This week in West Orange County history

OLD TIMES

80 years ago

Summer camps at “Summerport Beach,” a popular colony on Lake Butler, are being occupied by quite a few of the high school and college contingent. At the Pounds camp, under the chaperonage of Audry Davis, are Harriet Pounds, Dottie Lu Hall, Lela Anderson, Clare Burch, Grace Brown and Ludia Tilden, who are situated for a two-week stay. Next week, at the Tilden camp, a group of college girls will begin a week of eating, sleeping and swimming: Evelyn Bray, Carolyn Peters, Bobbie Jo Henderson, Jane Ruth Fairchild, Gertrude Martin and Wilma Tilden.

75 years ago

Pvt. Albert C. Valdes left to return to Camp Crowder, Missouri, following a visit in Tampa and Winter Garden.

65 years ago

Dr. and Mrs. A.H. Gleason and children left for South Carolina for a month. Dr. Gleason also traveled to New York for advanced study.

40 years ago

Area resident Kathy Petri is in the chorus of the Encore Opera production of “The Merry Widow.” Other locals appearing through the camerata chorus are Carol Knighton, of Ocoee; Sam and Marian Wagster, of Winter Garden; and Jim McGinley, of Clermont.

30 years ago

Andrew C. Bailey, general manager of The West Orange Times for the last three years, has been named publisher.

Dr. John Cappleman was named medical director of West Orange Manor, a long-term care center for the elderly operated by West Orange Hospital System.

Richard Stotler, agriculture teacher at West Orange High School, asks the community to help look for the FFA’s new 650-pound calf that escaped through the orange grove behind the YMCA property. He is red with a white face and red mask and is wearing an ear tag with No. 4 on it.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

July 20, 1978

There were few dining choices in Winter Garden and West Orange County in 1978, but Golden Corral was a popular choice. It was located on Highway 50, at the intersection of Ninth Street, and many local families headed to Golden Corral on Sundays after church.

The restaurant was known for its large salad bar, rolls and inexpensive meals. An advertisement in The Winter Garden Times announced 14 different dinner choices ranging from 89 cents to $5.59.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

The Britt Fruit Company packinghouse once stood on the northwest corner of Hennis Road and East Plant Street alongside the Atlantic Coast Line railroad track. In the photograph, Britt employees enjoy a company barbecue held on Lake Minneola in Lake County: Bill McRee, left, Jimmy McKey, Leo Faurot, Steve Holland, Benny Adams, Mark Britt, Joe Kennedy, Jack Ingram, J.B. Lyles, Edna Williams, Smitty Clark, Bill Peoples, Betty Fox, Jackie Bourbonnais and Emery Bourbonnais.

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation preserves an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts of West Orange County’s citrus legacy. Call (407) 656-3244 to make a research appointment.