This week in West Orange County history

OLD TIMES

85 years ago

The West Orange News announced it would abandon the smaller tabloid size and provide 20 inches of copy in seven columns.

75 years ago

Tourists are finding it difficult to get room reservations in Winter Garden, and to get an apartment is out of the question. The acute shortage of labor, as well as building materials, is holding up building activities.

Mrs. A.C. Valdes, whose husband is in the service, began residing at the Edgewater Hotel.

65 years ago

Winter Garden’s annual TB Christmas Seals sales, part of the traditional fundraising event of the Orange County Tuberculosis and Health Association, officially opened with the full support of Mayor V.E. Bourland.

50 years ago

Crowned at the West Orange Youth Center Christmas party were Chip Narramore and Brenda Holland as king and queen and Tommy Sewell and Tammy Kennington as prince and princess.

45 years ago

The Rev. Gordon Smith, the Rev. Roger Seidner and Father Joseph Harte agreed with this statement found in a recent church bulletin: “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver — but contributions from grouches are also appreciated.”

Hot Sipper recipe: To 5 cups of boiling water, add and mix ½ cup sugar, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, 1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 3 teaspoons instant tea. Add 1 thawed 6-ounce can of Florida frozen concentrate orange juice and mix thoroughly. Serve hot, garnished with sliced orange rings.

20 years ago

Members of Oakland Presbyterian Church gathered outside to celebrate the groundbreaking of their new family life center, which will be a large, multi-functional facility suitable for indoor sports activities and seating for 300 people in a banquet-style event.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Dec. 13, 1946

Florida Telephone Corporation advertisement in The West Orange News: “If you chose a career, would you like one that paid well right from the start? Would you enjoy doing one of the most important jobs a girl can do today? Do you like making friends and working in pleasant surroundings? If your answer is ‘yes’ to all of these questions, you’ll certainly enjoy being a telephone operator.”

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Lakeview High School’s final varsity baseball team poses on the bleachers at Walker Field in 1975. Lakeview opened in 1927 and closed in 1976 when Lakeview and Ocoee students were combined at the new West Orange High School. It was the end of a tradition of athletes proudly sporting the iconic “L” on uniforms across five decades.

From left: front row, Nicky Adams, captain Steve Underwood, bat girls Jan Jowers and Lisa Sirmans, captain James Morris, Jimmy Notaro; second row, Ricky Maloy, Claude Hawthorne, Mark Perko, Eugene Batts, Mike Munger, Timmy Waters; third row, assistant coach Bobby Ficquette, manager Ronnie Moore, Ray Phillips, Joe Sellati, Tommy Orie, coach Hal Cuddy; back row, Kevin Munroe, Jack Sellati, Kenny Ison, Jimmy Spears and Ronnie Fleming.