MOUNT DORA: The First Mount Dorans - Part Three

 

The first Mount Dorans

Part 3 of our historic stroll along Mount Dora's 5th Avenue

Parkview Building, 5th Avenue, Block 2, Town of Mount Dora

You can buy locally made crafts today at Mount Dora Center for the Arts, where, in November 1954, diners at Peppermint Stick Restaurant enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal, with all the fixings, for $1.50. Afterwards, stuffed patrons could even take home a box of Pink Cottage Candies. The restaurant, on the ground level of 5^th Avenue’s historic Parkview Building, often ran ads mentioning they were across from Donnelly Park’s shuffleboard courts. Ice cream is now scooped up next door, whereas way back in 1975, bargain hunters scoured Village Green Antiques in search of that perfect something for their home.

Peppermint Stick Restaurant, June 26, 1975 Mount Dora Topic

The appropriately named Parkview Building turns 100 soon. Built in 1923, the building has a pair of storefronts at ground level and seven (7) rental apartments on a second level. Outside, the dark red brick building appears much as it has throughout the building’s history.

Widower John Donnelly, in 1910, sold the vacant lot to snowbirds Washington & Sarah Tallon of Beaver County, PA. The Tallon’s did not relocate to Florida, but instead held the property for 13 years, selling the undeveloped land in June 1923. Parkview was built that year, and the new owner, William Ingram of Chester, West Virginia, also remained a snowbird. Ingram kept the building as an investment property for 23 years.

Rear of Parkview Building today, down Royellou Alley

The sidewalk out front of Parkview Building is steep, so watch your step if you choose to follow our 1,538’ stroll west in the footsteps - the mission of this series – of Surveyor James M. Gould in 1848. At that time though this was all wilderness, so each new present-day footstep we take is also steeped, pardon my pun, in 175 years of fascinating Mount Dora history.

Alongside Parkview Building on the west is Royellou Alley, halfway point of 1882 Mount Dora’s Block Number 2. This city block runs from Baker Street to Donnelly. A worthwhile side trip is to visit the Historical Museum, down the alley in the back of Parkview Building, but as we are on a historic mission ourselves, we need to continue west, entering a “living history museum” of its own. But to the casual observer the history could easily be missed.

 

Southside of 5^th Avenue, Mount Dora, Sanborn Insurance Survey (1920)

The Sanborn Insurance Company surveyed downtown Mount Dora in 1920. One portion of that survey, the south side of 5^th Avenue between Donnelly & Baker Streets, is shown above. Note the small building identified as [A], left (west) of the alley. It is described as a “Dwelling”, and the building still exists today. A restaurant now, this structure was built in 1917. The Parkview Building location, identified by me as [B], is not shown on the survey right (east) of the alley because it was not yet built in 1920. The 1920 survey however does show a structure at the corner of 5^th Avenue and Donnelly, identified by me as [C] and noted by Sanborn Insurance as “D. G. Notions”. In 1920 this was a Dry Goods notions store.

West of Parkview Building, west of the alley, our stroll enters Simpson Territory, home to one of Mount Dora’s remarkable pioneer families. The Simpson’s first laid down roots in these parts before John & Annie Donnelly ever platted a town here. In the 1950s and 1960s, a descendant, Otto M. Simpson, operated his Simpson Realty here at 116 E. 5^th Avenue. But a quarter century prior to Otto selling real estate here, his parents, Monroe & Martha Simpson, listed their home address as 112 E. 5^th Avenue. That same year, 1926, Simpson & Son was listed as the dry goods and notions store at 422 Donnelly Street, at the corner of 5^th and Donnelly.

Keep in mind we have not yet crossed Donnelly Street, where we will again encounter more of the Simpson family property.

I first wrote of the Simpson’s in my Orlando Lakes: Homesteaders & Namesakes. In 1890, the official Orange County map of that year identified a large lake on the line separating Lake and Orange County as Lake Simpson. Milton and son David Simpson had homesteaded 320 acres on this lake in the late 1870s. And grove owner M. M. Simpson is mentioned as a Mount Dora pioneer in my, Tavares: Darling of Orange County, Birthplace of Lake County. David & Mollie Simpson, landowners near Lighthouse Park, are also mentioned in my Tavares book.

Lake Simpson, upper right corner of this 1890 Orange County

Then too, John A. MacDonald, author of the 1882 publication, Plain Talk about Florida, told of how he had tried to “induce” a friend to buy the Simpson Place (near Lighthouse Park) in 1880 at $3,600. MacDonald’s friend backed out, so John then partnered with a gentleman named Alexander to buy the place.

My point for now is this, one cannot tell the story of Mount Dora without mentioning the name Simpson – and doing so often!

Meanwhile, back at 5^th and Donnelly Street, Monroe Simpson had married Martha Pike, and this enterprising couple had a son. Otto, who was born at the turn of the 20^th century - likely right here at 5^th and Donnelly Street.

 Looking west toward Lake Dora from 5^th and Donnelly Street (1930) Florida Memory Project

We now have traveled nearly 12 chains in the first three parts to this series. That is about half the distance of 23.30 survey chains, the distance James M. Gould traveled in 1848. Seems like a good place to take a break as well. Next, in Part 4, we will venture across Donnelly into more of the Simpson territory and more of the First Mount Dorans. See you then!

This series is created from research for my next book, MOUNT DORA: The First Mount Dorans. I expect the book to be released in November, in time for the holiday gift giving season. Add your name now to receive a signed copy of the book once it is released. PAY NOTHING now, but reserve your copy my emailing me at LakeCountyLakes@CroninBooks.com You will receive one reply confirming your request, but your next email will not be until the book is released for purchase. You can then decide if you want to proceed with buying the book. MOUNT DORA: The First Mount Dorans will be a detailed history of the true origins of Lake County's beloved Mount Dora. 

This series was also created from research generated while writing my book, Tavares: Darling of Orange County, Birthplace of Lake County. Chapter 26 of my book is MOUNT DORA: The Eastern Gateway. 

CLICK ON BOOK COVER TO BUY IT AT AMAZON

 Lake County, established May 27, 1887, was carved from portions of Orange and Sumter counties. The Legislature had defined borders but allowed the 2,200 plus registered voters to decide where to place the county seat. Four elections and a courthouse battle later, Tavares, on August 10, 1888, finally became the official seat. The selection process lasted 440 days from start to finish.

TAVARES: Darling of Orange County, Birthplace of Lake county, is a history of how Florida's Great Lake region transitioned from a wilderness into a vibrant Citrus Belt district. Amazing pioneers dared to dream big - dared to imagine such places as Leesburg, Lady Lake, Mount Dora, Montverde, Eldorado, Eustis, Umatilla, Astor, Clermont, Yalaha and Tavares, to name a few. A section on each place name will be found in this book.

RATED 5 STARS from Four Amazon verified readers, this is a story of triumph over tragedy; of homesteaders becoming town builders; of steamboats and railroads forging a new homeland, and of remarkable men and women who made it happen. There is even a touch of mystery and intrigue.

The story of the earliest days of settlement of Florida's Lake County, a history you can buy now at Amazon simply by clicking on the book cover above.