HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for week of Jan. 23, 2025

THE WAYS WE WERE / OLD TIMES

70 years ago

Mrs. Henry Britt Jr., chair of the youth center organization, requested a final answer from the Winter Garden City Commission regarding the purchase of a lot for a youth center adjacent to the tennis courts behind the American Legion post. The commission voted to sell the lot to the organization for $1,000.

60 years ago

The second Winter Garden Horse Show, benefitting the Lakeview High School Band, was set to be held at the L. Frank Roper Stables. Roper, owner of champion Tennessee Walking Horses for more than 20 years, was the manager of the show.

Barbara Roper of Winter Garden was named chair of the Walt Disney World Community Service Awards Committee.

40 years ago

Fred Tyler resigned as swim coach for West Orange High School. The former Olympic gold medalist said he planned to continue coaching the West Orange YMCA Water Warriors.

35 years ago

A new key man joined the Hatley Pest Control team when John Claflin was hired as the general manager.

The town of Oakland honored William V. Nixon, former councilman, vice mayor and, on occasion, acting mayor for his 18 years of service to the community. He was affectionately known as “the Professor.” He received a plaque proclaiming. Jan. 6 William V. Nixon Day, as well as a duplicate of the sign from the street named for him.

A “Disney Decade” of tremendous growth was announced at Walt Disney World. The massive expansion program for the 1990s was to include 29 new attractions and shows in three theme parks, major resort hotels, shared vacation ownership units and a fourth theme park. New shows were planned starring “The Muppet Show” characters, Roger Rabbit, Dick Tracy and The Little Mermaid; featuring the talents of film giant George Lucas and legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber; and introducing guests to new Disney thrill adventures such as Splash Mountain, Alien Encounter and Journeys into Space. Epcot announced plans to add two international pavilions in World Showcase: a Soviet Union pavilion and a Switzerland pavilion featuring a Matterhorn Mountain Bobsled Ride.

30 years ago

Ocoee officials gave their first approvals to the Lake Lotta Project, which was to include a 1,250,000-square-foot regional mall, later named West Oaks Mall, and 250,000 square feet of related commercial space. The mall was expected to have five large anchor stores, including Gayfer’s and possibly Dillard’s, Sears and JCPenney; a movie theater; and about 145 specialty shops.

William “Franklin” Cappleman and Mary “Virginia” Brown Cappleman celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Rob Nordin took the helm as executive director of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. The experienced chamber professional hailed from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Nick Gledich, principal of Windermere Elementary School, was honored as the recipient of the Commissioner of Education’s Outstanding Principal Award, given to one principal in each region of Florida for their admirable leadership and innovation in education.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

JAN. 30, 1975

TG&Y used to hold end-of-the-month sales, and in January 1975, the five-and-dime variety store sought to clear out the inventory of its fabric department to make way for the latest in prints and notions.

An advertisement in The Winter Garden Times called polyester double knit “the most wanted fabric” and urged customers to “do exciting things with knit.” Also available was an assortment of Dacron polyester, Avril rayon and other materials — all priced at $2 to $3 for two yards.

The shop was located in the Tri-City Shopping Center at the intersection of Dillard Street and West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

At the recent Martin Luther King Jr. festival in Winter Garden, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation showed this picture of a group of children attending a birthday party in the 1940s. The staff would appreciate any help with identification; some of the first names appear to be Essie, Loralee, Mera, Bee, Joe and Buddy. To provide further ID, call the WGHF at (407) 656-3244.