HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for the week of Oct. 10, 2024

OLD TIMES / THE WAYS WE WERE

80 years ago

One of the landmarks of the Beulah district was laid in ashes when the Mack Reaves house was destroyed by fire, including the furnishings. The occupants were attending Sunday school. The house, 60 years old, was the birthplace of Dr. M.A. Reavers of Winter Garden.

The Winter Garden War price and Ration Board announced that those wishing to secure new A-books should mail in their applications.

Fishing was good on Lake Apopka, according to W.S. Pounds, who operated boats and had the lease of docks in Winter Garden.

A beautiful cluster of Hamlin oranges of the new crop was on display in the lobby at Edgewater Hotel On one twig was 27 oranges the size of baseballs.

70 years ago

An advertisement in the Winter Garden Times read as follows: Due to rising cost of barber supplies, effective Oct. 4, the price of haircuts will advance to $1.00 at the following shops — Bland Barber Shop, Reeves Brothers Barber Shop, W.E. Hammock Barber Shop, Brantley & Mims Barber Shop.

Hoyle Pounds, local chairman of the Boat-a-Cade from Kissimmee to lake Okeechobee in Stuart or Fort Myers, urged anyone wanting reservations to contact him at once.

55 years ago

Charles W. McMillan of Winter Garden was presented a Lifetime Membership plaque in the Florida Sheriffs Association by Orange County Sheriff Dave Starr.

Mrs. D. Pennington of Winter Garden announced the engagement of her daughter, Patricia Ann Jones to Norman L. Dault of Orlando.

50 years ago

It was announced that Lakeview High School principal Lester Dabbs Jr. was named principal of the new West Orange High School.

Clay Daniels and the Nashville Kats performed Wednesdays through Sundays at Ramada Inn West in Ocoee.

The Rebels defeated the Hustlers in the playoffs to become champions in the Senior Division of girls softball. Reba Varnadoe was manager of the team, and Joyce Williams was coach. Players were Heidi Britt, Carolyn Braziel, Cindy Varnadoe, Tanya Martin, Jane Fulmer, Cathy Norris, Muffet Britt, Pam Sith, Pam Easterday, Charlene Caperilla and Sandy Richards.

A three-bedroom, two-bath home of 2,600 square feet with a pool on approximately one acre of lakefront property was listed in the classified advertisements for $62,500.

35 years ago

Real estate advertisement: Commercial lot in prime location on West Highway 50, Winter Garden; 130 by 220 feet; excellent lot right next to Publix and Zayre shopping plaza and Hyde Park; perfect for coffee shop, etc. $180,000. Windermere Realty Inc., Barbara Merola, Realtor.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

OCTOBER 12, 1989

Joe Predicto was a household name in West Orange County in the 1980s and ’90s when The West Orange Times published a weekly football contest with cash prizes. Predicto selected a dozen or so college and pro football games, assessed their records and gave his opinion on who would win. Readers filled in the entry form and submitted it to the newspaper office; in case of a tie, Predicto’s always included a tie-breaking game.

Do you remember Predicto’s real name? It was none other than Times sports editor John Maloney, who also wrote a fun feature called Maloney’s Baloney.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

This item ran in the Winter Garden Times some years ago. It features the Fighting Red Devils, which was the name of the school’s football team; the Red Devil served as Lakeview’s mascot for seven decades, representing both the high and middle schools.

The players are all identified. From L to R: Coach Cunningham, Earl Lau, Fred Wright, Carl Carter, Dan Smith, Henry Braswell, Guy King, Wilbur Connell, Ben Hull, Roland Wiygle, Arthur Ficquette, team captain Fred Tilden, captain-elect Enloe Charter, Clarence Willis, Charlie Connell, Roscoe Willis, Homer Jones, St. Clair Little and manager Mark Britt.