HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for week of Jan. 16, 2025

THE WAYS WE WERE / OLD TIMES

80 years ago

The Ocoee High School student government sponsored a Fuzz vs. Freaks basketball game as a benefit for the Gary Staats Fund. Staats was a 22-year-old Ocoee resident fighting leukemia.

The West Orange Athletic Association banquet at the Edgewater Hotel in honor of the Winter Garden Lakeview Red Devils, Central Florida Conference champions, and guests was a grand affair. Harry Smith, past governor of Rotary and chairman of the City Commission, presided as toastmaster and kept the 72 banqueters in a jolly good humor throughout the evening.

Mrs. C.W. Irrgang Sr. arrived from Chicago to open up her home on Deer Island for the winter.

Orange County Commissioners raised the rate of pay for all election inspectors who worked the booths on election day to $8 for a 12-hour day and 75 cents per hour over the 12 hours.     

Mrs. J.C. Sayer entertained members of her bridge club at her home on North Lakeview Avenue.

70 years ago

Katherine Valdes, finance chairman of the American Legion Auxiliary, announced the bazaar and bake sale was very successful and proceeds from this activity amounted to $101.38.

50 years ago

Most kids get followed home by dogs and cats, but for Chris Murphy of Winter Garden, it was a 50-pound turtle that took a liking to him.

The Ocoee Police Department was urging horse owners not to ride their animals at night along the roadsides because of two recent car-horse crashes. Police said since most horses are dark in color, they are impossible to see at night and, thus, cars cannot avoid hitting them.

Local winner of the Scotty’s Inc. merchandise gift certificate contest was Edward N. Carrow, of Winter Garden, who won $250.

45 years ago

Melanie Sue Davenport and Michael Eugene Easterday of Winter Garden appeared in the Shakespeare tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” at Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina.

40 years ago

Joe Murray was named administrator of West Orange Manor nursing home in Winter Garden. He replaced Mark Robitaille, who was named administrator of West Orange Memorial Hospital, just across the street.

30 years ago

The Chit Chat Lounge at the Colony Plaza Hotel in Ocoee held an exciting New Year’s Eve bash. For $8.50, revelers received noise makers, hats, party favors, hors d’oeuvres and a drink of their choice, and they enjoyed live entertainment. If they lasted until 1 a.m., they were treated to coffee and doughnuts.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

JAN. 16, 1975

To entice folks to bank with the new Winter Park Federal Savings & Loan Association, officials hosted an old-fashioned “ice cream social” at the branch at 527 Main St., Windermere. An advertisement in The Winter Garden Times helped spread the word.

Guests were treated to free refreshments and favors, and children received pony rides and gifts. The musical sounds of Memories & Madness Barber Shop Quartet, an old-fashioned harmony trio with Paul Champion, Jim Ballew and Ed Bradford, filled the air as attendees registered for a bicycle built for two, an antique radio and a canoe.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Two Columbus one-horse farm wagons are paused alongside the Mather-Smith estate on North Tubb Street in Oakland. The wording on the wagons reads “COLUMBUS, Sold by McMillan & Bray Hdwe. Co., Winter Garden, FLA." That hardware store was situated in the small building attached to the west wall of the yellow building that stands on the southwest corner of Plant and Boyd streets. In recent years, it housed Downtown Brown’s and is currently awaiting occupation by a new restaurant tenant.

The McMillan family operated a grove bordered by the West Orange Trail, Lakeview Road and State Road 438. Remnants of that enterprise still can be observed as you bicycle past the property.