This week in West Orange County history

The area has a rich history archived at the West Orange Times & Observer.

By Amy Quesinberry
| 4:17 p.m. September 9, 2020

West Orange Times & Observer
Neighborhood

OLD TIMES

80 years ago

Announcement was made by Gov.-elect Spessard Holland that he plans to make at least one campaign speech in each Florida county between now and the General Election.

75 years ago

There are innumerable beauty spots in Florida, but one of the most beautiful is Trailer City, according to residents who have lived there since 1939. It is a paradise where cultured people park their traveling home for a season.

70 years ago

Curtis Pickens, Ray Fleming and Carroll Dickinson, 1950 graduates of Lakeview High School, went to Tampa for a physical examination with a view to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard. Selby Burch, a junior at Florida Southern College, made the trip last also for his physical.

Ladies, attention: We have been appointed exclusive agents for New Home sewing machines. Winter Garden Hardware. Phone, 208.

50 years ago

Nearly 500 local officials, educators, guests and citizens gathered at 950 Kirkman Road for the groundbreaking of Valencia Junior College’s permanent campus.

45 years ago

William E. “Uncle Billy” Paquin, 99, received a plaque for being the oldest person at the city of Winter Garden’s 67th anniversary at the Municipal Auditorium and surrounding park.

20 years ago

District 1 Orange County Commissioner Teresa Jacobs stood on the corner of Dillard Street and West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden to thank voters for elected her into office with 68% of the vote.

The Ocoee City Commission approved a 213,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter next to Health Central. Planning Director Russ Wagner said the project would be more upscale than other existing stores. Plans called for fountains, additional architectural details, extensive landscaping, a covered walkway and outdoor patio.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Sept. 9, 1971

Webb’s Fabulous Pharmacies had several locations in West Orange County — in Ocoee and Winter Garden — and there were always bargains to be found just by looking in the advertisement in The Winter Garden Times. Where else could you find a Mickey Mouse watch starting at $7.95? Or how about cough syrup for 33 cents, Duo-Tang report covers for 9 cents, artificial flowers for 5 cents or round metal snack tables for 99 cents?

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

In 1966, First Baptist Church of Winter Garden took a large group of its members to a music conference held in Ridgecrest, located south of Clearwater on Florida’s west coast. The annual conference provided training and leadership programs in Sunday school teaching, the Women’s Missionary Union, Baptist student works, music, managing media libraries, Centrifuge bible study groups and more.

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation would like help identifying everyone in this group photo. The random names already provided are Mr. Hayes, Phyllis, Mrs. Beach, Danny Hartsfield, Kay Quigley, Fred Dorman, Jerry Clark, Pam Beach, Randy Maloy, Sharon Thames, Brenda Boston and Jean Patee. Call the foundation at (407) 656-3244 to add names.

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.