Both the pen-and-ink Carpenter Gothic church series and the oil painting of Greeneda Court are by artist Carol Wilson. Carol was a popular Winter Park artist in the 1950s and the WPHM is grateful to receive these beautiful pieces from her daughter Temple Ellis.
Our thanks to Mrs. Ellis for the donation and to Beth Manuel Becht for the delivery of these pieces that are a welcome addition to the WPHM Collections.
In the late 1800s Carpenter Gothic
churches were built throughout Florida. The style involves architectural details on wooden structures that replicate features that were originally carved in stone. It was a simple and inexpensive way to construct churches with style and elegance.
According to the website Backwoods Travel: “In the early days, Florida had plenty of timber – including durable Southern pine – and also an abundance of house carpenters.”
Today, many of the churches still
welcome visitors for Sunday service and open their doors for touring.
As a side note, Winter Park photographer Phil Eschbach recently completed a detailed view of all 39 remaining Carpenter Gothic churches in Florida. His book Spires in the Sun will be available for purchase this winter and Phil will be a featured presenter at the February 2023 WPHM Speaker Program.
In the 1950s Carol captured the charm of Greeneda Court in this colorful oil. The small courtyard was designed by renowned architect Gamble Rogers. As you can see, little has changed in the beautiful plaza off Park Avenue. When built by Ray Greene in 1947, the courtyard stairs led to small apartments. Today there are small shops in those spaces, but the comforting scale and welcoming atmosphere remain.
Linda Kulmann
Archivist
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