This week in West Orange County history: Sept. 15, 2022

OLD TIMES

80 years ago

Meat rationing was set at two-and-one-half pounds per person per week.

70 years ago

Word has been received from Pfc. Selby Burch that he has landed safely in Korea with the U.S. Infantry.

Local  young people attending Camp Didakee in Zellwood were Billy Bob Davis, Sandra and Keith Mann, Ann and Susan Hornstein, Angilee Davis, Bill Cappleman, Ward Britt, Fritz and Gus Harter, Herbert Schley, George and Patsy Tyndall, Gail Willis, Dave Sayer, Douglas Tilden, Stanley Smith, Jimmy Roper, Sharon Winter and Patricia Tibbals.

40 years ago

“The Year of the Gator,” by Sam Holland: Many a year I’ve traveled this route. I’m getting old and troubled with gout, But every year we board this bus, The one that says, “Leave the driving to us.” All because some Johnny come later, Says, “This must be, the year of the Gator.” Now we heard it before, year after year, That this is the year, have no fear. Old coach Graves for no rhyme or reason, Said, “We’ll be first, at the end of the season.” Then after years of losing the bout, They all got together and tossed him out. Then came Dickey with a smile on his face, Saying, “Within two years we’ll be in first place.” The victory he sought was not of his fate, And in a few years they showed him the gate. They searched high and wide, over hill and dell, And came back home with coach Charley Pell. It was, “Give ’em hell, Pell, or I’ll $^!& in  your ear.” We all have reason for being so vexed, For surely our Gators must be hexed. For this reason alone, I must insist, That our next coach be the exorcist, If he rids himself of demons in his hair, Better known as “alumni” everywhere, In a year or two, or just a little later, We could truly say, “It’s the year of the Gator.”

30 years ago

It was an emotional day for Ruth Aycock of Ocoee as Webb’s Pharmacy closed its doors. She had worked at Webb’s (formerly Pounds Pharmacy) in the Ocoee Shopping Center on Silver Star Road for 39 years.

Peggy Brass, Tammy Hines, Betsy Davis and Mary Dane once again were the low-gross winners in the American Cancer Society Golf Tournament at the Bay Hill Country Club. The low-net winning-team golfers were Dot Davis, Betty Pounds, Bitsy Tiddy and Mickey Cooke.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Sept. 16, 1982

If you were looking for a used vehicle in 1982, one of the best places to find your dream car was in “The Times.” Local used-auto dealers advertised weekly their best bets, recent trade-ins and something in everyone’s price range in a “used car round-up.”

Among the advertisers in the Sept. 16 issue were DJ Auto Sales, in Ocoee; Jim White Auto Sales & Service, in Apopka; and West Orange Auto Sales, Swinson’s Used Cars, West Orange Used Cars and Winter Garden Ford.

You could get a 1979 Dodge Aspen couple with air, radio and a vinyl top for $3,900; a 1974 Olds Delta 88 for $200 down and $25 per week; a 1970 Maverick with air for $995; a 1975 two-door Mercury Cougar with hard top and air for $900 cash; a 1977 Buick Skylark hatchback for $1,795; or a 1981 Ford Escort wagon with air and a radio for $4,275.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Seventy-eight years ago today, an Official Election War Ballot was mailed by Whildon Harold Roberson of Winter Garden. This mailed-in absentee ballot traveled from San Francisco to Judge John G. Baker at the Orange County Court House. Roberson served in the Navy during his World War II service and was honorably discharged in October 1945. He later worked as a loading foreman for the Roper Growers Co-Op of Winter Garden.

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is gathering and sorting information on the region’s World War II veterans for an exhibit to be displayed in the Heritage Museum in March 2023. Please share your family’s service history by calling (407) 656-3244.