Mt. Dora Historical Facts
It’s been said that the Donnelly House, Mount Dora’s unofficial symbol, is the most photographed house in Central Florida. The Donnelly House was built in 1893 by John Phillip Donnelly for his wife, Annie.
———
When CV Griffin took over William Howey’s failed empire in 1940, he lured prospective buyers to town with red-carpet treatment and offered tours complete with an eight-day package that included transportation, fish fries, cocktail parties, carriage rides, golf, fishing, horseback riding and lake cruises. The cost? Only $106.75 a person. Of course, that meant sharing a bathroom with an adjoining room. Private baths went for $134.75.
———
A post office was established at Leesburg on May 15, 1871.
———
The J. Ray Arnold Lumber Mill in Groveland was destroyed by fire on May 9, 1925. Most of the lumber in the yard awaiting shipment was lost, and for a while, the entire town was endangered by the flames.