HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for week of March 20, 2025

OLD TIMES / THE WAYS WE WERE

Excerpts from the newspaper archives

90 years ago

The Ladies Aid Society of the Ocoee Christian Church sponsored a sock social at the Ocoee Inn. The price of admission depended on the size sock attendees wore.

Miss Kathryn Pipkin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Pipkin of Orlando, became the bride of Albert C. Valdes of Winter Garden in Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College.

Several pupils of Mrs. A.C. Bray’s kindergarten, including Selby Burch, Ellen Corbett and Emily Pruett, appeared on WDBO’s radio birthday program.

80 years ago

The Municipal Swimming Pool was a popular resort in Winter Garden visited by crowds daily. Tourists, as well as the locals, were pleased with the bathing privileges, and the servicemen declared it their favorite recreation.

75 years ago

Opening of Mozelle’s Shop in the Edgewater Hotel was announced by Mrs. Finis E. Smith and Mozelle Cox, owners.

Lakeview High’s baseball team opened the season at Montverde and then tangled with Winter Park at home. Lettermen returning from the previous year’s potent squad were Ron Clonts, second base; Billy Peavy, catcher; Eugene Simmons, shortstop; Charles Solomon, third base; Dave Solomon, left field; Ray Spears, pitcher (a previous All-Conference selection); Ed Winstead, third base; Harold Woodley, catcher; Tom Sewell, left field, Eugene Charles, pitcher; and Jimmy Crowder, left field.

50 years ago

The West Orange YMCA sponsored a ladies beginning tennis class, and participating were Brenda Lopsonzski, Pam Britt, Andy Davis, Louise King, Sharon Michael, Pat Katutis, Annette Spigener, Connie Holland, Bobbie Freeman, Sandy Dasher and Peg Mayo. Britt and Davis placed second and fifth in the beginners tournament of all the YMCAs in the metro area, with about 25 competitors.

Janet Ward, 3, was the winner in a baby contest sponsored by Easter Star Lodge 108 in Oakland. She was the daughter of Willie and Christine Ward of Oakland.

40 years ago

Hyde Park, a 350-unit adult luxury manufacturing housing community in Winter Garden, announced its opening.

35 years ago

Betty Burch and Dot Parrish taught beginning bridge lessons at Tanner Auditorium.

First-grade winners in Calvary Baptist’s Arts and Crafts contest were Brandon Ickes, Leah Stewart, Natasha Fraedrich and Robbie Burroughs.

30 years ago

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to establish the Gotha Rural Settlement. It also had required approval by voters on a countywide ballot.

20 years ago

West Orange 5 movie theater in Ocoee advertised these movies: “Robots,” “Miss Congeniality 2,” “The Pacifier,” “Be Cool,” “Ice Princess” and “The Ring 2.”

THROWBACK THURSDAY

MARCH 20, 1975

The grand opening of the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village was a huge affair in March 1975. The company placed a full-page advertisement in The Winter Garden Times to announce the opening and let citizens know of all the great shopping opportunities that awaited them in the 29 cedar-shingled shops.

The stores participating in the opening celebration were Anniversary Room; Apothecary; Bath Parlour; Candy Factory; Cane, Wicker, Rattan & Suns; Cap’n Jack’s Oyster Bar; Carolyn’s Couture; Chalet Candle Shop; Colonnade Des Arts; Country Address; Crystal Arts; Flower Garden; Gourmet Pantry; Heidelberger’s Deli; It’s a Small World After All; Lite Bite; Michael’s; Miss Merrily’s Madness; Pipe Dream; Plus You; Port of Entry; Posh Pets; Pottery Chalet; Sir Edward’s Haberdasher; Toledo Arts; Toys Fantastique; 24KT Precious Adournments; 2 R’s-Read’n & Rite’n; Village Restaurant; Village Spirits; Von Otto’s Antiques; Watch Maker; and Windjammer Dock Shop.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

From the Benning family file comes this photograph of a group of local residents enjoying an excursion to Clay Springs in March 1901. They most likely traveled by the Tavares & Gulf Railroad to the west side of Lake Apopka where the popular destination was located. Today its name survives at a trailhead on the Lake Apopka Loop.

Some of the revelers have been identified: Bottom row, fifth from left; Hoyle Pounds; seventh, Lillie Pounds Clay. Middle row, third from left, Claude Hawthorne; fifth, Clyde Pounds; 10th, Nora Pounds. Top row, third from left, Will Pounds; sixth, Neta Benning; and seventh, Frank Pounds.