This week in history

OLD TIMES

85 years ago

Windermere held its annual Play Day. More than 200 people were present when the schools of Windermere, Gotha, Vineland and Beulah competed. Gotha won a cup for winning the most points in the field meet, with Vineland coming in second and Windermere a close third.

Superior Cleaners, owned by W.E. and H.B. Goodrich, was damaged by fire. An Ocoee news boy discovered the fire, which was believed to have been started by a smoldering boiler coal thrown into the woodpile.

80 years ago

Following the Lakeview High School senior play, “Footloose,” three members of the cast broke out in measles: Margaret Cappleman, Howard Ficquette and George Eby.

75 years ago

Herbert Pounds, captain in the Air Corps during World War II, was elected commander of the Hugh T. Gregory Post 63 of the American Legion, succeeding W.B. Burch.

70 years ago

Edgar M. Henderson received word from postal authorities that the United States Senate has approved his nomination by Congressman Syd Herlong and President Harry S. Truman for the position of postmaster at Winter Garden. He replaced Mrs. J.S. Kirton, acting postmaster since the retirement of Wrather H. Reams in 1949.

55 years ago

The Jaycees held a successful Fish-A-Thon for children ages 5 to 13 at the pond on South Lakeview Avenue and West Cypress Street. Pat McClung caught the largest fish, a 2-pound bass, and received a new spinning rod and reel. Skate Clenney was named champ and earned a rod and reel for catching 34 fish. Ray Ussery donated rods and reels and all the fishing worms, and Ed Bekemeyer of Bekemeyer’s Sporting Goods donated rod-and-reel prizes too.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

April 21, 1966

There was a time when downtown Winter Garden was home to multiple auto dealerships, including Thriftway Chevrolet Co., located at the intersection of Plant Street and Highland Avenue.

The business advertised in The Winter Garden Times its new custom camper with special equipment for outdoor living. “Make life more enjoyable,” it promised.

“Go where you want, stop when you like,” the ad stated. “You’re free as the breeze! … A Chevy Custom Camper will add a most pleasurable new dimension to your life.”

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

In April 1994, this home was prepped for its August move from its original location on Oakland Avenue to its new site on Tildenville School Road. Dan McKinnon IV, originally from North Carolina, settled in the Tildenville community on land he purchased from the pioneer Willis family; he constructed this house in 1908. Louis and Mildred Hornstein purchased the home in 1933 upon McKinnon’s death.

West Orange County’s rich architectural legacy is captured in “Sundays in the South,” a book written by Kay Cappleman and illustrated by Rod Reeves. Copies are available at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation. Call (407) 656-3244 to arrange for purchase.