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

Railroading in Maitland

Photographed by AGS Media, December 30, 2011

1. Railroading in Maitland Marker

Inscription. Before the railroad to Lake Maitland, travelers boarded a steamboat in Jacksonville for the trip up the St. Johns River to Sanford. The St. Johns River is one of only three rivers in the United States that flows from south to north. Landing at Sanford, passengers hired a horse or team to take them overland to Lake Maitland. The South Florida Railroad was the first to this area from Sanford. Maitland residents Dr. Clement C. Haskell (1847-1900) and Bolling Robinson Swoope (born 1842) were Treasurer and Superintendent respectively. The new railroad, completed to Lake Maitland in 1880, terminated at the southern edge of town and opened new markets for shipments of citrus and other products to the north. Passengers met at the depot were transported by horse and buggy to their destinations. The stationmaster's office was located in Packwood Hall, then the town hall, until the depot was built in 1883. It was torn down in 1969 due to tornado damage. In 1883, the Henry B. Plant Investment Company purchased the railroad and the line was extended to Tampa. The Plant Railroad System consolidated into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

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in 1902 and the Seaboard Coastline Railroad by 1903. CSX currently owns the railroad.

A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2004 by the City of Maitland and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-522.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 28° 37.275′ N, 81° 22.039′ W. Marker is in Maitland, Florida, in Orange County. It is at the intersection of Lake Lily Drive and Central Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Lake Lily Drive. Marker is located at Lake Lily Park, a city park, next to the railroad crossing. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Maitland FL 32751, 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

Photographed by AGS Media, December 30, 2011

2. Railroading in Maitland Marker

of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William H. Waterhouse Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Carpentry Shop Museum (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Black Bear Trail (about 400 feet away); Lake Lily Drive (about 500 feet away); Lake Lily (about 500 feet away); Fort Maitland / Maitland / Lake Maitland (approx. 0.2 miles away); Church of the Good Shepherd (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kennedy Boulevard and Sewell’s Place (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maitland.

More about this marker. The marker is capped with the logo of the Florida Historic Marker Program.

Regarding Railroading in Maitland. The marker contains historical inaccuracies. The Plant Railroad System was acquired solely by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad did not exist until 1967, when the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line. Since this marker was erected, the Florida Department of Transportation purchased the rail line through Maitland from CSX in

Northbound view of tracks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, December 30, 2011

3. Northbound view of tracks

Toward Sanford, DeLand, Jacksonville, etc.

order to establish the SunRail commuter rail system. Amtrak also operates trains on the line.

Southbound view of tracks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, December 30, 2011

4. Southbound view of tracks

Toward Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Tampa, etc.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 947 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 10, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.