HISTORY: West Orange County of yesteryear for week of May 29, 2025

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Twenty-three women met in May 1997 to form a garden club for the West Orange County region. Marjorie Masson, president of the Windermere Garden Club, was the guest speaker. The group soon became known as the Bloom & Grow Garden Society. Attending the first meeting were: front row, Vicky Mobley, left, Gretchen Boyd, Mary Bess Girvin, Cheryl Medley, Zane Doshna, Pat Borysiewicz and Terry Lore; middle row, Jeanette Holden, Mary Root, Fran Stanford, Jessie Talbot, Mary Black, Delia Schley, Virginia Robinson and Sue Crabtree; and back row, Amy Kienzle, Judy Britt, Phyllis Hickman, Mary Keating, Mary Van Deventer, Joan Peterson and Terri Collins. Camera shy: Jennifer Hunt. The photograph appeared in The West Orange Times May 29, 1997 — exactly 28 years ago. 

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
80 years ago
Flight Officer Harold Maguire arrived by plane from Rosecrans Field, St. Joseph, Missouri, to spend several days in Ocoee with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Maguire. He was instructing in celestial flying at Missouri for the past few months.

50 years ago
Charlene Payne Kammerer, a 1966 graduate of Lakeview High School, was ordained a deacon and appointed assistant pastor of Arlington United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.

New officers of the West Orange Junior Service League were Del Heidt, president; Lois Godbold, first vice president; Barbara Jones, second vice president; Susan Sampson, corresponding secretary; Mary Ann Clements, recording secretary; Jimmie Hargrove, social chair; and Tracy Daley, ways and means.

Lakeview High School presented its final senior class play, “Up the Down Staircase.” Among the cast members were Caron Deane, Carol Fleming, Rod Reynolds, Derek Blakeslee, Steve Cox, Cathy Patton, Rachel Mashburn and Terry Bailey.

Officers of Lakeview High School’s last graduating class were Rachel Mashburn, president; Jimmy Jones, Denise Morris, secretary; and Lisa Godfrey, treasurer. Special recognition was given to Mashburn and Stan Lummus, Most Likely to Success; Jeanne Pitchford and Rick Miller, Best Looking; Tim Hutchinson and Godfrey, Friendliest; Jamela Dangler and Chris Macchi, Wittiest; and Morris and Jimmy Spears, Most Popular.

Officers of Ocoee High School’s last graduation class were Ricky Anderson, president; Gerald Watson, vice president; Judy Birdyshaw, recording secretary; Sue Cyr, corresponding secretary; and Tami Whitlow, treasurer. Special recognition was given to Kurt Ardaman and Tanya Miller, Most Likely to Succeed; Debbie Steinly and Phil Bracewell, Most Talented; Skeeter Hurd and Jody Estes, Wittiest; and Rick Anderson and Gaila Hopper, Most Popular.

40 years ago
The new pastor of First Baptist Church Windermere was Dr. Mark Matheson, who moved here from Dallas, where he was associate pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church. Accompanying him were his wife, Carla; daughter, Emily; and newborn son, Drew.

Agatha Christie’s “The Unexpected Guest” was presented at West Orange High School, the final production of Lynn Melton. Cast members included Robbie West, Kristin Garrison, Vince Runci, Jon Heath, Wade Griffith, Scott Morris, Julie Crawford and Colleen Parker.

20 years ago
Developers significantly reduced the size of the controversial Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves after nearby residents protested the enormity of the project. It was decreased from more than 1.5 million square feet to 1.1 million by removing the planned 24-screen movie theater and one of three “big box” stores.

THROWBACK THURSDAY
MAY 29, 1975

There were not many options for apartment living in West Orange County in 1975. In Winter Garden, the few possibilities, as advertised in The Winter Garden Times, were Garden Villas and Inland Seas Apartments.

At Garden Villas, located near Plant Street on Park Avenue, a one-bedroom apartment started at $120, and the ad included amenities such as a pool, clubhouse, barbecue grills and an ice maker. Back then, there wasn’t much traffic, and it took only about 15 minutes to get to Walt Disney World.

Fewer than two miles away, at Inland Seas on West Bay Street, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments were available and included a swimming pool, clubhouse and tennis courts.

The Haystack West, on West Colonial Drive at Hiawassee Road, boasted clubhouses, wall-to-wall plush shag carpet, color-coordinated electric range and two Perma-Press laundries.