Orange County Parks at 100
By Mandy Kimmer from the Fall 2024 edition of Reflections Magazine In the century since 1924, what began with a family’s gift of 8 acres has blossomed into 113 parks and trails, boat ramps, recreation centers, and sport facilities that serve 13 million residents and visitors each year. The 1920
A College Park Century
By Tana Mosier Porter from the Fall 2024 edition of Reflections Magazine In 1924, developers officially kicked off and named the Orlando neighborhood that soon manifested the look and feel of a small town. One hundred years ago the Cooper-Atha-Barr Real Estate and Mortgage Company broke ground for a new
Washington Kilmer: Unsung Central Florida Pioneer
By Paul Trembly from the Fall 2024 edition of Reflections Magazine The year was 1872, and Washington Kilmer was dying. In poor health, barely able to walk and suffering a general physical breakdown, he was given, at most, a year to live. As he departed his physician’s office, he took
Rediscovering Ethel
By Don Philpott from the Fall 2024 Edition of Reflections Magazine After a decade-long quest that began with a hidden grave marker, the volunteer Wekiva Wilderness Trust is bringing to light the story of a lost town near Rock Springs. Ethel is one of Florida’s many forgotten communities that once
Orange County Library System genealogy classes for January 2025
Is one of your new year goals to learn more about your family’s history? Orange County Library System is a great resource for your genealogy research offering a full slate of events each month. We’re pleased to bring you the schedule each month here on our blog. For more information
Learn how Fold3 can help you explore military records
Military records can give you valuable insight as you explore your family’s history. Orange County Library System can help you explore resources to do that as well as other genealogy research methods. Here’s listing of the classes they have available on the topic this month. For more information and to
Turn your Turkey Day into a genealogy research opportunity
The approach of the holidays will find us spending time with family and that provides a perfect opportunity to do some research on your family tree. Among Orange County Library Systems offerings this month is course that will prepare you to ask helpful genealogical questions at the Thanksgiving table. For
“I Like Orlando!” Lyndon Johnson’s Campaign Rolls in to Central Florida
By Travis Puterbaugh from the Fall 2024 edition of Reflections Magazine On the morning of Oct. 26, 1964, readers of the Orlando Sentinel woke up to a historic headline: “Welcome to Central Florida, Mr. President.” The occasion of President Lyndon Johnson’s visit to Orlando marked the first time that a
Equality from the Pulpit: The Rev. Marni Harmony
By Justine Truc, 2024 University of South Carolina Oral History Fellow Fighting for racial equality and LGBTQ+ rights, the Unitarian Universalist Association has advocated fiercely for equal rights nationwide. After their merger in 1961, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America formed the Unitarian Universalist Association, which
Historic Animals of Central Florida
Bumper stickers and water decals were once plentiful in gift shops at souvenir stands along the Florida roadside. One of the most popular was the Florida Marineland bumper sticker in the shape of a bottlenose dolphin. The History Center pays homage to that era with four new sticker designs for