Instructions:
1....Print this file.
2....At its end, click on "rules" to see a copy of the trail rules, print it, and then click where indicated at the end of the 3-page rules and patch order form to get back to the list of Florida trails.
3....If you want a hand-drawn map showing the locations of all of the sites, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Steve Rajtar, 1614 Bimini Dr., Orlando, FL 32806.
4....Hike the trail and order whatever patches you like (optional).
WARNING - This trail may pass through one or more neighborhoods which, although full of history, may now be unsafe for individuals on foot, or which may make you feel unsafe there. Hikers have been approached by individuals who have asked for handouts or who have inquired (not always in a friendly manner) why the hikers are in their neighborhood. Drugs and other inappropriate items have been found by hikers in some neighborhoods. It is suggested that you drive the hike routes first to see if you will feel comfortable walking them and, if you don't think it's a good place for you walk, you might want to consider (1) traveling with a large group, (2) doing the route on bicycles, or (3) choosing another hike route. The degree of comfort will vary with the individual and with the time and season of the hike, so you need to make the determination using your best judgment. If you hike the trail, you accept all risks involved.
This section of shoreline, formerly called the Jaycee Public Beach, was donated as a park by Clermont Mayor C.O. Roe in 1917.
Clermont's first motel was the Skyline, located close to the city limits. It was built in 1952 by A.W. Thacker, who chose Clermont for his retirement home. The small concrete block structure was torn down about 50 years later and replaced by a gas station and convenience store.
A.W. Thacker bought this hill and formed the Florida Towers Corporation. In June of 1955, construction began on the Citrus Tower. It had its official opening 13 months later.
The tower is 26 feet square and contains 149,000 pounds of reinforcing steel and 50 tons of concrete. Its top is 200 feet above the ground and 543 feet above sea level, providing a view of over 2000 square miles. Before severe freezes in the early 1980s, most of that view was of citrus trees. The tower was designed to withstand winds of up to 190 miles per hour.
An early settler in Mohawk was Mr. Palmer, who in 1882 sold his land to Charles H. Stokes of Lee Center, New York. Stokes built a home, and in it was the Mohawk post office. In about 1900 expanded it into a hunting and fishing lodge, known as the Jolly Palms.
George W. Hull from Canada, and Ralph C. Humiston from the Chicago area, were the leading individuals in founding Minneola. In 1882, Hull acquired 120 acres bordering Lake Afton, now known as Jack's Lake, located to the south of here over the ridge. A post office was set up in Hull's home in 1883, with him as the postmaster.
Hull acquired 120 acres from the Parish homestead, added 80 acres, and laid out the town. He completed his survey and map in 1884, and named it Minneola. He renamed Cow House Lake as Lake Minneola.
The Hulls moved south of Clermont in 1890 to Monte Vista on Lake Nellie. He served as postmaster there and had a store on what is now Oswalt Rd. The Hulls donated land for the Monte Vista Baptist Church, cemetery and school.
Ralph C. Humiston donated the land for this cemetery in 1884. The entrance gate was dedicated in his honor in 1953 by the Minneola Progressivites.
Near here was the homestead of Minneola's first settlers, Capt. William A. Smith and wife, Sylvania, known as Uncle Bily and Aunt Sally, and her aunt Elizabeth Parish. They arrived here from Georgia following the Civil War. He built a log cabin on the north shore of Plum Lake, also known as Lake Juniata or Stokes' Lake. Later, they moved to the north shore of Cow House Lake, now known as Lake Minneola.
This school was built in 1964. Howard Wade served as its first principal.
Forty-five charter members started this church in the town Community Building on November 13, 1955, with Rev. Cody Johnson as the first pastor. The first portion of the church building was completed here on December 23, 1956. An addition was dedicated exactly five years later.
A restaurant owned by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Matz opened here in the early 1950s. It was later remodeled into a real estate office.
This restaurant was started by Jack Underwood in the early 1950s.
In the early 1950s, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mann established the Minneola Gift Shop and Express Shippers on that corner. It was torn down and replaced in about 2000.
Minneola incorporated in December of 1925, with A.A. Pitt as its first mayor. The name of the town came from an Indian phrase meaning "many waters".
The first residence was built by Dr. W.M. Reeves, the town's first physician, who had arrived in 1882. He first homesteaded 160 acres east of Lake Louise, south of Clermont, and then moved to Minneola.
The first school in Minneola was established near the railroad in 1885, with Mrs. Summerall as its first teacher. This building was later erected at this site and served as a school until Clermont and Minneola schools were considered in 1915. It was later converted into a residence with a high peaked roof with interesting shingle detail.
In 1904, W.T. and Laura Heddon came to Minneola from Dowajiac, Michigan. Their family manufactured fishing tackle, and for years they tested their products in the lakes of Central Florida. Their first home was built in 1909, and the second in 1915 was at the location. Mr. Heddon built the town's first public water system and served as mayor from 1933 to 1937.
In 1880, Cyrus Henry Wilson and his wife, Lida, arrived here. They acquired and developed this land near the Palatlakaha River with a flourishing citrus grove. A bridge, island and small lake near here still bear the Wilson name. When the railroads arrived in the area, Wilson built a packing house on the south shore of this lake, and Wilson's small steamboat took the fruit from here to the packing house.
In 1926, this country club was established on land that had previously belonged to Cyrus Wilson, and later by Ella M. Johnston. The clubhouse was a large frame two-story many-gabled building with 12-foot verandas on all four side.
The property was sold in 1934 to W. Hal Adkinson, who drastically remodeled the clubhouse for his family home. He increased his grove holdings to 400 acres, which he named Ja-lar-my for his children, James, Larry and Myra. Later, Adkinson lined the road along the north shore of Lake Minneola and around the estate with 1300 palm trees.
Adkinson died in 1954, and the residence portion of the property was sold in 1976. It is now called Clairview Groves.
The Minneola Methodist Church was first built in the northeast part of Minneola in 1888, and was used both as a church and a school until a regular school building was erected. In April of 1894, A.K. Rowan donated this site and paid to have the building moved onto it. It was then dedicated as the Methodist Episcopal Church, North.
In 1925, the building was acquired by the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. The original building was torn down and a new one was erected in 1976-78.
Robert Foley built the first store in Minneola in 1884. Stark Wilson followed shortly thereafter with a store on this site.
To the south of this site later were the post office, then the P.K. Garage, and to the south of that in 1912, Campbell's Store was built. It burned down in 1945.
Robert and Elizabeth Straker arrived in Minneola in 1884. Robert died in a mill accident, and Elizabeth operated the commissary for the lumber people. She then built and operated a boarding house for mill workers, adding several additions. The Straker House became known for comfort and good food. It burned down in about 1912, and was replaced with the present structure. A lumber mill and train station were nearby.
After the Depression, the lodge was remodeled into apartments, and it was operated without overnight guests from 1964 until 1980. Then, Steve and Shari Parrish axquired it and restored a Victorian atmosphere. It opened in 1990 as the Lake Minneola Inn, a bed and breakfast establishment. It features wraparound porches on both the first and second floors and elaborate shingle work.
This three-unit business block was built by J.O. Foulk in 1928-29.
Approximately here were located two railroad depots, one on each side of Main Ave. At this point, the railroad tracks ran from the southwest to the northeast.
Clermont: Gem of the Hills, by Miriam W. Johnson and Rosemary Y. Young (Rose Printing Company, Inc. 1984)
Guide to the Small and Historic Lodgings of Florida, by Herbert L. Hiller (Pineapple Press, Inc. 1991)
Lake County, Florida: A Pictorial History, by Emmett Peter, Jr. (The Donning Company 1994)
Memories of Mount Dora and Lake County, by David Edgerton (1983)
Through Schoolhouse Doors: A History of Lake County Schools, by The Lake County Retired Teachers Association (Rose Printing Co., Inc. 1982)
Click here for a copy of the trail rules.