CLERMONT, mile 46 of the 19th century Orange Belt Railway heading west out of Sanford, had originally been intended as a depot stop for a competing railroad. The intended railroad never made to Clermont.
Two years before the Orange Belt Railway set its sights on reaching the Gulf coast, an 1884 town plat of Clermont showed a “proposed train route” to run alongside Lake Minneola. The Tavares & Gulf Railroad was at that time struggling to build its line from Tavares to the Gulf Coast via the city of Montverde.
“George W. HULL,” reported one 1885 publication, “settled Clermont in 1883, and by June 1884, had about 150 inhabitants.” Hull, husband of Mary Jane STEWART of the Apopka Stewart family, was one of two partners in Clermont Improvement Company, established in 1884.
By the time Tavares & Gulf (T&G) Railroad reached MINNEOLA, on Lake Minneola, installed track of the Orange Belt Railway prevented the T&G from continuing into Clermont without first getting permission to cross over the existing track. As the Orange Belt also targeted the Gulf coast, permission was denied.
The old Orange Belt Railway right-of-way today serves as a public trail running alongside Lake Minneola.
CitrusLAND is the name I gave to Florida's citrus belt of the 19th century. All 2017 my free Facebook posts and blogs will be telling of old railway depots responsible for shaping today's central Florida.
Two years before the Orange Belt Railway set its sights on reaching the Gulf coast, an 1884 town plat of Clermont showed a “proposed train route” to run alongside Lake Minneola. The Tavares & Gulf Railroad was at that time struggling to build its line from Tavares to the Gulf Coast via the city of Montverde.
“George W. HULL,” reported one 1885 publication, “settled Clermont in 1883, and by June 1884, had about 150 inhabitants.” Hull, husband of Mary Jane STEWART of the Apopka Stewart family, was one of two partners in Clermont Improvement Company, established in 1884.
By the time Tavares & Gulf (T&G) Railroad reached MINNEOLA, on Lake Minneola, installed track of the Orange Belt Railway prevented the T&G from continuing into Clermont without first getting permission to cross over the existing track. As the Orange Belt also targeted the Gulf coast, permission was denied.
The old Orange Belt Railway right-of-way today serves as a public trail running alongside Lake Minneola.
CitrusLAND is the name I gave to Florida's citrus belt of the 19th century. All 2017 my free Facebook posts and blogs will be telling of old railway depots responsible for shaping today's central Florida.