Old Times 9.18.14

70 years ago

Pfc. Warren Hurley of Winter Garden was interviewed by a Tampa Tribune war correspondent near Aachen, the first large city in Germany encountered by advancing American troops. Cold and wet, crouched in deep foxholes in a forest turned into a quagmire by hours of rain, the men of Hurley’s company huddled together when not firing their mortars. Concluding his interview, Hurley said: “I guess I’m glad we’re here in Germany because it must mean the end is pretty near. I’d rather see Florida than Paris any day.”

45 years ago

A snowmobile has arrived in Winter Garden. It was shipped to Bob Kerr’s Marine Tool Co. for the purpose of designing a hoist to speed service on these vehicles. Kerr has many patents on hoists for such things as outboard motors, but this is his first “snow job.” The model will fit all makes and models of the snow sleds.

Winter Elks Lodge No. 2165 has gathered several truckloads of clothing and food supplies for the people who lost everything in Hurricane Camille.

40 years ago

Donald Richardson, new principal of Tildenville School, welcomed new teachers: Linda Rees, first grade; Elaine Mathews, adjustment; Lee Burch, P.E.; Eleanor Jennings, guidance; Elaine Sirmans, reading lab; Julie Thrush, music; Juanita Cuellar, art; and Brenda Wilkes, fourth grade.

35 years ago

Millions of bees made an unscheduled stop in Winter Garden as a tractor-trailer was rolling south on the Turnpike carrying bee colonies from the Dakotas to a pepper field near Delray Beach. The driver may have dozed, hit the Daniels Road overpass and overturned, scattering hive boxes all over the highway. Many bee handlers were called in to deal with the angry hordes of bees.

Flag were displayed at half-mast at both City Hall and the post office in Winter Garden in memory of City Commissioner Donald Jackson who died unexpectedly at the age of 36.

Bob Dunn of Houston, Texas, has acquired the Mobil Oil bulk plant in Winter Garden from Mr. and Mrs. W.M. (Duck and Evelyn) Teal. The name of the business is now R.C. Dunn Oil Co.