The Stetson Mansion: More Than a Home for Hats
By Kara Kovalev, Registrar, Orange County Regional History Center John B. Stetson is best known for his design of the modern cowboy hat. What’s less well known is the impact he had on the town of DeLand, home of Stetson University. His Gilded Age mansion on Camphor Lane stands as
Sam Rivers (1923-2011): A friend remembers the local legend
By Matt Gorney This story originally ran in the Jan. 4, 2012, issue of Orlando Weekly. It is reprinted here with permission. It’s as if this one was all for you, Orlando. Sam Rivers was truly among us from 1991 until the time he split on Dec. 26. If you’ve
“Sometimes Fun, Sometimes Crazy, Always Interesting”: Getting to Know Former Orlando Sentinel Reporter Erin Ailworth
By Travis Puterbaugh, Curator of Collections From recollections from folks who lived in Central Florida decades ago to the reflections of people making history today, the oral histories in the Orange County Regional History Center’s collection reveal the rich diversity of our region. Here’s a look at an oral history
Get your genealogical research started with the library’s “Finding Your Roots Series”
Orange County Library System Genealogy Events – September 2023 OCLS’s West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center offers events that cover a range of basic and beginning genealogy research techniques, including how to interpret DNA results, census records, vital statistics, land records, probate records, and immigration records. As part of our
Casks and Cabinets: A History of Rocky’s Replay
Images courtesy of PinballNews.com. By Kelly D’Ambrosio, Digital Archivist, Orange County Regional History Center Tapping buttons, machine-generated bleeps, and distorted voice-overs emanating from arcade cabinets lining carpeted rooms. Layered between the machine sounds are the chatter and cheers of people enjoying themselves. To many, arcades are a place of after-school
Q & A with author Jaquira Díaz
By Cheyenne Stastyshyn, Public Programming Coordinator This month our Reading Through History book club selection is Ordinary Girls, a fearless 2019 memoir by Jaquira Díaz that received many literary honors. It won a prestigious Whiting Award and a Florida Book Awards Gold Medal and was a Lambda Literary Awards finalist,
The Presidents Hall of Fame: Clermont’s Roadside Treasure
By Jeremy Hileman, Assistant Curator With numerous world-class tourist destinations located throughout Central Florida, it may be easy to forget that visitors flocked to the area prior to the emergence of the theme parks that so many associate with the region today. A number of notable attractions predated the opening
The library can teach you how to find those hard-to-find ancestors
Orange County Library System Genealogy Events – August 2023 The History Center regularly collaborates with the Orange County Library System, a natural partnership particularly since its main location is next door. With that in mind, we are pleased to keep you informed about history-related events offered at OCLS. OCLS’s West
This July, explore your family history with the Orange County Library System
Orange County Library System Genealogy Events – July 2023 The History Center regularly collaborates with the Orange County Library System, a natural partnership particularly since its main location is next door. With that in mind, we are pleased to keep you informed about history-related events offered at OCLS. OCLS’s West
On the Trail of the Orlando Bicycle Club
A Long-Ago Photo Sparks Intrigue 200 Miles from Home By Vanessa Sardon, from the Spring 2022 edition of Reflections Magazine Stacks of framed art and abandoned photographs lined the shelves of a Fort Lauderdale thrift store – among them, a captivating black-and-white photo in a simple black frame. It features