This week in West Orange County: July 7, 2022

OLD TIMES

85 years ago

John “Tiger” Minor, one of the greatest hitters ever produced in this section of the state, returned to the lineup of the Gardeners baseball team. He was expected to bolster the Gardeners’ faltering attack.

Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Sadler, Miss Catherine Stockton and Mrs. G.W. Stubbs motored from Oakland to Winter Garden.

80 years ago

Youngsters attending Camp Katawah in North Carolina are Jeanette Sadler, Catherine Stanford, Douglas Sadler, David Stanford and Jack Ross.

Mr. A.M. Clark and Mr. Arley Gilliam of Ocoee trapped a 350-pound bear in Wekiwa swamp. The bear carried trap and block quite a distance in the swamp, but they tracked him and let Franklin Watson kill him when found.

70 years ago

Larry Grimes, lifeguard and expert swimmer, was made assistant to Byron Crowley, swimming supervisor at the municipal pool to serve the increasing attendance. Approximately 150 children were receiving instruction in swimming.

Mr. and Mrs. George Bekemeyer returned from Pittsburgh, where they attended the graduation of their son, George Bekemeyer Jr., from Carnegie Tech.

50 years ago

Lake Moxie in Ocoee was bustling with swimmers on these warm summer days. A great new feature for the enjoyment of the children was the floating dock, which was built by Ocoee’s public-spirited Volunteer Fire Department.

Dr. Wayne Godbold was appointed chief of staff of the West Orange Memorial Hospital, succeeding Dr. Edward Bradford. The Winter Garden native graduated from Emory University School of Medicine and returned to his hometown in 1963 to open his private practice.

Mary Irwin and her brother, Dick Heddon, were the new owners of the Windermere gift shop named Gaslight Gifts. They purchased the business from Lily Finley.

40 years ago

If City Commissioners agree, phase one of a 200-unit condominium project was set to emerge from the ground on the old Winter Garden Ornamental Nursery site on Highway 50. Its name: Windtree.

Officers elected for the executive board of the West Orange Youth Center were Fred Crabtree, president; Lou Ann Garrison, vice president; Ted Wiedenbeck, secretary; and Franklin Cappleman, treasurer.

30 years ago

Dr. Phillips High School staged a summer production of “Grease,” with John Markowski as Kenickie, Tod Kimbro as Sonny LaTierri and Joey Fatone as Danny Zuko.

A Winter Garden tradition ended with the closing of Davis Pharmacy, which had been at the same downtown location for 58 years — since 1934.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

July 13, 1972

Do you remember when a set of tires cost $99? In 1972, Goodyear Service Stores advertised this and other deals in The Winter Garden Times. Blackwall tires, with two fiberglass belts and two plies of polyester cord, gave drivers the peace of mind they were riding on quality tires that provided safety for the vehicle’s occupants.

Larger tires were advertised from $111 to $173. The company offered brake realignment and six-cylinder engine tune-ups for $28.88, as well.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

This photo in the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation archive is labeled “Garden of R.S. Gulley, Oakland, 1920.” The “garden” actually appears to be extensive acreage planted with vegetables. The clothing, especially the woman’s, appears to be from an earlier decade — 1890-1900, perhaps? A small family tree tracing Gulley family members notes that farmer Richard Lindsay Gulley (not S.) married Nona E. Dunnaway in 1900; their two children were Ben Norman and Iva Lorene. Norman operated Gulley Hardware on the south side of Oakland’s square until his death in 1968.