HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for week of May 15, 2025

FROM THE ARCHIVES
A recent donation from the Lau family of their photographic archive continues to reveal tantalizing pictorial details of a bygone era. This group of five posed at Daytona Beach in May 1921. The individuals are unidentified; however, the young boy (second from left) might be Irvin Herman Lau.

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation — your family archive — is committed to preserving West Orange County history. Stop by the museums in downtown Winter Garden to see how you can help.

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.

THE WAYS WE WERE
90 years ago
The Winter Garden Rotarians had a fun and frolic day with teams of Rotarians going head-to-head. The Red Team, captained by Dr. E.J. Lawrence, and the Yellow Team, headed by W.F. Cappleman, participated in a succession of stunts, a football game with balloons, bowling with grapefruit, peanut rolling, inflation of crying balloons and water polo in which the contestants ended by blowing water into each other’s faces.

80 years ago
One new sugar stamp, five blue food stamps and five red food stamps became valid. Sugar stamp 36 must last four months instead of three, so citizens were asked to cut their use accordingly.

75 years ago
A “get acquainted” party for all children entering the first grade was planned at Winter Garden Elementary School, announced Jessie Brock, principal. Two films, “Getting Ready for School” and “A Day at School,” were going to be shown.

55 years ago
Color bearers at a mother-daughter tea sponsored by Girl Scout Troop 729 were Cindy Littler, Pam Hannon, Lynn Freeman, Scottie Smith and Barbara Belflower.

50 years ago
Evelyn Foust, principal of Winter Garden Elementary School, presented orchids to secretaries June Hall and Rose West in observance of National Secretaries Week.

Carol Farnsworth of Winter Garden graduated summa cum laude from Florida Southern College and received the President’s Scholarship Medal and the Most Outstanding Major Management Award.

New officers of Ocoee Elementary School PTO were installed: Linda Harper, secretary; Connie Maxey, treasurer; Judy Henry, president; and Caroline Alexander, first vice president. Principal was Byron Baird.

45 years ago
Kenneth B. Morris was named managing editor of The Times, according to George R. Bailey, publisher. Morris, a graduate of Lakeview High School and Stetson University, completed the requirements for a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Florida.

Dr. Gregory Winters of Windermere accepted a $1,000 community service award from Walt Disney World on behalf of the Butler Chain Conservation Association in the field of ecology and environment.

Among 12 Orange County coordinators honored on ADDitions Recognition Day were Ginger Jackson at Windermere Elementary School and Bonnie James at Dr. Phillips Elementary School.

40 years ago
The city of Ocoee celebrated its 60th anniversary with a full day of activities. H.M. Bowness led the parade in a 1925 car, and Patrick Branch rode his high-wheeler bicycle. There was a dedication of the new gazebo, from which Glen Gettings sang his original song, “Ocoee.” A hot-air balloon was available for rides all day.

THROWBACK THURSDAY
MAY 8, 1969
A public service announcement was The A&P grocery store at 7731 S. Dillard St. in Winter Garden advertised itself as “the store that cares about you!” It offered “everyday low, low prices plus Plaid Stamps” that could be traded in for items such as dishes or cookware.

In an ad placed in The Winter Garden Times, the chain offered a selection of “appetizingly good groceries.”

For 39 cents, you could get frozen meat dinners, skinless franks, one pound of baking hens or one pound of perch filets. Shoppers spending 49 cents could get an 8-ounce package of bologna, three-and-one-half pounds of spareribs or 10 pounds of potatoes. Folks wanting to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables could get one pound of apples for 19 cents, a two-pound bag of carrots for 23 cents, a one-pound basket of tomatoes for 29 cents and a three-pound bag of yellow onions for 33 cents.