Hojin's SW Orlando Real Estate Scoop

Pictured here is the oldest residence in Windermere that’s still in use today. It’s reportedly hand built by Cal Palmer who played an integral role in the development of Windermere as well as a major contributor to the citrus industry here. This historic home is currently owned by John Luff who’s family has resided in [...]

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In honor of Martin Luther King day, we take a look back at a dark day in history for the city of Ocoee. It occurred on election day, 1920, when Mose Norman, a black guy attempted to vote. He wasn’t allowed, so he decided to return later that day armed with a shot gun. Mose’s [...]

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The name of Isleworth in Windermere brings thoughts of Tiger Woods and exclusive multi-million dollar mansions today, but it’s beginnings have a much humbler story of a citrus farmer named Sydney Chase who moved to Central Florida from Philadelphia. Paul and Frances Jaudon purchased the land that is known as Isleworth in 1883 and formed [...]

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A Wisconsin schoolteacher named Henry Nehrling purchased 40 acres of land in the Town of Gotha in 1885 to grow tropical and sub-tropical plants outside year round. He was also a horticulturalist, an ornithologist, and his Palm Cottage Gardens on Hempel Avenue was a popular tourist destination at the turn of the century which had [...]

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Friends of Lake Apopka (FOLA) has been working fastidiously to restore Lake Apopka from its pollution since the signing of the Lake Apopka Restoration Act in 1996. The groups was formed with the guidance an environmental biologist, owner of Biosphere in Winter Garden, and former president of the Friends of Wekiva named Jim Thomas and [...]

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click fishing map to view in full screen I found this old fishing map of the Butler Chain from Tim’s Tackle Box. It was the largest tackle shop in Orlando back in the 80′s and I used to love going to this place when I was a kid. I must admit that I prefer the [...]

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The Cal Palmer Memorial Building located at 502 Main Street in downtown Windermere at the intersection of Main Street and Fifth Avenue was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Originally, this building was the postmaster and town development center for Cal Palmer. A shuffleboard court was built behind the building in [...]

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I’ve recently been doing some research about the history of Windermere and began running across articles about the most comprehensive book about this topic written by Carl Patterson Jr entitled Windermere Among the Lakes. Carl was a former Realtor at Suzi Karr, mayor, town planner, and head of the historic preservation board. He also had [...]

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The Historic Edgewater Hotel in downtown Winter Garden opened its doors in 1927 as one of the most technologically advanced hotels of its era. It featured climate control, refrigerators, and the Otis Elevator which is still there today.Winter Garden garnered a reputation as a premiere bass fishing destination with legendary numbers of bass being caught [...]

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Joy Wallace Dickenson, author of the “Florida Flashback” section in the Orlando Sentinel, has published a book entitled Historic Photos of Orlando that’s filled with hundreds of poignant images of Orlando’s past. I’m always a sucker for great photography and this one is no exception. The slideshow provides a sample of some of the stunning [...]

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