Kraft Azalea Garden

Enjoy a lazy summer day sitting on a bench at Kraft Azalea Garden along Lake Maitland. A monument dedicated to Leonard J. Hackney creator of Azalea Garden. Kenneth H. and Elizabeth P. Kraft donated the Exedra Monument to Winter Park.

Thousands of Azaleas bloom between January and March, huge Cypress trees and a Banyan tree native to India in the 5.2-acre park. A perfect way to pass the time watching the Great Egret during nesting season in the spring.

Watch people skiing, fishing, sightseers on boats and standup paddle boarding or you can sit on the dock, admire the beautiful scenery, or listen to the waves made by the boats break along the shore. Phone numbers on the website to schedule an event.

Mount Dora History Museum

 

 

 

 

Walk down Royellou Lane, a narrow one-way street to the Mount Dora History Museum. Mount Dora originally named Royellou after Ross Tremain, the first postmaster’s three children Roy, Ella, and Louis. The museum originally housed a firehouse and police station. A hand drawn hose cart on display.

The police station had a jail that housed prisoners from 1923 until 1969. Marty, our museum guide told us that during the only breakout at the jail the inmate couldn’t take the miserable conditions, so he broke out by removing bricks out of the wall. He left word that he would return for his trial.

 

 

 

Photographs of early Mount Dora. Donnelly Street in 1916, “The Tower” home of Warren Butler, The Risley Home in 1892, The Methodist and Congregational Churches in the mid-1880s. The life and portrait of J.P. Donnelly, the first mayor of Mount Dora. An early kitchen that includes a Hoosier cabinet popular in the early part of the 20^th century and a kitchen stove. Period furniture includes a piano, highchair and a wood burning stove.

I learned a great deal about the early settlers of Mount Dora. Free entrance to the museum, donations accepted.