Zellwood

by Zellwood Historical Society, Museum and Library Inc.

Overview

Zellwood was named for Thomas Ellwood Zell, who arrived in the area in 1876. Zell sent scrapbooks displaying newspaper clippings to entice Northern friends—former Civil War officers—to settle near Lakes Maggiore and Minore. Word spread that Zellwood was a desirable place to winter and do business. Construction of millionaire steel magnate James Laughlin Jr.'s mansion began in 1885. Zellwood attracted people who built estates and new homes. Boardinghouses popped up. The Holly Arms Hotel and Zellwood Inn housed farmers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. In 1911, a train brought more settlers planning to earn their livelihood from Zellwood's rich earth. Agriculture dominated from the 1940s through the late 1990s. Zellwood was known for sweet corn. By 1999, all but one farm had been purchased for Lake Apopka restoration. Only Long and Scott Farms carries on the tradition of growing Zellwood sweet corn by farming the sandy soil bordering the muck lands of Lake Apopka.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467112314
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	11/10/2014
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,050,871
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

The Zellwood Historical Society, chartered in 1997, presents photographs and information from their archives, which are housed in the museum at Zellwood Community Center. Preparation for Images of America: Zellwood included interviews of residents, scanning of additional photographs, and, most importantly, living in Zellwood.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Introduction 7

1 Zell and Early Arrivals 9

2 Commerce and Transportation 19

3 Agriculture 33

4 Military 59

5 Estates and Home Life 71

6 Churches 85

7 Community Activities 95

8 Schools 109

9 Recent Times 121