Blog – Palmango Press

The Sydonie Mansion…A Florida Secret!

May 28, 2016May 28, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

Today I explored a secret place, hidden in the backwoods of Central Florida, one of the grandest mansions of the Gilded Age. Zellwood is a small hamlet situated about five miles southeast of Mount Dora. I had gone there with a friend to explore the area where Byrd Spilman Dewey…

Florida Memory – Photos, postcards and more!

April 17, 2016April 17, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

The state of Florida,through its 171 years, has amassed quite a collection in the state archives. In order to make much of the collection accessible to the public, the State Library & Archives started the Florida Memory project. The site contains thousands of photos, maps, videos, audio clips, and postcards. One of the newly…

Need Plants? The Reasoner Brothers had you covered

March 25, 2016March 25, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

[caption id="attachment_78" align="alignright" width="200"] Pliny Reasoner[/caption] Did you ever wonder how Florida became a tropical paradise? Much of that credit goes to two brothers from Manatee County, who started a tropical nursery business in 1883. Pliny Reasoner made his way to Florida as a 17 year old, buying 40 acres…

The Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901

March 16, 2016March 16, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

Upon my first visit to Jacksonville on a business trip several years ago, I was quite struck that there were so few old buildings and houses in the downtown area. My first thought was that all the old buildings were demolished t0 make way for new, larger, buildings. I researched…

Old Florida Travel Trip – Venetian Pool

March 15, 2016March 15, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is one of the best kept South Florida secrets. Located off of Lejeune Road, the 1923 dream of George Merrick conjures up the boom time of the 1920s. The pool is refilled each day with cool spring water from the Biscayne Aquifer. Enjoy the waterfall…

Miami’s First Luxury Hotel

March 13, 2016March 15, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

In 1896, Henry Flagler built Miami's first luxury hotel, the Royal Palm, designed by the same architects who had built his St. Augustine and Palm Beach properties. Sadly, by 1926, the hotel was considered old fashioned. The fatal blow was the 1926 hurricane. Although the hotel opened after that, it…

Ocala Houses

March 11, 2016March 12, 2016 by Lyndall

Lyndall

Ocala has one of the best collections of old time Florida houses in the state. If you are a fan of Victorian architecture, both Ocala and Gainesville have some real beauties! Instead of the Mickey and Minnie routine, take a step back in time and enjoy Old Florida. From the…