This week in West Orange County history: May 12, 2022

OLD TIMES

85 years ago

The Beulah School was having a long-wanted need filled in the shape of a school lunchroom.

80 years ago

One of the nicest gestures on Mother’s Day was a call home to Mother, and Lena Story, who was residing in Monroe, Louisiana, made a long-distance call to her mother, Mrs. Mattie J. Story.

Waste paper being stored in the building next to Tarbuttons Dime Store was to be carried away. Mrs. D. Fleming asked the public to refrain from dumping the paper on the sidewalk and leaving it there. The key was kept in the Home Frock Shoppe and was available any time during the day.

55 years ago

Bob Hinson, Lakeview student and member of the FFA, was the guest speaker at the Winter Garden Lions Club. Jerry Carris was in charge of the program and noted that Hinson was a candidate for the State Farmer’s Degree.

Hal Bekemeyer and Lisa Kendrick were the winners in the annual Jaycees Road-E-O. The competition was open to teenagers younger than 19 and consisted of a written exam and a skill driving course.

45 years ago

John Vick was elected president of the Lake Highland Preparatory student body for the following year.

30 years ago

Ken Rushing was selected from a pool of more than 26 candidates and appointed Winter Garden postmaster. The West Orange County native graduated from West Orange High School in 1977.

Carolyn Cappleman, principal of Palm Lake Elementary, was named the National Distinguished Principal for the State of Florida. This was the second year in a row that a West Orange County principal received the honor. Windermere Elementary principal Nick Gledich earned the honor the prior year.

20 years ago

The city of Winter Garden celebrated the beginning of the $4.5 million downtown renovation project with a groundbreaking ceremony. Digging their shovels into the ground were Mayor Jack Quesinberry; commissioners John Harriman and Theo Graham; City Manager Hollis Holden; Assistant City Manager Marshall Robertson; Bruce Hall; Larry Foor; and Robert Lacey.

The city of Ocoee held the 17th Annual Big Orange Games for the Physically Challenged with more than 75 athletes

The First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden recognized Sue Norton for her dedication to the baby nursery for more than 30 years. A bronze plaque was placed at the door to the nursery officially naming it in her honor.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

May 15, 1942

There were bargains galore at the Cappleman Brothers Grocery store in downtown Winter Garden. The business advertised its weekly specials in The West Orange News so shoppers knew ahead of time what the deals were.

The establishment was located at 60 W. Plant St., where Vintage Sky Salon operates today. Customers could order their groceries before a movie started at the local theater and have them ready to pick up after the show — or the goods could be delivered. This store allowed shoppers to pay on credit. Daily deliveries were made in the immediate Winter Garden area only. Once a week employees delivered to the Gotha and Windermere areas.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Temperatures are already placing in the high 90s, so what better lazy activity is there to indulge in than a round of fishing? The photograph shows the boat sheds at Tom's Fishing Camp on the Montverde side of Lake Apopka. At one point there were two dozen fishing camps located around the lake’s perimeter, helping it to earn its name as the “large-mouth bass capital of the world.” So many anglers flocked to the region that a new hotel in Winter Garden — the Edgewater — was built expressly to accommodate them.