Pine Castle Historical Society, Inc.

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Pine Castle Historical Society, Inc.

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Historical Society for the "Greater Pine Castle" area, including Belle Isle, Conway, Edgewood, and South Orlando. FDACS Registration #: CH51594
(1)

Mission: Connect the Past to the Future, Preserve Pine Castle History, and Inspire the Community. Preserving our Pine Castle heritage in Orange County, Florida! A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website is: https://fdacs.gov and the toll-free number is 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352).

10/08/2026

It’s nearly here! Pull up a chair on the lawn at Bagshaw Park with us on October 17th for the Pine Castle Historical Society's annual BBQ, B**r & Bluegrass!

Get your tickets today at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/annual-gala-7180

Every seat filled helps the Society keep Pine Castle's history alive.

09/18/2026

Only a few days left until our next quarterly meeting, this Sunday (Sept. 10) at 4:00 PM.

Join us at 5901 S Orange Ave, Orlando, for a special presentation on the history of the Lancaster House by Billy Morgan, chairman of the Pine Castle Pioneer Days.

Refreshments provided. All are welcome!

09/09/2026

Are you ready for a fantastic time? Pull up a chair on the lawn at Bagshaw Park with us on October 17th for the Pine Castle Historical Society's annual BBQ, B**r & Bluegrass!

Fish on Fire is running the pits. Runabout Brewing pours the craft b**r, Roque Pub handles the w**e, and Sandy Back Porch Band plays until the sun is long gone. DanceIt Studio will have you line dancing whether you planned on it or not.

Raffle baskets, a cake walk, and a 50/50 round out the night, and your ticket covers all of it. Every seat filled helps the Society keep Pine Castle's history alive.

Get your tickets today at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/annual-gala-7180

09/03/2026

It’s almost time for our quarterly meeting! Join us on Sunday, September 20th at 4:00 PM for a fascinating talk by Billy Morgan, Chairman of the Pine Castle Pioneer Days.

Billy will be telling us the history of the Lancaster House, and its status now as the home of the Board of Pioneer Days.

If you haven’t heard about the Lancaster House before, it is the oldest house still standing in Pine Castle and the home of its first elected mayor.

We hope to see you there! Refreshments will be served.

07/30/2026

Well, it's been quite the busy July! We've shared history (both local and state-wide), local historic recipes, information about us, meeting times, and more. Now, we want your feedback!

Tell us in the comments below what you liked, what you didn't care for, what you'd like to see more of, and your feedback in general. We'll use that for our future posts!

Thanks for following the Pine Castle Historical Society and stay tuned for the August newsletter.

07/28/2026

The story behind the name: Few figures are as closely tied to Pine Castle’s identity as writer and early settler Will Wallace Harney.

In 1873, just after the Civil War, Harney and his wife Mary left Kentucky and built a homestead on the western shore of Lake Conway, then still frontier land south of Orlando. Using pine trees cut from their own property, they constructed a large, English-style home with turret-like features that neighbors described as “castle-like.” Harney himself referred to it as his “Castle of Pine.”

Harney wasn’t only a settler; he was also a journalist and writer who described early Central Florida for northern newspapers, sharing accounts of its lakes, wildlife, and pioneer life. In many ways, he helped shape how outsiders first imagined this region.

The Harneys later moved away, and the original home was destroyed by fire in 1894. But by then, the name had already taken hold, and the surrounding community had become known as Pine Castle.

Today, the name itself remains one of the most direct links we have to those early frontier days along Lake Conway.

07/26/2026

Today's historic recipe is based on an entry in Jessie Candler Coachman’s Mrs. Coachman’s Florida Recipes from 1938. Strawberries have been an important crop in Florida since the mid-nineteenth century.

Instructions:
1. Place the strawberries in a food processor or blender and blend until completely smooth.
2. Pass through a fine strainer to make a velvety puree (optional).
3. Combine all ingredients and stir to combine.
4. Serve chilled over ice.

Tips:
Cut recipe in half for home use; the original makes enough to share!

This recipe was shared in the 2019 calendar, “Fresh from Florida Memory: Historical Recipes with a Modern Twist,” published by the State Library and Archive of Florida. See the original recipe for instructions on making it with vodka.

Have you ever made a variation of this recipe? How did it turn out? Share with us in the comments below!

07/24/2026

We've had a few new followers and wanted to make sure you knew what you were following! So, without further ado, here's a little bit about us:

The Pine Castle Historical Society began as a grassroots effort by local residents and historians who wanted to preserve the history of Pine Castle and nearby communities including Conway, Belle Isle, Edgewood, and South Orlando. Early work was driven by donated pioneer family records, research collections, and the efforts of volunteers committed to documenting the area’s past.

Over time, that effort grew into an independent nonprofit organization focused on collecting and preserving historical materials, publishing research, and sharing local stories through community programs and events.

One of the Society’s most significant preservation projects is featured in our logo: the Crawford House, a historic structure that was saved, relocated, and is now being developed as a future museum and community history center. Alongside this, the Society maintains archives, gathers photographs and documents, and works directly with local families to preserve personal and community histories that might otherwise be lost.

Today, the Society continues that work through quarterly meetings, public programs, and ongoing preservation efforts, helping ensure Pine Castle’s pioneer-era history and early Central Florida development remain accessible to the community.

If you're not a member yet, we hope you'll consider joining us on this mission! Sign up today at www.pinecastlehistoricalsociety.org

07/22/2026

Citrus groves are a staple of Florida and have been for over a century.

Newell’s grove is one of those small but fascinating glimpses into early Central Florida history. Preserved in the State Archives of Florida’s Florida Memory Project, photographs from around 1900 show a working citrus grove in the Orlando area, complete with a cottage set among the orange trees.

At the time, groves like this were part of the everyday landscape that defined Orange County’s economy and identity, long before suburban development reshaped the region. Today, these images remain a valuable reminder of the people and places that helped build early Pine Castle and greater Orlando.

Below we share a pamphlet published by Wilson & Toomer Fertilizer Co. in 1916 about how to start your own grove. We hope you'll enjoy the glimpse into Florida's past and maybe be inspired to plant a citrus tree of your own!

What's your favorite central Florida grove? Share with us in the comments below.

07/20/2026

Have you ever heard of the Lisa fish?

In the 1970s, Florida tried something unusual: rebranding the mullet, then considered a trash fish, as the “Lisa." The goal was to make the fish more appealing and encourage more people to cook and eat it, and the state even circulated promotional materials and recipes using the new name.

But the effort never really caught on. Floridians stuck with “mullet,” and the name “Lisa” quietly faded from use.

Still, it remains a fun reminder that in Florida, tradition and local culture often outlast even official rebranding campaigns.

And as part of that campaign, one of the more unexpected creations was Lisa Guacamole, a recipe we’ll share below for anyone curious enough to try a bite of this odd little piece of Florida history from over 50 years ago.

Lisa Guacamole Recipe:
1 cup lisa
2 ripe avocados
¼ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated onion
1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon tabasco
¼ teaspoon salt
Corn chips, potato chips, or crackers

Drain and flake lisa. Cut avocados in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Peel avocados and mash until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except chips; mix thoroughly. Cover tightly and chill at least one hour. Serve with chips. Makes about 1 pint of dip.

Address

631 Wilks Avenue
Orlando, FL
32809

Website

http://www.pinecastlehistory.org/

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