Wednesday, January 16, 2019

ORLANDO LAKES: Homesteaders & Namesakes




Central Florida's lakes have been inviting the world to live, work and play in a land of sunshine for nearly two centuries. Its hundreds of glistening lakes have influenced where residents choose to live, vacationers where to lodge, and even the pathways of meandering roadways required to transport the areas residents and visitors. As a matter of convenience, or at times to establish a memorial, brave pioneers named these waterways. Three hundred lake were named during the 19th century alone, and of those, the origins of many had been lost to history.

Who named Orlando's Lake Eola?

The mission of Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes was to provide a different slant on the fascinating story of central Florida's founding, and adding how lakes were named.

Who named Altamonte's Lake Orienta?

From Lakes George in the north to Tohopekaliga in the south, Poinsett in the east to Harris in the west, and all points between, each of the 303 historic lakes profiled in Orlando Lakes share one thing in common. Eustis, Mt. Dora and Tavares started out as Orange County communities. The same is true of Sanford, Altamonte and Kissimmee. Each began by recording deeds and plats with the Orange County Clerk of Court at Orlando. Hence my book's title, Orlando Lakes!

What was the significance of Ten Mile Lake?

Who named Winter Park's Lake Virginia? 

America’s Paradise became central Florida’s catchphrase of the 1880s, a time during which the wealthiest of Capitalists partnered with the bravest of Orange County pioneers, those remarkable homesteaders who first took on the task of taming one very large wilderness. These early visionaries constructed railroads, planted tens of thousands of citrus trees, and then set out to subdivide their homesteads into nearly 200 brand new towns. Many are ghost towns today, but most of the lakes these once-upon-a-time towns platted and built around have survived the ages.

What's with Mt Dora's Lake Saunders?

The pioneers and planners of yesteryear have long since perished, yet many of the names they chose for central Florida lakes became permanent fixtures in a modern day metropolis. Each lake has been an eye-witness to history, of a family history - and a community’s history.

Resolving the mystery of Kissimmee's Lake Conlin!

Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes includes an alphabetical index reuniting 450 family surnames with the lakes their ancestors named so very long ago. 

I am pleased to announce that Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes is now available online at Amazon, and the handy link below can be used to buy a copy now. 


https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Orlando+Lakes+Homesteaders+%26+namesakes

How is Lake Lurna linked to America's extraordinary history?

Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes, a new slant on the amazing history of central Florida.