AUTHORS

Jason Byrne

Forest City, Florida – Plat Map from 1883

Here is the Forest City plat, filed with Orange County in 1883. I've overlayed 2023 landmarks on it to give reference. The red line is the old Orange Belt Railroad line, which is now (partially) a bike trail that is...

Early Population of Highlands County

Highlands County PopulationYearTotalWhiteBlackHispanicNativeAsianOther18801885189019001910192019309,1936,5112,677004193511,0867,8613,224000119409,2877,3391,889230036194516,25213,3552,8930004Sebring Population19201,3131,13717619303,2502,42881819353,6752,6281,04719403,1552,41773719457,1896,0711,115Avon Park Population18901900191028519201,6981,2744041919303,3552,42892719353,4232,48194219403,1652,42374219454,3573,432924Lake Placid (Lake Stearns) Population19201930819536283193594869325519403403221819451,252870382Venus Population19201930193537733740194035526986194524019743Hicoria Population192019305501633871935622287335194012912541945655114Lorida (Istokpoga) Population19201930991935111111019402011891219452362360Bassenger (Ft. Bassenger) Population1920193019351501005019401945Cornwell Population1920193019351940194550500Brighton Population19201930193511092181940194532320DeSoto City Population1920193038029882193529121180194013189923101945246116130Avon Park Lakes Population1920193019351,24979345619401945

1890 Property Map of Lake Brantley area

Lake Brantley and Hunt Club area. This 1890 Orange County tax role map shows the property owners overlayed on the modern-day satellite view map. The red highlighted area indicates the section the Lewton family donated for the Lake Brantley Union...

Cardinals Played in Avon Park from 1927-1929

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 1926, so it was with much excitement in Avon Park when the tiny "scenic ridge" town was announced as their spring home. The Red Birds signed a three-year contract to play...

Frostproof 1928: Wall and Scenic (Colorized)

I loved this old photo of Wall Street and Scenic Highway from the 1920s so much that I wanted to bring it to life with some color. I'm still learning colorization with Photoshop and the buildings further in the background...

Visit to Lake Harney’s Mansfield Island in 1891

In January 1891, photojournalist Clarence Bloomfield Moore traveled down the St. Johns River with a small crew. It had become an annual tradition since he first journeyed deep into the Florida wilderness in 1879. Moore was a Harvard-educated archeologist from...