Two Days in October 1887 ~ Winter Park's First Town Government
1887 was an important year for the State of Florida and for Winter Park. On January 1 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 mayor form of government. The town limits included the old town of Osceola and Hannibal Square.
On October 12, 1887, an election was held in Ergood's Hall with 71 votes cast. Robert White, Jr. was elected mayor, Emmet L. Maxson was elected clerk and Alex Earl was elected marshall. After that election, it was moved and seconded that the ballot for aldermen, equivlent to today's city commisioners, 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: T. W. Griffith, J. A. Griffith, J. R. Ergood, Frank Bartlett, C. H. Ward, J. H. Ford, E. P. Hooker, J. H. Lamay, N. Barrows, M. Alcott, R. Thomas, E. N. Coan, J. W. Diffenderfer, James S. Capen, Henry Stedman Chubb, John R. Mizell, Royal Rollin Thayer, Walter B. Simpson, and Frank R. Israel. The seven men elected were: James S. Capen, W. B. Simpson, Royal Rollin Thayer, J. W. Diffenderfer, John R. Mizell, Henry Stedman Chubb and Frank R. Israel.
Winter Park's first council meeting was held the next evening, October 13, at the Winter Park Company's office. 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, Cemetary, 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.