ORLANDO CHAPTER, NSDAR

Marker dedication

On March 13, 2008, the chapter realized a two-year goal to honor the original thirteen chapter members with a gravesite marker. The site is beautiful, with eagles nesting above, and is located at Greenwood Cemetery, 1603 Greenwood Street, Orlando. The marker is on the Historic Greenwood Cemetery Evening Tour every week.

Marker honoring our chapter organizing regent is located at the Constitution Green Garden, 300 S. Summerlin Avenue, Orlando, Florida. At the corner of South and Summerlin Streets.

L/R: Ron Hamilton, Lucy Dorcy, Gloria Holly, Mae Stewart, Mrs. T. G. Bess Lee, Elizabeth Williams, Kathy Shuman.

On February 11, 1992, under the leadership of Orlando Chapter Regent Katherine Shuman, three brass plaques were placed in an area known as "Guardians of Freedom" Constitution Green City Bicentennial Park, Orlando. Florida. These markers were to honor Orlando Chapter Organizing Regent Carrie Schuller; Mae McDonald Stewart who was chapter regent 1950-52, Florida State Regent 1958-1960, and NSDAR Corresponding Secretary General 1965-1968; and Mrs. T. G. Lee who was responsible for great accomplishments including planting of 1000 pine trees and marking the area as a conservation site by Orlando Chapter project.

Fort Gatlin Marker Fort Gaitlin Historic Marker plaque

In 1924, the Orlando Chapter marked the historic site of the 1838 Fort Gaitlin Military Outpost. Fort Gatlin was one of a chain of forts built by the US Army to defend Florida's interior during the 1830s. This marker is located near a private residence on Lake Gatlin, near Summerlin Street in south Orlando, close to the town of Edgewood.

Text on chapter marker photo above on the left: "Erected by the Orlando Chapter D. A. R.
Mar. 27, 1924 Marking the site of Fort Gatlin, 1838 Military Outpost".

Text on state marker photo above on the right: "On November 9, 1838, during the Second Seminole Indian War (1835-42), the U.S. Army established Fort Gatlin in Mosquito County. This fort was named for Army Assistant Surgeon John S. Gatlin (1806-1835), who was killed in the Dade Massacre in 1835. The site of the fort was chosen as a military outpost due to its strategic position overlooking three lakes and because the area was frequented by Native Americans led by Seminole Chief King Philip and his son Coacoochee. The fort served the state militia during the war until the Army withdrew in 1849. A few soldiers and families remained in the area, growing citrus and raising cattle. In 1856, Fort Gatlin became the county seat of Orange County, created from Mosquito County in 1845. The community's name was later changed to Orlando, a name attributed to militiaman Orlando Reeves, who was reportedly killed in a skirmish during the Second Seminole War. It is believed that Reeves is buried near the site of Fort Gatlin. In 1941, during World War II, the United States Navy established the Underwater Sound Reference Laboratory near this site on Lake Gem Mary because of the great depth of the lake. The lab was closed in 1997. A Florida Heritage Site. Sponsored by the Fort Gatlin Historical Group, Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Government and The Florida Department of State. 2003"