During Dark War Times, a Pooch Named Pinkey Brought Sunshine to Orlando
By Joy Wallace Dickinson The World War II years meant tough times for Central Florida, as they did across the United States. Residents worried about loved ones in uniform, fighting in Europe or the Pacific, and coped with rationing and food shortages, making do with less. During such times, even
“Third Century America” Comes to the Kennedy Space Center
By Travis Puterbaugh A recent acquisition of materials relating to life in Central Florida from the 1970s to the 1990s contained some unexpected gems, including several archival items relating to a significant exhibition at the Kennedy Space Center in 1976. Looking ahead in ’76 That year, as the United States
Sir Gus: Orlando’s Kissing Camel
By Jeremy Hileman Since the formation of the Bahia Shriners, the Central Florida delegation of Shriners International, thousands of the club’s members have made their mark on the community. Their charitable efforts and fun-loving personas have been part of the Orlando-area landscape since 1955, when the group was officially granted
The library can get your genealogy research on track
Have your ancestors been working on the railroad? If so, the library might be able to help you find family history through railroad records. “Working on the Railroad” is just one of the many genealogy classes Orange County Library System is offering this month. For more info on this and
Roaring Twenties Twister: Family Photos Bring a Sorrento Storm to Life
By Katie Marra, Orange County Regional History Center Archivist On March 17, 1928, a tornado swept through Sorrento, Florida, a small community in Lake County just east of Mount Dora. The results were damaged homes and property, downed trees, multiple injuries, and one fatality. Throughout the remainder of March 1928,
Apple Annie’s and Nostalgic Fantasy
By Travis Puterbaugh From the Spring 2024 Edition of Reflections Magazine In 1985, Lee Pharr, the art director for Church Street Station, said, “We’re trying to create an ambiance here that’s almost nostalgic fantasy.” The downtown Orlando entertainment complex – which opened on July 19, 1974, and helped transform downtown
The Building Permit Books: Unlocking a Valuable Historical Resource
By Tana Mosier Porter From the Spring 2024 Edition of Reflections Magazine Little is known about the four handwritten ledgers that make up the City of Orlando Building Permit Collection held in the Brechner Research Center at the Orange County Regional History Center. A 1986 donation from the city government
Women Who Made Our City Beautiful: The Legacies of Glenda Hood and Mary I. Johnson
By Adaeze Nwigwe, from the Spring 2024 Edition of Reflections Magazine Magical, picturesque, and for a period phenomenal: all were descriptions that could be applied to the city of Orlando in 1908. Early migrants to the area such as Jessie Johnson Branch from South Dakota were enraptured by the verdant
Vive la France! Learn about your French ancestors
Each month we’re pleased to let you know about genealogy classes being offered by Orange County Library System as part of our ongoing partnership with them. It’s amazing to look at their lineup for August and realize all the different ways you can research your family tree. For information on
Sanford’s Swedish Labor and the Creation of the New Upsala Settlement
By Rachel Williams Before Gen. Henry Sanford incorporated the Florida town that would bear his name in 1877, significant preparatory work was required. In 1870, Sanford purchased over 12,000 acres of land west of Mellonville, intending to enter the state’s burgeoning citrus industry. He began by clearing the land and