- December 20, 2024
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OLD TIMES / THE WAYS WE WERE
80 years ago
A new historical book about West Orange was released titled “Oakland — the Early Years.” It told the story of the pioneer families who established the town and was written by Eve Bacon of Winter Park.
The acute shortage of favorite brands of cigarettes in Winter Garden was causing much talk by those addicted to the habit of enjoying their smokes.
Judging from the thousands of baskets and boxes of tangerines, grapefruit and oranges being shipped out of Winter Garden by express to friends and relatives throughout the country as Christmas gifts, it was to be a joyous Christmas holiday season for the recipients.
Members of the junior class at Lakeview High School entertained the senior class with a Christmas party and chicken pilau supper at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ross in Oakland.
55 years ago
Bill Scarbrough was the Bowler of the Month in the Bucks and Does League.
50 years ago
Maxey Elementary School students presented an opera — Gian-Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” — in the school cafetorium on East Maple Street. The story told of the three kings on their journey to Bethlehem. The role of Amahl was sung by Anthony Waters, and Marvelous Bing sang the part of the mother. The three kings were Patrick Mobley, Jimmy Deeb and Morris Ellison. The Shepherd’s Dance was performed by Doris Brown, Junita James, Aurelious James, Eva Haynes, Gladys Rogers and Diane Morris. Rick Owens, local little theater performer, choreographed the production; Kathleen Haight was accompanist; and the entire production was under the direction of Alice Roberts, school music director.
Louis Heck and Hank Sines established a new certified public accounting firm, Heck and Sines, on South Dillard Street.
35 years ago
The musical group known as Musicians Three was increased to four when Adele Moody, local musician and pianist, was added for a program at West Orange Manor. The group, which also includes Jimmy McKey, pianist; Bill Malchik on cello; and Ernie Hawk, announcer, presented a program of Christmas music. The Rev. Jim Baugher of First United Methodist Church added his singing voice to the program.
30 years ago
Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home announced it would provide a free burial for drunk drivers who were killed and would furnish a free grave and funeral for any person killed by a drunk driver. This included those in the drunk driver’s car, drivers and passengers in the other vehicle involved, and pedestrians.
THROWBACK THURSDAY
DECEMBER 19, 1974
Many local stores advertised their gifts for men in a December issue of The Winter Garden Times.
“The finest names in the world are sold in our hardware store,” read the ad for Howard’s Winter Garden Hardware. The Store on South Dillard Street sold brand names such as Hoover, Timex, Black & Decker, Stanley Tools Pittsburg Paints, Pyrex, General Electric and Daisy.
At Griffin’s Men’s Store in the Tri-City Shopping Center, shoppers could select from a variety of gifts, including bedroom shoes, Arrow sweaters, Jarman shoes, leisure suits and jumpsuits.
FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES
This home, pictured in 2012, is located on South Boyd Street and was for a time the residence of George Walker, Winter Garden’s mayor during the Great Depression. Walker’s ingenuity in securing Works Progress Administration funds from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program provided Winter Garden with many civic buildings — most all of which are still in use today: Tanner Hall; Little Hall; an improved lakefront, now Newton Park; boat basins; the municipal swimming pool; Trailer City; a firehouse, now the site of SOBO Art Gallery; Walker Field, the sports facility on Park Avenue; and a city hall that stood at the site of the Winter Garden Post Office. All of these projects provided work for many locals, and you won’t believe how much this all cost: only $250,000!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all from the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.