The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-02-20

SUBDIVISION Is
CONSIDERED AN OLD
TERM FOR FLORIDA
FAMOUS SYNONYM IN DAILY
USE SAID TO DATE BACK TO
YEAR 1851 WHEN WINTER
PARK WAS SUB-DIvIDED

ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 20.-In an
article appearing in the Orlando
Morning Sentinel, in its special edi-
ton, A. J. Hanna, editor of the Ro.-
Inns Record, relates that Winter Park
was the first subdivision in the state
of Florida and tells of the founding
of Rollins College, an occasion which
is now being celebrated in eonjunc-
ton with the celebration of the
founding of the city of Winter Park.
The Morning Sentinel quotes Mr..
Hanna as follows:
s.Many people entertain the erron-
eous idea that subdivision, that
nationally famous synonym for Flor
ida. is a term which has only recently
been used with meaning in.this state.
It's widespread popularity, of course,
has been established within the past
few years, but as far back as 1881
there was subdivision in Florida.
Likewise, uniformed writer's have
failed to mention the educational and
cultural background of Florida, which
actually had its birth with the be-
ginning of the development move
men, just as in the settlement of
New England, the pioneers turned to
the founding of churches and schools.
"In 1881, Lcring Chase. of Chi
cago, and Oliver E. Chapman. OF
Canton, Mass, purchased tract of
600 acres of land bordering on Lakes
Virginia, 0sceola and Maitland. In
February, 1885, the legislature of
Florida granted a charter to the
Winter Park Company, whose stock
holders consisted of A..W. Rollins. ".
c. Gonstock, F. w. Lyman, Franklin
Fairbanks, F. G. Webster, Loring
Chase, j. w. Welborne and Is others,
many of whom attracted by the beau
ties of the region had already estab-
lished winter homes in the vicinity.
about the time that this tract be-
came an incorporated town, Mis-:
Lucy A. Cross, graduate of 0berlin
College, who had taught at Welles-i
lev and who had come to Florida to
pioneer in the field of education, saw
the possibilities for a Florida college.
among those who made her dream
come true was DIR. E. P. Hook, who
preached a sermon in the town hall
on January Is, 1884, and made an
appeal for the establishment of a col
lege. At the annual meeting of the
General Congregational Association
of Florida held that year it was voted
unanimously to establish first class
college in Florida. Mr. Rollins gave
$50, 900 for this purpose and total
of $4,000 was raised which insur-
ed the founding of Rollins College.
aIn the fall of 1885 Rollins Col
lege opened its doors, with President
E. P. Hook in charge. The college
has for Al years strived to carry out
the objects for which it was founded,
namely, TO establish and forever
maintain an institution of Christian
learning; to promote the general i'm
terests of education;, to qualify its
students to engage in the learned pro-
LESSONS or other employments OF
society, and to discharge honorably
and usefully the various duties OF
life"
To-day the influence of Rollins Col
lege extends throughout the state and
to many parts of the country, where
her alumni are spread Each year
during the third week in February
these graduates return to the campus
to Join the officials of the college and
citizens of Winter Park in observing
Founders Week. series of events
planned to celebrate the founding of
Rollins College.