History of Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis

Honoring Black history and its contribution to Mount Dora

2/1/2025

ABOVE: Mamie Lee Gilbert (center) with Cauley O. Lott (right).

By Susan Myers, Trish Morgan and Bill Opperman

The story of Mount Dora is incomplete without recognizing the impact Black residents had on the development of the city.

After the end of the Civil War, freed slaves left Georgia and other Southern states, searching for a safe haven and a place to prosper. Mount Dora, unnamed and undeveloped in the late 1800s, was one of those places.  Land transactions and marriage records for Black settlers in the Mount Dora area date back to 1888.

As the area grew, Black men were key to the success of the local citrus industry. Some found year-round work maintaining the groves, and others in citrus-related businesses. The Black women who worked as cooks and housekeepers were instrumental to the success of Lakeside Inn and other hotels catering to winter guests. Robert Edward Terrell, Jr., the Superintendent of Services at the Lakeside Inn for forty-five years, founded a civic club which sponsored many events and contributed to social services for residents in need.

In the late 1800s, Hamp Jackson was described as "the right-hand man” of J.P. Donnelly, a builder and Mount Dora’s first mayor in 1910. Jackson was instrumental in building homes in the area and he was the first owner of a Donnelly-built home.

In the early 1920s, a decade after the city's incorporation, some white residents believed the city could draw wealthy tourists from the northeastern part of the U.S. and implemented the Mount Dora Redevelopment Project. That was official name for the policy that mandated the forcible removal of African Americans from downtown properties, and relocated them to East Town during the era of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation.

African American community leaders worked tirelessly to improve the lives of their neighbors.

Mamie Lee Gilbert and Tillman Thomas established the Helping Hands Club to provide needed items to the community; Mamie Lee Gilbert and Lilla Butler were the driving force behind the building of the Milner-Rosenwald Academy for Black children in 1926.

Cauley Lott, who eventually became Milner-Rosenwald Academy's principal, was elected to the city council in 1972, and was affiliated with Waterman Memorial Hospital, as well as many civic and social clubs. This was just after the tenure of Lake County Sheriff Willis V. McCall, a controversial segregationist who served seven consecutive terms from 1944 to 1972 until a grand jury indicted him in the death of a black prisoner.

In 1981, Faye Hill was the first Black woman elected to the city council. She won 58% of the vote and served for twelve years. While the East Town community grew, the area was still a poor and underserved area of town. For example, it was not until the 1980s that the roads were paved.

Lavond Clayton followed in the footsteps of her father, Hamp Jackson, and became a civil rights activist for sixty years. She was an advocate for East Town’s advancement, and in 1984 she was instrumental in convincing the City Council to again allow Black residents to be buried at the public Pine Forest Cemetery.

Mount Dora’s African-American residents also contributed to the written word of the region. Tillman Thomas covered social and church news for East Town in a weekly column in the Mount Dora Topic newspaper. R. Eugene Burley, a civil rights activist and Library Advisory Board Chairman, played a pivotal role in getting the W.T. Bland Library constructed at its current location. Burley also self-published “Mount Dora: The Rest of the Story, Plus!” a local history book from the point of view of its African-American residents.

Another local history book was written in 2000 by Vivian Owens. “The Mount Dorans: African American History Notes of A Florida Town” relayed stories about the people who pushed past the constraints of racism, poverty and under-education to make meaningful local contributions.

Fast forward to 2021; the Northeast Community finally received representation on City Council with the addition of a new council district seat for the area. Nate Walker, a long-time advocate for that community, was the first person elected to that seat and continues his service today.

The Mount Dora History Museum's display of notable local Black residents has been expanded and can be seen during the museum's hours, Tuesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 450 Royellou Lane in downtown.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Facebook and Instagram for   more local info.

New project highlights Mount Dora’s historic buildings

12/3/2024

A stroll through downtown Mount Dora will soon be a trip through time that uncovers the roots that shaped Mount Dora’s legacy and its unique historic district.

Mount Dora Historical Society’s new project of placing 17 identification markers on downtown’s historic buildings and educating the public about their past is part of its overall goal to bring the city’s rich history to life. The attractive 12 inch by 18 inch plaques include a vintage photo and the history of the particular building in order to share its past with passersby.

“Our community’s heritage is important to the locals and intriguing to the many tourists who visit each year. From one of the oldest buildings built in 1910 to a more recent one built in the 1940s, these markers will preserve their history,” said Susan Myers, one of the historical society members overseeing the project.

Currently, the landlords of the following properties have agreed to place the markers of their buildings.

Monroe Vann Simpson Building (Matamo Designs)
Simpson Building (One Flight Up)
Bank of Mount Dora (Becker’s Shoes)
Rehbaum Hardware (Piglet’s Pantry)
Lakes and Hills Realty Company (J.K. Thai Restaurant)
Rehbaum Warehouse (The Warehouse)
Old Fire Station (Jerky Co.)
Simpson Hotel
Kimball’s Garage (Papilio’s)
First National Bank (Shamrock Building)
Dr. T.N. Lewis Drugstore (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow)
The Variety Store (Los Palmas)
Texaco Gas & Greyhound Station (Mount Dora Marketplace)
Mount Dora Hotel (Renaissance Building)
Warren J. Butts House (Cooper’s Alley)
Mount Dora Topic and Publishing Company (Gold In Art Jewelers)
The First City Fire House & Jail (Mount Dora History Museum)

ABOVE: Examples of two of the plaques on downtown Mount Dora's historic buildings

The markers will be installed over the next few months and involved gaining permission from 13 enthusiastic building owners and securing funding from the Mount Dora Historical Preservation Fund.

“Many visitors come to Mount Dora because of its historic nature, and these markers will add to their understanding of our past and enrich their experience. It will also be fun for long-term residents to be reminded of not only what these buildings looked like, but how they were used during the previous century,” said Steve Williams, another historical society member overseeing this project.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook page for more local info.

Mount Dora celebrates 100 years of fire service

2/1/2023

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It’s a City centennial worthy of a celebration. After all, the first fire station in Mount Dora was built in 1923 after a raging fire in 1922 tore through some downtown buildings.
Most early towns experienced fires that substantially damaged or reduced their towns to ruin. Wooden structures abutting each other and a lack of fire equipment made towns vulnerable to destruction from fires. Mount Dora’s “great fire” occurred on February 22, 1922, when someone reportedly left an electric iron plugged in. Without a fire department or equipment, local residents formed a bucket brigade until the fire engine from Eustis arrived and ran a hose from Lake Dora. By then, it was too late to save the burning building and the damage done to the Town Hall. New structures were built of brick to reduce the risk of losing an entire block of businesses.

Understanding the need for a firehouse, in 1923 the City built the first one in the Royellou Alley on property donated by John P. Donnelly. The small building had a double-bay door that housed a 1926 Type 75 American LaFrance fire engine manned by a volunteer fire department. The low weight and maneuverability made that engine the most popular fire apparatus of its day. It had a 6-cylinder T-head engine and a 750 GPM (gallons per minute) rotary gear pump. The building later did double duty when jail cells were added to the north side of the fire house. The cells remain there to this day.

In 1941, the Mount Dora Fire and Police Department moved to a new firehouse on 4th Avenue, just west of Donnelly Street, which could house the larger trucks that became available and were in need.

George Hall was the first paid fireman. He and his wife, Mildred, lived on the second floor above the new station. When a fire call came in, George drove the truck to the fire while Mildred notified the volunteers.

By 1969, the Fire and Police Department had outgrown their space and moved to a new building on Third Avenue. By this time, the force operated with four paid firefighters and many volunteers. Carroll Griggs became the first Fire Chief appointed by the City in 1971. In 1974, the Fire Department and the Police Department became separate entities. Today, they still share the same public safety campus located at the corner of Lincoln and Donnelly Streets north of downtown.

In 1979, the original fire station building became the home of the Mount Dora History Museum. The Mount Dora Historical Society is celebrating the centennial of the fire station in downtown Mount Dora on Saturday, February 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Centennial celebration will span the entire block of the museum located at 450 Royellou Lane. Antique fire apparatus will be on hand, including a 1928 American LaFrance fire engine and the current Mount Dora Fire and Police Departments will feature their new equipment. Tophats Sutlery will provide a hand cart for children to pump water and imagine the lives of early firefighters. There will also be music and plenty of photo opportunities in the historic jail cells. The museum itself will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information or to take part in the centennial, email [email protected]

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Old School Amenities aided Mount Dora’s Growth

1/1/2023

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ABOVE: Shuffleboard courts in Donnelly Park

By Susan Myers
Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

Historically, sunshine, warm weather, and outdoor recreational activities attracted many “snowbirds” from the north to spend winter in Mount Dora. Combine that with plenty of hotels, and Mount Dora was a haven for both wealthy and middle-class folks looking to escape the long winters of the frosty north.

In the 1920s, a group of business owners established the Commercial Club, which produced the first promotional booklet touting the benefits of Mount Dora. Included in the pamphlet were early marketing phrases describing Mount Dora as having "roads de luxe," "Fine Places to Live," and "Fisherman's Paradise."
Enthusiastic visitors also spread the word to family and friends upon their return home. One such visitor, L.K. Markham, who spent two weeks at the Grandview Hotel, returned to Miami, Ohio, to write about his trip to the south in his local newspaper. In his glowing account, he stated, "Mount Dora is a beautiful town with paved streets, recreation center, tennis courts, shuffleboard, and good hotels. Boats with an outboard motor can be obtained for $1 per day, gasoline included."

In 1925 two winter visitors from Hartford, Connecticut, approached the City for approval to construct lawn bowling rinks near Lake Dora. Three years and 20 members later, three hard-packed sand lawn bowling rinks were completed.

In January of 1926, the Mount Dora Parks Board installed two shuffleboard courts in Donnelly Park. The Shuffleboard Club was organized with dues of $.35 per year and a membership of 20. By the 1930s, Mount Dora's number of winter visitors had steadily increased, and there was a need for more courts.

Lawn bowling and shuffleboard were major social activities in the small town, and intercity tournaments became popular. Both clubs required a larger building for equipment and social activities, as well as more courts. Per a Mount Dora Topic article dated September 6, 1934, Mount Dora increased its amenities with additional recreational facilities provided with Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) labor. A crew of fifty-five Mount Dora men worked on the enlargement of the lawn bowling courts, built a new croquet court and tennis court, and rebuilt the old court.

In 1937 more shuffleboard courts were added to Donnelly Park with $6000 of expenses shared between the Shuffleboard Club and the City. The following year in 1938, the City used grants from the Federal Work Progress Administration (WPA) to add seven more rinks and lights for night bowling for the Lawn Bowling Club. At the time, the lawn bowling rinks and shuffleboard courts were a hub for recreational and social activities in Mount Dora,

By the late 1950s, there were 22 shuffleboard courts in Donnelly Park, and the club’s membership exceeded 500. Four more lawn bowling rinks were added in 1963, bringing the total to 14, and increasing membership to 324.

Mount Dora's population grew from 1,613 in 1930 to 3,756 people by 1960, and both clubs were experiencing year-round activity. In the late 1980s, Donnelly Park underwent a renovation, and the number of shuffleboard players was dwindling. The town was split on whether to keep the shuffleboard courts in Donnelly Park or move them. Decades later, the remaining courts were replaced with pickleball courts.. In 2016 the Mount Dora Pickleball Society was established with 11 members, which quickly grew to 85. Increasingly popular nationwide, pickleball is now the sport of choice in Donnelly Park.

In recent years, Mount Dora Lawn Bowling Club regained some membership and is one of the largest affiliated clubs in the United States, with over 300 members. During tournaments, it’s common to see players dressed in white rolling the ball, known as a “bowl,” toward a target.

Nearly a century after downtown’s first amenities, the City of Mount Dora continues to seek options to expand its sports facilities for the health and entertainment of its residents and visitors.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram for more local info.

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Unique Sears Kit Home Remains in Downtown Mount Dora

9/6/2022

Written by Susan Myers
Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

Back in the day, Sears Roebuck offered more than just clothing and household items in its catalog. It also sold unassembled homes.

One of the first Sears kit homes in Mount Dora was built around 1922 by Charles Edgerton, owner of the Lakeside Inn. He ordered the plans from the Sears catalog, and all of the building materials for the home arrived by train and were easily transported across the street to the building lot at 352 Alexander Street.

From 1908 to 1940, Sears, Roebuck & Co. helped build neighborhoods across the United States. The Chicago-based retailer sold around 75,000 “kit” homes to middle-class families who hoped to realize their dream of home ownership. Anyone with cash and access to their catalog could select from the 400 styles of homes available, from Craftsman to Cape Cod, that could accommodate their budget and family size.

The idea of selling kit homes arose due to a large surplus of building materials in their warehouse. An employee of the company suggested bundling the materials into a ‘kit’ home which would allow them to capitalize on the increasing number of middle-class people and World War 1 veterans who were eager to own a home. Each house was given a name, such as Magnolia or Alhambra, which increased their popularity. The materials were packaged into cartons and shipped along with instructions on assembling the home. All one needed was land and someone with basic building skills to finish the job. The public embraced the concept, and Sears homes were soon found across the country.

In the early 1920s, the members of the Mount Dora Improvement Society agreed to build a house to help foster the growth of Mount Dora. Most likely, Edgerton, who built the home for his niece and her husband, did so for this purpose. In 1939, Stanton and Laura Child from Brooklyn, New York, purchased the house from the Edgerton estate. The Childs had been coming to Mount Dora since 1920 and stayed at the Lakeside Inn for several months each winter.

Mr. Child was an industrial engineer and inventor who owned several companies, including the Stanton M. Child, Inc. engineering firm and the Ramp Buildings Corporation, which he founded with a partner. As an inventor, he held many patents, such as the first engineered ramp design for multi-level parking garages, sliding casters for chair legs, and removable locking wheel casters.

After moving into the house, the Childs purchased the land across the street and demolished the old R.C. Tremain and Son Hardware store to enjoy the colorful sunsets from their home. Mr. Child eventually deeded that land to the City for a public park initially named Child Park, but in recent years renamed Sunset Park.

After Child’s death, Oscar and Alma Stephens purchased the home. Oscar operated Stephens Cleaners, a laundry and dry cleaning business located on Fourth Avenue behind their house. Oscar arrived in Mount Dora, around 1918, after serving in the Army during World War 1. He served in the famous 42nd (Rainbow) Division and incurred injuries on three occasions. Fifteen doctors agreed that Oscar would not live very long and released him from military service.

The former corporal disagreed with their diagnosis and was determined to live. The Mount Dora Topic story, dated November 18, 1943, states that upon Oscar’s arrival, “He drank the good water, looked at the beautiful sunsets, and decided he was not ready for a bugler to play taps for him.” He purchased a business, married, started a family, and became a commander for Mount Dora’s American Legion Post. He, along with other post members, was instrumental in placing a military memorial in Pine Forest Cemetery.

The first business in this home was Odom’s Tailor Shop in the 1970s. The tailor shop was well known for making draperies, slipcovers, and alterations on clothing. Clarissa Odom Bryie continued in the tailoring business, which her mother, Mamie Odom, started.

In 2007, Bryie sold the home to Main Street Leasing Company, and recently a new business, Maw’s Mountain Moonshine, opened in the historic house. We are fortunate that a handful of historic homes remain in the downtown area, especially this Sears kit home. Other homes were relocated or demolished and replaced with parking lots.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and Twitter for more local info.

The History of Mount Dora's Library

5/30/2022

By Susan Meyers
Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

Mount Dora’s acclaimed library wasn’t always the impressive gem it is today. The City’s beautiful library, launched in 1905 with a modest 150-book collection located in a small room of what was then the City's Town Hall.

In March of 1912, a group of local citizens and winter residents dissatisfied with Mount Dora’s educational facilities, organized the Mount Dora Educational Society, a new private school. The group chose Joseph H. Crane, the principal of the public school at the time, as the principal of the new school.

Resident Jim Simpson, together with William Warden of Akron, Ohio, raised the $1,500 needed to construct the school building called Education Hall at 308 E. Fifth Avenue, which today is a law office.

Built in 1912, Education Hall was designed with two large pavilions topped by hip roofs joined by a smaller recessed center bay. The brick building, painted beige, rests on a foundation of molded concrete blocks created by 23-year-old Carl Risley, one of the school's organizers.

The new school accommodated the children of the City’s winter visitors who were tutored using the same books as their northern schools for consistency. The large building also served as a meeting room for local clubs and the First Baptist Church.

In 1917, the city’s library moved into the west room of the building’s basement. The expansion of the library included a full-time librarian with a salary of $1 a month. Unfortunately, the basement and library flooded for several years during bouts of rain.

Education Hall suffered a decline in enrollment following the opening of a new public school in1922 on Clayton Street. After serving as principal for a decade, Crane retired that year and was replaced briefly by Adrienne Sadler before the school's doors shuttered in 1923.

The City’s librarian, Margaret Lewis, who was also Education Hall’s first teacher, invited Charles Edgerton to visit the building after a heavy rainstorm. Shocked by the flooding, he instructed Lewis to move the library upstairs, and he proceeded to assume the outstanding lien of $1,043.89 on the building in order to sell it to the City when it had the funds.

On February 6, 1929, the city fulfilled its promise to purchase the building for use as a library. After 60 years, the library moved to a larger building in 1977, and the city sold the building to attorney Del Potter for $60,000. In 2014, the law firm’s four attorneys, Potter, Clement, Bergholtz, and Alexander, merged with Central Florida law firm Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed. They retain ownership of the 110-year-old building under the name 308 East 5th Avenue LLC.

In 1976, as the library continued to grow, a new building was constructed on Donnelly Street and 9th Avenue, which now serves as one of the City's Parks and Recreation Department buildings. In 1995, the impressive 15,000-square-foot W.T. Bland Library was built at 1995 N. Donnelly Street and expanded in 2012 with another 6,000 square feet to accommodate new technology and other resources. That same year the Nunan Butterfly Garden was planted. The library continues to grow and flourish under the passion and management of Cathy Lunday.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

The history of Elizabeth Evans Park and its namesake

4/1/2022

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ABOVE: Historical photo of Elizabeth Evans Park. (Mount Dora archives)

By Susan Meyers
Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

What once was a swampy alligator pond and part of the city dump is now a beautiful park on the shores of Lake Dora.
In 1926-27, when Charles Edgerton was President of the Parks Commission, the area was cleaned up, and fill dirt was brought in to create a park known as Lakeside Park. The park included a recreation center for tennis, shuffleboard, croquet, horseshoe pitching, and lawn bowling. Of these, only the lawn bowling courts remain today.

In recent years, a bandshell was built in Elizabeth Evans Park, making it a venue for Mount Dora concerts which have featured artists such as the Charlie Daniels Band and Artimus Pyle Band. It’s also been the location for the 4th of July Freedom on the Waterfront celebration, the Scottish Highland and Blueberry Festivals, the Medieval Run, and several annual 5K and and half-marathon races. On any given day, it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view of Lake Dora, the lighthouse and Palm Island.

For years, the park also featured a shaded gazebo at the water’s edge where guests could sit inside to enjoy the breezy waterfront. Recently, the gazebo was removed and it’s unclear whether it will be replaced.

A native of Napoleon, Ohio, Elizabeth Lemert Evans arrived in Mount Dora in 1922. She served on the City Council for ten years, during which time she spearheaded a beautification project that included planting trees, adding benches, and widening streets to allow for parking and landscaping. She also served as the hostess of the Community Building and president of the Woman’s Club where she sponsored clean-up campaigns and co-lead the beautification project for Gilbert Park as well as the waterfront park now named in her honor.

On November 23, 1941, the small park was dedicated to Evans “that future generations may also know the high esteem in which she was held by her friends and fellow citizens,” stated Reverend Floyd Montgomery during the dedication service. Today, a Georgia granite monument bears a bronze plaque that recognizes Evans’ service and devotion to her community.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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The history of Mount Dora's prominent Mardi Gras Building

3/1/2022

ABOVE: An old photo of the Mardi Gras building before the wrought iron was added and before the Donnelly Park building was added across the street.

By Susan Myers Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

Referred to as the father of Mount Dora, J.P. Donnelly did his part to improve and promote the city. He even constructed a large building in the front yard of his ornate home on the corner of Donnelly Street and Fifth Avenue. He originally planned it as a small store, but the project turned into a larger structure that would include a fraternal hall for the Masonic Lodge on the second floor.

With the oversight of Tom Potter, a friend of Donnelly, the building's design had a druggist downstairs, rooms for other businesses next to it, and apartments overhead.

In 1922, construction was nearing completion when a fire destroyed three-fourths of the downtown buildings on the east side of Donnelly Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. That fire took with it the town's leading grocery store, Baldwin-Shay.

In haste, Donnelly had a local carpenter assemble a temporary store in his unfinished building, with meager shelving and chicken-wired counters, so Baldwin-Shay could be back in business within two days. That was the unexpected opening of the Donnelly Building, referred to today as the Mardi Gras Building, on the northwest corner of Donnelly Street and Fifth Avenue.

Stokley's Pharmacy, which eventually became Lake View Pharmacy, later occupied the corner space as initially intended. The second floor of the building became the fraternal hall for the Masonic Lodge #238 and the Mount Dora Temple, No. 12, Pythian Sisters. In the 1930s, winter visitors such as Mabel Parker from Portland, Maine, returned each winter to live in the upstairs apartments.

The Piggly Wiggly grocery store replaced the druggist in 1937 with a complete line of groceries, meats, and produce. By 1947 W.M. Kennedy's law office and A.C. Quixley's Real Estate office were located on the second floor.

The headquarters of the Golden Triangle Lodge, No. 874, Loyal Order of Moose, was located in the building in the 1950s, as were several medical practices: Dr. Robert Walker, a chiropractor, A.M. Cleary, a dental technician, and Dr. Glenn Mummaw, a chiropractor who replaced Dr. Robert Wells, DDS.

The Lake County Eisenhower Club opened its "Florida for Eisenhower" office in 1952. Meanwhile, a popular women's apparel boutique known as Sally Dress Shop, relocated into the spot vacated by Piggly Wiggly. That shop endured for several decades, was the “'go-to” store for the latest fashions.

The building was also home to two of Mount Dora's most popular restaurants. Charlie Bradford opened Charlie's grill, which included a pool room in the back and a bowling alley on the side of the building. Waitress Nell Corral concocted a hamburger containing chopped hot peppers. It became known as the "Nell burger," and locals still reminisce about that famous burger.

In 1971 The Cubbyhole Corporation purchased the 13,592 square-foot building and renovated the exterior to include the New Orleans-style wrought iron detailing seen today. Will Smathers, the majority shareholder, remodeled Charlie's restaurant space, which reopened as a fine dining establishment known as The Lamp Post in 1970. This restaurant and bar, located on the second floor, was a popular venue that featured entertainment by some famous bands of the 1970s such as Rare Earth, Leon Russell, Pat Travers Band, The Grass Roots, and others.

The business sold in 1991 and The Lamp Post became Lampu, Mount Dora's first Japanese steakhouse. In 1993, that business sold to become Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and in 1994 it sold again to a new owner, John McKinney, who returned it to the name Lampu.

That was hardly the last transition for the iconic building. It changed hands again in 1996 for $1 million while it housed three restaurants: Lampu, Juliana Restaurant, and The Sandcastle upstairs. Reportedly, the restaurants weren't part of the new buyers' vision for the large structure, but that vision ended relatively quickly when the building transitioned again in 1997 to its current owner, Mardi Gras of Mount Dora, Inc. and fetched another $1 million purchase price, according to the Lake County Property Appraiser.  It has been largely vacant since, but has recently undergone renovations and added an elevator on its south side.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

A history of struggle and determination in Mount Dora

2/1/2022

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ABOVE: Students of Milner-Rosenwald School in Mount Dora

By Susan Myers Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

Many African-American families arrived with early white pioneer families to the pine forest wilderness surrounding Lake Dora. The area became a safe haven for those escaping slavery from other southern states.

Former slave Nancy Page arrived in Mount Dora around 1880. During that time, Blacks and Whites lived and worked in the downtown area. The men found work in sawmills, dairies, turpentine mills and citrus groves, while the women worked as cooks and housekeepers in private homes or local hotels during the winter months. Page “observed an impressive number of African-Americans walking around in a relaxed manner. They owned land and places to live,.” wrote author Vivian W. Owens in her book “The Mount Dorans” which chronicles the history of Mount Dora’s first African-American residents.

During the 1920s land boom, local business people began a redevelopment project to sell choice real estate in the downtown area to investors and residents from northern states. The Black residents who resided downtown were dislocated from their property and relocated to the east area of town. Page and her husband Moss were among the group, as were the Dunns, Gilberts, Butlers, Codys, Adams, Harts, and others. This group of Black pioneer settlers was determined to rebuild their lives. They purchased land, built homes, and established businesses in the East Town area.

Related: More about the historical redevelopment project

Other Black residents moved into East Town from nearby Wolf Branch and Angier Pond areas, and the community began to grow steadily. St. Mary’s Baptist Church organized an arbor church under a large oak tree on Florida Avenue and Clayton Street. A business district began to emerge around Grandview Street, where white and black residents shopped. Shops such as Josh James’ Fish Market, Calbert’s Grocery Store, and Burke’s Restaurant became popular establishments.

Many Mount Dora citizens worked tirelessly to improve the lives of their neighbors. Mamie Lee Gilbert and Tillman Thomas strove to fill children's basic needs, such as education and clothing. They established the Helping Hands Club to help adults who suffered the loss of their homes to fire. Professor Cauley Lott arrived in 1938 to find the school for Black children in deplorable condition. Along with Mamie Gilbert and Lilla Butler, the three achieved their goal of a new school known as Milner-Rosenwald Academy. They organized many fundraisers and received a donation from Reverend Duncan Milner, a civil rights advocate, to meet the matching contributions from the Rosenwald Foundation.

Related: Learn more about Mount Dora’s historic Milner-Rosenwald School

Life was not easy for Mount Dora’s Black residents. Many were poor, and their community lacked essentials such as decent housing, paved streets, sidewalks, and telephone service. They endured the Jim Crow and Sheriff Willis McCall era, which brought fear to their community for many years. Yet, they persevered, and new community leaders emerged to lead the Black community forward. Eventually, Professor Cauley Lott would become the first Black council person of Mount Dora. Other community leaders such as Lavond Clayton and Dr. Eugene Burley would continue the struggle for civil rights.

The 2021 Mount Dora municipal elections were the first that included a city council seat for the newly formed District 5, which was created with geographical boundaries that finally provided better representation for the priorities of the city’s Northeast Community and its many African-American residents. Nate Walker, a long-time resident, Mount Dora High School alumnus and respected community advocate, won the seat for District 5 unopposed and received a standing ovation at his swearing-in ceremony.

This article is just a brief history of Mount Dora’s Black residents. More can be found in Owens' book “The Mount Dorans: African American History Notes of a Florida Town.” Owens will be speaking at a Mount Dora Historical Society and Mount Dora Library Association sponsored event on Sunday, February 20th, 2:00 p.m. at W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly Street in Mount Dora. Join us to learn more about the history of Black Mount Dorans during the years of segregation.
By Susan Myers Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here. Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.

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The history of Mount Dora's most prominent corner

1/1/2022

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ABOVE: First National Bank & Trust Building built in 1913

By Susan Myers
Mount Dora Buzz Historical Columnist

In 1913, three years after incorporating as a city, the first bank opened in Mount Dora. Originally named the Mount Dora Bank and Trust Company, it was located at 404 N. Donnelly Street where Becker's Shoe Store is in business today.

It wasn’t long before a larger building was needed and the land on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Donnelly Street was purchased. The Whitney family previously had a home at that location which had been relocated to McDonald Street and Twelfth Avenue. Under the supervision of James Simpson, construction began in July 1925 and the two-story building was finished in March 1926.

Today this landmark building, with its stately arched windows and painted brick exterior, is significant in Mount Dora for its history and beauty and because it’s one of the few early buildings in the city designed by an architect.

Historic bank buildings generally display some of the most impressive architecture in downtown areas today. Like in Mount Dora, they were often among the few buildings designed by architects at that time, and they needed to convey a feeling of security and confidence. Depositing your hard-earned money in a bank was a new concept, and with no federal guarantees, it was necessary to gain the public's trust.

By the 1920s, a bank building’s exterior and interior were constructed with expensive materials such as marble and limestone, and Mount Dora’s new bank was no exception. The interior of the building featured a 22-foot high ceiling with marble wainscoting and a marble floor. The counters and partitions for the tellers were of Alabama marble, and the tellers’ cages were bronze with brass grilles.

In 1927, the bank converted from a state bank to a national bank and changed its name to First National Bank of Mount Dora. George White, Sr., an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank in Jacksonville, served as executive vice-president that year and later became president in 1937.

Initially, the bank's front doors faced Donnelly Street, as depicted in the photo. New entry doors were created on Fifth Avenue and removed on Donnelly Street at some unknown time. The workmanship on this modification is so superior that it’s difficult, if not nearly impossible, to see any sign of the old doors.

The First National Bank served the community in this location for 42 years until April 1968, when it moved to a new larger building at 714 N. Donnelly Street, and the old building was sold to
three local men interested in the development of downtown Mount Dora – city councilman Sam Shaw, attorney Tom Champion, and city building inspector and tax assessor John Cain. The trio purchased the building under the name of SA-TO-JO Development Company, Inc., and eventually sold the building in June 1971 to Eustis realtor and developer Everett Huskey, who developed many subdivisions and condominiums in Mount Dora and the central Florida area.
Huskey relocated his offices there from Eustis following extensive renovations which included painting the exterior of the brick building a cream color and adding “Bahama-Jamaica style” wood louvers over the exterior windows. Before the grand opening on October 1, 1971, the finishing touch was placing the name “Huskey Building” at the top of the building. Nell Ann Bruck managed the office of 15 salespeople, who covered all of Lake County and the northwest Orange County area.

In September 1991, Eustis Realtor and Developer Keith Shamrock purchased the building for his residential and commercial Real Estate business. The building became known as the “Shamrock Building,” which remains today. The Shamrocks retain ownership of the building today, and Berkshire Hathaway Florida Realty Associates occupies the space.

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