When the partnership between Loring Augustus Chase and Oliver Everette Chapman ended in 1885, Mr. Chase organized and chartered The Winter Park Company to continue to promote and develop Winter Park.
With a number of investors, including Mr. Chase, The Winter Park Company constructed the first Seminole Hotel. The hotel, completed and opened January 1, 1886, was the largest hotel south of Jacksonville, Florida. It was a "state of the art" hotel for its time with steam heat, gas lighting, an elevator, electric service bells, a fire alarm system, approved fire escape, hot and cold baths and a steam bath. The hotel accomodated 400 guests. Ironically, even with the fire alarm system, the Seminole Hotel burned to the ground September 1902.
The building on the right shown in this vintage postcard is The Winter Park Company. The Henkel Building is on the left and the horsecar to the Seminole Hotel is in front of it.
