In the late 1800's many English settlers came to central Florida to engage in the citrus industry. Envisioning a mission church to reach the growing English community, two retired British Army officers raised $1,800 to construct this Episcopalian church in the Conway area of Orange County, Florida. The original location included a nearby cemetery on this site. The first service of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church was held on June 2, 1889.

The Great Freeze of 1895 ruined many English citrus growers. As they left the area, local churches declined and some were abandoned. During the Depression, Holy Trinity was deconsecrated, used for a local chamber of commerce, and later sold to a Conway Methodist Church in 1938.

Here's where Casselberry's history comes in...

In 1947, Hibbard Casselberry said, "You can't have a real town unless you have a church." What he wanted on a personal level was a place to marry Miss Martha Norris. The families in town had been gathering in private homes. The roof on the Community House needed too much repair.

Hibbard looked for a building he could move, as was common for him to do during World War II when building supplies were scarce.

The little Episcopal church was one of Central Florida's oldest structures, crafted of 200 year-old pine, with Gothic arched windows, a copper "onion skin" dome, pine floors, a cathedral ceiling, and Byzantine carvings on the doors. He wanted to buy this church and move it to Casselberry, but the costs to move it in its fragile condition was too great in the post-World War II economy.

Hibbard decided that a new church building should be built in Casselberry. He gave his highest and best land on Highway 17-92, at Piney Ridge Road, to his children, Hibbard, Jr, Leonard, and Molly, and had them donate the land. It was one of his "teaching by doing" parenting lessons. Then Hibbard called his friend Gamble Rogers design the small chapel that is today.

Fast forward 1959 to Fern Park as we know it today. An Eastern Orthodox congregation moved the church to Fern Park (as we know it today, south of Highway 436) "placing it on the shores of Lake Kathryn."

WHAT lake? Many people who have lived here for years will remember this church. The historic marker at its current location states it was on Lake Kathryn.

My guess is that the name of the lake (Lake Kathryn) that the church sat on was what Lake of the Woods is now, and that developer changed the name.

In October of 1989, the church was purchased by the First Baptist Orlando member Art Williams and family in memory of wife and mother Marie who had dreamed of a small prayer chapel for her church. It was moved to the First Baptist property in November 1989, refurbished, and dedicated on September 8, 1991.

Most of this history comes from the historic marker at First Baptist Orlando. Way to go, Art Williams and family! You saved a true gem.

It’s the early 1950s and in Casselberry, Florida, a municipal tax-free town, the town is not in debt. But money’s always a problem. Hibbard Casselberry, as its founder, knew when it was incorporated, finances would be tight. The plan was for everyone to contribute as they could to its success. Owning most of the land and the biggest business he knew the lion’s share of expenses would be his.

In the early days of the town, Hibbard had installed police and fire phones in homes that he rented out. However, by 1950, it was not necessary as phone service was now more available. He wrote to Sam Gerson, that he was having the phone taken out. “They charge me $8 a piece for those phones, and I couldn’t stand it any longer. This is just a note to tell you what’s happened when you find yours gone.”

For a while, Casselberry was well known as a speed trap. It was, but with good reason. The most dangerous thing you could do in town was cross the highway. everyone coming through town seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere else, and there were no stop lights to run.

Being a small tax-free town there was no money in the budget to buy radar equipment. And the town was too small for one police officer to track a speeder with his car. Instead, the officer would write tickets for reckless driving, which had to be paid to the officer, unless the offender lived in Seminole County.

One woman wrote to the newspaper, “So, take it from me, when you are motoring along the million dollar highway, 17-92, unless you have an extra $10.00 bill with you, don’t drive through the tax-free city of Casselberry.”

After the aldermen had raised enough money from fines, they bought the first stop light.

In 1954, another problem in town was the lack of street lights. A source of income to the town was cigarette tax that was collected by the state. If a citizen of Casselberry bought a pack of cigarettes in another town, that town would benefit.

Hibbard figured that if people were more aware of this they would buy their cigarettes in town. To add a personal benefit, Hibbard had signs made up that said, “Buy Cigarettes in town and get a street light here.” Then he called his son Len and had them posted on where the lights would be installed.

As a master at marketing, follow up was always important to Hibbard. He wrote to Alderman Joe Laird and praised him for his work. “You have done an excellent job in stimulating the sales of cigarettes in Casselberry.”

He suggested Laird go to the local stores and see how many packs they had sold. “It will give us something to check back against our check from the Secretary of State. You would be an excellent person to do this because you have no axe to grind and you would not be a competitor to them.”

As the town grew, the biggest problem was keeping the roads graded. A road was a “popular subscription improvement,” meaning got paved when the majority of property owners signed up to pay for it.

Only when the road was nearly complete did Hibbard write to them and ask for money. He also offered to pay for any overage in the cost. If a property owner could not afford the terms, Hibbard would write to an out of state property owner in the same area being paved. As he explained, “By helping this owner improve their property you will being improving the value of your lot.”

Hibbard got the point across to Mr. Hegg in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1956. In a letter, he thanked him for his spirit of cooperation.

“I find it most evident in the past paragraph where you say that if we can get a spirit of cooperation in the road building business and the general town improvement business, it will be worth lots more than the money spent. If the cost runs a little more or a little less then it will not be much of a consequence.”

And that’s how things get done in the Tax Free Town of Casselberry.

In October 1940, Mayor Hibbard Casselberry thinks about doing some grassroots advertising. Because there’re only a few dozen people in town, he starts his campaign with a heartfelt letter addressed to the newly minted Casselberry residents. In it, he paints a vivid picture of his grand visions for the town.

He pledges to improve the old community house, transforming it into a hub for social gatherings and events. He speaks passionately about his plans to turn the Azalea Gardens into a sprawling twenty-acre tropical paradise.

These ambitious ideas are aimed to captivate their imaginations and ignite their enthusiasm for their newfound home.

Recognizing the importance of the new volunteer fire department, he gives credit to all of the men who have volunteered to serve when needed. It’s an important job because of the amount of heavily wooded acres and the predominance of wooden homes. He promises to install standard fire hose connections near each house his company owns. He’ll pay the cost to install additional fire hydrants if any resident wants to have one near their home. The domestic water system has good water from a reliable deep well, and the State Inspectors say it’s “good.”

Next, he introduces the businesses in Casselberry and encourages their cooperation in building the town. William Drake, an insurance agent, finds himself in the spotlight, alongside the Colles, renowned Azalea growers, and the Smiths, known throughout the southern region for their Calla Lilies. The Simpsons, who run the Rustic Cabin Camp, also receive well-deserved recognition.

Hibbard’s feeling pretty good about his letter and hopes it will strengthen the local economy. If it really works, it might foster a sense of unity among its residents.

Then he goes a bit too far. His belief in supporting the businesses don’t end at the town limits. In an effort to bridge the gap between Casselberry and the neighboring Fern Park, he embarks on a campaign to bring everyone together. He offers free and friendly advertising for those living just outside the town, and he’s willing to highlight their businesses and attractions. He warmly mentions Mrs. Barnett's charming Gift Shop, “nestled nearby and worthy of a visit.”

This neighborly gesture is only weeks after the incorporation of Casselberry, so the political landscape is still touchy. So, Hibbard carefully addressed his letter to the "Residents of Casselberry." He intends to attach an additional card for when it’s sent to residents outside the town.

Just Hibbard’s bad luck, the card doesn’t get attached. He gets on the ball and writes another letter to the neighboring homeowners and businesses, clarifying the situation. He wasn’t implying that they were part of Casselberry, and he apologizes for any misunderstanding it caused by the “unintended confusion.”

The damage is done, however, and it furthers Hibbard’s reputation as a dictator only out to grab their land. It’s times like these that probably lead to one of his favorite sayings: “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Note: The card exists, but it’s not in the file at the time of this post.