orlando Florida history

Orlando 1924

ORLANDO HISTORY BIT: The 1920's Building Boom.

Orlando, like many cities in Florida had a remarkable land boom in the 1920s, prior to the Great Depression. Not only did Orlando experience a significant jump in population and the creation of several large residential areas, the business district grew taller and more massive as larger buildings were built year after year.

TOP LEFT: Orange Avenue looking south showing the intersection of Central Boulevard.

On the left side (from front to back) is the State Bank of Orlando, the Yowell-Duckworth Store and the tower of the McCrory Building. On the right is the San Juan Hotel, as well as the Dickson-Ives and Metcalf buildings. From a contemporary photograph, circa 1924-26 (it cannot be any earlier because both the Dickson-Ives and Metcalf buildings were completed in 1924).

BOTTOM LEFT: Central Boulevard looking west from Main Street.

In the background on the left side is the Yowell-Duckworth Store. It appears that its additional fifth floor is being added. This was supposed to have happened in 1919 (see above image for the completed addition), but that would have been before the State Bank Building was built in 1923. It is difficult to understand exactly what story these two images tell. Either a date is incorrect, or the construction on the Yowell-Duckworth Store is a different construction from the 5th floor addition. From a contemporary photograph, c. 1924.

State Bank Building

1 North Orange Avenue

Constructed: 1923-1924

Original Owner: State Bank of Orlando & Trust Company

Architect: W. L. Stoddart (from New York), built by the A. Bentley Company

Style: 20th Century Commercial with Neo-Classical elements

Businesses: (1924-1930) State Bank of Orlando, (1930-1960) Florida Bank at Orlando, In the mid-1990s it housed the Orange County jury duty offices and until 2000 the Orange County Health Department and Risk Management Offices. Currently houses the Florida A&M University offices of the new F.A.M. U. Law School that will be opening in Orlando in the near future.

Current owner: Orange County Government

ABOVE: State Bank Building - close up of first floor, 2001.

RIGHT: State Bank Building - close up crest over the entrance, 2001.

ABOVE: State Bank Building, 2001

LEFT: State Bank of Orlando check from 1905.

Orlando Hotel

135 West Church Street

Constructed: 1924

Original Owner: Orlando Hotel Constructed by the J.C. Hanner Company

Style: 20th Century Commercial with Spanish elements

Businesses: (1972-present) nightclub/bar - part of the Church Street Station entertainment complex, which has been recently re-opened by new owners who are in the process of determining what will be done with the Church Street Station property overall. Currently houses the Improv Comedy Club.

Current owner: F F Station LLC

ABOVE: Orlando Hotel, 2002

Orlando 1924

Written by Thomas E. Cook.