Editing Zellwood, Florida (section)

=== 19th century to World War 2: T. Ellwood Zell ===
Zellwood is named after [[T. Ellwood Zell]], who started spending winters in the area in 1876.{{sfn|Dickinson|2010}}
The Zellwood Post Office opened in 1877.{{sfn|USPS|2017}}

An 1881 prospectus issued by the Orange County Immigration Society advertised that "[w]e have a school, post office, and a rapidly increasing population" and that the "enlargement of the channels connecting Lakes Dora, Beauclair and Apopka" would "give us water transportation within three miles".{{sfn|Welby|1881|p=43}}
A similar 1883 prospectus issued by the county commissioners promised that the [[Tavares, Orlando &amp; Atlantic Railroad]] (TO&amp;AR) was planned to pass through Zellwood, spoke of "adaptability for growing oranges, lemons, lines, etc"., and advertised land for sale in {{convert|5|or|10|acre|ha|adj=on}} lots.{{sfn|Williamson|1883|p=44}}

[[Edith Fairfax Davenport]]'s family built a home in Zellwood in 1885, and several of her paintings still reside in the Zellwood Historical Society Museum in the 21st century, including a full-size replica of [[James McNeill Whistler]]'s portrait of his mother, although she herself moved to [[Winter Park, Florida|Winter Park]] in 1955.{{sfn|Dickinson|2010}}

The [[James Laughlin House]], known as Sydonie, was built in Zellwood in 1895 by steel heir James Laughlin Jr.{{sfn|Dickinson|2010}}

But by 1940 the over-winter permanent population of the area was still just a few hundred people.{{sfn|Mormino|2008|p=184}}