HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for week of May 1, 2025

OLD TIMES / THE WAYS WE WERE

Excerpts from the newspaper archives:

90 years ago

A large and appreciative audience attended the presentation of the senior class play, “Joan of Arkansas,” at the Lakeview High School auditorium. The play was presented under the capable direction of Albert C. Valdes. The class cleared more than $136 from the play, and students purchased a modern mimeograph machine for the school.

80 years ago

The Lakeview High student body planned a carnival in downtown Winter Garden. Lakeview students who vied for the honor of Miss Winter Garden were Jean Reddick, Betty Russ, Maxine Powell, Jean Tyndall, Lorna Johnston, Patty Pease, Jan Ann Turner and Mildred Watson. Proceeds were used to buy drinking fountains for the halls at Lakeview.

Mrs. Earnest Youngblood received an interesting letter from Mrs. Ida D. Chester of San Diego. It read: “I have received a letter from my son, Harold D. Chester, and wife Pearl. They have been rescued from a Japanese intern camp by the American troops, and among those who have been kind to them is your son, Ty Youngblood. Harold tells me your son is well and eager for the war to end.”

55 years ago

Fire destroyed the recently redecorated Winter Garden Lumber Company. More than 60 firefighters from Winter Garden, Pine Hills and Ocoee fought the raging inferno. Also heavily damaged was the Florida Metalcraft Co. located just south of the lumberyard.

50 years ago

The 994 residents of Windermere were invited to help the town celebrate its 50th anniversary with ceremonies commemorating the milestone. A Town Hall program included an invocation by the Rev. Gordon Smith, minister of the First Baptist Church; an introduction of special guests by master of ceremonies Robert Elrod; and the raising of the American flag by Col. Charles Johnson and six “Heroes of 76” in Colonial dress. West Point appointee John Fain led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Rolfe Arnyhm, chairman of the Orange County Bicentennial Committee, presented a flag to Windermere Mayor Dean Kinzey. They mayor delivered his “declaration of celebration” and dedicated a new flagpole for the town. Sen. Walter Sims was guest speaker, and the Rev. Roger Seidner of Windermere Union Church delivered the benediction.

40 years ago

If a recent event was any indication of the future, every 100 years there will be a big bash in Gotha. A parade led by the Orlando Naval Training Center marching band, formed at Camp Ithiel and went down Hempel Avenue to the new park and pavilion on Gotha Road, where festivities were held all day.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

MAY 8, 1942

A public service announcement was advertised in a 1942 issue of the West Orange News, paid for by the Florida Public Service Company to promote modern electric services.

Titled “Woman’s intuition,” the ad read: “No one has ever defined woman’s sixth sense, her power of intuition, the gift by which she reaches the right conclusions without deliberation or known reason. … Grandmother who led a sheltered life could sit at her spinning wheel and weave threads of truth from skeins of gossip. … Granddaughter, however, need not depend on rumor. Telephone, radio, movies and the press keep her fully posted. She can stick to her kitchen, or knitting, and keep in touch with the world.

“Woman’s intuition is aided in our time by every mechanical blessing and labor-saving convenience to keep her better informed than were her foremothers. The American woman is a superlative by-product of a superior system of private enterprise and public vigilance unknown to any other period of history.

“In a great contest, millions of men are now calling to the colors to regain our freedom, that our way of life and thought may be handed down to our children as we received it — unimpaired. As soldiers, sailors and fliers fight with traditional heroism for the preservation of this great ideal, American women provide the first line of home defense.

“From hearthstone to war work, modern electric services give you the time to help keep democracy at work.”

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

This flourishing citrus grove was photographed in 1915. The note on the back indicates it was a seedling orange grove planted in the early 1900s after the 1894-95 freeze. That weather catastrophe — known forever as The Great Freeze — caused many growers to abandon their property and leave the state. Those who stayed planted vegetables in the interim while waiting for these new groves to mature. Citrus thrived for almost 75 years until three killer freezes in the 1980s brought the industry to its knees, never to recover.

The current exhibition at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, “Tempests to Tornadoes,” addresses weather events such as these, on display through mid-July.