The Florida GenWeb Project
Mt. Dora
Mt. Dora, located on a hill high above Lake Dora, is
known as a little bit of New England. Many antique shops and
restaurants comprise the downtown area.
Lake Dora was so named after Mrs. James (Dora Ann) Drawdy who, with her
husband, settled near Mt. Dora in 1845. That same year government
surveyors camped in the Drawdy's yard. She was such a gracious hostess
they vowed to name the body of water after her. Two years later, when
the government map was published, Lake Dora was on it.
The David Simpson family was the first to homestead in what is now Mt.
Dora, followed the next year by the Stones. The Stones divorced and in
1879, J.P. Donnelly became her neighbor. Two years later they were
married, joining their land holdings, which now constitutes the land
the downtown is situated on.
In 1880 a post office was obtained, but the town had no name as yet.
The town was named Royellou after Roy, Ella and Louis, the 3 children
of the first postmaster. On February 12, 1883, the name was official
changed to Mt. Dora.
Mt. Dora is host of the annual Mt. Dora Art Festival which draws
several thousand people during the weekend. Other shows and festivals
include a Sailboat Regatta, Power Boat Regatta, Antique Boat Show,
Antique Car Show, Bicycle Festival, Arts and Crafts Show, and art
showings at the Mt. Dora Center for the Arts. Several area buildings
have been rejuvenated including The Donnelly House, home for the
Masonic Lodge, and an older home, the Unity House, is now the home of
the Historical Society.
Along Lake Dora is plenty to keep the outdoors enthusiast busy. Gilbert
Park has a great playground for children, a large boat landing with an
islet jutting in the midst leading to a miature lighthouse on it's
point. Also available is a nature boardwalk constructed over the water.
Other pages about Mt. Dora History
Black History in Mount Dora, Florida
Return to Lake County home page
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a volunteer of the
The Florida GenWeb Project
Comments and suggestions will be welcomed.
Last Updated by Fran Smith on Saturday, 25 July, 1998. at 9:53 AM.