Feb. 27, 2020: This week in history

OLD TIMES

75 years ago

The Winter Garden Welfare League held its monthly meetings at the war nursery school, which was the league’s major project. It also sponsored a benefit party at the Edgewater Hotel.

50 years ago

Jacob S. Reddick, prominent West Orange businessman and Tildenville grocery merchant, was shot to death during an attempted armed robbery.

45 years ago

Sterling Butler, who lives on North Lakeview Avenue in Winter Garden, was honored by Knapp King-Size Corporation of Brockton, Mass. He received a lapel pin signifying his membership in the five years of Knapp Service Club.

40 years ago

On Feb. 13, at 10:40 a.m., a heavyset young white male attempted to rob McClungs 5-10-25 store at 15 E. Plant St. Two hours later, the robbery suspect was arrested by Lt. R.G. Little.

The Ladies Guild of Holy Family Catholic Church did a good job of convincing Father Joseph Harte that it was to be only a potluck dinner — but it was a surprise celebration of his 50th birthday.

Starting with our next issue, our new Ocoee columnist will be Mary Anne Swickerath. Please contact her if you have any news of happenings in and around Ocoee. She will come to see you on her bicycle.

30 years ago

Movies-to-Go was advertising free membership and offered a coupon special for renting a movie and getting another free.

20 years ago

Winter Garden officials and representatives of US Home turned the first shovels of dirt over to mark the groundbreaking of a major development in the city. The golf community of Stoneybrook West will be constructed on Black Lake, between Avalon Road and County Road 535.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The Winter Garden Times

Feb. 17, 1966

The Central Florida Fair has been a staple in Central Florida for decades. In 1966, the fair was advertised in The Winter Garden Times and offered folks 12 days and nights of thrilling rides and exciting exhibits and shows.

Fair attendees could enjoy a battle of the bands; James Strates shows; antique cars; horse, garden, boat and aquarium shows; fireworks; and hundreds of exhibits.

For years, the cities of Winter Garden and Ocoee provided materials for the municipal displays.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Janis Spicer donated this photo of employees working at the Winter Garden Citrus Products Cooperative The massive complex, also referred to as “the juice plant,” was constructed on Ninth Street along the Tavares & Gulf Railroad tracks in east Winter Garden. A comprehensive history of the co-op ran in the April 1960 industry publication Quick Frozen Foods.

“Founded in 1950 when Florida’s concentrate industry accounted for a very small portion of the state’s fresh fruit crop,” the article stated, “Winter Garden Citrus Products Cooperative had paced the industry until today it stands unchallenged as the world’s largest frozen orange cooperative.”

Can anyone help identify these women? Call the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation at (407) 656-3244.