The Mary Moody Postcard Collection, part of our Winter Park History and Archives Digitized Collections, illustrates scenes of early Winter Park as a developing community. This collection, which Mrs. Moody donated in 1997, contains twelve postcards spanning the years 1885 - 1948. To view a larger image, click on the postcards. For copyright information, click here.
Congregational Church, 1885. Located on New England Avenue, the
Congregational Church was the first church building in Winter Park. Built
in 1884 less than three years after the founding of Winter Park, the church was
composed of Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, and Unitarian members. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Ergood House, 656 N. Interlachen Avenue, date unknown. John Ergood sits on
the steps of his home. The house's "irregularity of plan and massing,
its extensive porch and tower element, are characteristics which today would
classify it as having been in the 'Queen Anne' style - then at the height of its
popularity in the Northeast." (Quote from Winter Park Portrait: The
Story of Winter Park and Rollins College, by Richard N. Campen.) Ergood operated
his first business on Park Avenue, and was the original Postmaster. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
First Seminole Hotel, 1886 - 1902. This two-hundred room luxury hotel located
at the intersection of New England, Chase, and Osceola Avenues was called the
largest hotel south of Jacksonville when it opened New Year's Day, 1886.
The hotel hosted numerous prestigious guests including President Grover
Cleveland. The original hotel burned down in 1902. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Home of an unknown early settler near Winter Park. Date unknown. The
first settlers came to this area in 1858. In 1881, Loring Chase and Oliver
Chapman founded the town of Winter Park. Their plan included "a grid
network of streets, a ten-acre park next to the railroad tracks, a lakeside
resort hotel site, and a black residential district for domestic servants and
grove workers." (Quote from The Chronological History of Winter Park
by Claire Leavitt MacDowell.) Click on thumbnail
to view larger image.
Morse Boulevard, 1948, looking west toward Park Avenue. Charles Hosmer
Morse first came to Winter Park in 1881, and spent many winters here with his
family. In 1904 at age 71, he took over the land holdings of the Francis
Knowles Estate as well as operation of the Winter Park Company. An owner
of numerous citrus groves, a member of the Congregational Church, and a generous
supporter of the Winter Park community, Morse donated much land to the
city. The Morse Gallery of Art also bears his name. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
New England Avenue, 1888. Intersection of New England and Park Avenues
looking east to the Seminole Hotel. On left: Henkel Building. On
right: Winter Park Company. Click on thumbnail to
view larger image.
Park Avenue, 1888, looking south at the corner of Park Avenue and Morse
Boulevard. From left to right are Ergood's (leased in 1882, the first
commercial building in Winter Park), the Ladd Building, the Earl Building, the
Pioneer Building, and Henkel Block. A wooden structure at the corner of
Park and New England, the Henkel Building contained five ground-floor
units. It was replaced by Barnett Bank in 1952. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Park Avenue, 1925, looking south. Taylor's Pharmacy can be seen on the
left. It was the first dwelling and the first store built on Park Avenue
in 1882. Originally, the building was the first school, church, town hall,
and post office. A drug store was established in the building sometime
after 1896. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Park Avenue, 1940. The corner of Park and New England Avenues looking
north on Park. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Rollins College, 1890. Left to right: Knowles Hall, Pinehurst,
Dining Hall. Rollins College opened its doors on November 4, 1885 in
temporary facilities. The "Florida Times Union" reported of that
day, "There were present two freshmen, eight college preparatory students,
three in the normal department, and more than 30 in the training school.
The total will be doubled in a few days. The faculty and citizens are
enthusiastic." Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
The Canal, 1890. This idyllic scene shows the canal between Lakes Osceola and
Maitland. "The Savannah Daily Times" (date unknown) at that time
raved, "Winter Park is a lovely and charming place. No pen can do
justice to the magnificent lakes, which are the attraction of the
place." Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Winter Park Public Library, shown here in 1902, formerly located at the corner of Interlachen
and Fairbanks Avenues. The Library was founded in 1885 when a local
reading circle became the Circulating Library Association of Winter
Park. The original collection of books was housed on the front porch
and hall of Evaline Lamson's home. Click
on thumbnail to view larger image.
Copyright Notice:
The copyright interests for material included in the Winter Park Public Library Archives Collection may not be transferred to the Library and therefore remain with the current copyright holders. For more information please see our Copyright Information Page.
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