LAKE HIGHLAND ... the most important lake in Orlando (part 2)

LAKE HIGHLAND - TODAY [1]

Lake Highland takes on more responsibilities to support the city.  But they have taken a toll on our beloved lake.

"Part 2" of the history of Lake Highland brings us up to the present day.

ALANTIC BEER SIGN [4]

1937  The Atlantic Company in Atlanta built the Atlantic Brewery at 1171 North Orange Avenue to quench Orlando's thirst following the 1933 repeal of prohibition.  It was where Light Style (1155) and Workscapes (1173) are today. [2]  Ads for the beer proudly described the purity of the water from Lake Highland that was used in the brewing process. [3]  The prevailing winds from the north carried the aroma of freshly brewed beer across the lake and into our neighborhood.  Kinda makes you wanna grab a cold one right now!

1956-1959  Orlando changed its water supply from Lake Highland to deep water wells into the Floridan aquifer.  The Lake Highland plant was converted from processing lake water to processing deep well ground water.  It was the last time that OUC would rely on the single water plant at Lake Highland to supply all of the city's water needs. [5]


LAKE HIGHLAND / LAKE IVANHOE PASSAGE

19??  The major lakes in Orlando were connected to equalize their levels and reduce flooding.  The union of Lake Highland and Lake Ivanhoe is on the northwest corner of Lake Highland.

Catch basins fill with storm water and trash from streets and yard before dumping into the lake.  They reduce turbulence and damage to the bottom of the lake where water from the storm drains is discharged [6]

Storm drains are identified by a blue sticker.  On your next walk around the lake, see how many storm sewers you can count.  Can you trace the path of the storm water from the openings at the curb to the discharge outlets into the lake?

1961  The old Atlantic brewery at 1171 North Orange closed.  It had been sold a couple of times.  The last owner was the National Brewing Company. [7]

1960s  Spellman Engineering, an aerospace contractor, is believed to have dumped used solvent called trichloroethene at its lot on Brookhaven Drive.  The contaminant wasn't discovered until 1992. [8]


LAKE HIGHLAND PINES c1910 [10]

c1980  The last stand of long leaf pine trees on the lake were cut to clear land for new buildings at Lake Highland Prep School.  Long leaf pines had been the primary trees on the lake and in most of Orlando. [9]

1992  Park Lake / Highland residents took major action to protect the integrity and life style or our neighborhood. 

Orlando proposed a high density housing development of 650 apartments on twenty-six acres on the north side of Lake Highland that OUC had owned for almost seventy years.  Zoning allowed as many as 1,200 apartments on the property.  The city owned utility company was to vacate the property in 1994 and was looking to sell or lease the land to a developer.  Park Lake / Highland residents hired attorneys and an urban planner to fight the city's plan. [11]  In answer to PLHN opposition, the city lowered the number of units to 450. [12]  The city eventually dropped the planned housing development.  Lake Highland Prep School purchased the land for the O'Meara Family Sports Center in 2008. [13]

The land itself was controversial.  Some of it was contaminated by chemicals from the defunct Spellman Engineering Company.  Read more about the property by clicking [HERE-1] and [HERE-2].

1998  The no longer used concrete water inlet for the Water Company was removed.  It was a block of concrete about eight feet square protruding above the water near the southwest shore of Lake Highland.  Spray painting "the block" became a rite of passage for Lake Highland Prep School seniors.  LHPS senior John Sorman expressed the dismay felt by his classmates ... "I wanted since kindergarten to paint the block and now it is gone." [14]

Olivia Swigart, who lived at 629 Terrace until recently, told of watching boys dive off of the inlet while their girlfriends watched.  While underwater, the boys would swim into the inlet and surface in the air space inside.  After a few minutes, their girlfriends would be screaming in panic.  When the boys surfaced, all would be forgiven. [15]

TODAY:

Over the years, the Orlando Utilities Commission developed and expanded the facilities on the five acres north of Weber Street, south of the railroad, east of Magnolia Ave. and west of Highland Avenue.  The original pumping station and holding tanks have been moved, but OUC continues to supply water and electricity to Orlando on the property today.

2013  Lake Highland water that was once described as "Orlando water is among the very best in the known world" is now rated as only "FAIR" by the Orange County Water Atlas. [16]

The grassy lawn of the four acre Lake Highland Park on the north shore of Lake Highland welcomes residents to relax and enjoy the beautiful view of downtown Orlando.  Few know that they are walking on land that James Gamble Speer tended when he was founding Orlando.  Nor that the turtles, fish, and ducks are frolicking in the spring fed water that sustained our residents for seventy-five years.  Nothing connects the park's visitors with the lake's profound influence on our city's history.

 
Do you have photos, stories, or documented facts about the Park Lake / Highland neighborhood?  I'm always looking for new information.  Contact me at -
oldstuff656@gmail.com

Please bookmark Orlando Time Machine to return often.  Subscription by email should be up-and-running in a week or two.
 

Next time, Orlando Time Machine visits beautiful Park Lake.

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REFERENCES

[1]  Rick Kilby, Visual Ephermera blog, Aug 5, 2012, http://studiohourglass.blogspot.com/
[2]  Dave Paradine, Atlantic Brewing Company, http://www.angelfire.com/az2/beercandave/Orlando.html
[3]  Atlantic Beer ad, date & source unknown
[4]  Ken Jones, personal collection
[5]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, pp. 13-15.
[6]  Ray Boyd, former OUC Board Member
[7]  David G. Moyer, American Breweries of the Past, AuthorHouse, 2009, p. 61.
[8]  EPA, Engaging Early in the Superfund Process, Enabling Cleanup and Reuse, November 2011, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/pdf/spellman-casestudy.pdf
[9]  Nancy Prine, conversation with Lonnie Cook, 2013.
[10]  State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/160412
[11]  Will Wellons, Orlando Sentinel, February 27, 1992,  http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-02-27/news/9202250580_1_lake-highland-plan-park-lake 
[12]  Will Wellons, Orlando Sentinel, April 28, 1992, http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-04-28/news/9204280708_1_development-lake-highland-park-lake
[13]  Kevin Spear and Mark Schlueb, Orlando Sentinel, October 4, 2008, http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-10-04/news/tce04_1_lake-highland-preparatory-superfund-site-acre
[14]  Realities, Lake Highland Preparatory School (yearbook) 1998, p. 35.
[15]  Olivia Swigart, conversation with Lonnie Cook
[16]  Orange County Wateratlas, 9/13/2009, http://www.orange.wateratlas.usf.edu/lake/waterquality.asp?wbodyid=140245&wbodyatlas=lake

LAKE HIGHLAND ... the most important lake in Orlando (part 1)



LAKE HIGHLAND - 2013 [1]

Most important lake in Orlando???  You betcha!!

Our Lake Highland founded and named our city, quenched its thirst, fought its fires, fed its citizens, produced its beer, absorbed its road dirt, and just plain makes us feel good when we are near.


????  Lake Highland was originally know as Woods Lake. [2]

JAMES GAMBLE SPEER'S PLANTATION - 1861 [6]

1845  Florida attained statehood and the U.S. Congress granted 500,000 acres of land to the state to encourage settlement.  Florida began distributing the land in 1855 via the Internal Improvement Fund. [3]

c 1855  James Gamble Speer, his wife Isophoenia, and his slaves built a farm and cotton plantation on he north side of Lake Highland between Lake Ivanhoe and Lake Highland.  He probably settled the land before Florida officially started distributing land.  Speer was one of the key founding fathers of Orlando and is credited with giving the city its name. [4]

1875  The City of Orlando was incorporated.  The city limits were defined as one mile north, east, south, and west of the courthouse.  Marks Street was the city limits on the north.  Lake Highland was not inside the city. [5]

1886  City Council approved the Orlando Water Works to supply water from Lake Highland to citizens, and fire hydrants.  The steam driven pumping station was west of today's Highland Ave. near the intersection with Lake Highland Drive. [7]

The pumping station is in the background of this photo.  Using this photo and the red building on the map below, can you find where the photographer was standing?  (Hint - it's on Lake Highland Prep School property.)


ORLANDO WATER WORKS [8]

1888  A scientific examination of water from Lake Highland supplied by the Orlando Water
Company stated, "in absolute purity and freedom from all injuries or contaminating substances, the Orlando water is among the very best in the known world." [9]



ORLANDO WATER & LIGHT CO, AND ICE PLANT - 1903 [14]

1893 John Cheney, later Judge Cheney (Old Cheney Hwy), purchased control of the Water Works. [10]

1899  John Cheney fenced the Water Company on Lake Highland against cattle. [11]

1900  John Cheney's Orlando Water & Light Company built the first power plant in Orlando on Lake Highland. [12]

1903  Cheney built an ice plant at the Lake Highland site, adjacent to the power and water plants. [13]


LAKE HIGHLAND - 1915 [20]

1913  A committee of the Ladies’ Civic League requested that council “take steps toward acquiring ownership and control of the waters of Lakes Highland, Lucerne and Cherokee, together with sufficient margin of these Lakes to form the beginning of a Park System, the women of the Civic League pledging themselves to aid financially and otherwise in a plan of park development; they understood that Lake Eola was already owned in this way by the City;” on recommendation of the street committee it was ordered that these lakes be “condemned and owned  by the City of Orlando," and condemnation proceedings ordered begun. [15]

All bathing was prohibited in Lake Highland. [16]

1914 Contract was given for the masonry intake at Lake Highland for the Orlando Water & Light Company. [17]

1922 August 25, the Orlando Water and Light Company was formally transferred to the City of Orlando at a purchase price of $975,000. [18]

In September, 1922 the city began construction of its own plant on Lake Ivanhoe. [19]

As the first quarter of the twentieth century was closing, Orlando entered into a boom of prosperity and new residents.  Growth proceeded at a dizzying rate.  Lake Highland was asked to work harder for our citizens than ever before.


Do you have photos, stories, or documented facts about the Park Lake / Highland neighborhood?  I'm always looking for new information.  Contact me at -
oldstuff656@gmail.com

Please bookmark Orlando Time Machine to return often.  Subscription by email should be up-and-running in a week or two.

Next time, LAKE HIGHLAND ... the most important lake in Orlando (part 2)
 

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REFERENCES

[1]  Google Earth
[2]  Orlando a Centennial History, Vol. 1, Eve Bacon, The Micklere House, Publishers, 1975, p. 377.
[3]  Laws of the State of Flordia Passed at the Seventh Session of the General Assembly, 1865-1855,Chapter 610, "An Act to provide for and encourage a liberal system of Internal Improvements in this State," http://edocs.dlis.state.fl.us/fldocs/leg/actsflorida/actsofge54flor.pdf
[4]  History of Orlando, Willa (Vick) Griffin (Mrs. S.S. Griffin), paper written and read before Sorosis, Jan. 16, 1923.  (Orange County Public Library Florida Collection); and Central Florida Memory, http://digitalcollections.net.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/35705
[5]  Orlando a Centennial History Vol. I, Eve Bacon, The Mickler House, Publishers, 1975, p. 377.
[6]  Map: Orange County Property Appraiser,  http://www.ocpafl.org/; Boundaries: Orange County Comptroller Book D, page 437-438, http://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/18619004437.pdf?id=DOCC4426894.A0&parent=DOCC4426894
[7]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, pp. 2-3.
[8]  Orange County Regional History Center; and Florida Memory, http://www.floridamemory.com/fpc/prints/pr02793.jpg
[9]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, p. 3.
[10]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, p. 4.
[11]  Orlando a Centennial History, Vol. 1, Eve Bacon, The Micklere House, Publishers, 1975, p. 213.
[12]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, p. 4.
[13]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, p. 4.
[14]  Sanborn Map Company, Insurance maps of Orlando, Florida, 1903, http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00074209/00006/4j?search=Orlando
[15]  History of Orange County Florida, William Fremont Blackman, The Mickler House Publishers, 1973, p.107;  University of Florida Digital Collection, http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00055601/00001/111j
[16]  Orlando a Centennial History, Vol. 1, Eve Bacon, The Micklere House, Publishers, 1975, p. 260.
[17]  Orlando a Centennial History, Vol. 1, Eve Bacon, The Micklere House, Publishers, 1975, p. 171.
[18]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, p. 6.
[19]  Rick Coleman, History of the OUC Water System, an internal report to the Orlando Utilities Company, 2009, p. 6.
[20]  Florida Memory, http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/14184



 

WELCOME!

My name is Lonnie Cook and I like old stuff ...

I live in the greatest neighborhood in Orlando:  Park Lake / Highland.  Some of the most important founders of Orlando felt the same and settled here, too.

I created "Orlando Time Machine" to share information about the history of Orlando and Park Lake / Highland that I have researched over the last thirty years.  I hope that you find some tidbits here that will add to your appreciation of our neighborhood.

Some upcoming topics include …

• Our two famous lakes:  Lake Highland and Park Lake
• The resident who named Orlando
• Beer!
• How to research your house 

The neighborhood is bounded as follows:  (Can you find your house?) [1] [2]

• WEST:  Highland Avenue from Colonial Drive north to the railroad tracks, then on the east side of the tracks to Virginia Drive.
• NORTH:  Virginia Drive from the railroad tracks east to Mills Avenue.
• EAST:  Mills Avenue from Virginia Drive south to Colonial Drive.
• SOUTH:  Colonial Drive from Mills Avenue west to Highland Avenue.

PARK LAKE / HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD

Enter your email address in the “Follow Orl Time Mach by Email” box near the upper right corner of the page to receive a notice of each new installment.  You can add your comments in the “Post a Comment” box at the end of each installment.

Click on the RESOURCES in the right column to search for more history and tips.

And finally, please contact me if you have photos or facts that you would like to add to our history.  oldstuff656@gmail.com

Join me next time for a discussion of the most important lake in Orlando …

Lake Highland.

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REFERENCES

[1]  City of Orlando neighborhood maps

[2]  Orange County Property Appraiser  (Property Search / Map Search)

Watch for first installment on January 4 !!!

 

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 ORLANDO TIME MACHINE!  

                                                  

Enter your email address in the "Follow Orl Time Mach by Email" box near the upper right corner of the page to receive a notice in your inbox as soon as each installment is published.

Orlando Time Machine explores the history of the Park Lake / Highland neighborhood and the associated history of Orlando.  I bet that you will learn some interesting or obscure facts about the neighborhood and the city that will increase your enjoyment of this gem of downtown Orlando living.

The journey starts on January 4, 2014.



PARK LAKE / HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD



See you soon.

- Lonnie