On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

On the 12^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

TWELVE unforgettable central Florida frontierswomen;

ELEVEN West Orange County Ghost Towns;

The TEN original Altamonte homesteaders;

An intriguing story of Gatlin’s NINTH Senatorial District;

The EIGHT-Sided Castle plus the builder’s biography;

SEVEN Honorable Floridians;

SIX swans swimming in an Iconic misspelled lake;

FIVE Gold Star book reviews;

A FOUR acres gift that became a major city;

TRIPLET and other namesakes, 1 lake of 303;

SECOND Lake’s history – aka – Lake Monroe to thee;

And ONE Mule in an Orange tree – all by RLC.

Isaphoenia C. (Ellington) Speer owned more Orange County land in 1860 than most every male counterpart of her time. Sarah Jane (Church) Whitner partnered with Mary E. Randolph to open the first-ever free-standing hotel in present-day Orange, Osceola and Seminole County. That year was 1869! “CitrusLAND: Curse of Florida’s Pariadise” tells the history of the struggles of central Florida’s earliest settlers – men and women alike, and each of 12 chapters starts out with a dedication to one of the region’s very special 19^th century frontierswomen.

A very special thanks to the Whitner family and Winter Garden Heritage Foundation for sharing the photos of Isaphoenia and Sarah.

Cronin Books are about the origins 
of this amazing place we call HOME

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from CitrusLANDFL

Yes Central Florida, there really is a SANTA CLAUS!

On the night before CHRISTMAS (1871), after crossing the Atlantic and arriving at New York Harbor, John Otto Fries came south to Mellonville, on Lake Monroe’s south shore, a mile east of present-day SANFORD. Early the next morning he joined four others by climbing aboard a buckboard wagon belonging to Mr. George Lewis. Fries described his carriage: “A horse and a mule, harnessed largely with bits of rope, and an old lumber wagon on whose bed several small boxes were nailed down, to furnish seats for his passengers.”

Leaving Lake Monroe at 9 AM on CHRISTMAS morning, his sleigh-ride followed a 30 years old sand rutted military trail, heading southbound. The travelers arrived as the first town – a small village named Orlando, after dark. Along the route, J. O. Fries said he saw only “one house and a little store building at #Maitland.” That would have been the home and store of Christopher Columbus Beasley, founder of Maitland.

Kena Fries, daughter of John Otto Fries

Author: Orlando of Long, Long Ago

A meticulous surveyor, John Otto Fries became witness to the birth of central Florida’s Citrus-Belt firsthand. He was dedicated to his craft, generating an abundance of detailed charts, maps and town plats. The most precious of gifts John Otto Fries left for Central Florida was a comprehensive 1890 Map of Orange County. Records produced by J. O. Fries provide a priceless visual story of the origins of Central Florida.

His likeness IS uncanny - and yes, CitrusLANDfl does believe in SANTA CLAUS!       

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

On the 11^th day of Christmas, my true book gave to me:

ELEVEN Ghost Towns of 1890s West Orange County;

TEN homesteaders of 1882 Altamonte Springs;

An intriguing history of Gatlin’s NINTH District;

The EIGHT-Sided Castle plus the builder’s biography;

SEVEN Honorable Floridians;

SIX swans swimming in a misspelled Iconic lake;

FIVE Gold Star reviewed books:

A FOUR acres gift that became a city;

TRIPLET and other lake namesakes, a total of 303;

SECOND Lake’s story – aka – Lake Monroe to thee;

And A Mule – Isaac’s Rutland Mule – by RLC.

Orange Belt Railway opened West Orange County to development in the 1880s. Towns sprang up all along the railroad’s route, cities such as Sylvan Lake; Palm Springs; Forest City; Lakeville and others. Then came the freeze of 1894-95. Ride along with Edward T. Stotesbury of Philadelphia, PA soon after the freeze – and meet the real-life homesteaders who had become town builders as well as fruit growers. Most lost everything – including their town! “Citrusland: Ghost Towns & Phantom Trains is available at Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Museum and Amazon.com

Plats of Ghost Towns are included as Exhibits

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CITRUSLAND

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

On the 10^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

The TEN homesteaders of 1882 Altamonte Springs;

An intriguing history of Gatlin’s NINTH District;

An EIGHT-Sided Castle plus the builder’s biography;

SEVEN Honorable Floridians;

SIX swans swimming in a misspelled Iconic lake;

FIVE Gold Star reviewed books:

How FOUR acres became a major city;

TRIPLET and other lake namesakes, 1 lake of 303;

SECOND Lake’s story – aka – Lake Monroe to thee;

And ONE Mule – Isaac’s Rutland Mule – by RLC.

After enjoying his 1882 Thanksgiving feast in downtown Orlando, Thomas C. Simpson, of Newburyport, MA, finalized the acquisition of 1,200 acres - buying ten homesteads north of Orlando in then Orange County. As Trustee, Simpson then signed over all ten parcels to the Altamonte Land, Hotel & Navigation Company of Boston, MA. These ten homesteads became the original town of Altamonte – or as known today – Altamonte Springs.

“Altamonte Springs of Florida”, buy it and each of RLC’s central Florida history books at Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s museum or Amazon.com. For a last-minute rush order of signed books to gift this holiday season, email me at Rick@CroninBooks.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CITRUSLAND

On the Ninth Day of Christmas..

On the 9^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

The intriguing story of Gatlin’s NINTH District;

An EIGHT-Sided Castle plus the builder’s biography;

SEVEN Honorable Floridians;

SIX swans swimming in a misspelled Iconic lake;

FIVE Gold Star book reviews:

How FOUR acres became a major city;

TRIPLET and other namesakes, 1 lake of 303;

SECOND Lake’s story – aka – Lake Monroe to thee;

And ONE Mule – Isaac’s Rutland Mule - by RLC.

Recipient of the 2017 Pine Castle Historian Award, "Beyond Gatlin: A History of South Orange County" picks up where “First Road to Orlando” left off. This first known history of South Orange County, this book will make an excellent holiday gift for every history lover in your family. Beyond Gatlin is also a perfect companion to “Will Wallace Harney: Orlando’s First Renaissance Man”. Combine two autographed books by picking them up at Pine Castle Historical Society’s quarterly meeting, tomorrow, December 8, 2019, at 5901 S. Orange Avenue. Book sales from 2:30 to 3 PM and approximately 3:30- 4:30 PM

On the Eighth Day of Christmas..

On the 8^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

An EIGHT-Sided Castle and the builder’s biography;

SEVEN Honorable Floridians;

SIX swans swimming in Orlando’s Iconic misspelled lake;

FIVE Gold Star reviewed books:

A history of how a gift of FOUR acres became a city;

Lake TRIPLET’S Namesake, 1 lake of 303;

The story of “SECOND Lake” – aka – Lake Monroe to thee;

And ONE Mule - The Rutland Mule Matter, all by RLC.

A cradle to grave biography, Will Wallace Harney: Orlando’s First Renaissance Man was researched and written by RLC for the Pine Castle Historical Society. Builder of the Pine Castle on central Florida’s Lake Conway, for which the city of Pine Castle was named, Harney was one of the most important of early Orange County pioneers. A newspaper correspondent during the 1870s, his articles, published in the North, encouraged new settlers to the area – and serve today as an invaluable collection of reference material for historians.

Harney's Pine Castle shortly before it burned down.

Pick up an autographed copy at Pine Castle Historical Society’s quarterly meeting this Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 5901 S. Orange Avenue. Book sales begin at 2:30 PM. 

On the Seventh Day of Christmas..

On the 7^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Seven Honorable Floridians;

SIX swans swimming in Orlando’s Iconic misspelled lake;

FIVE GOLD STAR reviewed books:

A history of how a gift of four acres became a city;

Lake Triplet’s Namesake, 1 lake of 303;

The story of “Second Lake” – aka – Lake Monroe to thee;

And an autographed copy of The Rutland Mule Matter, all by RLC.

Two Orange County residents were among the seven (7) Floridians to vote NO to Florida’s Secession. One of the two made it into the history books – one did not. With regard to the Seven Honorable Floridians, little was known – until now. RLC’s $3,79 EBook at Amazon, in addition to telling of Tallahassee’s politically charged atmosphere of January 1861, includes a biography of each of the men who stood their ground and voted against the wishes of the crowd. 

A PERFECT COMPANION TO THIS EBOOK

All RLC books are available at amazon.com or pick up an autographed copy at Pine Castle Historical Society’s quarterly meeting, 5901 S. Orange Avenue, December 8^th. Book sales begin at 2:30 PM. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

On the 6^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

SIX swans swimming in Orlando’s Iconic misspelled lake;

FIVE GOLD STAR reviewed books:

A history of how a gift of four acres became a city;

Of Lake Triplet’s Namesake, 1 lake of 303;

The story of “Second Lake” – aka - Lake Monroe to thee;

And an autographed copy of The Rutland Mule Matter, all by RLC.

Lake Eola was a gift to the City of Orlando from Florida’s Cattle-King, Jacob Summerlin. He had purchased 200 acres that included much of what was at time a watering hole for his cows. He subdivided his land in 1874, preparing for the arrival of George. C. Brantley’s train that was to run from Lake Jesup to Orlando by crossing over Summerlin’s property. Brantley died in 1878, as did the young man’s dream of a railroad. Summerlin named Lake Eola - #EolaNamesake - on his 1874 survey of the 200 acres. 

RLC books are available at amazon.com or you can pick up an autographed copy at Pine Castle Historical Society’s quarterly meeting, 5901 S. Orange Avenue, December 8^th. Book sales begin at 2:30 PM. You can also purchase a signed copy through PayPal, simply email me for details.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

On the 5^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

FIVE GOLD STAR reviewed books:

A history of how a gift of four acres became a city;

On Lake Triplet’s Namesake, 1 lake of 303;

The story of “Second Lake” – aka - Lake Monroe to thee;

And an autographed copy of The Rutland Mule Matter, all by RLC.

I enjoy hearing from those who have read my books and enjoy as well learning of their memories and stories of early central Florida. Amazon verifies each book review, and I’m especially proud of the 5 STAR reviews of RLC books including: The Rutland Mule Matter; First Road to Orlando; CitrusLAND: Curse of Florida’s Paradise; Ghost Towns & Phantom Trains’ and Altamonte Springs of Florida. Books are available at Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Museum; Pine Castle Historical Society’s quarterly meeting, December 8^th, 5901 S. Orange Avenue, 2:30-4:00 PM; PayPal orders for signed copies are available by emailing me, or buy online at Amazon.com 

VISIT MY WEBSITE: CroninBooks.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

On the Fourth Day of Christmas

On the 4^th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

A book on how a gift of 4 acres became a city;

Another of how Lake Triple became Triplet, 1 lake of 303;

A history of “Second Lake” – aka - Lake Monroe to thee;

And an autographed Rutland Mule Matter by RLC.

CitrusLAND: Curse of Florida’s Paradise makes a perfect holiday gift. Each of 12 Chapters starts with a dedication to a memorable 19^th century frontierswoman. Mysteries resolved include that of Benjamin F. Caldwell, stranger from Talladega, AL, who gifted in 1857 four central Florida acres for a courthouse at “Orlando”. Available at Winter Garden History Museum, Amazon.com or pick up an autographed copy at Pine Castle Historical Society’s Quarterly meeting (public invited), 5901 S. Orange Avenue, December 8^th. Book sales begin at 2:30 PM and will then resume after the PCHS 3 PM meeting.

VISIT my www.CroninBooks.com Website for details on all of my books

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

On the Third day of Christmas

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

A book on how Triple Lake became Triplet, one lake of 303;

A history of “Second Lake” – aka Monroe to thee;

And “The Rutland Mule Matter” by RLC.

Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes is an illustrated encyclopedia of central Florida lakes designed specifically for the curious at heart. A decade in the making, Orlando Lakes tells of 19^th century homesteaders on 303 waterways. From Lake #Eustis in the north to #Tohopekaliga in the south, and most points in between, this book makes for a perfect holiday gift. Pick up a copy today at Winter Garden Historical Foundation’s Museum or purchase an autographed book at Pine Castle Historical Society’s quarterly meeting December 8^th at 5901 S. Orange Avenue in downtown Pine Castle. 

Also available at Amazon.com #12DaysofChristmas

Visit CroninBooks.com for details

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CITRUSLANDFL

On the Second day of Christmas....

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

A history of “Second Lake” – aka - Monroe to thee;

And “The Rutland Mule Matter” by RLC.

“First Road to Orlando” is a history of how an 1840s Mosquito County military trail, heading inland from Lake Monroe, the lake first known as Second Lake, evolved into a main artery for central Florida’s earliest settlers. Along this trail the small 1850s hamlet Orlando became the Orange County seat. Signed copies of all RLC central Florida history books will be available today, Small Business Saturday (November 30), at Pine Castle Historical Society, 631 Wilks Avenue.

Pine Castle Historical Society, 10 AM to 3 PM 

Cronin Books are also available at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Museum and Amazon.com 

On the First day of Christmas...

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

A Mule – Central Florida’s “Rutland Mule”

Isaac N. Rutland was one of two Orange County delegates to Florida's Secession Convention

The Rutland Mule Matter is a historic Novel based on true-life events involving Isaac N. Rutland. An Orange County resident of 1860, he voted NO to Florida’s Secession in 1861 and did not survive the War to follow. One Five-Star reviewer stated this book “should be in every central Florida Middle School”. Get an author’s autographed copy for holiday gifting on Small Business Saturday at the Pine Castle Historical Society, from 10-3 on November 30^th

Photo above is the Wekiva River at SR 46 - site of 1860 Rutland's Ferry.

Photo below is of Isaac N. Rutland as a delegate of Florida's Secession Convention.

A perfect holiday gift, this Historic Novel comes complete with a bibliography! 

Also available at Amazon.com

Isaac N. Rutland

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History - Part Four (Finale)

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History

Part Four: The STEPMOTHER

Age 26 in 1940, Wallace Harney Wilkes lived in Chicago with Mae Wilkes, age 60, a widow. A native of Iowa, Mae Wilkes was the head of household. Wallace was identified as Mae’s son.

Far to the south of 1940 Chicago a struggling community of Pine Castle, birthplace of Wallace Harney Wilkes, was just beginning to awaken from a horrible nightmare. Much had happened in Orange County since Sawyer James A. Wilkes established a sawmill on the largely abandoned 1870s homestead of frontiersmen Will Wallace Harney.

A “Land Bust” of the late 20s, followed by the Market Crash of ‘29 and the Great Depression of the 1930s, had once again – like that of the Great Freeze of 1894-95 – caused many a Floridian to pack up and leave. James Wilkes, together with his second wife and three kids, were among those who up and left Pine Castle.

Lula (Parker) Wilkes died in 1921. James remarried soon after, to a mystery woman from Iowa known only to this historian - after an exhaustive search - as Mae, born circa 1878 at Iowa.

Iowans were indeed finding their way to central Florida during the early 1900s. “The Prosper Colony,” as reported in February of 1910, “sold 70 tracts of 5 acres to parties from Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.” Known today as Taft, James A. Wilkes had acquired five lots in The Prosper Colony in 1924, soon after marrying Mae of Iowa.

For many reasons, Wilks Avenue is a perfect location for a Pine Castle Historical Society Museum. Even the misspelling of the street’s name is representative of many central Florida historic locations. Wilks Avenue was named for an individual who got his start by subdividing Will Harney’s Homestead – birthplace of Pine Castle itself. And then like many early pioneers, history kind of forgot about him. The name Wilkes stands as a constant reminder of all who came this way, gave it their all, but became lost amid a fascinating story of this land.

James A. Wilkes died July 2, 1932 and was buried at Detroit, Michigan. His first wife Lula was buried alongside her parents and first child at Ocoee in West Orange County. Of the three Wilkes children, Mary Cornelia died in California; Pine Castle’s namesake - Wallace Harney Wilkes - died at Chicago; and Alwena, the youngest, died at St. Petersburg, Florida.

Mae from Iowa, stepmother to the Wilkes siblings, remains lost amid the annals of Pine Castle. Perhaps another researcher will provide us the rest of the Wilkes family story.

Saturday, November 30^th, Pine Castle Historical Society will open its doors at 631 Wilks Avenue (not WILKES) - from 10 AM until 3 PM. Come and meet friends of historic Pine Castle, and jump start your holiday gift giving with an author’s signed book or two of “Will Wallace Harney, Orlando’s First Renaissance Man”, a PERFECT holiday gift for the history lover in your family.

Watch too for my Christmas holiday series, “12 Days of a Central Florida Christmas.” Hum the 

classic tune while reading each new day’s post beginning Friday, November 29, 2019 and running thru Tuesday, December 12^th.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CITRUSLANDFL!

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History - Part Three

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History

Part Three: The MOTHER

During the summer of 1915 an estimated hundred automobiles formed a convoy and drove “all the way from Sanford to Kissimmee.” Saturday Evening Post advertised personal automobiles that year from as low as $795. New! Although still very much a novelty item in 1915, Americans began altering how they viewed their world as “Horsepower” took on an entirely new meaning. Improvements were made too in 1915 to “Pine Castle Road,” the main drag heading south out of Orlando. Known soon after as Dixie Highway, this road became Orange Avenue.

As the convoy traveled through Pine Castle in 1915, James A. Wilkes had only recently sold his corner lot (pictured in this post) at Wilks and Orange Avenue. Lula’s mother had died one month before the convoy departed Sanford, while her daughter Lula was pregnant with her fourth child, a daughter, born days after the convoy of a hundred horseless carriages passed through town.

Wilks Avenue and Perkins Road are memorials today to brothers in laws who decided to take part in developing Pine Castle in the early 1900s. One memorial, unfortunately, is misspelled.

Lula M. Parker was teaching school when she met and married, on October 16, 1907 at #Ocoee, James A. Wilkes. She had been living at the time with her widowed mother, Mary (Barrows) Parker. Lula’s sister Della, already married to Epaminondas D. M. Perkins in 1907, was living in the Ocoee – Minorville area of West Orange County as well.

Lula was one of four siblings who came to Florida in 1893 from Knox County, Indiana with their parents. Her father, William R. Parker, died in 1897. Prior to the Wilkes 1907 marriage, James Wilkes purchased his first Pine Castle parcel, a small lot near Isaac Aten’s General Store. After he and Lula married, brother in law E. D. M. Perkins also took an interest in Pine Castle.

Wilkes and Perkins likely determined their future alongside South Florida Railroad track would be brighter than along the Florida Midland Railway track at Ocoee and Minorville. Both families however maintained connections with Ocoee. Lula and her mother are even buried there.

Jerome Parker (1877-1959), a brother of Lula, married Willie Capie Minor (1882-1960), a daughter of Minorville’s Tyrannus J. Minor (1849-1936). Another brother, Paul Barrows Parker, went off to West Point, served in France during the first World War, and then settled in DC.

James A. Wilkes family were settled in Pine Castle by 1909. Four children were born at Pine Castle: (1) James Parker Wilkes, born in 1909 but died at age 10; (2) Mary Cornelia (Wilkes) Hunt, born in 1912 and died at California in 1992. (3) Wallace Harney Wilkes, born at Pine Castle in 1913 and died at Chicago in 2000, and (4) Alwena (Wilkes) Misztal, born 1915, and died at Chicago in 1992.

Lula (Parker) Wilkes died at age 46 in 1921. She left three little tykes, each under of the age of 10. The Wilkes kids therefore were raised by a stepmother, whom you will meet tomorrow in Part Four of my series: The Stepmother.

Mark your calendar too for next Saturday, November 30^th, when Pine Castle Historical Society will open its doors at 631 WILKS Avenue (not Wilkes) - from 10 AM until 3 PM, where you can meet friends of Pine Castle and pick up “Will Wallace Harney, Orlando’s First Renaissance Man”, a PERFECT holiday gift for every history lover in your family. As the author, I’ll even personalize and sign the book for you.

Watch too for my Christmas holiday series: “12 Days of a Central Florida Christmas.” Hum this classic tune while reading each new day’s post beginning Friday, November 29, 2019 and running thru Tuesday, December 12^th.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CITRUSLANDFL!

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History - Part Two

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History

Part Two: The FATHER

Wilks Avenue in Pine Castle, two separated sections on either side of Hansel Avenue, comprise an ideal artery upon which to locate a historical society whose stated mission is preserving South Orange County’s history. Named 105 years ago, the easily missed side street truly personifies the origins of central Florida itself.

Like that of Orlando’s iconic Lake Eola - #EolaNamesake - or 1840s Fort Reid (Reed), 1880s Webber (Weber) Street in Orlando, and Ghost Town Mackinnon (McKinnon) at the Orange / Osceola County line – the mystery of Wilks Avenue exists today largely because the name was misspelled during the earliest days of central Florida’s recorded history.

James A. Wilkes was among an impressive list of property owners upon which the two portions of Wilks Avenue now exists. Born 1880 near Adel, Georgia, Wilkes presumably did not realize his name had been misspelled on part of the Orange County recorded plat of 1914. The plat title was recorded as “J. A. Wilks Subdivision”, and the named Wilks Avenue is shown on that plat. Among owners listed on the plat however is “J. A. Wilkes”. The road north of Wilks was not named at that time, but later, the unidentified 1914 road became Hoffner Avenue.

1914 "J. A. Wilks Subdivision (East of Randolph)

Although there are a few Orange County deeds showing the “Wilks” spelling, most deeds show the surname of James as “Wilkes”, including a 1920 transaction in which “J. A. Wilkes and wife Lula P.” transferred part of “Lot 10 of the Will Wallace Harney Homestead” to “E. D. M. Perkins”. A Pine Castle merchant, Epaminondas D. M. Perkins was named postmaster of Pine Castle on the 20^th day of November 1914. He was also the brother in law of James A. Wilkes. Perkins Road in Pine Castle – spelled correctly - was named for Epaminondas.

James A, Wilkes owned and platted the block east of Hansel, Lot 3 of the original Will Wallace Harney Homestead, but he also acquired, in 1912, the corner lot at what is now Orange Avenue and Wilks, west of the parcel where Pine Castle Historical Society is located.

Part One of this series introduced the son of James A. & Lula (Parker) Wilkes. Wallace Harney Wilkes, said his WWII draft registration, was born December 11, 1913 at Pine Castle – twenty months after the death of Pine Castle’s founder, Will Wallace Harney, on March 12, 1912.

James A. Wilkes died in 1932 at Detroit, Michigan, twenty years after owning a piece of the Harney Homestead, and twenty years after naming his son in honor of the town founder. Then 52 years old, the Georgia native had been working as a Caretaker at an Apartment building.

Part Three of my series will be posted next Saturday – on the 107^th Anniversary of J. A. Wilkes purchasing the corner lot at Wilks Avenue and Orange Avenue.  Mark your calendar too for Saturday, November 30^th, for on that day, Pine Castle Historical Society will open its doors at 631 Wilks Avenue (not Wilkes) - from 10 AM until 3 PM, where holiday shoppers can pick up a signed author’s copy of “Will Wallace Harney, Orlando’s First Renaissance Man.”

Third in a Pine Castle Historical Society series

Central Florida history - the PERFECT holiday gift for every history lover in the family.

Watch for my upcoming Christmas holiday series: “12 Days of a Central Florida Christmas.” Hum the classic tune while reading a daily feature beginning Friday, November 29, 2019, and running thru Tuesday, December 12^th.

WILKS - A Short Avenue Long on History - Part One

Part One: THE SON

631 Wilks Avenue - the address of Pine Castle Historical Society, is where you will see a 1940 “farm residence” dubbed the “White House”. The origins of South Orange County can now be found in this dwelling, for it is here that society members strive to preserve the early history of their community. My next few posts however will not be about the structures found at 631 Wilks Avenue. Instead, I want to explore the story of “Wilks Avenue” itself. It is purely coincidental therefore that I begin this series of posts in the year 1940.

In faraway Chicago, Illinois of 1940, a young man 27 years of age, describing himself as 6’ 2” in height and weighing 160 pounds, of light complexion with gray eyes and brown hair, registered with his Chicago, Illinois draft board. Like most young Americans throughout the land during those troubling days prior to our country’s involvement in World War II, this young Chicagoan took time off from his job at E. J. Brach Candy Company to register for the draft.

The information provided on his registration provides an intriguing new twist to the fascinating story of South Orange County, Florida. Although living in Chicago that year, Wallace Harney Wilkes gave his date of birth as December 11, 1913, and gave his place of birth as “Pine Castle, Florida.” Intriguing, right? I think so, and I’m just now getting started!

Part Two of my series will appear tomorrow, but during the interim – why not take a moment to mark your calendar for Saturday, November 30, 2019. The Pine Castle Historical Society will open its doors at 631 Wilks Avenue – not Wilkes - from 10 AM until 3 PM, where you can pick up holiday gifts – including a signed copy of “Will Wallace Harney, Orlando’s First Renaissance Man”.

Forget Black Friday, shop Small Business Saturday and take part in preserving central Florida history.

Now that you’ve marked your calendar, make another note to return here tomorrow for Part Two of “Wilks – A Short Avenue Long on History.”

Follow @Citruslandfl to catch my upcoming Christmas series: “12 Days of a Central Florida Christmas.” A new twist on a Holiday Classic, ta daily feature will begin Friday, November 29, 2019 and run thru Tuesday, December 12, 2019.

A Citrusland Salute to Veterans

CITRUSLAND’S SALUTE TO VETERANS:

If history is any indication, central Florida’s future civic leaders are today serving in America’s Armed Services. Since the planting of the first commercial orange grove in 1842, Veterans have been an integral part of the planning and development of Florida’s Citrus Belt. Central Floridians of present day have much to be thankful for; with Veterans topping out that “thank you” list.

Anywhere you look throughout central Florida’s 19^th century Citrus Belt you will find handiwork of Veterans. At times though, you will need to dig deep into the region’s archives to appreciate this fact. Franklin Pond, for example, is currently a #Montverde housing subdivision along the west shore of Lake Apopka. The origin of Franklin Pond however is not readily apparent.

Montverde Railway Station

After graduating from Annapolis Naval School, Lt. James Franklin shipped out to the Pacific aboard the U. S. S. Ashuelot Naval gun boat. Injured in 1878 while serving his country, James Franklin was discharge in 1879, and one year later, with bride Fannie, they homesteaded and founded a town on the route of the Tavares, Apopka and Gulf Railroad line.

Dr. Washington Kilmer was diagnosed a dead man by a fellow Ironton, Ohio doctor. Told he had but a year to live, he set out - on foot – for Florida. One thousand miles later, Dr. Kilmer stopped walking where today is the intersection of SR 434 and Markham Woods Road. He homesteaded 160 acres at that location, and the Veteran of America’s Civil War founded #Altamont. The letter “E” was added later by others.

Dr. Washington Kilmer

Kilmer did not die within the year as predicted. In fact, 15 years after arriving in Florida, the Civil War surgeon was honored by #Orlando citizens for being the first doctor to rush to the aid of Tampa during its 1887 Yellow Fever epidemic. Told he had but a year to live in 1871, Veteran Washington Kilmer died in Orlando in 1919, at the age of 81.

Prior to becoming a town developer by expanding Orlando to the west, Veteran James B. Parramore acquired twelve hundred acres on Lake Monroe in 1868 from his father-in-law, Florida’s Brigadier General, Joseph J. Finegan. Parramore’s interest in Orange County’s seat waited until after Veteran and Attorney Robert W. Broome arrived from Lake City in 1875 to finish that which the locals had yet to do – incorporate the city of Orlando.

Veteran Benjamin M. Robinson arrived at Fort Reid soon after the Civil War. Born at Alabama in 1845, Robinson died at Orange County in 1938, and for many of these years was the Clerk of Court. Benjamin also served as Orlando Mayor and contributed immensely to the preservation of central Florida history.

Missouri native Augustus C. Hart was serving in the Philippines in 1900 with William Howard Taft of Ohio, the Chief Civil Administrator of the Philippines under President McKinley.  An official government bio of Taft says this: “Sympathetic toward Filipinos, he (Taft) improved the economy, built roads and schools, and gave the people at least some participation in government.”

Following their service in the Philippines, William Howard Taft went to Washington, DC, and won the Presidency in 1909. Veteran Augustus C. Hart came to central Florida, where for many years he served as an Orange County Surveyor. Of the many streets Hart surveyed, one town, #Taft, Florida, was recorded in April 9, 1910 – the year our 27^th President, William Howard Taft, took his oath of office.

Surveyor A. C. Hart (right) on Dixie Highway at the Orange/Osceola County line

“Pluck and courage”, said Will Wallace Harney in 1873, were two attributes a pioneer needed to live in Orange County. “Pluck and courage” certainly describe too the “stuff” our Veterans of America’s Armed Forces are made of.

A visitor passing through Fort Reid in 1873 stopped along the First Road to Orlando and asked an old gentleman, “sitting in an orange grove”, the name of the place. The old man said is was Fort Reid, so the visitor asked if he could visit the fort and its soldiers, not realizing the fort in question had closed three decades prior. “This is the fort,” said the old man, Veteran Augustus Jefferson Vaughn, a man of pluck and courage, “and I am the soldier.”

And so, to all the men and women Veterans of our Armed Services, CitruslandFL salutes you. For all who follow in the footsteps of Mr. Vaughn of Fort Reid, Thank you!