This week in West Orange County history: Feb. 16 2023

OLD TIMES

60 years ago

Leon Acton was named president of the Winter Garden Chamber of Commerce.

50 years ago

A head-on collision on Highway 50 in Ocoee took the life of Mizell Triplett, former Winter Garden school principal and community leader. Born in Hyde Park, Florida, he came to Winter Garden in 1960 to become assistant principal at Charles R. Drew High School. He was named principal of Maxey Elementary in 1967 and served in that capacity until 1972. He was survived by his wife, Thelma, and five children, ages 5 to 19: Frederic, Andrea Cecelia, Theodore, Dondra Belinda and Mizell O’Hara.

Editorial: “The Wrong Forum” — The Winter Garden City Commission is to be commended for realizing that theirs is the wrong forum for working out a solution to student discipline problems at Lakeview High School. Instead, the primary responsibility for handling student conduct matters belongs to the school authorities. … We seriously question the advisability of sending policemen to the school to maintain order except at times of gross violence.

40 years ago

The Blue Ribbon Math Poster Contest winners from Dillard Street Elementary School were John Barber, Cam Bradford, Keith Wiley, Jason Stokes, Justin Rees and Meredith Sterns.

Competing with high school musicians from all over Florida, Laura McKey, Lakeview High sophomore, earned a first-chair cello ranking at the 29th Annual Florida All-State Music Clinic-Festival.

30 years ago

A dedication ceremony for the new Gotha Post Office was held, followed by an open house and tours of the facility. The ceremony featured a flag raising by the boy scouts; the national anthem by Sheila Veatch; and an invocation by the Rev. Doug King, pastor of Park Ridge Baptist Church. Postmaster Jean Hurst introduced the guests, and Kurt Ardaman, president of the Gotha Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon.

20 years ago

The city of Winter Garden turned the first spades of soil to mark the beginning of construction on the new S.C. Battaglia Memorial Winter Garden Branch Library on East Plant Street. The $2.55 million facility was to incorporate many unique features, including 30 computers, more than any other branch, that will link patrons to the Orange County Library System digital database, as well as the internet.

Carter Family Bowl announced the winners of its Thanksgiving and Christmas coloring contests. At Thanksgiving, the first-place winners were Chad Steiner, Hector Rivera and Meagan Andrews. At Christmas, the first-place winners were Chase Steiner, Dakota Lowe, Colt Hall and Annie Waller.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Feb. 6, 1969

The Winter Garden Times celebrated the 59th anniversary of boy scouting — which took place the week of Feb. 7 through 13, 1969 — with an advertisement sponsored by local businesses. Advertisers were Jones Standard Service, Bank of West Orange, Ted Snell Signs, Florida Metal Craft Inc., Herb’s Clothes Line, Badcock Furniture, Car Locator & Maintenance Co., Cappleman Agency Inc., L. Frank Roper, Hart’s Radio & TV, Crawford’s Ocoee Gulf Service, Independent Paint & Coating Co., Ronnie’s Drive In, U Tote M, Winter Garden Lumber Co., First National Bank, Tom West Inc., Winter Garden Laundromat, Tomkins Funeral Home, John Lamb Chevrolet, West Orange Federal Savings & Loan Association and Winter Garden Times.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Francine Postell (1932-2022) was a lifelong resident of Oakland. She was one of 10 children born to Will and Lugenia Postell, who moved to town from Georgia in the early 20th century. The family prospered and eventually purchased several parcels of property in Oakland, many of which were offered to the children for homesites.

Postell, shown here receiving flowers on Valentine’s Day 1998, served as the mayor of Oakland from 1987 to 1989.

An exhibition featuring students and activities held at Drew High School, the region’s higher education facility for black students during the years of segregation, is on display at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum through February.