This week in West Orange County history

Do you recall these names and faces and places from West Orange County's history?

By Amy Quesinberry
| 12:34 p.m. November 20, 2019

West Orange Times & Observer
Neighborhood

OLD TIMES

75 years ago

Word has been received from Mrs. Jess Cappleman Pounds that her husband, James Herbert Pounds, has been promoted to captain in the U.S. Army. He is with the Air Corps, stationed in New Guinea.

Mrs. A.C. Valdes, whose husband was in the service, moved to Winter Garden.

65 years ago

Peace Justice C.M. Tucker, of Winter Garden, administered the oath of office to Ocoee's new city councilmen.

60 years ago

The operators of Trailer City were inviting the residents of Winter Garden and surrounding area to join with them in the classes and Saturday night square, folk and round dances that will be held in the auditorium.

50 years ago

When local Rotarians have birthdays, many of them contribute a book to the new West Orange Library. Each member is sent a notice along with a bookplate to fill out.

45 years ago

The Windermere Lakers, one of the Pop Warner teams sponsored by the West Orange Branch YMCA, is one of the outstanding teams chosen to play in the annual Kumquat Bowl, held in the Tangerine Bowl. Jim Buttram, Jack Jowett and Pat Moran coached the team to a successful season. On the team: Kirk Farr, Michael Harrell, Jay Lake, Randy Buttram, John Stevenson, David Van Dyke, Jay Dennison, Mike Dennison, Greg Smith, Todd Pacquette, Garrett Pacquette, Bryan Fischer, Wayne Geraghty, Jamie Zweifel and Jack Zweifel.

40 years ago

The West Orange Debutante Ball is being sponsored by the West Orange Junior Service League at the Bay Hill Country Club. Debutantes are Kristin Boardman, Leslie Dabbs, Deborah Davis, Susan Dorman, June Greer, Kimberly Guernsey, Tracy Hall, Beverly Hart, Melodye Hendrix, Janet Hickman, Rebecca Howard, Virginia Spigener, Deborah Strickland, Susan Wolfe and Billie Youngblood.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The Winter Garden Times

Nov. 19, 1970

Forty-nine years ago, the Swiss Family Treehouse was starting to take shape in the Adventureland area at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. The tree, standing at 60 feet tall and 90 feet wide, was made to look real, but it was constructed of steel, concrete and stucco.

Guests could wander through the Robinson family's duplicated living quarters.

WARDCO in Ocoee played an important role in the construction. The park opened a year later.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

The two-story masonry house located on West Plant Street in Winter Garden has had numerous owners since its construction around 1925 by Jeter McMillan. Rotary President Clarence O. McRae purchased the home around 1940.

Clarence’s daughter, Mary Grace (1924-2016), and United States Marine Corps Sgt. Major Dolphus Clindon Reeves (1923-1997) are seen at the front of the house. She graduated from Lakeview High School with the Class of 1942 and married Amos Virgle Marchant of Ty Ty, Georgia. Reeves, the son of Winter Garden barber Mason Clindon Reeves, served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Interested in researching your genealogy? The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation preserves thousands of family files in its archive. Call (407) 656-3244 to make a research appointment.

author

Amy Quesinberry

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.