being moved by a Duda transport from Glades Farm to Hooper Farm in Zellwood, Florida, on May 6, 1963. 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 black and white photographs, May 7, 1963: box 215, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Orange Packers in Winter Park
R. W. Givin standing in the doorway of the Chase & Company Orange Packers building in Winter Park in 1892. 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.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photograph, 1892: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.105, item CC81, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford, Florida, in 1936. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph by A. Wieboldt, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101,item CC15, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Packing House in Frostproof
The Chase & Company Packing House in Frostproof, Florida, in 1922. 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.
Original 10 x 7 inch black and white photograph, 1922: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.105, item CC79, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford Before Fire
The interior of the Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford before it was destroyed by fire. The building was rebuilt in 1908. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.105, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Workers bathing at a Chase & Company picnic on March 3, 1936 in Sanford, Florida. 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.
Original 3 x 5 black and white photograph by A. Wieboldy, March 3, 1936: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.102, item CC31, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The Sales Department staff at Chase & Company office, located at 110 West First Street in Sanford, Florida, around 1910. 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.
Original 5 x 7 inch black and white photograph: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 213, folder 15.101, item CC16, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Sanford Packing House Before Fire
The Chase & Company Packing House in Sanford, Florida before being destroyed by fire. The building was rebuilt in 1908. 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.
Chase & Company Staff with Sydney Octavius Chase
Postcard showing the Chase & Company staff at the Sanford office, located at 110 West First Street, in 1918. Photographed from left to right is bookkeeper Wess Hayden, stenographer Segros Velelen "Wes Huetes," stenographer Mrs. Cox, business co-owner Sydney Octavius Chase, and William A. Leffler. 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.
Original black and white postcard, May 1918: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 214, folder 15.101, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Chase & Company Train Cars and Trucks at Isleworth Grove
Superintendent Bruce N. Jones and a tractor drive standing next to bulk fruit equipment at Isleworth Grove in January of 1953. Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase 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 in Windermere, Florida. 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.
Chase & Company: Packers and Distributors of Florida Fruits and Vegetables Exclusively
A newspaper advertisement for Chase & Company, the largest and oldest distribution agency in Florida and one of the first vendors to lease a stall at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market when it opened in 1934. The article states that the company conducts business in most shipping districts in Florida and ships to markets across the United States and Canada. Chase & Co.'s main office was located in Jacksonville at the time that the article was published in 1910. There were also offices in Cincinnati, Chicago, New York, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. In addition to citrus packing and processing, Chase & Company also did business in insurance. 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 newspaper article: "Chase & Company: Packers and Distributors of Florida Fruits and Vegetables Exclusively." The Sanford Chronicle, Industrial Edition, Winter 1910. Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
The Sanford Herald
Chase & Company Office, Sanford, Florida
Chase & Company Office, Jacksonville, Florida
An advertisement for Chase & Company from Sanford High School's Salmagundi yearbook for the 1920-1921. One of the first vendors to lease a stall at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market, 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 yearbook advertisement: Salmagundi, 1921: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford High School
A Chase & Company packing house in Sanford, Florida, 1891. One of the first vendors to lease a stall at the first Sanford State Farmers' Market, 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 black and white photograph, 1891: Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce, Sanford, Florida.
Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce
A postcard depicting an illustrated view of swans and Château de Chillon, a castle on Lake Geneva in Veytaux, Switzerland. The lake is located on the north side of the Alps and is shared by Switzerland and France. Mont Blanc can be seen in the distance. 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 5 x 3 inch color postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1A (non-U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Chillon Castle, Veytaux, Vaud, Switzerland
A hand-painted Chatsworth china tea kettle made in England. This type of kettle was named after the Duke of Devonshire, who was a member of the Chatsworth House. This particular kettle was owned by a member of the Janson family, either Carolina Österholm or Matilde Österholm Janson, who likely would have acquired the antique in the 1890s. The tea kettle was donated by Edwin White and Carolyn White to the Oviedo History Harvest held in April of 2015.
Original color digital images: Private Collection of Edwin White and Carolyn White.
A newspaper article published in The Tennessean, on December 9, 1928. The article describes a mail plane that was crashed by Eugene Fricks. Although the plane hit a stump, Fricks escaped the incident with only a small laceration to the face and everyone onboard survived. Eugene Fricks was born on March 26, 1893. His father, William Barto Fricks, was from Georgia and his mother, Mattie Jacquess, was from Kentucky. From the 1920s to the 1930s, Eugene was married to his first wife, Ethel where they had three children named Harley, Imogene, and Mattie. The 1940 census records his marriage to his second wife, Grace, with whom he had two children named Janette and Joseph. He served in World War I. After his service, he had a career in aviation. Later, he retired from Pan-American Airways in 1961 and lived his remaining years in North Fort Myers. He died on May 23, 1976 and is buried in the Florida National Cemetery. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
The Tennessean
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: “Eugene Fricks.” The Tennessean, December 9, 1928.
Chattel Mortgage Property Deed for Black Mule (June 20, 1911)
Chattel mortgage property deed for a black mule named Kate. Kate was mortgaged by George W. Oden to W. W. Carpenter for $25 on June 20, 1911. George W. Oden (1862-1939) was a successful businessman and citrus grower in Apopka, Florida. Born in Sylacauga, Alabama, Oden moved to Apopka by 1902. He owned four businesses and five parcels of land, where he grew citrus. In 1933, Oden donated land for the construction of the Pleasant View Baptist Church, located at 1202 South Central Avenue. Oden was also the recipient of the City of Apopka's Fifty Years in Business Award.
Original property deed, June 20, 1911: State of Florida, County of Orange, Apopka, Florida: series I, box 1, folder 34, African American Legacy: The Carol Mundy Collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
A page from the 1941 Chelsea High School Yearbook in Chelsea, Massachusetts. A notable student who appears on the yearbook page is Sidney J. Malatsky (1924-1944). Born in 1924 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Malatsky's parents were Russian Jewish immigrants who had came to the United States around the turn of the century. Malatsky attended Chelsea High School, where he made the honor roll and was active in band, orchestra, the school yearbook, and debating club. In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps Reserves and entered the service in January of 1943. He served in the 827th Bombardment Squadron, 484th Bombardment Group, Heavy, and rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. His plane was hit during a mission in November 1944, and the crew crash-landed the plane in the Adriatic Sea. The plane broke in half and Malatsky was killed in the crash at the age of twenty. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, and is recognized on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Italy, as well as at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 9 edition was published on April 12, 1929 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include the school victory at a track and field meet, a ministrel performed by the eighth grade, the performance of "Mother Carey's Chickens," A Model Club meet, student editorials, a calendar of events, the state of national education and higher education, club news, personal news from students, the eighth grade "Who's Who" contest, sports news, and eighth grade event heald for parents, and a humor section.
Original school newspaper by Robert Cox, ed.:The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 9. April 12, 1929. Prviate Collection of Thomas Cook.
Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 10 edition was published on April 26, 1929 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include an awards ceremony acknowleding outstanding students, the myster of Miss Vanemburg's "environment", two Guidance Program events, student editorials, a calendar of events, a paper published by the Spanish class, club news, Student Council's visit to the "Singing Tower" at Mountain Lake, personal news from teachers and students, the recent track and field meet, a baseball game between eighth and ninth graders, class picnics, and a humor section.
Original school newspaper by Robert Cox, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 10. April 26, 1929. Prviate Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 4 edition was published on December 21, 1928 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include the performance of the musical "Once in a Blue Moon", the Red Cross' Christmas Seal Campaign, student scholarship, club news, a calendar of events, several Christmas poems and stories, seventh grade literature, and Cherokee Junior High's defeat by Memorial High School in a soccer game.
Original school newspaper by Ruth Wetherington, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 4. December 21, 1928: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 3 edition was published on December 7, 1928 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include readings given by Joe Browning Jones of Rollins College, Memorial High School's presentation if "Not Quite Such a Goose", a Parent-Teacher Association award for "The Shepherd Boy", West Central Elementary and Mark Street Elementary students' visit to Cherokee Junior High, self-government for the country, a calendar of events, Student Council news, club news, the seventh grade party, personal news from teachers, and a steak roast at Warren Park, girls' volleyball tournaments, programs hosted by the Variety Club, and the Know Orlando Club.
Original school newspaper by Ruth Wetherington, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 3. December 7, 1928. Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 5 edition was published on February 1, 1929 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include Thrift Week, a speech by Dr. J. Dean Adcock of the First Baptist Church, Student Council's visit to the Orlando Municipal Auditorium, the theatrical production "The Family Album", student editorials, a calendar of events, Cherokee Junior High's Bookbinding Department, the Expression Club's theatrical productions, the activities of the Margaret F. S. Flace's art class, personal news from students, sports news, the school's new projection lantern, and students from local Orlando elementary schools who were promoted to junior high school.
Original school newspaper by Ruth Wetherington, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 5. February 1, 1929: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 6 edition was published on February 21, 1929 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include the election of Joe Bird as Student Council President, musical productions by seventh graders, a speech by Miss Freeman of the Orlando Ice Dealers Association, a performance by Mr. Westover, student editorials, a calendar of events, a contet spondered by Cher-O-Key, club news, Student Council news, readings performed by Florida Routh, personal news from students and teachers, sports news, an athletic calendar, and the Who's Who contest.
Original school newspaper by Ruth Wetherington, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 6. February 21, 1929: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 8 edition was published on March 22, 1929 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include amendments to the Student Council constitution, the upcoming performance of "Mother Carey's Chickens", student editorials, a calendar of events, exchanges with other schools' newspapers, club news, personal news from students and teachers, sports news, a humor section, and the school's girls' basketball victory over Memorial.
Original school newspaper by Robert Cox, ed.:The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 8. March 22, 1929. Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 7 edition was published on March 8, 1929 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include awards that the school one at the Central Florida Exhibition, a new picture file in the school library, a ninth grade debate, a perfomance by the Hi-Y Club, student editorials, a calendar of event, exchanges with other schools' newspapers, Thelma Jones' contest-winning limerick, club news, a short story about two West Virginian slaves during the American Civil War, personal news from teachers, sports news, and a humor section.
Original school newspaper by Robert Cox, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 6. March 8, 1929. Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Cherokee Junior High School, Orlando, Florida
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 101 edition was published on May 16, 1929 and cost one cent. Article topics in the newspaper include the ninth grad banquet, Allen Hage's award as best citizen at Cherokee, the sixth grade visit to the school, Mothers Day, final examinations for the school year, club news, Cherokee's win at the Orange County track meet, the selection of members for the Honor Society, school sports and physical fitness, and humor.
Original school newspaper by Robert Cox, ed.: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 1. May 17, 1929: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
The Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927.. The Volume I, Number 2 edition was published on November 23, 1928 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include new equipment for the school's office, a class presentation, Roberta Barnett's essay "The Teeth in Relation to the General Health", new students to Cherokee Junior High, the annual meeting of the Florida Educational Association, the Thanksgiving holiday, students cited for scholarship, a calendar of events, the French Conversation Club, Jack Kline's birthday party, personal updates for students and teachers, Memorial High School's presentation of "The Family Physician", sports games and tournaments, a Journalism Club study of how to write news, and a Native American legend.
Original school newspaper, written by Ruth Wetherington, ed. The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 2. November 23, 1928: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Cher-O-Key, the bimonthly school newspaper published by the Journalism Club of Cherokee Junior High School, which was located at 550 South Eola Drive in Orlando, Florida when it opened in 1927. The Volume I, Number 1 edition was published on November 9, 1928 and cost one cent. Articles in the newspaper include Professor Grover of Rollins College's address to Cherokee Junior High, grade percentages, the activities of the Journalism Club, the Parent-Teacher Assocation, a calendar of events, merit cards issues to students, Roberta Barnett's essay for the Florida State Dental Assocatin, social activities at the scool, a ruling by the Board of Education, new rules for eligibility for sports, and the temperance movement.
Original school newspaper by Ruth Wetherington, ed: The Cher-O-Key Vol. I No. 1. November 9, 1928. Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Children at the First Baptist Church of Oviedo
Children at the First Baptist Church of Oviedo, which was founded in 1869, with its first service led by Reverend W. G. Powell on the property of W. H. Luther, located along Lake Jessup Avenue. The first church building was made of wood and was located on what was the property of Lois Ruddell at the time that this book was written. The old building served the church until 1887, later became the house of the Beasley family, and was finally torn down. A new wooden church building was erected in 1887 and remained in use until 1926. The brick church building constructed later on is still in use by CrossLife Church.
Original black and white photograph: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
First Baptist Church of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
The children of Christine McClendon in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. This photograph was taken outside of the home of McClendon's daughter, Dedra Jenkins. McClendon can be seen in the pink dress on the left. Jenkins' cousins can also be seen in the photograph. Joseph Hill is pictured to the left of McClendon. Verna Hill in the center is in the center holding a photograph, with Paulette Bobo, Jenkins' second cousin, standing in front of her. Felix Gardner is standing on top of a car behind Verna and Debra Hill Gardner is pictured on the far right. Bordered on the east by Division Street and on the west by Orange Blossom Trail (OBT), the Parramore began as an agricultural community. Parramore was historically a segregated African-American community and now comprises three separate downtown neighborhoods: Lake Dot, Callahan, and Holden-Parramore. Once an economically thriving area and the home of many prominent black businesses and institutions, including the Wells’ Built Hotel, South Street Casino, and Wallace’s Beauty Mill, Parramore suffered under Jim Crow segregation, and has lost 65 percent of its population in the last 50 years. It is now one of Orlando’s poorest neighborhoods, with an unemployment rate of 23.8 percent in 2015. However, neighborhood institutions like the Well's Built Museum of African American History and Culture, housed in the historic Wells’ Built Hotel, have worked to preserve memorabilia from Orlando’s African-American community and the local civil rights movement. Current plans to revitalize the Parramore area focus on maintaining its black heritage and culture while building new businesses, schools, and improved housing.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph by Dedra Jenkins, 1985: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Holden-Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The children of Patricia Ann Black (1956-): Charmion Le'Antwinetta Holt (1974-), William Arthur Bigham III (1982-), Brandon Oliver Black (1990-), and Tempestt Teonte Black (1992-). Charmion, who is also the daughter of Clint Holt (1955-), is employed at the Millers Orlando Ale House, located at 50 Towne Center Circle in Sanford, Florida, as of 2013. She also founded a catering business called Charm's Catering. The latter three children are from Patricia's marriage to William Bigham, Jr. (1952-). William III was born in Rochester, New York, and raised in Wayne County. He began teaching microbiology and anatomy at State University of New York in Brockport in 2013. Both Brandon and Tempestt graduated from North Rose Wolcott High School in Wolcott, New York. At age 19, Brandon attended Shear Ego, a barber school in Rochester. He also founded a barber shop called B. Black's Barber Shop, located on Route 414 in North Rose. As of 2013, Tempestt was attending Elmira College in Elmira, where she was studying nursing. She also joined the U.S. Army and is currently serving, as of 2013.
Original color photograph by Carolyn Bigham, November 2011: Private Collection of Patricia Ann Black.
Children Outside of Dedra Jenkins' House
A group of 13 young children in front of Dedra Jenkins' house in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. From the lower right, moving counter clockwise, the children in the photo are: Demetrius Jenkins, Jr.; the eldest son of Jenkins; Marcus; an unidentified child; Enoch Jenkins, the second son of Jenkins; Kendrick; Benjamin Daniel Jenkins, the fourth son of Jenkins; Jeremiah Jenkins, the third son of Jenkins; and two other unidentified children. After this photograph was taken, the children went to Wet'n'Wild, a waterpark in Orlando.
Original 3 x 3 inch color photograph by Dedra Jenkins: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
A colorized postcard of an artist's rendition of the First Christian Church in St. Cloud, Florida. Reverend M. P. Julian, the first pastor of the church, was an early veteran settler. Born in North Carolina, Julian fought for the Union during the Civil War. He was held as a prisoner of war in Andersonville, Georgia between 1864 and 1865. This postcard is part of a private collection kept by Roger Hipel of St. Cloud, Florida.
Original 5 x 3 inch color postcard: Private Collection of Roger Hipel.
The Seminole Pharmacy and Dale's Variety Store
Christine Kinlaw on Westside Grammar Elementary School Christmas Parade Float
Christine Kinlaw and other students on a Westside Grammar Elementary School float for a Christmas parade in 1963. Kinlaw's family had attended Westside Grammar Elementary School since it was established as Sanford High School in 1902. The building was designed by W. G. Talley in the Romanesque revival style. Due to an increasing student population, a new school building was constructed on Sanford Avenue in 1911. The original building on Seventh Street served as Westside Grammar Elementary School, which was later renamed Sanford Grammar School. In 1984, the building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. The building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012. In 1927, a high school campus was designed by Elton J. Moughton in the Mediterranean revival style and constructed at 1700 French Avenue. The school reopened on January 10 and was renamed Seminole High School. In 1960, the high school moved to a new campus at 2701 Ridgewood Avenue and the former building on French Avenue was converted to Sanford Junior High School, which was later renamed Sanford Middle School. The old building was demolished in the summer of 1991 and replaced by a $5.77 million school complex. As of 2013, Seminole High School offers various Advanced Placement courses, the Academy for Health Careers, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for students.
Original black and white photographs, December 1963: Private Collection of Christine Kinlaw-Best.
Westside Grammar Elementary School, Sanford, Florida
Christine McClendon at an Easter Egg Hunt
Christine McClendon holding an Easter basket during an Easter egg hunt at the home of her daughter, Dedra Jenkins, in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 1995. This photograph was originally discarded, along with other similar photographs, and then found by a local resident near the Emmanuel Fellowship and Worship Center, which is located at the former site of Restore Orlando. The collection was given to the contributor, Dedra Jenkins. Bordered on the east by Division Street and on the west by Orange Blossom Trail (OBT), the Parramore began as an agricultural community. Parramore was historically a segregated African-American community and now comprises three separate downtown neighborhoods: Lake Dot, Callahan, and Holden-Parramore. Once an economically thriving area and the home of many prominent black businesses and institutions, including the Wells’ Built Hotel, South Street Casino, and Wallace’s Beauty Mill, Parramore suffered under Jim Crow segregation, and has lost 65 percent of its population in the last 50 years. It is now one of Orlando’s poorest neighborhoods, with an unemployment rate of 23.8 percent in 2015. However, neighborhood institutions like the Well's Built Museum of African American History and Culture, housed in the historic Wells’ Built Hotel, have worked to preserve memorabilia from Orlando’s African-American community and the local civil rights movement. Current plans to revitalize the Parramore area focus on maintaining its black heritage and culture while building new businesses, schools, and improved housing.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph by Dedra Jenkins, April 1995: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Christmas at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, 1989
Christmas ceremonies at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, located at 575 Tuskawilla Road in Winter Springs, Florida, in 1989. 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, December 1989: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
St. Stephens Catholic Church, Winter Springs, Florida
A poster for the Orlando Gay Chorus concert, "Christmas in the Sun”. The event was held at the Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College, located at 1000 Holt Avenue in Winter Park, Florida, on December 21 and 22, 1996. The show was directed by Aubrey Connelly. The poster features a painting of a beach Christmas scene on a black background, complete with Santa hats, people under umbrellas, and a fully-decorated tree by the water. Text is minimal, depicting title, time, location, and the OGC heading. The Orlando Gay Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization part of GALA Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a whole host of community events like Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World Aids Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Orlando Gay Chorus
Original color poster: University of Central Florida Special Collections, Orlando, Florida.
Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
Christmas in the Sun, December 21 & 22, 1996
A program for the Orlando Gay Chorus' concert, "Christmas in the Sun", on December 21 &amp
22, 1996, at the Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. The program includes short biographies on the Music Director Aubrey Connelly and the Accompanist Kathy Slage, program notes, an outline of the show's itinerary, a list of chorus members and contributors, and a history of GALA Choruses. It also includes brief biographies of the narrators: Patty Sheehan, Tom Dyer, Rev. Dr. Marni Harmony, and Jack Harrell. The Orlando Gay Chorus (OGC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and humanitarian organization, and part of the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses. Founded on Valentines Day 1990, OGC is not only one of the largest mixed gay choirs in the United States at over 100 members, but they also boast four smaller ensembles that perform annual concerts, cabarets, and a host of community events, such as Come Out With Pride, Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees, and World AIDS Day memorial services. In 2017, the group performed at over 105 events, including 15 performances for the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. Members come from all walks of life and all sexual and gender orientations, including straight allies. OGC lives by the motto “Singing the World to a Better Place” and strives to use music to change attitudes and build a stronger community.
Original 28-page black and white program with a colored front and back cover, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Christmas Party at Restore Orlando, 1995
Members of the community at Christmas party at Restore Orlando waiting for Santa Clause to arrive. The annual party featured Christmas trees, decorations and a bounce house. Members of the Orlando Magic, K-Mart, and other boosters often donated gifts, such as bicycles and bags of toys. Presents were unwrapped, so parents could be involved in the acquisition and wrapping of the gifts. Santa would arrive in a helicopter, truck bed, or some other vehicle in order to elicit an excited response from the kids. Created by Jerry Applebee and Polly Applebee in 1994, the Restore Orlando's after-school program organized outings such as horseback riding and helicopter rides. The Applebees were affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. Dedra Jenkins fought to have a basketball court built for the older children at Kaley Square Park across the street. Originally, owners of the church and park did not want a court because they feared it would be a place where drug dealers would congregate. This photograph, taken by an unknown volunteer at the program, was originally discarded, along with other similar photographs, and then found by a local resident near the Emmanuel Fellowship and Worship Center, which is located at the former site of Restore Orlando. The collection was given to the contributor, Dedra Jenkins.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph, December 1995: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Restore Orlando, Holden-Parramore, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Christmas Party at Restore Orlando, 1996
The Christmas party at Restore Orlando in 1996. The annual party features Christmas trees, decorations and a bounce house. Members of the Orlando Magic, K-Mart, and other boosters often donated gifts, such as bicycles and bags of toys. Presents were unwrapped, so parents could be involved in the acquisition and wrapping of the gifts. The second photograph shows bicycles that were given away as gifts at the party. Created by Jerry Applebee and Polly Applebee in 1994, the Restore Orlando's after-school program organized outings such as horseback riding and helicopter rides. The Applebees were affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. Dedra Jenkins fought to have a basketball court built for the older children at Kaley Square Park across the street. Originally, owners of the church and park did not want a court because they feared it would be a place where drug dealers would congregate. This photograph, taken by an unknown volunteer at the program, was originally discarded, along with other similar photographs, and then found by a local resident near the Emmanuel Fellowship and Worship Center, which is located at the former site of Restore Orlando. The collection was given to the contributor, Dedra Jenkins.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photographs, December 1996: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Christmas Party at Restore Orlando, 1998
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph, December 1998: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
A postcard depicting the exterior of the Chrysler Building in New York City, New York. Built in the art deco-style, the building was the tallest in the world for 11 months, before the Empire State Building surpassed it. 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 3 x 5 inch color postcard: ACC# SM-00-243, file folder 1 (U.S. blanks), box 10A, Lucile (Mary Lucile) Campbell Collection, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.
Chrysler Building, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Chuluota 1st Baptist Church: 104 and Still Growing
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on May 26, 1977. The article describes the history of the Chuluota Baptist Church from its founding to 1977. The congregation's first services were held in November of 1874 in the home of W. C. Jacobs with Reverend R. W. Lawton and Reverend George Gandez leading religious services. Many of the church's founding congregants were migrants from Whiteville, North Carolina. The church was officially founded two months later as Harmony Baptist Church on January 8, 1875. A log church was constructed about one mile east of Chuluota, near Lake Pickett. In 1883, church meetings were moved to a schoolhouse near the southern portion of Chuluota. A new church building was built and dedicated as Harmony Baptist Church of Chuluota, located at 201 Lake Mills Road, in 1888. The Sunday school was established on November 10, 1889. Construction for a new concrete building began in 1955 and was dedicated in 1956. An education wing was added in 1961. The church is now known as the First Baptist Church of Chuluota.
Original newspaper article: "Chuluota 1st Baptist Church: 104 and Still Growing." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 4, No. 40, May 26, 1977, page 1 and 9: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Harmony Baptist Church, Chuluota, Florida
First Baptist Church of Chuluota, Chuluota, Florida
Chuluota Baptist Church Sixty-Fifth Anniversary
A history of the Chuluota Baptist Church from its founding to its 65th anniversary in 1939. The congregation's first services were held in November of 1874 in the home of W. C. Jacobs with Reverend R. W. Lawton and Reverend George Gandez leading religious services. Many of the church's founding congregants were migrants from Whiteville, North Carolina. The church was officially founded two months later as Harmony Baptist Church on January 8, 1875. A log church was constructed about one mile east of Chuluota, near Lake Pickett. In 1883, church meetings were moved to a schoolhouse near the southern portion of Chuluota. A new church building was built and dedicated as Harmony Baptist Church of Chuluota, located at 201 Lake Mills Road, in 1888. The Sunday school was established on November 10, 1889. Construction for a new concrete building began in 1955 and was dedicated in 1956. An education wing was added in 1961. The church is now known as the First Baptist Church of Chuluota.
Original typewritten document, November 16, 1939: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Chuluota Baptist Church, Chuluota, Florida
A newspaper article published by The Central Florida Press on June 20, 1930. The article reports news in Chuluota, an unincorporated community southeast of Oviedo, Florida. News topics include return of the Wagner family from their trip to South Florida; Alive Story's trip to Sanford with her daughters; the Tribble family's trip to a Baptist church in Reno, Nevada; and the Chuluota Sunday School's attendance at the Seminole Associational Sunday School's workers program, which was held at a church in Oviedo.
Original newspaper article: "Chuluota News." The Central Florida Press, Vol. 1, No. 9, June 20, 1930, page 3: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
A postcard depicting the exterior of the Church of the Good Shepherd, which was founded under the leadership of Reverend Henry deLafayette Webster in 1885. After the original building was destroyed in a fire in 1908, the present building was built the following year. The congregation has undergone many name changes, including the First Universalist Church, the Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, and Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, which was adopted in 1992. The church is well known for housing various paintings by George Inness (1825-1894). 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.
Gulf Stream Card and Distributing Company
Church of the Good Shepherd, Tarpon Springs, 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.
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.
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.
A painting created by Bettye Reagan, a local artist in Central Florida, in 1996. The painting was inspired by photograph of a Sunday school picnic at Clifton Springs located near Lake Jesup in Oviedo, Florida, on November 12, 1910. Some of the individuals appearing in the painting are J. C. Brainan, J. H. Lee, Olauc Howard-Huret, Frank Anderson, Sid Brown and his wife, H. B. McCall, and Hugh White. Clifton Springs was named in honor of the hometown of Dr. Henry Foster, a wealthy grower from Lake Charm in Oviedo. Originally called White's Wharf, the site marks the approximate location where John Bartram and William Bartram camped during their excursion along the St. Johns River in 1765-1766. William G. White migrated to the area in the late 1870s and built a store here in 1879. White moved his store to Orlando in the 1880s. Many Oviedo residents used the site as the location for their annual May picnics, which began in 1880. The picnics were hosted by a joint committee of the local Baptist and Methodist churches. The wharf is now known as Hiley's Fish Camp.
Original painting: Reagan, Bettye. Church Picnic. 1988: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
The Church Street Market Building, located at the corner of West Pine Street and South Garland Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. In 1972, entrepreneur Bob Snow made plans to develop an entertainment complex in order to revitalize Downtown Orlando. Several restaurants, clubs, and other attractions opened in the 1970s. By 1985, the market, also known as Church Street Station, became the fourth-largest attraction in Florida, following Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. In 1989, Snow sold his interest to a subsidiary of Baltimore Gas and Electric company. Church Street Station completed a major expansion for $5.5 million in 1994. By 1998, the market began decreasing in popularity and was bought and sold by several owners until it went into bankruptcy under Lou Pearlman in 2007. In 2010, the Amway Center arena opened on West Church Street and stimulated a new influx of business.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
RICHES of Central Florida
Church Street Market, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the Sunrail Tram system.
Original color digital image by Ebyabe, April 21, 2007.
Church Street Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
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 photographs, 1989: Private Collection of Nancy Lynn Cepero.
Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2002. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry Bradley Plant. The building was demolished around 1890. The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972. In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
South Florida Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station Entertainment Complex, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Old Orlando Railroad Depot, located at 127 West Church Street in Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad, it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail Tram system.
Original color photograph by John Bradley, April 21, 2007: Wikimedia Commons.
Wikimedia Commons
Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2012. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail tram system.
Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Orlando, Florida. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the Sunrail Tram system.
Church Street, Showing Huguenot and St. Philip's Church Postcard
A postcard depicting a view of Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina, on which stand two of the oldest churches in the United States. St. Philip's Episcopal Church opened in 1723, after moving from its original 1680 site, which is now the site of St. Michael's Episcopal Church. The Huguenot Church was built in 1687 by a group of French Protestants who had settled in Charleston, but it was destroyed in 1796. The present structure is the third, which was completed in 1845 in the Gothic Revival style of architecture. 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. Philip's Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina
Huguenot Church, Charleston, South Carolina
Cigarettes Mower, Stolen; $1,200 Construction Theft
A newspaper article published by The Oviedo Outlook on August 1, 1973. This article details a number of thefts that were reported to the Oviedo City Police Department in August of 1973. These thefts included cigarettes, a mower, and a $1,200 construction theft.
Original newspaper article: "Cigarettes Mower, Stolen; $1,200 Construction Theft." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973: Private Collection on Dan Beistel.
The Oviedo Outlook
Oviedo City Police Department, Oviedo, Florida
The Oviedo Heritage, a supplement for The Oviedo Outlook, published on June 30, 1977. This article chronicles the history of the Citizens Bank of Oviedo, which Originally opened on East Broadway Street on July 2, 1946. The land on which the bank sits was Originally the Bill Browning celery farm. The Citizens Bank of Oviedo took in over half a million dollars in deposits on its first day, with B. F. Wheeler as president, C. R. Clonts as vice president, and Charles Shaffer as the cashier. In 1949, the bank moved to the Memorial Building, which is located at 38 South Central Avenue. On March 25, 1974, the Citizens' Bank of Oviedo reopened at 156 Geneva Drive. The bank is now the Citizens' Bank of Florida with locations throughout Seminole County.
Original newspaper article: Neely, Larry. "Citizens Bank Founded in 1946." The Oviedo Heritage, June 30, 1977: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.
Citizens Bank of Oviedo, Oviedo, Florida
The Citizens Bank of Oviedo, which originally opened on East Broadway Street on July 2, 1946. The land on which the bank sits was originally the Bill Browning celery farm. The Citizens Bank of Oviedo took in over half a million dollars in deposits on its first day, with B. F. Wheeler as president, C. R. Clonts as vice president, and Charles Shaffer as the cashier. In 1949, the bank moved to the Memorial Building, which is located at 38 South Central Avenue. This photograph was taken by Henry DeWolf for an aerial survey of Oviedo, Florida. On March 25, 1974, the Citizens' Bank of Oviedo reopened at 156 Geneva Drive. The bank is now the Citizens' Bank of Florida with locations throughout Seminole County.
Original 20 x 16 inch color photograph by Henry DeWolf: Private Collection of Arthur Evans.
Citizen's Bank of Oviedo, Downtown Oviedo, Florida
City Appoints New Fire Chief, Finance Director
A newspaper article published in The Oviedo Voice on September 16, 2004. The article discusses the appointment of Lars White as acting fire chief of the Oviedo Fire and Emergency Services Department until the city finds a permanent replacement for its retiring chief, Wayne Martin. According to the article, White was considering applying for the permanent position of fire chief. White was hired as one of the department's first paid employees in 1983, after serving for several years as a volunteer. His experience included service as a firefighter, a captain, a lieutenant, a battalion chief, the public information officer, a training coordinator, the public education director. The article also discusses the appointment of Cindy Lindsay as Finance Director. A certified public account, Lindsay's experience also included service as the assistant for the Oviedo Finance Department, service for the City of Casselberry, and experience running her own business.
Original newspaper article: "City Appoints New Fire Chief, Finance Director." The Oviedo Voice, Vol. XIV, No. 38, September 16, 2004, page 1: Private Collection of Edwin White and Carolyn White.
City Cab Company Taxi Service and the American Fire and Casualty Company
This photograph shows three businesses located on South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, sometime between 1941 and 1946: City Cab Company Taxi Service, Kelly's Tires, and the American Fire and Casualty Company. City Cab Co. was founded by Napoleon B. Broward as early as 1941. Broward left the company in 1943 and was replaced by the company's secretary treasurer, Paul Mears. Later renamed Mears Transportation, it became one of the largest taxicab companies in Orlando and still operates today. The Exchange Building, pictured in the distance, was home to American Fire, an Ohio-based insurance corporation that had offices in the top two floors of the building for 18 years. In 1946, the insurance company bought the building and renamed it the American Building. These lots, as well as the rest of the block, were later replaced by the CNA Tower and Barnett Plaza.
Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Downtown Orlando Information Center, Orlando, Florida.
City Cab Company Taxi Service, Downtown Orlando, Florida
American Fire and Casualty Company, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City Directory for St. Augustine, Florida: 1948
A page from the city directory for St. Augustine, Florida, from 1948. The City Directory lists the names of the head of the household and in the case of a married man, the name of his wife. The Directory also gives shorthand description of the occupation and place of employment of the head of the household as well as their address. The Directory also includes advertisement from local businesses. A notable resident listed in the directory is Fred Wimbush (1920-1949). Born in Emanuel County, Georgia, Wimbush later lived in Lyons, Georgia, before relocating to St. Augustine, Florida, by 1935. On July 14, 1943, Wimbush enlisted in the United States Army, where he reported to duty at Camp Blanding near Starke, Florida. He eventually served with Company H as part of the 25th Infantry Regiment of the 93rd Division. Wimbush and his segregated regiment served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, serving in both a labor and combat capacity. Wimbush received an honorable discharge on November 29, 1946. After the war ended, Wimbush returned to St. Augustine, where he lived until his death on January 14, 1949, at the age of twenty-eight. He is buried in Saint Augustine National Cemetery in Saint Augustine, Florida in Section E, Plot 25. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program Project. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for K-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of the original printed city directory for St. Augustine, Florida, 1948.
City Directory, New London, Connecticut, 1960
City Directory for New London, Connecticut, in 1960. A notable resident listed in this record is Paul Havener. Born in Oklahoma on March 23, 1923, Havener moved to Maine after the death of this father. He joined the United States Army Air Corp in February 1943, in Portland, Maine. He reached the rank of Corporal by the time he was discharged in 1945. While in the Army Air Corp, he trained as a tail gunner, protecting aircraft from enemy attacks at the tail or rear of the plane. He married Esther Caroline Brown on June 23, 1945. They had three children. Paul Havener passed away on October 8, 1992, at age 69, and is buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In 2017, the University of Central Florida was one of three universities selected to launch the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Program. The program engaged a team of scholars to make the life stories of veterans buried in the Florida National Cemetery available to the public. The project engages UCF students in research and writing and fosters collaboration between students, faculty and local Central Florida schools to produce interactive curriculum for k-12 students. The corresponding website exhibit uses RICHES Mosaic Interface to create a digital archive of related data. The public can use the project-developed augmented-reality app at more than 100 gravesites at the Florida National Cemetery, where they can access the UCF student-authored biographies of veterans.
Digital reproduction of original city directory.
Federal Emergency Relief Administration (U.S.)
Newspaper article in the Sanford Herald on the City of Sanford's donation of land to the State Marketing Board to construct the Sanford State Farmers' Market in 1934. The tract of land was in a desirable location due to its proximity to both east and west farms, as well as its location near French Avenue. The Sanford State Farmers' Market, at 1300 South French Avenue, was founded in 1934 in order to provide a central location in which farmers would sell their produce directly to consumers. The idea for the Sanford State Farmers' Market was devised by Fred Dorner and Gus Schmach, both members of the Seminole Agricultural Club. 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 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.
Photocopy of original newspaper article: "City Donates 20-Acre Tract for Market." The Sanford Herald, June 20, 1934: State Farmers' Market Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford State Farmers' Market, Sanford, Florida
City Hallways, Souvenir Issue, October 1958
The souvenir issue of City Hallways, a publication by the City of Orlando to keep employees up to date on news and events. This edition covers the new Orlando City Hall building, which was dedicated on October 3, 1958. The new city hall was designed by Richard Boon Rogers and stood eight stories tall. The building was technologically up-to-date for its time with air conditioning and fallout shelters. Additionally, it was the first city hall Orlando had which was designed for that purpose. It remained in use until its destruction in 1991, which was filmed for use in Lethal Weapon 3.
Original publication: City Hallways, October 1958: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando City Hall, Orlando, Florida.
City of Orlando
Orlando City Hall, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, located at 19 North Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue) in Downtown Orlando, Florida. In 1883, after a dressmaking store in Orlando caught fire, William C. Sherman, a previous member of the Boston Fire Department, set up a volunteer fire force. Sherman served as its first Fire Chief and the organization also included Ben Bartlett, Tom Mann, J. Walter Hosier, J. W. Gettier, and Macy. The team used a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade, and a painter's ladder to extinguish fires. By 1885, due to the growing population, there were three volunteer fire groups, but they were consolidated into one under the name Orlando Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. The name Orlando Fire Department was adopted in 1890 and all other volunteer groups that had been created were incorporated into one group. In 1896, Orlando's first town hall building was constructed and included a 30-foot bell tower, which was used to alert the town of a fire. If someone were to discover a fire, he or she would ring the bell until the volunteer forces arrived. This was known as Firehouse No. 1, but on March 25, 1919, the firehouse moved from its original location on Oak Street (present-day Wall Street) to a new location at 19 North Main Street. The new station cost $17,708 to construct and the old station was abandoned. In 1923, the Orlando Fire Department officially became a fully-paid department. From 1925 onward, more firehouse stations were built around the city to better serve the community with quick responses to fires. In 1960, Firehouse No. 1 moved to 439 South Magnolia Street, and moved again in 2009 to its current location at 78 West Central Boulevard. The new building would be the three lower floors of a nine-story high-rise and would serve as the new headquarters for the Orlando Fire Department. The new fire station opened on December 2, 2009.
Original black and white photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando Public Library, Orlando, Florida.
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, Downtown Orlando, Florida
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1 Fire Hose Nozzle
A fire hose nozzle from the City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, located at 19 North Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue) in Downtown Orlando, Florida. In 1883, after a dressmaking store in Orlando caught fire, William C. Sherman, a previous member of the Boston Fire Department, set up a volunteer fire force. Sherman served as its first Fire Chief and the organization also included Ben Bartlett, Tom Mann, J. Walter Hosier, J. W. Gettier, and Macy. The team used a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade, and a painter's ladder to extinguish fires. By 1885, due to the growing population, there were three volunteer fire groups, but they were consolidated into one under the name Orlando Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. The name Orlando Fire Department was adopted in 1890 and all other volunteer groups that had been created were incorporated into one group. In 1896, Orlando's first town hall building was constructed and included a 30-foot bell tower, which was used to alert the town of a fire. If someone were to discover a fire, he or she would ring the bell until the volunteer forces arrived. This was known as Firehouse No. 1, but on March 25, 1919, the firehouse moved from its original location on Oak Street (present-day Wall Street) to a new location at 19 North Main Street. The new station cost $17,708 to construct and the old station was abandoned. In 1923, the Orlando Fire Department officially became a fully-paid department. From 1925 onward, more firehouse stations were built around the city to better serve the community with quick responses to fires. In 1960, Firehouse No. 1 moved to 439 South Magnolia Street, and moved again in 2009 to its current location at 78 West Central Boulevard. The new building would be the three lower floors of a nine-story high-rise and would serve as the new headquarters for the Orlando Fire Department. The new fire station opened on December 2, 2009.
Original fire hose nozzle: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Orlando Public Library, Orlando, Florida.
City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, 2004
The City of Orlando Fire Station No. 1, located at the corner of North Magnolia Avenue and Wall Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2004. Inspired by a fire in 1883, Orlando's first volunteer fire department was established by William C. Sherman, who would be named Fire Chief. The organization also included Ben Bartlett, Tom Mann, J. Walter Hosier, J. W. Gettier, and Macy. The team used a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade, and a painter's ladder to extinguish fires. A major fire in 1884 and an article written by E. H. Gore in The Orange County Reporter resulted in the official organization of the Orlando Fire Department in 1885, with John Weeks as the first official Fire Chief. On March 25, 1919, Firehouse No. 1 moved from its original location on Oak Street (present-day Wall Street) to a new location at 19 North Main Street (present-day Magnolia Avenue). The new station cost $17,708 to construct and the old station was abandoned. In 2006, the Fire Department announced that a new Fire Station No. 1 would be located at 78 West Central Boulevard. The new building would be the three lower floors of a nine-story high-rise and would serve as the new headquarters for the City of Orlando Fire Department. The new fire station opened on December 2, 2009.
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2004: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Youth participants on the City of Orlando Youth Baseball Team, which operated from 1999 to 2003. The team eventually had youths up to 14 years old playing baseball, and would play in Grand Avenue Park. The contributor's son, Nathaniel Jenkins, is pictured fourth from the front of the photograph. Created by Jerry Applebee and Polly Applebee in 1994, the Restore Orlando's after-school program organized outings such as horseback riding and helicopter rides. The Applebees were affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in the Parramore neighborhood of Downtown Orlando, Florida. Dedra Jenkins fought to have a basketball court built for the older children at Kaley Square Park across the street. Originally, owners of the church and park did not want a court because they feared it would be a place where drug dealers would congregate. This photograph, taken by an unknown volunteer at the program, was originally discarded, along with other similar photographs, and then found by a local resident near the Emmanuel Fellowship and Worship Center, which is located at the former site of Restore Orlando. The collection was given to the contributor, Dedra Jenkins.
Original 3 x 5 inch color photograph, 1999: Private Collection of Dedra Jenkins.
Grand Avenue Park, Holden Heights, Florida
City of Sanford After the Great Fire of 1887
Lake Monroe (Seminole County and Volusia County, Fla.)
The City of Stanford in the 1890s, after the Great Fire of 1887. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
Original black and white drawing: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
City of Sanford Before the Great Fire of 1887
The City of Sanford riverfront in the 1880s, just before the Great Fire of 1887. The present-day Sanford, Florida, area was originally inhabited by the Mayaca and Joroco tribes by the time Europeans arrived. The tribe was decimated by war and disease by 1760 and was replaced by the Seminole tribe. In 1821, the United States acquired Florida from Spain and Americans began to settled in the state. Camp Monroe was established in the mid-1830s to defend the area against Seminoles during the Seminole Wars. Following an attack on February 8, 1837, the camp was renamed Fort Mellon in honor of the battle's only American casualty, Captain Charles Mellon. The Town of Mellonville was founded nearby in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. When Florida became a state three years later, Mellonville became the county seat for Orange County, which was originally a portion of Mosquito County. Citrus was the first cash crop in the area and the first fruit packing plant was constructed in 1869. In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville to form the community of Sanford. which he called "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford was incorporated in 1877 and absorbed Mellonville in 1883. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "The Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development. In 2003, Sanford began the redevelopment of the waterfront with the RiverWalk Project to revitalize the city's riverfront.
The City of Sanford steamboat near Sanford, Florida. The steamboat was constructed by the Thompson & Clyde Shipyard in Jacksonville. On November 24, 1880, The City of Sanford was launched. The steamboat travedl between Sanford and Jacksonville 137 times and was able to carry 145 tons of goods. On April 24, 1882, The City of Sanford burned at Point La Vista, near Downtown Jacksonville. By the mid-1880s, Sanford had become a major distribution center due to the city's strategic location along Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River. Even before Florida obtained statehood, steamboats frequented the St. Johns River carrying U.S. Army soldiers to Fort Mellon, located on the shores of Lake Monroe, to defend the area against Native Americans during the Seminole Wars. Steamboats were used at the fort and during the Battle of Camp Monroe to relocate Seminoles, explore the St. Johns River, and to distribute military forces. During the second half of the 1830s, steamboats were used to tow barges from the river to Lake Monroe in order to stimulate trade. The first commercial steamboat was developed as the Brock Line in the early 1850s. As trade grew, various wharves and docks were built in locations such as Mellonville Avenue, Palmetto Avenue, Oak Street, and Sanford Avenue. The Debary-Baya Merchant Line began transporting passengers in 1883, which further developed the steamboat industry. The line was purchased by the Clyde Line in 1886 and remained open until 1933. The growth of railroads was the primary cause of the decline of the steamboat industry.
Original drawing by John Wilson Somerville: Steamboats Collection, Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
Museum of Seminole County History
City Sewerage System Nearing Construction
In August of 1973, The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973 reported that the Oviedo's new sanitary sewer system was still on schedule to be built that year. Through a joint effort between a group of developers, engineers, and city officials, the 10-acre site, just south of the city limits and east of Florida State Road 520, should generate enough revenue according to most projections.
Original newspaper article: "City Sewerage Nearing Construction." The Oviedo Outlook, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973, Vol. 1, No. 7, August 1, 1973: Private Collection of Dan Beistel.