- April 12, 2025
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In the early days of medicine in West Orange County, Dr. James A. Davis took his horse and buggy to make house calls in the small, rural community. Photo courtesy of Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
A photo of the staff at West Orange Memorial Hospital was taken outside the Winter Garden facility. Photo courtesy of Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
The early days of ambulance service at West Orange Memorial Hospital. Photo courtesy of Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
The hospital's women's auxiliary played an important role at West Orange Memorial Hospital. Photo courtesy of Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
Dr. Wayne Goldbold, left, Dr. William Mitchell and Dr. Charles Carter held the first set of triplets born at West Orange Memorial Hospital. The parents were Charles and Betty Thompson. Photo courtesy of Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
Frances Gleason Grubbs’ father, Dr. Albert Gleason, was saving the lives of American troops stationed in Europe during World War II long before he was caring for West Orange County patients and raising funds to build a hospital in Winter Garden. Many of his medical instruments are on display at the museum.
Members of the Orlando Health administration were present at the reception to debut the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s exhibition honoring health care in West Orange County.
The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation has one of the bricks from the razed hospital in Winter Garden.
Issued by the United States Navy, this otoscope was used by Dr. Albert Gleason during World War II to examine the ears of service personnel.
The heritage foundation exhibition pays tribute to the hospital’s auxiliary and American Red Cross volunteers.
A syringe used by Dr. Albert Gleason.
Before Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital opened in 1993, local residents were treated for illness or gave birth at West Orange Memorial Hospital, in Winter Garden. Before this hospital was built in 1952, folks relied on a handful of doctors who saw patients in their offices or made house calls.
The nearest hospital was more than 13 miles away on narrow, local roads.
From small-town doctors to cutting-edge hospitals, healthcare has evolved over the years. While methods for treating patients have changed, the healers’ goals haven’t.
The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation has a new exhibition, sponsored by Orlando Health, called “From House Calls to Hospitals that takes museum guests on a walk through medical history.
Howard Brown, CFO of Orlando Health South Florida Region and WGHF board member, spoke at the reception and shared a brief history.
“Health care in West Orange County has deep roots dating back to 1949 when the Florida Legislature established the West Orange Healthcare District,” Brown said. “In 1952, WOMC opened its doors here in Winter Garden, serving the rural community’s surgical, maternity and general health care needs. As our community grew, so did the need for more advanced health care services. In 1993, West Orange Memorial Hospital evolved into Health Central Hospital. Health Central joined the Orlando Health family in 2012.”
In introducing the exhibition, WGHF curator Will McCoy said: “Everyone in town would go see one doctor, usually that was Dr. Gleason in the early 1940s to 2004, very long career. … It’s about one individual — it’s changed over time to one very large multifaceted facility.”
“These exhibits that we do are all about the people of West County,” Jim Crescitelli, director of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation. “We don’t just talk about history dates. … We like to involve the people who created history in West Orange County.”
