The week in history Dec. 3, 2020

OLD TIMES

95 years ago

Hoodlums frightened campers and vandalized the lakefront area. As there was no telephone in the area, police were alerted through the rumor route.

Offered by Davis Pharmacy — two goldfish and a bowl free with a purchase of 50 cents or more.

80 years ago

The rise in prices was a concern. The following is a breakdown of the dollar: Food, 33.9 cents; housing, 18.1 cents; transportation, 7.9 cents; recreation, 5 cents; household equipment, 4.2 cents; medical care, 3.7 cents; fuel, 2.5 cents; electricity, 1.6 cents; gas, 1.5 cents; and telephone .7 cents.

The movie program for the week at the Winter Garden Theatre was as follows: Johnny Mack Brown in “Pony Express,” “Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum,” James Cagney and Ann Sheridan in “City for Conquest,” Brian and Ahern and Rita Haywood in “The Lady in Question” and Edward G. Robinson in “The Confessions of a Nazi Spy.”

70 years ago

There was talk of a commercial seaplane base for Winter Garden. Preliminary plans called for the lagoon to be deepened with draglines, with the muck and dirt from the bottom being used to enlarge the island between the lagoon and the lake.

The Lakeview High PTA asked the school board to help pave the road into the school from town.

60 years ago

The Winter Garden Inn is featuring a Tacky Party in the Gold Lion Lounge, and attire requirements are “the tackier the better.” No one can say, “I don’t have a thing to wear.” A word of caution: Don’t say to someone who is walking into the inn, “Oh, I see you’re going to the Tacky Party, too.”

50 years ago

Traffic has been increasing steadily on State Road 535/Winter Garden-Vineland Road, which is presently the only road that connects Winter Garden with the Disney World north entrance. Funds have been set aside for widening and resurfacing south from Highway 50 to Reams Road.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Dec. 3, 1970

Florida Power advertised in The Winter Garden Times in hopes of converting homeowners from gas ovens to electric, self-cleaning appliances. The Dec. 3, 1970, ad was aimed at convincing husbands to buy their wives a gift that would give her “true liberation — from one of the dirtiest jobs in keeping house.”

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

This decorative fish pool once stood in Lakefront Park, later renamed Newton Park in honor of the city’s first mayor. It was constructed with WPA funds acquired by Mayor George Walker during the Great Depression. Check out the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Facebook page for more images and history covering the many civic projects in town during the 1930s.