The quaint Village of Highland Park is just south of Lake Wales on Scenic Highway 17. The hamlet is surrounded by orange groves and anchored by its crown jewel Casa de Josefina. The home, often mistaken for a hotel, was...
The Flying Seminole Ranch was opened east of Oviedo in 1965. Its original owners were Tom Tuck and Jerry Lindsey. It had a 4000-foot grass runway and a training center for aspiring pilots. It was discussed as a possible more...
This is a small-run book that was written by a typewriter. Copies were made and hand-stapled to be distributed to local pioneers at the First Annual Lorida Schoolhouse Reunion in 1976. A second book was printed for the 1977 reunion....
Hidden under the busy flyover intersection of Maitland Boulevard and US 17-92 are the reminders of a small town that once thrived here around 140 years ago. Mayo Avenue betrays its secret. Rudolph Gustave Mayo (August 22, 1829 - December...
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...
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...
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...
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...
