This week in West Orange County: Feb. 17, 2022

OLD TIMES

85 years ago

The First Baptist Church installed an automatic heating plant.

David Pharmacy sold Pursang — the ideal tonic for that “run-down” feeling.

80 years ago

From The Social Whirl by Agnes: “…the vogue in bicycles is here. … Tena Britt has a brand-new blue affair, as well as Nellie Nelson. … Also seen riding their bikes were R.M. Ficquette, K.C. Moore Jr., J.G. Shepherd, Horace Dudley, Emory Brantley and the two Smith men, Harry and Tom.

Senior student Pat Arnold was awarded a teaching fellowship at Stetson University for the remainder of the current school year.

Winter Garden Rotarians journeyed to Lakeview High School and were luncheon guests of the Tildenville-Lakeview Parent-Teachers Association. Four students gave high spots of student activities: Horace Hull, athletics; Dottie Lou Hall, library; Emma Jean Kelly, hobbies and clubs; and Clare Eby, defense program.

75 years ago

The Winter Garden Welfare League’s bingo party was quite a success. Mrs. Wilson Griffith was chairman of the affair from which about $100 was netted. The league is sponsoring welfare work in our community and providing some much-needed equipment for the West Orange County Clinic.

70 years ago

C.M. “Pete” Tucker announced his candidacy for re-election as justice of the peace for District 13.

Herbert Pounds was elected president of the Winter Garden Chamber of Commerce.

55 years ago

First services will be held in the new Church of God of Prophecy in Ocoee.

50 years ago

Smile Contest winners at Winter Garden Elementary were Lisa Fulmer and George Spigener.

Civic and business leaders from around the state were invited to Mr. Frank Day in honor of L. Frank Roper. The event was two days before his 80th birthday and also marked the 25th anniversary of Roper Growers Cooperative, which he founded.

40 years ago

The crème de la crème was scheduled to play the Bay Hill Classic. In only its fourth year, Arnold Palmer’s tournament already is enjoying the success of drawing the top pros. It was confirmed that Jack Nicklaus was playing.

30 years ago

The Orange County School Board named Dr. Donald Shaw the new superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. Dr. Shaw, a native of Winter Garden, replaced Dr. James Schott. He began his OCPS career in 1962 as an English and speech teacher at Evans High. He also had served as principal of Tildenville Elementary in Winter Garden.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

FEB. 17, 1972

The Central Florida Fair has been an annual tradition in Orange County for 109 years. It is celebrating its 110th year March 3 through 13 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on West Colonial Drive and will feature livestock, agriculture, horticulture, STEM education, entertainment, traditional fair food and a huge midway of rides and games.

The Winter Garden Times published an advertisement in the Feb. 17, 1972, edition that announced the fair, which, at the time, was set up at Orlando-Exposition Park “west of I-4 on West Livingston Street.” The fair that year featured Ye Fair Clown, Strates rides, Chieftones, a ventriloquist, Rough Riders and musical varieties. Admission was $1 for adults and 25 cents for children.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Venerable Oakland native Curtis Massey served in the military before returning to his hometown. He initially worked in the groves harvesting oranges and eventually worked his way up to owning a citrus transport company. According to a 2009 “The West Orange Times” article, Massey’s company operated with “three tractors, nine trailers, 26 trucks and seven foremen for his 270-employee staff.”

The photograph depicts Massey as the first black elected mayor of Oakland, serving from 1975 to 1978.