History of Zellwood There's more to Zellwood than just the
corn festival many used to attend..
In about 1875, Philadelphia publisher Lt. Col. Thomas Ellwood
Zell was scouting out this area of lakes and hills. He made his
home here, as did his brother-in-law and business associate, John
Williamson, whose home became the cultural and social focal point
of the community.
Zell was a retired military man, and sold parcels of property to
other veterans to establish homes and plant citrus groves. He named
his winter home "Zellwood", and the growing community and post
office also adopted the name.