Winter Park in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

A Bit of Winter Park Real Estate History

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 16, 2023

1. A Bit of Winter Park Real Estate History Marker

Inscription. In 1881 Loring A. Chase and Oliver E. Chapman acquired property and began a real estate business in what was to become Winter Park. The business was incorporated as The Winter Park Company in 1885. Among its powers was to lay out roads on its property, buying and building hotels, and it possessed the sole and exclusive right to build, equip, maintain and operate a street railway(s) in Winter Park.

The Winter Park Company was subsequently acquired by Francis B. Knowles. After Knowles death, in 1904, his estate sold the Winter Park assets to Charles Hosmer Morse, which included the Winter Park Company. Charles H. Morse appointed H.A. Ward as his agent and carried on the business as The Winter Park Company.

In 1917, The Winter Park Land Company was incorporated and opened its doors in this building, and it has been instrumental in making Winter Park the wonderful community that you see today.

From 1917-1947, the building also housed the original movie theatre in Winter Park, "The Baby Grand Theatre." We invite you to come in and see a portion of the restored theatre, as well as the real estate brokerage.

The Winter Park Land Company operated the brokerage from 1917 until 2019, when Fannie Hillman and Associates took over operations. Real estate brokerage services have been offered to the community from

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this site for more than 100 years; this location is believed to be the longest continually run real estate office in Florida.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 28° 35.844′ N, 81° 21.056′ W. Marker is in Winter Park, Florida, in Orange County. It is on South Park Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 122 S Park Ave, Winter Park FL 32789, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charles Hosmer Morse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Charles Hosmer Morse (within shouting distance of this marker); Winter Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Winter Park Telephone Company (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Freight Depot (about 700 feet away); Central Park (about 800 feet away); The Fiftieth Anniversary (about 800 feet away); The Kummer Kilbourne House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winter Park.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 16, 2023

2. A Bit of Winter Park Real Estate History Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2023, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.