Forrest Lake, Sanford's most famous mayor other than Art Woodruff, was a man of many talents. He was first mayor in his twenties. He was then in the State Legislature. While there, he was instrumental in having Seminole County carved out of Orange County in 1913. Before that, he, through a roundabout way, had Goldsboro's charter revoked and then Goldsboro incorporated into the City of Sanford. William Clark Street was renamed Lake Avenue. (It has been returned to its former name.)
When he was riding high, the one hundred year old building formerly known as the Mayfair Hotel and then Mayfair Inn, started out named The Hotel Forrest Lake.
Using city funds, he had his son-in-law pave streets in many subdivisions in the 1920s, Dreamwold, (Not Dreamworld) Highland Park, parts of Mayfair, among others. Not only was he mayor, but also the president of the Seminole County Bank. He was at one time the head of the Florida Bankers Association.
His downfall was the end of the Florida Boom in 1926. His real estate empire collapsed and it was revealed that he had sticky fingers with the city's and the bank's money.
For these indiscretions, he spent a good part of the 1930s in the state penitentiary.
One facet of his career that has not been mentioned in any of the articles about Forrest Lake is his Chairmanship of the Road Board of the State of Florida!
Minutes of the Seminole County Board of Commissioners meeting of November 3, 1920 show the following:
Hon. Forrest Lake, Chairman of State Road Dept, appeared before the Board in reference to work to be done by the State Road Department, and stated that he intended to co-operate with the Board of County Commissioners when doing work in this
County. Comr. L.P. Hagan, offered the following resolution and moved its adoption, same being 2nd by Comr. C.W. Entzminger,
Whereas, As the public highway in Seminole County, Fla,. beginning at the intersection of the brick road leading west from Sanford, with the brick road leading to DeLand, and running thence in a westerly direction to the Wekiva River and connecting with Lake County, is a main thoroughfare to Lake County, and should be designated as a State Aid Road.
Therefore, be it Resolved, That the State Dept. be and they are hereby requested to designate said highway as a State Aid Road.
And Be It Further resolved that, the Clerk of this Board be instructed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to Hon. Forrest Lake, Chairman of the State Road Department at Tallahassee, Fla. Adopted this 3rd day of Nov. A. D. 1920.
The 429 Expressway follows much of the path of the road designated by the County Commission in the above motion.
