The Rogers House The second building erected in Winter Park . . . the first hotel In 1881, founding fathers Oliver Chapman & Loring Chase purchased 600 acres of local land, which was comprised of three homesteads. Then, they hired Samuel A. Robinson to survey their new holdings. The two friends then came up with a plan to carefully develop a town. They thoughtfully platted and mapped out the property, dividing it into lots for homes, businesses, churches, and resort hotels, all based around a central park in the middle of the town. They received their first deed to the property on July 4th.  After much deliberation, they decided to call this new place Winter Park, and on August 29th, they made that name official. On March 18th, 1882, the first building was erected in the new town, a depot. Then, on April 8th, the Rogers House opened. This hotel was the second building erected in Winter Park. It sat on a sizeable lot that was just south of the Boulevard (now known as Morse Boulevard) and sat between Interlachen Avenue and Lake Osceola. This land was made available to local residents Alfred E. and Abbie R. Rogers, with the provision that they build and operate a hotel on that spot. Alfred and Abbie Rogers moved from their home on Lake Osceola to take charge of the hotel. The opening was celebrated by a dinner which included seven guests. Loring Chase and Oliver Chapman and his family were the first to register at the hotel.                                                                     The Rogers House was situated 35 feet above Lake Osceola. It commanded lovely views of the lakes, pine forests, orange groves and the rest of town. Other amenities listed in the hotel’s brochure include: Good construction Well-furnished rooms Good views of Lake Osceola or, pretty groves and cottages Veranda Good lighting Good ventilation Heavy curled hair mattresses Upholstered box springs An excellent menu that featured fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables Through the years, the Rogers House went through many changes . . . both in ownership and name. The history of that hotel is as follows: 1882-1904: The Rogers House  1904-1912: The Seminole Inn  1912-1915: The Inn  1915-1966: The Virginia Inn In 1915, when the name of the hotel was changed to the Virginia Inn, the building was enlarged and overhauled. Stem heat was installed and electric lighting was added. Verandas that extended on three sides were built to ensure better views of Lake Osceola. The hotel was demolished in 1966 to make room for a condominium development. The Cloisters now sits where this hotel was once located.     Item: Photograph Scene: First known photograph of the Rogers House Date: c.1882 Source: Campen, Richard N., Winter Park Portrait: The story of Winter Park and Rollins College. (1987). Beachwood, OH: West Summit Press. Item: Photograph Scene: Later image that features an addition to the building Date: c.1888 Source: The Rogers House brochure, c. 1888 Item: The Rogers House brochure (Front) Date: c.1888 Source: The Rogers House brochure, c. 1888     Item: Drawing Scene: View of the Rogers House Date: c.1882 Source: Photograph Collection: Historic Homes & Buildings     Item: Photograph Scene: Interlachen Avenue Date: c.1882 Source: The Rogers House brochure, c. 1888   Item: Photograph Scene: Moonlight on Lake Osceola-from the Rogers House Date: c.1888 Source: The Rogers House brochure, c. 1888   Item: The Rogers House brochure (Back) Date: c.1888 Source: The Rogers House brochure, c. 1888