Mount Dora's Early Years and Town Growth Chronicle
Mount Dora Florida formed from north shore settlers in 1883 with 16 families near the landing. The Mount Dora Voice began 1884 and the Advertiser followed. 1910 election named J. P. Donnelly as first mayor. Early town life featured limited services, rising taxes, a 371 population, and roads strawed with pine needles. The Topic newspaper emerged, evolving through owners from 1910s to 1960s, shaping local memory.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
GERI
Lake Dora
Lake County
Florida
Mount Dora
U. S. Post Office Department
George Fisk
Martin
Woodland
Tremain Streets
Fitch
First Methodist
4Th and Alexander
Voice
Chautauqua
R. H. True Moise
R. C. Tremain & Son
Lake House
Lakeside Inn
Bruce House
M. W. Simpson & Co
W. C. Butts
J. A. Franklin
Lewis’ Drug Store
Charles E. Little
Gertrude Thomas
Akron
Ohio
Edw. Smith
McDonald Street
Villa Dora
Fred Graves
Carl Graves
J. P. Donnelly
Orton
Eustis Water, Light and Power Co
Orin Sadler, Jr
D. D. Roseborough
James Simpson
Tavares
5Th Avenue
George
Edith Ediburn Keller
Topic
Jo Bowman
Jerry Phillians
Mount Dora Topic Nostalgia Highlights 1927 Highlights
Readable fragments reveal Mount Dora Topic glimpses from 1927 including bank changes, new gables at lakeside, yacht races, dances, a water purity claim, air travel mentions, and local weddings. Notable names include LaDue Lashar Heim and Jeff Ray Jr with high school graduates listed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mount Dora
New “Gables
Lakeside
Heim
Frank Heath
Chamber of Commerce
Mount Dora-Sanford
Princess Dora
Joe Coffey
L. R. Heim
Florida
Mt. Dora
N. Y
Chevrolet
Merita
Eustis-Tavares Road
E. L. Ferran Co
Eustis
Clara Bow
Mount Dora High School
Frances Eleanor Bloodgood
Evelyn Marie Brown
William Jr
Esther Jane Faulkner
Mary Kathleen Galloway
Margaret Gordon
Charles Edward Jefferson G
Jeff Ray Jr
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
LaVonne la
Thomas Holmes Lashar
Fireproof Ice and Dining Prices Feature Local News
Fragmentary notes mention a third grade class, Florida Cross-State Barge Canal interest, Grandview lunch and dinner prices, a Sunday steak and chicken meal, and a 76 to 11 vote banning slot machines in Florida. Mount Dora High and Sylvan Shores farm construction are noted along with George J. White and George K. End related items from 1937.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dora
Florida
Year 1937 Nostalgia Highlights from The Topic
A snapshot from 1937 recalls Walgreen stores offering 15 cent breakfasts and the Princess Theatre screening Mae West in Go West. The C C Membership Drive nears completion while Bud Wingler and J D Mosteller board prominent roles. Local notes include Lake County’s semi centennial celebration and Barbara Stanwyck’s film debut.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Walgreen's
Princess Theatre
Mae West
Lake County
Jean Harlow
Robert Taylor
Richard Shipes
Moonlight and Shadows
Palm Beach
Yowell-Drew Det
Orlando
Ivey's
Barbara Stanwick
Dwight
Mount Dora News Bits and 1947 Highlights
A retrospective slice notes 1947 topics including Greyhound travel to New Orleans for 9.95, the Theatre staging Cousin Wilbur and his Tennessee Mountaineers, Mount Dora Hardware rename to Rehbaum Hardware, the Topic sale to the Reese family, Mayor J. F. Fortner, the class of 47 23, Watermelon Festival drawing 8000, potential mayoral bid by Al Rehbaum Jr, U F versus Miami reserved seats 1.75, and Bob Hope appearances.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New Orleans
Greyhound
Wilbur
Tennessee Mountaineers
Mount Dora
al Rehbaum Jr
U. of F
Miami
Dherad
Don’t Underestimate Flu From Our Health Column
Health column urges readers to take influenza seriously with vaccination and medical guidance. It advice staying home when ill, warm clothing, fluids, and limiting visitors while recovering. It promotes Chloraseptic for throat pain and invites requests for a free copy of the column from Dr. J. M. Amberson at Murray Hill Station New York.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. M. Amberson
P.O
Murray Hill Station
New York
N.Y
Birth Of A Town And Crosby Ties Mark Local History
W. M. Bill Wells served as executive secretary of the Lake Chamber as Karl Lehmann took the reins in guiding the area during the decade. Bing Crosby featured in Road to Rio while Friday square dances at Mrs Dean's place became a local staple.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bing Crosby
Rio
Mount Dora Year Not Spectacular Yet Notable Notes
The 1957 Mount Dora Topics catalog reflects a mostly quiet year with scattered events. Notables include two special awards to Mrs. Carl S. Graves and Mrs. Vernon Conner becoming president of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, plus local business changes and a pool dedication. Prices and ads show modest retail trends as the town faced a severe freeze impact on crops.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mount Dora
Carl S. Graves
Lakes and Hills
Wm. E. Holler
Albert Crone
Osce
Neil Iatech
Helen Gray
Claire Lapin
Evelyn Peters
A Odom
Mildred Leatherbury
William Hawkins
James Cod- Dick Jackson
Dixie Drive-In
East Town
W. D. Patton
Lake Coleman
Sara McCain
Citrus Culture Corp
Mount Dora High School
W. A. Rucker
Outlook for 1967 Economy and Stock Market
The author argues against fears of a 1967 recession, noting tight money and profit squeeze risks yet highlighting U.S. Steel and GM declines as not universal. He cites other firms like Burlington Industries, Borden, and Merck as weathering cost pressures and suggests recent market drops reflect over-dramatization. A modest rally may be a correction or sign of reversal, with investors urged to seek value and request a pocket booklet from Paine, Webber, Jackson and Box.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sistas
Nam
Lincoss
Paner
U.S. Steel
General Motors
Burlington Indus
Tries
Borden
Merck
Wall Street
Cne
Also Mentioned on This Page
By Billie L. Libby
Den
Oakland Circle
Tavares, Fla
Tareta
Comfor
Tavares c0 Auction Co
Howells
Arches
Pleasant
Oakland
Peninsular Auction Company
Omman
By Jacqueline Bowman
By Jerry Phillians
Grandview
Bob Hope
U. S
U.S
Treasury Department
The
Advertising Council
Pe Oy
M. Amberson
M.D
RCA
Rig and Wagnall's Dictionary
Wall Watt Street
Netiscot
Robert B. Johnson
Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis
Paine, Webber, Jackson and
Box A
Broad Street
Nashville Sound
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!