I was sent to several locations in Orlando to sketch scenes that had been photographed back in the 1920s. In this scene Many trees had been added over the years and the old bandshell was replaced by the now rainbow colored Disney Amphitheater. The original bandshell in the historic photo was designed by Frank Loyd Wright’s secretary, Isabella Roberts who was an architect in her own right. She also designed several buildings in the Orlando area. I found it fascinating that many of the same shadows cut across the scene, 100 years later.
This is the Sperry Fountain which is actually the second fountain on this site. Having sketched this from life and comparing it to the original, I can say it is a fairly close replica. The duck on top of the fountain has a slightly different pose in the original sculpture, and today the green patina had some purple paint stains perhaps from pride day. The original is now
located in Greenwood Cemetery. The fountain is made of wrought iron and
has a duck base and water flows from the duck’s beaks and an acanthus leaf.
In 1883, wealthy Orlando resident Jacob Summerlin the owner of the Summerlin Hotel,
the first City Council president, and financial lender for the
construction of Orlando’s courthouse in the 1870s—donated a large tract
of land to establish a park in Orlando. In 1883, Summerlin came to a
city council meeting and offered the land around the lake on the
condition that it be beautified and turned into a park. He also required
that the city plant trees and put a “driveway” around the lake. To ensure that the city followed through with the stipulations of the
donation, Summerlin put reverter clauses in the contract to allow his
heirs to reclaim the property if the city failed in its obligations. Several years later, his sons threatened to exercise the reverter
clause if the city did not make good on its promise. Today, the park is
still maintained according to his requirement that it be kept
beautiful.
These sketches were done as part of Accidental Historian at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801). The premise of the show is that any one today might be a historian without even realizing it. That could certainly
true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. In this
engaging exhibition, created at the History Center, patrons can learn how
individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today
accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the
future. The show offers a glimpse into some of the museum’s favorite collections that were
created for the now, more than 100 years ago. Put it on your calendar,