|
Montverde, Florida
real estate -
Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Montverde, Florida,
CENTURY 21 Solutions Realty has the marketing,
services, and trained professionals to assist
you.
Montverde is on the
west shore of Lake Apopka 17 miles south of
Tavares and 30 miles from Leesburg. The site of
an early Indian settlement, one may take note of
the burial grounds, pottery, beads and
arrowheads found in the area. The first
residents arrived in 1865 and called the place
West Lake Apopka. Tradition says it was later
called "Monte Verde," spanish for green
mountain, by someone from Vermont who came
across Lake Apopka and was impressed by the
rolling green hills.
The original
homesteaders in Montverde were John W. Harden,
W.H. Porter, John Griggs, Lt. Jim Franklin, and
Andrew Shaw. John W. Harden, with his wife
Aramenta, came from Chester, SC in 1865 and
built a house and founded a town that was called
West Apopka. Mr. Harden who was a veteran of
two wars and for his service in the Seminole
Indian War received a bonus of a Federal Land
Grant of 200 acres of land by President Chester
Arthur.
The town of
Montverde was incorporated on May 18th, 1925
with a mayor and five councilman. These are the
same offices the town government has today.
From 1887 to 1969, the town was served by the
Tavares and Gulf railroad, used mainly to haul
agricultural products. Grapes, citrus and
vegetables were the main freight. Past
industries included a cement plant, a facility
for drying and processing moss for furniture and
the original manufacturing plant of the Snapper
Mower (originally called the Snappin' Turtle).
The Snapper was developed in Montverde by Alex
Smith and his brother Neal and has become well
known all over the world.
Montverde today has maintained its small town
rural character and life is generally
easy-going. The town has its own volunteer fire
department with two fire trucks; plus a brush
truck for woods fires. All parts of town are
served by the municipal water system which
includes a network of fire hydrants.
|
