This week in West Orange County history

OLD TIMES

90 years ago

One of the closest election races in the history of Winter Garden occurred when V.E. Bourland and J.R. Carpenter tied in the race for county commission from District 3. Each had 1,193 votes.

85 years ago

To introduce its new Mechanicold soda fountain, Davis Pharmacy is holding a Fountain Day Sale. Everyone who visits the store may register for the drawing, which will determine the winners of the free hours at the fountain all during the day.

Display ad of the week from Davis Pharmacy: Sundaes, 10 cents; malted milkshakes, 10 cents; Chocows, two for 5 cents; jumbo ice-cream sodas, one small nickel.

70 years ago

Two young men, Walter “Buster” Sheppard and Clarence Miller, compose the new team at Sheppard’s Drug Store, formerly McCollum’s Drug Store, at Main and Plant streets.

65 years ago

The completed chapel of the Winter Garden Methodist Church was formally opened. The chapel is part of the educational unit that was built during the ministry of Jesse E. Waller.

50 years ago

New Second-Class Scouts in Boy Scout Troop 210 were David Butler, Tim Hutchinson, Robert Struthers and Mike Ficquette.

40 years

Sea World of Florida has opened its $5 million Shark Encounter, a 600,000-gallon, state-of-the-art aquarium more than 10 years in the planning and nearly a full year in construction.

45 years ago

Robert and Helen Twigg and son Daniel of Sand Lake Hills reaped the rewards of a deep-sea fishing trip purchased at the Windermere Rotary Auction. Doug Fay and Jerry Fay took the Twiggs into the Atlantic off Stuart, where they snagged 15 scrappy bonito and one toothy barracuda, caught by Daniel.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

July 13, 1967

Instead of having to travel to Orlando for games and other hobby-related merchandise, local residents could make a stop at Winter Garden Camera Exchange, in downtown Winter Garden. The store had something for everyone with a hobby. In the July 13, 1967, issue of The Winter Garden Times, the business advertised its vast inventory offerings, including race car sets, train sets, used vinyl records, model airplanes, games, puzzles and crafts.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Citrus packinghouse workers are shown outside the Winter Garden Citrus Growers Association plant on Second Street in east Winter Garden, sometime in the 1920s. It was served by the Tavares & Gulf Railroad, whose tracks ran along the south side of the complex. It served as the association’s second structure; the original stood on West Plant Street in the vicinity of the post office. A third iteration, constructed following a fire that destroyed the packinghouse in the photograph, operates today as the corporate office for Florida Paints.