This week in West Orange County history

OLD TIMES

85 years ago

A large number of winter visitors have gone out on Lake Apopka from the Oakland dock, and large strings of bass have been reported.

50 years ago

It's that time of year when orange groves must be protected from frosts. Old methods such as smudge pots and old tires still are used to save the new fruit on the trees.

45 years ago

The Rev. and Mrs. Reynold Lemp, joined in marriage Nov. 5, have returned from their wedding cruise and are making their home in Winter Garden. He is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, and she is the former Mary Ann Wise.

35 years ago

The West Orange Debutante Ball was held at the Bay Hill Country Club. Those presented were Robin Barber, Geegee Britt, Kelly Broughton, Connie Cobia, Lyn Faust, Susan Galbraith, Kristin Garrison, Susan Grant, Leigh Anne Hargrove, Rena Heckman, Laura Marshall, Mandy Maxey, Jennifer Maynes, Mary Beth McCabe, Wendy Myers, Sally Osburn, Amy Quesinberry, Alpha Sanders, Lynn Smith, Jamie Weir and Stephanie Walls.

30 years ago

Estelle Tyson, of Winter Garden, an independent sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics, was awarded one of the company's most sought-after prizes: the free use of a pink Buick Century.

20 years ago

OCPS Superintendent Dennis Smith wrote a letter to the editor praising the Winter Garden community for responding to the needs of Dillard Street Elementary School following an act of vandalism that occurred over the weekend.

10 years ago

Windermere resident Jakob Karr was among the top 12 contestants after this week's episode of the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance." Karr made it all the way to the runner-up spot.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Nov. 29, 1968

With the holidays right around the corner, the Winter Garden Inn expected that not everyone wanted to spend all of Thanksgiving working in the kitchen. The hotel, on Highway 50, promised "superb food for the family" for $2.45 for the buffet service or table service for 20 cents more.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Students from Winter Garden’s First Baptist kindergarten prepare for the holidays with what appears to be a bag of popcorn ready to be strung into garland. This photograph from 1979 shows Justin Rees, left, April Sauls, Jamie Dummett, Ronnie Peavy, Christopher Youngblood and Rebekah Shelton.