"A man alone a mountain cannot make.”

From A. P. Phillips Advertising Company's Plan for Casselberry, 1950

Neither can one person build a city or bring its story forward. It is with great gratitude that I thank:

Everyone whose long memory and penchant for keeping pictures, letters, notes, and files made this book possible, specifically:

Hibbard Casselberry  Jr. and his wife Martha; Leonard Casselberry and his wife Jane; John Casselberry; Joe Mattocks; and Anne M. Blood, corporate secretary for Hibbard's businesses for over fifty years.

Thank you to the people who inspired this book and worked with me over the years:

Dan Poynter, Para Publishing, who suggested I write this book

Jack Payton, friend and consultant, for his early guidance and insistance on it being nonfiction

David Kohn, editor, who kept insisting that I tell more

Frank Candy, American Speakers Bureau, for his friendship and advice

Mike Lucas, Southeastern Surveying, who helped me understand Hibbard’s purchases and “leaps and bounds” descriptions

Jim Escher, Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett Hardware expert and collector

Karen Jacobs, former director of the Seminole County Museum

The Chicago History Museum

Kenneth MacIntosh, former Casselberry City Attorney, for his technical proofing

Jim Robison, historical writer

The Women’s Club of Casselberry, for their wonderful photographs

The staff at the Seminole County Land Records Department

Philippa Burgess, Creative Convergence, for her belief in King of Casselberry ultimately made it a reality

Those who shared their memories over the decades:

Thelma Joyce Bird, Richard Casselberry, Daniel Casselberry, Frank Crotty, Trish Driebert, Mary Elizabeth Dunn, Melenda Casselberry Edminston, Tom Freeman, Alma and Talley Hattaway, Bob Hattaway, Renzo “Hat” Hattaway, Elsie Lyons, Lester Mandell, Marvin Mandell, Maxine McGrath, Maureen Norris Mooney, William Otto, James Gamble Rogers II, John Rogers, Rose Herald Tucker, Betty Evans Schudder, Darwin Shea, Douglas Stenstrom

To all those who have helped me in one way or another over the last few decades:

Anthony Aramendia, Judy Baker, Bob Bishoff, Susan Bradley, Eloise Browne, Dale Christensen,

Carole Crowley, Michael Delk, Al Dunaway, Paddy Faucher, Bob Hotaling, and David Matis

Hibbard’s friends who built the town with him – those who financed, represented, loved, hated, battled and bewildered Hibbard. Sometimes they were right and he was wrong.

And a very special thanks to the leadership, staff and citizens of the City of Casselberry, who keep it a good place to live, work, and raise a family – clubs, schools, organizations, and businesses who participated as part of the making of this book and the events produced by Casselberry – My Kind of Town!

THIS IS YOUR STORY – AND AMERICA’S