Old Times 10.23.14

70 years ago 

In view of the encouraging increase of 29% in total membership of the Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, 85 scouts attended the Scouters’ Roundup at Camp Wewa. They accepted a challenge to go forward in the coming months and adopted a budget of $17,599 for the year 1945. 

Roger B. Seidner, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, is attending the V-12 at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Harry C. Luff, Navy V-12 unit, is resuming his studies at Union College, Schenectady, New York, following a leave with relatives in Windermere.

Navy Lt. James A. Mobley is at the U.S. Naval Armed Guard Center, Brooklyn, New York, following a leave at the home of his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Fairchild.

35 years ago

It may not make the "Guinness Book of World Records," but the West Orange YMCA had its own version of the world’s biggest apple-bobbing contest at its Halloween party. Instead of a barrel of water, the competition-size swimming pool was used.

Judge Spencer Cross, of Ocoee, has been transferred from the Fourth District Court of Appeal to the newly established Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach.

New to the Windermere Rotary Club is Dr. Ed Brackney, who, with his wife, Paula, returned to Windermere to live in the house in which Ed lived as a boy. Among his hobbies is scuba diving.

25 years ago

New mayors were elected in three municipalities: Lester Dabbs, in Ocoee, Ray Spears, in Winter Garden, and Jim Kay, in Oakland.

The rebuilding goes on in Hurricane Hugo-ravaged South Carolina and there continues to be heart-warming stories of volunteering that include seven members of First Baptist Church, Winter Garden: Dixon and Bernice Hays, Dick and Rose Abbatiello, William and Hattie Bracewell and John Wade. 

20 years ago

Winter Garden residents and business leaders have been gathering petitions and writing letters to legislators to keep the post office in the downtown area. Jerry Chicone told the City Commission, “Plant Street is the core of the city.”

Doris and Tom Slimick, of Ocoee, and their family members were recognized as Citizens of the Year for their 12 years of dedicated care of 100 foster children through the Children’s Home Society of Florida.