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1887 was an important year for the State of Florida and for Winter Park:
On January 1st, Florida's new constitution went into effect. Osceola and Lake Counties separated from Orange County. In October, the City of Winter Park was incorporated, adopting a city council and a mayoral form of government. The city limits included the old town of Osceola and Hannibal Square.
On October 12th, 1887, an election was held in Ergood's Hall, with 71 votes cast.
The following men were elected:
- Mayor: Robert White, Jr.
- Clerk: Emmet L. Maxson
- Marshall: Alex Earl
After that election, it was decided that the ballot for aldermen (equivalent to today's city commissioners) be placed on one ticket. C. B. Davids and S. P. Butler were chosen to tally the votes.
Seventeen white and two black men were on the ticket for the seven alderman seats:
- M. Alcott
- N. Barrows
- Frank Bartlett
- James S. Capen
- Henry Stedman Chubb
- E. N. Coan
- J. W. Diffenderfer
- J. R. Ergood
- J. H. Ford
- J. A. Griffith
- T. W. Griffith
- E. P. Hooker
- Frank R. Israel
- J. H. Lamay
- John R. Mizell
- Walter B. Simpson
- Royal Rollin Thayer
- R. Thomas
- C. H. Ward
The seven men elected were:
On October 13th, Winter Park's first council meeting was held at the office of the Winter Park Company. Royal Rollin Thayer was elected president of the board. The seven aldermen drew lots to determine which four would serve two-year terms and which three would serve a one-year term. Meetings were scheduled for the second Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of each month.
At this first council meeting, thirty-four procedural rules were adopted, including Rule XV which stated: "Any member refusing to vote on any question unless excused by the board shall be deemed in 'contempt' and shall be liable to censure". Standing committees of Finance, Streets and Bridges, Judiciary Taxes and Licenses, Cemetery, Sanitation and Pound, Ordinances and Rules, Town Property, Police and Firemen were appointed.
What transpired in two days in October 1887 was the beginning of a small but prosperous town that became the City of Winter Park.
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