This week in West Orange County history: June 15, 2023

OLD TIMES

90 years ago

Florida’s citrus crop was going to market in crates made almost entirely of Florida-grown woods. It was estimated the 1932-33 crop would total 18.5 million crates shipped by freight, boat and express. In addition to crates, Florida timber was used by the citrus industry for fence posts, picking ladders, field boxes, truck bodies, packing houses, and grove owners’ and caretakers’ homes.

The Winter Garden Citrus Growers Association closed its season and entertained about 100 employees and guests with a swimming party and barbecue at Rock Springs.

A bill was introduced in the Florida House and Senate to create a state agency called the Florida Agricultural and Industrial Relief Board. The purpose of this board was to represent the state or any of its political subdivisions in all transactions and negotiations with any federal agency or department requiring the cooperation of the state or state agencies, to effect their purpose.

85 years ago

Winter Garden Mayor George Walker warned owners of dogs their canines needed to be inoculated against rabies before June 1.

50 years ago

Members of the Winter Garden Citrus Growers Association authorized bylaws that changed the association from a straight cooperative to a stock cooperative. Directors elected at the meeting were J.M. Sullivan, F.H. McGuire, A.C. Palmer of Windermere, R.C. Kellogg, W.H. Wilkerman, G.T. Smith and B.D. Bennett. Phil C. Peters continued as secretary-manager, and Mrs. W.C. Gardner remained assistant secretary.

Principal Sam Singhaus announced the incoming PTA officers for Lakeview High School: Mary Engstrom, president; Barbara Jones, first vice president; Barbara Fulmer, treasurer; and Harriette Grimes, secretary.

The West Orange Steering Committee on School Facilities met with interested parents to review preliminary conclusions. Among those present were Bill Breeze, Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Bruns, Dr. Louis Chatham, Ernest Crawford, Spencer Edwards, Dean Engstrom, Larry Guess, Phyllis Hickman, John W. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Lummus, Robert Lyle, Roosevelt Martin, Tom and Alice Orie, Sally Roberson, Jackie Teal, Thelma Triplett, and Jerry Van Dyke.

40 years ago

Winter Garden city officials voted to hire Roy LaBossiere Sr. of Casselberry as the city’s new fire chief.

Mrs. Frances Reaves was awarded a 9,000-hour bar for her work as a hospital volunteer.

30 years ago

The Winter Garden Players brought the music of the 1930s and ’40s to Tanner Auditorium during the “It’s All About Music” dinner show. Hepcats ready for the big event were Aubrey Connelly, Diane Scott, Jim McDonald, Gloria Beck, Jimm Conn and Tina Michael.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

MAY 24, 1979

Walt Disney World issued an invitation to join the cast at its Lake Buena Vista theme park in an advertisement in The Winter Garden Times in 1979. Donald Duck urged citizens to join him at the vacation kingdom and “bring home more than a paycheck.”

Disney was hiring for many positions, including operations host or hostess, merchandise host or hostess, resort hotels, food and beverage host and hostess, food and beverage stewards, culinary assistant, custodial host or hostess, housekeeping host or hostess, and lifeguards.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Twenty-one years ago, Tremaine Street in Winter Garden hadn’t yet experienced the dramatic change that came with the revitalization of Winter Garden’s downtown historic district. This view to the southwest, taken from the vicinity of the Central Florida Railroad Museum, depicts a portion of the drive-in teller stations once operated by the First Union Bank that stood at the southwest corner of Tremaine and Boyd streets. The sheds at right were owned by Pounds Motor Company to store and repair agricultural equipment. None of these structures stands today, having been replaced with a two-story garage.