The Longwood Hotel was originally constructed in 1886. Its construction was financed by city founder Edward Warren "E.W." Henck and designed by Joseph B. Clouser. Henck sold the hotel in 1910, and it went through several owners until it was bought by George Clark in 1922, who named it the St. George Hotel. George Clark died in 1923 and his brother Fred renamed the hotel the Orange and Black. During the 1920s, the Orange and Black was known as weekend nighttime hot spot, and was also a popular casino during the 1930s. In 1927, thirty two heads of state stayed in the hotel during the National Governors' Conference. In the 1950s, the baseball umpire George Barr ran an umpire training school out of the hotel, and in 1966 it served as a set for the film "Johnny Tiger." In 1972, historic preservationist Grace Bradford saved the dilapidated building from being destroyed and renamed it the Longwood Village Inn. In 1986 the building received a million dollar restoration and is now used as professional offices. The Longwood Hotel survived the freezes and resulting economic crashes of 1895 and 1896, as well as the Great Depression. It still serves as a reminder of the founding of the city of Longwood and its rich and extensive history.

Submitted by K Malcolm, University of Central Florida