LOCKHART HISTORY
"A hardworking and caring community"
The Lockhart Narrative
Written by Artist Lisa Mikler and Commissioner Christine MooreEdited by Kathy MarshThe Late 1800s
Lockhart’s destiny from the beginning is linked to its location in Central Florida. Before the Civil War there was a small, rustic, supply road used to connect U.S. forts that ran through the middle of Lockhart. Soon thereafter, a cross-Florida canal was charted to follow the Little Wekiva River and intersect with the supply road. While that canal never came to pass, the Old Apopka dirt highway passed through the town in the 1860s. Later came the railroads and Dixie Highway connecting Apopka with Orlando. The road has been known by a half dozen names and reflects the history of one of the oldest settled areas of Orange County.
The Native Americans who first lived here belonged to the Acura and Seminole tribes. Chief Cooachoee, the last chief, surrendered to the U.S. Army. You can read about it in the children’s history book, Ahapopka, written by Christine Moore and Lisa Mikler.
The first homesteaders arrived in 1873. Pioneers made their way through a semi-tropical wilderness, stepping off small steam ships in Sanford, and making their way through a semi-tropical wilderness. Mules were used to help with the work because mules were hardier than horses in the warm climate. They built farms along the Little Wekiva River, and cleared the land of pines, oaks, and cabbage palms. I believe the first landowners’ location next to the Little Wekiva River, and the importance of water transportation was why the community was named Wekiva.
Six families by the names Davis, Hill, Isaacson, Rose, Willsey and Wofford were the first to settle here. Mr. Davis started a small saw mill on his lake. Mr. Hill’s land spanned the Orange and Seminole county line. Local lore says that depending which law officers were after Mr. Hill, he would move the county line marker outside the prosecuting jurisdiction. The Isaacsons, Roses, Willseys, and Woffords all ran small vegetable farms and grew citrus.
The dream of growing citrus and vegetable farming lured these and other hardworking families to Wekiva. They also raised cattle, lumbered pine in Long Needle Pine forests, and drew turpentine. Eventually, this growing community changed its name to Lockhart in honor of the Orlando businessman, David Lockhart, who built the large sawmill around 1886 on Lake Lockhart Drive. Job opportunities drew new families and the community grew.
The Internal Improvement Act of Florida (1855) offered railroad companies large tracts of land if they would build railway systems. So investors joined together to build railway lines to transport people and cargo. Orlando attorneys bought land on Lake Eustis to establish a town, and land in Orlando, with a plan of connecting them with the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad. Much of central Florida’s layout grew out of the development boom called the railroad decade of 1880-1890. Lockhart profited by being in the path of this railroad; a spur was built right into the Lockhart Mill.
However, on Dec. 29, 1894, a deep freeze killed the citrus fruit, and the freeze of Feb. 7, 1895 killed the trees. This meant all their past labors to establish groves, and future hopes of income lay in a heap on the ground. This profitable industry which had been producing five million boxes of citrus yearly would not regain full capacity for nearly twenty years. The deep freeze and a closure of the saw mill after an explosion, devastated the Lockhart community. The mill was sold to Mr. Overstreet, farmers sought work elsewhere, formal church services dissolved, and the school lost most of its pupils.
The Early 1900s
In time Lockhart healed and thrived. In 1908, the Overstreet Crate Company reopened the old sawmill. The crate company reemployed three hundred people, and eventually produced one-fifth of all the crates shipped out of Florida.
The Lockhart Baptist Church (1903) first held services in the school and the Methodist Episcopal Church (1911) started in the mill’s freight-moving shed until they could construct their buildings. In 1915, the Federal Dixie Highway was conceived to run from Mackinaw City, Michigan, to Miami, Florida. In Lockhart, this highway was made of brick and called the Orlando-Apopka Road. The Orange County Commission, under Chairman Bob Overstreet, successfully passed a bond issue to fund improvement of the roadway creating great opportunity. Things were really looking up. However, in 1917 another disaster, a fire, completely destroyed the Overstreet mill. It was never rebuilt. This caused yet another exodus of residents from Lockhart, like during the 1894-95 freezes.
Thankfully, new industry soon came to Lockhart to take advantage of the excellent work force, roads, and railway system. Larger citrus enterprises began, and work was found in numerous groves and a juice plant. Local cement and metal fabrication plants also began. Soon small stores, churches, and civic groups began to pop up in Lockhart. Tourists also came to visit bountiful orange groves, enjoy advertised health benefits, fish beautiful lakes, and visit abundant springs. Eventually small hotels opened to folks wintering in Central Florida.
Begun in 1910, the Central Florida Fair annually brought the community together. Celebrating their agricultural bounty, cities competed by displaying their handiwork and produce. They brought out their finest quilts, jams, jellies, and honey. Boys competed in 4H style competitions. Lockhart also boasts one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the state of Florida. The troop met in the Methodist Church and is still actively training young men today.
By the early 1920s, neighborhoods were platted and constructed. Exum’s General Store, opened on Edgewater Drive in 1927. Exum’s was the oldest independently-owned general store in the county. After WW 2, Mr. Exum’s son Carlton took over the family business. The store was a hub in town. So much so, that Carlton Exum was considered the unofficial mayor of Lockhart and Mr. Exum’s sister was the postmistress for 50 years.
Another man who greatly shaped the community in the 1920s was Dr. F B Boyd. He had a love for the elderly and infirm. To care for them he built “Magnolia Homes” in the pocket of land between Lake Gandy and Lake Lockhart. He had wanted to serve many more people, but never reached his goal. He only constructed 5 cottages. By 1940, the homes were closed, but the name “Magnolia Homes” remains as the name of a road in honor of Mr. Boyd.
The Great Depression brought a poor economy, and massive unemployment consumed what had been normal life in Lockhart. However, to help, a new brick school was built in 1936. This was possible through President Franklin Roosevelt’s Work Progress Administration (WPA). This was the third school building in Lockhart. The very first one was called Wekiva School.
Meantime Lockhart’s own Elaine Mogelvang, who met with renowned pilot Amelia Earhart, gained fame as one of only 117 licensed women pilots in the U.S. She was one of 99 women who attended the meeting called by Amelia Earhart. They were named the Florida 99’ers after that by the famous aviator Earhart – all this when few women were pilots. Mrs. Mogelvang regularly served Central Florida as a licensed pilot, and competed in the annual international air races.
To better protect the growing community, a volunteer fire department started in 1958. The Lions Club raised money for the fire truck and a firehouse. This club was full of spirit and camaraderie hosting a yearly fall festival, Christmas celebration, and Easter egg hunt for the children in town. Club members hosted movies and popcorn, ice cream socials, and teen Friday night dances. Fish fries, corn boils, and BBQs were fun social events, but also provided financial support for all community activities in Lockhart.
The 1950s through The 2000s
These mid-century years birthed many of the companies still operating in Lockhart: Finfrock, Cook’s Pressure Treated Lumber (now Outdoor Living Supplies), Rinker (now CEMEX), and Brownie’s Septic and Plumbing. Shortly to follow were Aagaard-Juergensen, Fields Appliance Service, H & H, Vickers Metal Works, Halliday Products, A.C.T (Accelerated Combustion Technologies), Andrea’s Cheesecake, and Margie’s Specialties. Other industries/employers which are not pictured include Garner Door & Windows, Beaver Door & Trim, Energy Air, Gencor, and Florida CAT.
Interestingly, many of Lockhart’s businesses have to do with construction. The early lumber mills began a tradition of construction businesses in town. Whether wood, cement, or metal, many industries which started in Lockhart have had worldwide impact.
In 1998, another disaster, a natural rain event caused harm in Riverside Acres. A large pipe which channeled the river under the neighborhood collapsed. A torrent of water swept away whatever it could carry with it. As always, Lockhart residents regrouped, reinvested, and rebuilt something useful out of the rubble. Riverside Acres Park, bordered by the Little Wekiva, opened to serve children, walkers, and pet owners alike.
The Early 2000s
Telling the history of Lockhart through a mural has at its foundation the hope of reinvigorating Lockhart. Commissioner Christine Moore and artist Lisa Mikler hope that with an understanding of the history of Lockhart, a stronger sense of place will join residents together into mutual action and improved quality of life.
The future looks bright for Lockhart. Progress is being made to update the infrastructure on Edgewater Drive, and planning is taking place to create a revitalized downtown. The Coast to Coast Trail opens in a few years bringing new pedestrian and bicycle traffic to the Beggs/Edgewater Drive corridor.
So many industries and employment opportunities already exist. Great civic, cultural, and educational institutions abound for training and strengthening the people. A beautiful topography can be found with lakes, hills, springs, and mature oak trees.
How Did This All Happen?
Commissioner Christine Moore and her team raised the money from local businesses as well as residents to have this mural painted. The community guided the story and what was to be included in the mural. Special thanks to the People of Lockhart group and dedicated “sitters” who daily kept artist Lisa Mikler safe. And to the many residents who simply came by to help paint or share an encouraging word, this was how much of the history was collected.
The culmination of the whole endeavor was a dedication held on February 29, 2020. Hundreds of Lockhartians attended along with many luminaries from federal, state, and county government and the school board. It was a happy time, just a mere few weeks before the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bibliography
Local residents:
The Isaacson Family (Homestead family)
The Juergensen Family (Homestead family)
Fred Lynn
Ann Sapp
Butch Kelly
Dr. Carlton Exum
Books:
CITRUS LAND: Ghost Towns and Phantom Trains by Richard Lee Cronin
ORLANDO : A centennial history : Vol. 1 : Pioneer era and the first fifty years of incorporation, 1821 to 1925 by Eve Bacon.
Internet:
Florida Memory
People of Lockhart Community Association
Newspapers:
The Orlando Sentinel articles: “Ice and Fire”, 9/24/1995 by Mark Andrews
Article from Orlando Sentinel “On the Town” by Jean Yothers, date unknown
Various obituaries from Orlando Sentinel
The Lockhart Booster, Vol. 1, Number 3, January 24, 1949
For more information on the Lockhart Community History Mural, contact:
Orange County Commissioner District 2 Christine Moore
Christine.moore@ocfl.net and District2@ocfl.net or 407.836.5850