The Ocoee Founders' Day Festival Official Website--History

History of Ocoee

Step back in time. Return to the Age of Victoria. Visit downtown Ocoee during the 13^th Annual Ocoee Founders’ Day Festival. Stroll or drive through the area with its turn of the century (19^th and 20^th centuries, that is) homes bordering brick streets and relive early days. This area stretches from State Road 50 on the South to Silver Star Road on the North, West to Bowness Road and East to Starke Lake.

Two unique buildings will be open during the festival: the Withers-Maguire House & Museum and the Ocoee Christian Church. They are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house, which is also a museum, will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Just climbing the front steps of this lovely old Victorian structure onto its expansive veranda will take you back in time. Then upon entering its foyer you will take another step back into the leisurely, slow life of old Florida. The fireplace mantles and the woodwork throughout are of "burl" wood and "heart of pine."

Withers-Maguire House & Museum- Now---------------------Withers Maguire House - 1800's

Many of the rooms of the house have been furnished with either original furnishings or those dating from the end of the 19^th to the beginning of the 20^th centuries. Tours will be conducted for $3 for adults and $1 for students. Proceeds are used to provide more period antiques needed to completely furnish the home.

The Christian Church will be open from 10:30 a.m. It is a lofty structure with its Gothic spire reaching up to the sky. Its interior is also built almost entirely of the beautiful "heart of pine". Over the altar is a magnificent stained glass window. Its panes and artist were brought from Belgium for its installation as a memorial to the church's founder, William Temple Withers, who sadly did not live to see the church's completion. Admission to the church is free. Someone will be there for short tours and to answer your questions.

Also open that day will be the Woman's Club of Ocoee. They invite you to visit their clubhouse which was built during the Depression by the WPA. The clubhouse will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In it you will find memorabilia displayed by club members, many of whom are descendants of the founders of Ocoee. There is also a fire curtain inside the building with advertisements for businesses that operated in Ocoee during the 1930's, complete with their old phone numbers.

Visitors to the City will further enjoy cruising more of the streets of old Ocoee and seeing its may metal roofed structures that are still in use. Of particular note is the oldest structure which is reputed to be the old general store. It stands at 8 Oakland Avenue and is now a residence. Another old structure is located on Floral Street between Cumberland Avenue and the Methodist Church. It is said to be a rare two-story dogtrot house. I, too, predates the Withers/Maguire House. Both of these homes are privately owned, but may soon benefit from a multiple-property listing designation beign sought to help preserve Ocoee's brick streets and old structures.

Other buildings of interest are the old Ocoee Bank building on McKey Street, Chase and Company Citrus Packing House, and Tavares and Gulf Train Depot on Taylor Street.

If you drive south on Bluford Avenue toward State Road 50, you will pass Maine Street. This road is supposed to be all that remains of the original road that once connected Orlando and Winter Garden. It moves back through woods to an area call Minorville. Some of Ocoee's pioneer families still live back in this area.

So come and step back in time for a little while and enjoy all the great history Ocoee and Founders' Day has to offer!

For a further look at Ocoee's history Click Here