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See above picture for More info on our Main picture—this is from Jeannie Taylor’s Gallery https://www.jtfolkart.com/—but more of that later.

 

 

Yesterday I had a lovely luncheon with some friends and we began to talk about some of the local towns that I tend to wander in and about and the history and the reasons I go there and why they might too and I thought wait–maybe my blog readers would be interested in the facts, fiction and adventure of smaller town central Florida.

 

 

 

This weekend (or rather last–12/2 –was for the Home Show that have been going on for well over 20 years and features tours of local homes, as well as businesses offering themed displays (this year they did tablescapes–next picture is from the gallery area of the visitor’s center also downtown on First Ave http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com/) and even a new bed and breakfast this year.  It’s a fun way to see the neighborhoods and meet the people and if you live in the area and haven’t gone yet I recommend you try it–if you already have I would expect you to plan on repeating the experience next year.

 

 

 

 

During the Seminole Wars of the 1830’s, the area was the site of an U.S. Army post name Fort Mellon. As settlers moved into the area, the town of Mellonville was established. With the advent of commercial steamboat service, the town became a distribution point for goods essential for the growth of Central Florida. When Orange County was created in 1845, Mellonville became the county seat.    http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend your first stop is the Visitor’s Center which includes a web site:  http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com/ .    The site has rediscovering Sanford for those of you who haven’t been there in awhile–but it’s fun for those who never been there too.  There a map of the new downtown Trolley (which runs along First Street as well as the water front) as well as a schedule for same http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=1151

 

 

Oh and while the Center is on the north west corner of First St and Palmetto Ave there is a huge free parking lot on the north east corner right across the street from it.  So I would recommend that when you arrive in the city it’s your first stop.

 

 

 

There are multiple pamphlets (free)&  booklets on the area, town and lots more including most of menus for most, if not all the local restaurants.  There’s also a gift shop (see above picture) with lots of local items to take home.  http://www.sanfordwelcomecenter.com/gift-shop.html    

In addition there is a gallery area where there are all manner of displays and shows through out the year.  Last weekend it feature the tablescapes for the Home Tour but through the year there are showings of paintings and other art and crafts free of charge….The staff there is very helpful and now includes a new office for tourism in the area (see picture below) and last (especially if you’re in need) but not least public bathrooms.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE THIS IS THE`BUILDING THE WELCOME CENTER IS IN:

The U.S. Post Office Building was built in 1917 by Algernon Blair of Montgomery, Alabama with James Wetmore serving as the supervising architect. The Post Office opened for business August 1, 1918. It is typical of buildings constructed by the U.S. Government up through the 1930’s. When the new Post Office was finished in 1962, only two blocks away, the building became the City Library for Sanford, and in 1975 it became part of the Seminole County library system.  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMM99A_Historic_Sanford_Welcome_Center_Sanford_FL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You just have to cross the street to see my main man LOUIE…..HE is the best dog ever and loves nothing better than a good pet or scratch—and even though he’s a French Bull dog his English is fantastic

 

 

 

But let me explain:  Louie is Greeter in Chief as well as Pet Manager at Jeannie Taylors Folk Art Gallery  which was doing the Holiday Trunk Show with Darlene Allen and Melissa Menzer on the Sat. I was there.  But Jeannie’s gallery does all manner of seasonal and folk art events thru the year:  https://www.jtfolkart.com/schedule-of-events/

 

 

The main area is full of memorabilia that oldies like me remember` from their jaded past which are lots of fun (see the last picture above–) and you got to check out her buy a piece of art from a vending machine–too wild.  She also was featured on the Home Tour for her room full of tablescapes–see one in picture  below—Jeannie’s is a fun gallery that makes you comfortable and it’s a great place to  get into the season –her staff always talks with me and makes you feel comfortable and you can take your and see everything–making for truly great experience.  The main picture is from a whole group of  hand made ornaments and other  Christmas displays she featured in one of her two rear gallery…as well as the Tablescape sets.

 

 

But this is also the location of The Gallery on First 6 separate rooms each leased by a separate artist and you can often catch them in doing everything from art work to talking with visitors and possible buyers.  You can buy their offerings from the main desk if they’re not in, but they’re open to your view and appreciation.  It’s a fun alternative to a more conventional gallery and one I think you might enjoy ALOT.  I love the items decorating the one pictured below—more for those Oldies But Goodies like me.

 

 

 

After the Indian battles were over, a large number of orange groves were established. In 1870, General Henry Shelton Sanford purchased a vast acreage and laid out the city of Sanford. The city was incorporated in 1877.

https://www.citytowninfo.com/places/florida/sanford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want something different to do  try a boat tour that goes along the St. Johns from Sanford’s downtown docks:  The St. John River Ship Company goes out regularly, the river is beautiful and only one of two major rivers in the world (the other being the Nile in Egypt) that flows north and the Ship which is a old style paddlewheeler, even offers special Thanksgiving cruises with a wonderful Turkey dinner—but it books fast so….http://www.stjohnsrivershipco.com/

 

 

Or learn more about Sanford at the Sanford Museum also on First Street http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=108  which give you information on the town and its founder among other things of local interest and artifacts.

 

 

 

and for adults only there’s Pub Social Mixers and Public Sunday Funday Brunch Tours with Limo Cycle Tours ` https://limocycle.com/public-tours/

this 3rd one I haven’t tried but I’ve seen them peddling about town–look interesting.

 

 

 

    In September 1887, a baker on First Street caught fire. The blaze spread rapidly through the wooden buildings on the east side of town until stopped by the volunteer fire department. When the town was rebuilt, the new structures were made of brick.

http://sanfordhistory.tripod.com/a-brief-history-walking-tour-of-sanford.html#

 

 

 

 

 

 

For some shopping there’s Magpie’s A self described general store which is not really—but it does have all manner of things to see and of course buy and it’s just a few steps east of Jeannie’s on First street.  https://www.facebook.com/MagpiesModernGeneral/

 

 

Maya Books and Music https://www.facebook.com/Maya-Books-and-Music-152704731576/  is also on Main Street and is a store packed full with books on all manners of topics for you to view and hopefully take home and read and there a separate music section in the back.  It’s on the same block as Jeannie’s and past The Willow Tree https://hollerbachs.com/ to the west of both of those shops–in fact the Willow Tree enlarged and Maya was moved to this corner store when it did so.

 

 

and check out this site or some additional places to shop in this fun small town America   http://sanford365.com/shop-local-sanford/

 

 

 

After the citrus freezes of the 1890s, vegetables, especially celery, became important. Sanford’s modern economy is based on tourism and industry, including high technology.  https://www.britannica.com/place/Sanford    

 

 

 

 

Next Blog I’ll look at eating and drinking in Sanford as well as things of interest outside the main down town area.  So check back soon.

Sanford not only developed citrus groves, but took pride in cultivating practically every fruit-bearing tree of the tropics. For that, he relied on his Swedish head gardener, I.E. Wenström, and botanist Alfred Löfgren. For his head horticulturist, he turned again to Sweden, hiring Dr. Carl Leonard Vihlén of the University of Uppsala, whom the Florida Citrus Manual credits with developing the Valencia orange, the basis for today’s juice industry.

http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/south/971/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All pictures in today’s blog were taken in Sanford.