BEST OF ORLANDO® READERS' CHOICE NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!

20 pieces of Winter Park trivia you probably didn't know

By on Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 6:45 pm

You probably didn't know that the first structure built in Winter Park was the train depot, or that Mr. Rogers went to Rollins, but your dad probably did. What follows are 20 obscure Winter Park tidbits that every local dad probably already knows.

Scroll down to view images
In 1908, it was someone’s job to keep cows off the streets during the daytime. Photo via Florida Memory
In 1908, it was someone’s job to keep cows off the streets during the daytime.

Photo via Florida Memory
Stand-up comedian Carrot Top was born in Cocoa Beach but now has a house in Winter Park. Oddly enough, the roof happens to match his hair color. Photo via Active Rain
Stand-up comedian Carrot Top was born in Cocoa Beach but now has a house in Winter Park. Oddly enough, the roof happens to match his hair color.

Photo via Active Rain
A sinkhole swallowed an entire block of Winter Park, including cars on a car lot and a house, in 1981. Now, the area is just a small lake located west of Denning Drive and north of Fairbanks Avenue. Photo via Florida Memory
A sinkhole swallowed an entire block of Winter Park, including cars on a car lot and a house, in 1981. Now, the area is just a small lake located west of Denning Drive and north of Fairbanks Avenue.

Photo via Florida Memory
The Langford Resort Hotel, which is one of the top 100 Historic Icons of Orlando, was open from 1955 to 2000 and the first hotel with air conditioning in Central Florida. It served as the center of social activities and brought guests like Eleanor Roosevelt, Walt Disney, Mamie Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. The hotel closed in 2000 and was torn down in 2003. Photo via Florida Memory
The Langford Resort Hotel, which is one of the top 100 Historic Icons of Orlando, was open from 1955 to 2000 and the first hotel with air conditioning in Central Florida. It served as the center of social activities and brought guests like Eleanor Roosevelt, Walt Disney, Mamie Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. The hotel closed in 2000 and was torn down in 2003.

Photo via Florida Memory
At Rollins College, Fred Rogers wrote “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” as his senior thesis. The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood star graduated from the college in 1951 with a degree in music composition. Photo via PBS
At Rollins College, Fred Rogers wrote “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” as his senior thesis. The Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood star graduated from the college in 1951 with a degree in music composition.

Photo via PBS
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, which started in 1960, is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. Photo via Florida Memory
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, which started in 1960, is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals.

Photo via Florida Memory
The Edward Hill Brewer House, also known as The Palms, located at 240 Trismen Terrace, is one of two houses in Winter Park listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo via Ebyabe/Wikipedia
The Edward Hill Brewer House, also known as The Palms, located at 240 Trismen Terrace, is one of two houses in Winter Park listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo via Ebyabe/Wikipedia
The first building constructed was the train depot in 1882. Photo via Winter Park Public Library Archive
The first building constructed was the train depot in 1882.

Photo via Winter Park Public Library Archive
Rollins College has several successful or famous graduates like actress Dava Ivey (Legally Blonde, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York), actor Buddy Ebsen (Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Beverly Hillbillies), and Janis Hirsch (co-executive producer and writer of “Will & Grace,” and writer of “Frasier.”) Photo via Imbd
Rollins College has several successful or famous graduates like actress Dava Ivey (Legally Blonde, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York), actor Buddy Ebsen (Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Beverly Hillbillies), and Janis Hirsch (co-executive producer and writer of “Will & Grace,” and writer of “Frasier.”)

Photo via Imbd
‘N Sync worked on their 2001 “Celebrity” album at a house in Winter Park, two blocks from Rollins College. While living in the area, the band would frequent a couple of restaurants on the corner of Corrine Drive and Winter Park Road: Roger's Diner (now Junior's Diner), and O'Stromboli (now 1803 Pizza Kitchen). Photo via Zomato
‘N Sync worked on their 2001 “Celebrity” album at a house in Winter Park, two blocks from Rollins College. While living in the area, the band would frequent a couple of restaurants on the corner of Corrine Drive and Winter Park Road: Roger's Diner (now Junior's Diner), and O'Stromboli (now 1803 Pizza Kitchen).

Photo via Zomato
In 1891, the Henkel Block opened on Park Avenue with five stores, including Dr. Henkel’s medical office and a drug store. This “block” contained the only stores for several years. Photo via Winter Park Public Library Archive
In 1891, the Henkel Block opened on Park Avenue with five stores, including Dr. Henkel’s medical office and a drug store. This “block” contained the only stores for several years.

Photo via Winter Park Public Library Archive
Scenes from "Sydney White," featuring Amanda Bynes, were filmed in Winter Park and at Rollins College. Photo via Nadine Aveola
Scenes from "Sydney White," featuring Amanda Bynes, were filmed in Winter Park and at Rollins College.

Photo via Nadine Aveola
Rollins College was the first college in the area, founded back in 1885 by New England Congregationalists. It is now the oldest college in Florida. Photo via Florida Memory
Rollins College was the first college in the area, founded back in 1885 by New England Congregationalists. It is now the oldest college in Florida.

Photo via Florida Memory
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art has the largest collection of Tiffany glass in the world. Photo via rsardari/Instagram
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art has the largest collection of Tiffany glass in the world.

Photo via rsardari/Instagram
The city of Winter Park was actually developed as a winter resort for Northerners. The founders knew having hotels to attract the Northerners in the winter was important. There was the Virginia Inn, Seminole Hotel and the Alabama. Photo via Florida Memory
The city of Winter Park was actually developed as a winter resort for Northerners. The founders knew having hotels to attract the Northerners in the winter was important. There was the Virginia Inn, Seminole Hotel and the Alabama.

Photo via Florida Memory
Back in 2012, Beatles legend Paul McCartney bought a condo in Winter Park for family visits. He is said to still own the condo in Winter Park, though his stepson has graduated from Rollins College. Photo via The Daily City
Back in 2012, Beatles legend Paul McCartney bought a condo in Winter Park for family visits. He is said to still own the condo in Winter Park, though his stepson has graduated from Rollins College.

Photo via The Daily City
The Comstock-Harris house, located at 724 Bonita Drive, is one of the oldest Winter Park homes. It is also one of two houses in Winter Park listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo via Wikipedia
The Comstock-Harris house, located at 724 Bonita Drive, is one of the oldest Winter Park homes. It is also one of two houses in Winter Park listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo via Wikipedia
The city was originally named Lakeview in 1858 but re-named to Osceola in 1870. Loring Chase and his fellow founder Oliver Chapman changed the name again to Winter Park because they wanted the name to be related to the winter season since this was why the town was founded. Loring Chase was a Chicago businessman with chronic bronchitis and was told by his doctor to spend winter in a warm place. Photo via Winter Park Magazine
The city was originally named Lakeview in 1858 but re-named to Osceola in 1870. Loring Chase and his fellow founder Oliver Chapman changed the name again to Winter Park because they wanted the name to be related to the winter season since this was why the town was founded. Loring Chase was a Chicago businessman with chronic bronchitis and was told by his doctor to spend winter in a warm place.

Photo via Winter Park Magazine

Chava Communications

Read our sister publications

Orlando Weekly

PO Box 953127.

Lake Mary, FL 32795

Facebook Twitter Instagram Icon Apple News Icon Google News Icon
© 2024 Orlando Weekly
Powered By Foundation
Support Us