FIRE aboard Sanford & Lake Eustis Railroad

While departing TAVARES bound for SANFORD, a fire destroyed a ‘JT&KW’ engine pulling rail cars branded ‘Sanford & Lake Eustis Railway. The 1888 fire soon setoff far more than a blaze, as in addition to destroying an engine, a blame game ensued.

Litigation arising out of the April 9, 1888 fire led to depositions and court appeals, archives having an unexpected positive outcome – HISTORY!

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CitrusLAND: GHOST TOWNS & PHANTOM TRAINS

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Now a phantom train, surveying for ‘Sanford & Lake Eustis Railway’ had begun in 1885. The train’s path included present day ghost towns PAOLA and MARKHAM, but provided service as well as for present day Lake County communities of SORRENTO and MOUNT DORA. Each of these place names were 19^th century depots on an Orange County train, running east-west between towns Sanford and Tavares.

The Road to MARKHAM

A Seminole TRAIL today; one-time RAIL route of S&LE

The 1888 fire litigation cited four early railroads: (1) Sanford & Lake Eustis; (2) Tavares, Apopka & Gulf Railroad; (3) Peninsular Land, etc., Co.; and the Plaintiff, (4) Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railroad.

Peninsular Land, Transportation & Mfg. Co. was a TAVARES-based consortium led by Louisiana native, Alexander St. Clair ABRAMS. The Abrams organization had been very specific of its intentions to build hotels, construct railroads, and grow oranges in and around their town of Tavares. Peninsular was the parent company of: Tavares, Orlando & Atlantic Railroad (See Part 5); Tavares, Apopka & Gulf Railroad (See Part 9 next week); and the subject of this week’s Blog, the Sanford & Lake Eustis Railway.

Sanford and Tavares were competing by the mid-1880s for the coveted title of Gateway to central Florida, cities then part of Orange County. Sanford was promoting itself as the Gateway to Orange County, where trains connected with steamboats traveling the St. Johns River. Tavares likewise marketed itself as a gateway hub, where local railroads connected with mainline railroads traveling to all points north.

Sanford & Lake Eustis Railway planned to connect the two strategic hubs. But by 1887, another land based railroad began working its way south from Jacksonville. This new player in the railroad industry set its sights on a stop at the port town of Sanford.

Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West pre-dated Flagler’s east coast train, and as its name implies, the railroad envisioned a train running the length of Florida. To expand on its system, JT&KW chose to lease the Sanford & Lake Eustis Railway, paying a 2 1/2% royalty to the Abrams group on all passenger and freight revenues.

This idea of leasing an existing train, as opposed to building their own line, introduced a new concept to the central Florida railroad industry.

JT&KW Railroad lost their lawsuit, but facts reported in that suit document for history the early organizations of several of the earliest central Florida railroads.

Alexander St. Clair Abrams organized three railroads, each based out of Tavares, trains planning to connect the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean and the port at Sanford with a new State Capitol located at their hub, Tavares.

At least two overwhelming events prevented the Abrams plan from ever becoming a reality, events beginning with Florida’s Yellow Fever Scare of 1887, and followed up by the Great Freeze of 1894-95.

Plans of the Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railroad likewise faltered, largely because of the first event, the Yellow Fever Scare. By the mid-1890s the JT&KW had fallen into receivership, mainly because of a lack of cash.

Today, much of the right-of-way for the phantom Sanford & Lake Eustis Railway has disappeared. A short stretch does exist today, an isolated shady trail sitting along the north side of Markham Road, west of Orange Boulevard, in Seminole County.

Stay tuned for a new RAILS & TRAILS, and another GHOST TOWN or two, returning Wednesday, August 3, 2016. This summer series is sponsored by ‘Ghost Towns & Phantom Trains,’ a historical novel based on real-life Central Florida pioneers, and one historic 1894-95 devastating event that forever changed the Orange Belt.

WIN 1 of TEN FREE autographed copies of GHOST TOWNS & PHANTOM TRAINS at GOODREADS.com – winners to be drawn August 27, 2016.

Our giveaway begins July 27, 2016, and it’s easy to enter. 

Simply click on this link:

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This summer, Central Florida Railroad Museum, in historic Winter Garden, the Winter Garden History Center, and Bookmark it Orlando book stores, have each priced this book at a Rails & Trails special price of $15.00.

TOWNS of the FLORIDA MIDLAND RAILROAD

Central Florida’s story, in terms of growth and expansion, cannot be properly chronicled without telling of the effect short-lived railroads had on the landscape of the land I refer to as CitrusLAND. Disregarding the story of these phantom trains is tantamount to removing the more fascinating chapters of the earliest days of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Florida’s surrounding Citrus-belt counties.

P. A. DEMENS & Company, Railroad-Tie Plant (1885)

Outlying suburbs of today, as well as numerous ghost towns of yesteryear, were one-time vital hubs for 19^th century railroads. Such towns include Longwood, Palm Springs, Apopka, Ocoee and Kissimmee City, each of these examples being railway depots of the Florida Midland Railroad (FMR).

Previous RAILS & TRAILS posts in this series have discussed primarily north-south trains, interior railroads that contributed to developing central Florida as we know it today. Success of a railroad to Maitland, for example, versus the inability to finance a southbound train at today’s Ghost Town of Mellonville, are but two examples of how railroads shaped the region’s countryside.

The earliest regional railroads all planned to run southbound from a steamboat port. But the FMR was different, as it was designed as an east-west train from its founding.

Florida’s General Assembly approved Florida Midland Railroad’s charter February 10, 1885, granting organizers a franchise that, “shall be completed between Lake Jessup (sic) and Leesburg, or to such other point or points as provided in this Act, on or before the first day of June, 1888.” The “point or points” changed over time. The railroad did not actually start at Lake Jesup, nor end at Leesburg, but during its brief existence, this east-west train became a major contributor to central Florida growth.

LONGWOOD was the first vital rail intersection south of Lake Monroe. The FMR crossed over South Florida Railroad track at the center of Edward W. HENCK’s town of Longwood. Henck founded his city in 1876, served as the initial 1880 President of South Florida Railroad, and was a major force in the organization of Florida Midland Railroad.

Longwood also became headquarters for the P. A. Demens Construction Company, one of early suppliers of railroad ties, shipping from a Longwood plant in all four directions.

By year end 1885, Webb’s Historical, Biographical & Industrial periodical said a portion of the FMR had already been completed, “from a point, 6 miles west of Lake Jesup, to Longwood, Palm Springs, and FITZSIMMONS.” Webb’s also reported that the railroad would soon be completed into the town of Apopka.

PALM SPRINGS, the first town west of Longwood, also became an important crossroad when Peter A. Demens built his north-south railroad beginning in 1886 (A Future Post).

Continuing westbound, the 1880s town of LAKE BRANTLEY grew up around a FMR depot, and even further west, the FMR became the second of three planned railroads to serve APOPKA. At Apopka, the FMR then made another sharp turn, changing course from Leesburg, and instead setting sights on Osceola County's up-and-coming- town of KISSIMMEE.

Today, one can walk a remnant of the FMR route along the WEST ORANGE TRAIL. Apopka Vineland Outpost of the WOT, at the northwest corner of Apopka-Vineland Road and Clarcona -Ocoee Road, sits where the FMR train from Apopka veered west, passing through OCOEE on its way to APOPKA.

By 1890, the FMR was certified as having 33.9 miles of completed track running from Longwood to GOTHA. Founded by Printer & Inventor Henry A. HEMPLE, his town of Gotha, and later the towns of WINDERMERE and VINELAND, were each given life by the path of the Florida Midland Railroad.

Residence of GOTHA founder, Henry A. HEMPLE

Stay tuned, as a new RAILS & TRAILS, and another GHOST TOWN or two, returns next Wednesday, July 27, 2016. Our summer series is sponsored by ‘Ghost Towns & Phantom Trains,’ a historical novel based on real-life Central Florida 19^th century residents, and the true-life 1895 devastating event that forever changed their lives.

This summer, Central Florida Railroad Museum, in historic Winter Garden, in association Winter Garden History Center, and Bookmark it Orlando book stores, have priced my book at a Rails & Trails special price of $15.00.

Take the family on an outing, explore central Florida’s amazing network of RAILS & TRAILS.

COMING THIS FALL to CroninBooks.Com - an entirely NEW Mystery, an entirely NEW Genre! Watch for details: http://www.croninbooks.com/MYSTIQUE.html OR follow me on my Goodreads, Richard Lee Cronin Author Page www.Goodreads.com

Want to know more about CitrusLAND? Visit www.CroninBooks.com.

Sanford & Indian River Railroad to OVIEDO

February 18, 1882, fifteen (15) months after South Florida Railroad (SFRR) had arrived for the very first time at ORLANDO, the railroad’s President, JAMES E. INGRAHAM, arguably Mr. Railroad of Central Florida, gave notice to the Florida General Assembly of their intentions to build another railroad that would originate in SANFORD.

The Sanford & Indian River Railroad (SIRR) envisioned opening up a vast untapped region of East Orange County, then heavily owned by English investors. The intent of the railroad was to connect Sanford with TITUSVILLE on the Indian River. The first six (6) miles of SIRR track was certified complete December 27, 1883.

The initial track alignment was indeed interesting. Departing southwest from Lake Monroe, along track laid down by South Florida Railroad, after about one mile the track veered sharply east, and continued east until arriving at the old homestead of Augustus VAUGHN. At Vaughn’s land, the track then made another sharp turn, this time veering south, heading toward Lake Jesup.

Sanford & Indian River Railroad of 1883 had made a bee-line directly to Vaughn’s land!

The Sanford & Indian River Railroad swerves to cross the

Augustus Jefferson Vaughn Homestead at Fort Reid

Augustus Vaughn had been among the earliest homesteaders south of Lake Monroe. His property included the site the 1840s fortress Reid. By the 1850s, village of FORT REID had grown up around this historic site, and over the years, the town expanded south, along The First Road to Orlando. (2015 Second Edition by Richard Lee Cronin).

Confederate Major George W. WYLLY platted, in 1875, an addition to Town of Fort Reid to the south of Vaughn’s acreage, land including a rail station on Depot Avenue. This land sat adjacent to another historic site; the Alaha Chaco, or ORANGE HOUSE Hotel.

Part Three of this series, The Veterans Railroad at Mellonville, told of the first planned Orange County railroad, organized in 1870, by Confederate Veterans, one entire decade before the South Florida Railroad was organized. The Corporate headquarters for that original Veterans Railroad was the Orange House Hotel at Fort Reid.

Track of the Sanford & Indian River Railroad, after veering south and crossing Vaughn’s property, continue another mile or two to historic RUTLEDGE, first established by Florida Brigadier General Joseph J. Finegan. The General, one of the original founders of the Veterans Railroad, named this location for his deceased son, Joseph Rutledge Finegan. 

Rutledge later became the residential site of railroader James E. Ingraham.

“One begins to recognize a task of engineering,” the SFRR wrote in 1887 of their route south of Rutledge. “Dynamite will do no good here. That black venomous looking mass must be fought hand to hand, with axe, pick and spike.”

The SIRR followed the original planned alignment of the Veterans 1870 Railroad, or at least as far as SOLDIERS CREEK, on the shore of Lake Jesup. At this point the track turned east, heading toward the Mitchell Grant’s town of Tuskawilla (Part ONE).

“The throttle valve takes a fit,” said SFRR in 1887 of the train’s engine as it traveled south of Soldiers Creek, “it yells a deep bass horror; it is terribly nervous, and it has a hoarse, horrible cold. But it bellows as if in frightful terror and dismay. Are we about to tumble over the edge of the world?”

Sanford & Indian River Railroad crossing at Soldiers Creek

The Sanford & Indian River Railroad did not to tumble over the edge of the world, but the 19^th Century train, today a phantom train, never arrived at Titusville on the Indian River either. OVIEDO, and a “switch to the west one mile,” LAKE CHARM, where the “eye rests with pleasing content,” was as far east as the train ever traveled.

Though never reaching the east coast of Florida, the Sanford & Indian River Railroad was responsible for bringing improved transportation to a largely unsettled east Orange County. Lake Jesup City, Lake Charm, Oviedo and to an extent, Tuskawilla, each flourished largely because of the SIRR.

Stay tuned, as a new RAILS & TRAILS, and another GHOST TOWN or two, returns next Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Our summer series is sponsored by my historical novel, ‘Ghost Towns & Phantom Trains,’ based on real-life Central Florida 19^th century residents, and a true-life 1895 tragic event that forever changed their lives.

All summer long, Central Florida Railroad Museum in historic Winter Garden, in association the Winter Garden History Center, and Bookmark it Orlando book stores, have priced my book at a summer discounted price of $15.00.

Take the family and explore central Florida’s remarkable network of RAILS & TRAILS.

ARRIVING THIS FALL to CroninBooks.Com - an entirely NEW Genre! Watch for details at http://www.croninbooks.com/MYSTIQUE.html as well as my Goodreads Author Page.

Richard Lee Cronin Author Page is up and running at www.Goodreads.com. Care to know more about any of my books? Visit www.CroninBooks.com.

The Great Railroad Center of TAVARES

Two (2) trains served all of Central Florida during Christmas 1880, two (2) more than had served this very same region one year earlier.

Two hotels met travelers  during the 1880s at the ASTOR town pier on the St, Johns River.

Snowbirds desiring to flock to 1880 Orange County, still arriving via steamboats, could dock at one of five piers, each located at a want-to-be towns, but four of the five ports would quickly fizzle out, and are today but distant memories – a/k/a, Ghost Towns!

Of the two ports having railroads, ASTOR, the first pier south of Lake George on the St. Johns River, offered service to FORT MASON, on the north shore of Lake Eustis. This was the rail line of St. Johns & Lake Eustis Railroad (See Part Two). Further south along the St. Johns River, a pier at SANFORD, in Lake Monroe, offered service to ORLANDO aboard the South Florida Railroad (See Part Four).

Months prior to track being laid by South Florida Railroad ever reached ORLANDO though, others began planning additional railroads. Two railroads of 1880 multiplied into more than a dozen railroads by the end of that decade. Most had failed by 1890, but much of today’s layout of central Florida grew out of the RAILROAD DECADE of 1880-1890.

South Florida Railroad originated at Sanford, and by June 1, 1880, about 10 miles of track had been completed south to LONGWOOD. Another 12 miles of wilderness lay ahead, and before a train could arrive at its planned destination at Orlando, that track still had to be laid.

On June 2, 1880 however, Orlando Attorneys Robert L. SUMMERLIN and Alexander St. Clair ABRAMS purchased a large lakeside parcel located 40 miles northwest of Orlando. A month later, these same attorneys acquired two acres at Orlando. Planning then began to connect these two parcels with a Tavares, Orlando & Atlantic Railroad.

ABRAMS was a big dreamer! In fact, his plans were so big, one train couldn’t possibly fulfill his ideas for central Florida – by then America’s 19^th Century Paradise!

PENINSULAR Land, Transportation & Manufacturing Company was organized by Abrams. Headquartered in his new town of TAVARES, Peninsular would be Abram’s marketing organization for the selling of town lots, growing of oranges, building and operating railroads, and then some. By 1883, Tavares began promoting itself as the, "Great Railroad Center of South Florida".

The St. Johns & Lake Eustis Railroad had, by 1883, been extended to TAVARES, and at that time was promising connection, via the Tavares, Orlando & Atlantic Railroad, to Orlando. The route to Orlando, and three other rail lines, were reportedly all under construction in 1883, promoting connecting such destinations as Lake Monroe, the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, as well as points between. At Tavares, passengers and freight would then connect with railroad service to the north, completely eliminating the need for steamboats on the St. Johns River. (Plans didn't work out quite as planned).

Orange Land, Orange County’s Official 1883 publication, described Tavares: “It supplies settlements and villages of Mount Dora, Tangerine, Sorrento, Zellwood, Carleton, West Apopka, Oakland, Starke Lake, and Minneola, and will, within the next three years, be the greatest shipping point in all this region of Florida."

"As a winter resort, Tavares is one of the most inviting in South Florida," continued Orange Land's description, "the hunting and fishing are unequalled. Here is the Peninsular Hotel, the best hotel in the Lake Region.”

The Peninsular Hotel at Tavares was built by town founder Alexander St. Clair Abrams.  

Tavares became part of Lake County in 1887, and it can be said plans for the town didn’t quite work out as Alexander St. Clair Abrams hoped, but his grand scheme did open up a vast central Florida wilderness to development.

Plymouth, Apopka, Piedmont and many west Orange County communities benefited from the Tavares, Orlando & Atlantic Railroad, even though the 1880s railroad never did make it to the Atlantic coast.

Stay tuned, as a new RAILS & TRAILS, and another GHOST TOWN or two, returns next Wednesday, July 13, 2016. This summer series is sponsored by ‘Ghost Towns & Phantom Trains’ a Novel based on true-life Central Florida 19^th century residents, and a factual 1895 historical event that forever changed their lives and all of CitrusLAND.

All summer long, Central Florida Railroad Museum in historic Winter Garden, in association the Winter Garden History Center, and Bookmark it Orlando book stores, have all priced Ghost Towns at a summer discounted price of $15.00. Take time this summer and explore central Florida’s remarkable network of RAILS & TRAILS.

COMING THIS FALL to CroninBooks.Com is an entirely NEW Genre! Watch for details at http://www.croninbooks.com/MYSTIQUE.html and my Goodreads Author Page.

Richard Lee Cronin Author Page is up and running at www.Goodreads.com, so if you want to know more about any of my books? Please visit www.CroninBooks.com.

Meet you back here next Wednesday!