Conway in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Conway United Methodist Church/Brick Road
Conway United Methodist Church
The Conway Methodist Church was first organized in 1874 as the Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church South. Services were held monthly in a log cabin and led by a circuit rider. The building also served as the school and a gathering place for social activities in the community. The social life centered around a log structure of small dimensions built in 1875. The Morgan Mizell family deeded two acres at the southeast corner of Conway Road and Anderson Road for the church, parsonage, and cemetery. The original log cabin was located east of the structure that borders the intersection. On September 13, 1884, the name of the church was changed from Prospect to Conway and on January 7, 1885, the Conway circuit was created at the conference held in Gainesville. The circuit included Lake Howell, Pine Castle, Lake Irma, and Conway. Fifty two ministers served the church in the 65 years of its history to 1939 for periods of time varying from 3 months to 3 years. A clapboard structure replaced the log cabin in 1881 and stayed in service until 1960. Prayer meetings would be held at the neighbor's houses during the week, usually on Wednesday nights.
(side 2)
Brick Road
Conway Road was built in 1871 to connect Orlando with the tiny community. In the early 1880's. Mr. Frederick G. May lived on the east side of South Fern Creek Drive at Waterwitch. Everything was hauled in those days by oxen and horses. Mr. May started the first passenger and freight service between Conway, Lake Underhill and Orlando. Two times per week, this line carried private mail, cash commissions and 50 pound lumps of ice which sold for one cent per pound. Fare from Conway to Orlando was 25 cents or round trip 40 cents. In 1914, the entire seven-mile road was bricked and made nine feet wide. It was one of the first paved highways in Orange County running along what is now Briercliff Drive, Curry Ford Road, and Conway Road ending at Anderson Road.
Erected by Orange County Board of County Commissioners.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Roads & Vehicles.
Location. 28° 30.117′ N, 81° 19.843′ W. Marker is in Conway, Florida, in Orange County. Marker is at the intersection of South Conway Road (State Road 15) and Anderson Road, on the right when traveling north on South Conway Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3401 S Conway Rd, Orlando FL 32812, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The English Colony/The Polo Club (approx. ¼ mile away); Conway First Baptist Church/Fort Gatlin (approx. half a mile away); Walden's Live Oak (approx. 0.7 miles away); St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church/Datson Dairy (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Council Oak (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fort Gatlin 1838 (approx. 2.3 miles away); Fort Gatlin's Early Settlers • Native American History (approx. 2.3 miles away); Site of Fort Gatlin (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Conway.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 660 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 28, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.