This week in West Orange County history

OLD TIMES

75 years ago

Baseball fans watched the Winter Garden team take Clermont 3-0 in the weekly Sunday afternoon game.

Nell Johnson, Iris Roane, Margaret Smith and Virginia Fowler left to spend three weeks at Junaluska Inn, Junaluska, North Carolina.

70 years ago

The Business Woman’s Circle of the First Baptist Church met last week with Mrs. George Walker in her home. Mrs. Louise Shaw led the devotionals, and Mrs. Lutha Kilgore was program chairman. Members taking part were mesdames Ann Stevens, Ralph Harrell, Robert Hargrave, Mae Reaves and Julian Shepherd and Miss Jackie Humphries. A social hour followed the program, and Mrs. Walker served a delicious ice course for refreshments.

55 years ago

Mrs. John Girvin, Mrs. George Barley, Ann Weeks, Margaret Weeks, Chris Barley and Steve Girvin visited friends in Miami this past weekend. They stayed at the Kendall Apartments in Miami.

40 years ago

Ronnie Walker was named chief of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, replacing Dick Mills, who moved out of town.

U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles planned a visit as a guest speaker at a new office dedication at The Times.

30 years ago

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a half-million-dollar expansion project at the West Orange YMCA.

The West Orange Times published a progress edition to inform readers of the current status of agriculture, industry, real estate, finance and retail.

Winter Garden resident Ned Vick received a patent on a barbecue grill he called The Better Mouth Trap. He worked on the concept for nine years and created a grill that was one-fifth the weight of competing grills and had more racks to allow more food to be grilled at once.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

July 28, 1966

Winter Garden had only a few places to gather with friends and family in 1966, and one of them was the Winter Garden Lanes, located on South Dillard Street. The manager was Guy E. Neff. The bowling alley offered several adult leagues and even provided a nursery for players who had young children.

Not a bowler? Not a problem. A billiard room was open for people who preferred that kind of ball game.

It now operates as Winter Garden Bowl and is still a fun gathering place for family and friends.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

It’s hot enough in town, so perhaps it’s time for a trip to a cooler environment. Even a century ago, escape from the high summer heat of interior Florida was an option, according to the history behind this postcard.

It was mailed from Seabreeze, Florida, on July 29, 1911 — exactly 110 years ago — from Emily Willis Tilden to her granddaughter, Gladys Tilden. The young woman was 17 years old at the time and vacationing in Trefethen, Maine, with her parents.

Luther Fuller Tilden (1834-1929) and his wife Emily Willis Tilden (1840-1925) lived in the two houses that still stand on Tildenville School Road. Their granddaughter, Gladys — one of nine children born to Luther and Emily’s son, Luther Willis Tilden (1869-1941) — grew up in the home that came to be known as Meadow Marsh.