Casselberry

Casselberry. . Side 1 , In a lightly populated area known as Fern Park, a flourishing area dotted with slatted sheds used for growing asparagus plumosis ferns for the florist industry, a power struggle developed between two prominent growers, Gordon Barnett, a local former state legislator and Hubbard Casselberry, a native Chicagoan who had come to the area in the 1920s., In 1940, Mr. Barnett proposed a town charter for Fern Park that included property tax levying powers. Mr. Casselberry's proposal was for a "tax-free" town with restrictions to prevent any form of tax or bonded indebtedness without the approval of 90% of the registered voters. Mr. Casselberry also volunteered to pay for any civic improvements and costs incurred by the town., Armed with an official map of the proposed Town of Casselberry validated by the court, a group of registered voters residing in this area sided with Mr. Casselberry, and on October 10, 1940, (Continued on other side). Side 2 (Continued from other side). decided to incorporate the Town of Casselberry thereby eliminating the Fern park designation for this new "tax-free" area., Mr. Casselberry became its first Mayor, and for many years its "tax-free" status was proudly displayed on the town's water tower. By 1940, the town's fern-based economy gradually shifted to manufacturing. During that time, Casselberry provided the US Military with bandoliers and bomb chutes. Cigarette and utility taxes and some income from the state road fund provided modest income to the town. In 1957 the town opened its own contract Post Office., Population growth moved the voters to approve a new Charter on May 16, 1965. This created the City of Casselberry with a new City Council who would govern from that day forward. The "tax-free" city finally levied its first ad valorem property tax in 1976.