This week in West Orange County history: Aug. 31, 2023

OLD TIMES

90 years ago

Emory Bronson and cowboys from Kissimmee and other cow towns planned to ride ’em hard in a rodeo (pronounced ro-day-oh) at Roper’s Dairy. The show was to properly start with a parade up and down the main streets of Winter Garden.

85 years ago

Patrick Arnold, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Arnold, Lakeview High School 1938 graduate, was set to preach his first sermon at a community youth rally in the Winter Garden Baptist Church.

The Rev. Shuler Peele addressed graduates of Lakeview High School, class of 1938, prospective college students and high school seniors on “Is it Sissy to be Religious?”

Ocoee voters approved a $10,000 bond issue in Tuesday’s election, money to be used as the sponsor’s share of a $50,000 gymnasium and manual training unit at Ocoee High School.

55 years ago

Boy Scout Troop 223 of Windermere was charged with the responsibility of guarding Egret Island, a bird sanctuary in Lake Butler. The program was under the direction of the Florida Audubon Society and under the guidance of Scoutmaster Carl Patterson. Star Scout Billy Hart was in charge of the project, and his helpers included Tommy Burnett, Tim Tinsley, Ronnie Russ, Craig Nesbitt, Kirk Barley, Rick Lamb, Dan Diehl and Allan True.

50 years ago

The new professional building on North Dillard Street was completed and ready for the medical practices of Dr. Wayne L. Godbold and Dr. Lawrence Aubry. A beautiful three-tiered fountain graced the front by the entrance.

40 years ago

Four Ocoee Big Leaguers were chosen for the District XIV All-Stars team: Brent Casteel, Randy Lee, Brent Hazen and Dean Hazen. Their team won the Regional Big League Tournament without a loss and then became the USA South All-Stars that finished fifth out of 11 teams.

20 years ago

The Winter Garden team was ready to face the Ocoee team in the old Geezers Centennial softball game in Winter Garden. Hoping for a win were John Rees, Ward Britt, James Shelton, coach G.J. Casteel, Dan Irions, Jack Quesinberry (who was hoping his team would win so Ocoee Mayor Scott Vandergrift would have to kiss the camel), John Hurst, John Claflin, Dudley Clyatt, Dan Burt, Willie “Chico” McBride, Jim Turner, Larry Grimes, Hollis Holden, Jerry Chicone and Joe Whitehead.

Orange County responded to concerns of Big Sand Lake residents by installing four pumps to reduce flooding. The water level had reached 97.5 feet, more than seven feet above its normal elevation.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

AUG. 27, 1954

Businesses have been advertising in the local newspaper for decades. In the Aug. 27, 1954, issue of the Winter Garden Times, Pounds Motor Co. and Winter Garden Hardware featured their equipment and accessories for sale.

At Pounds, customers could purchase a modern Hunter window fan that had two speeds and could be reversed for ventilation or circulation.

At the hardware store, the latest in floor sanding and polishing could be rented for homeowners to tackle their own refinishing project.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

This photograph, taken Aug. 31, 1967, shows Windermere’s Town Hall as it appeared 56 years ago. The building began life as the Woman’s Club, which evolved from the Civic Club. The organization for ladies later became the Community Club after it was moved from Fenwood Park to the intersection of Main Street and Fifth Avenue. Construction on the building began in 1922.