HomeMy WebLinkAboutRemember When Remember
when. . .
Remember when... The Winter Springs Community
Associaton was THE viable group in the city?Begun back
in the mid-sixties, this group, despite hardships and
internal strife, managed to create an atmosphere of true
community spirit. Just one of the many undertakings of
the group was the annual Halloween party. Excerpts
from an article written early November of 1974 will give
you an example of how popular these festivities were to
city residents.
—The old adage"practice makes perfect"does apply,if
• the Halloween party sponsored by the Winter Springs
Community Assoc. is any.indication. This is the 4th
annual event sponsored by that organization.
The affair was held at the Association's Recreation
Bldg. in Sunshine Park on Oct.31 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Four to five hundred youngsters took part in the
activities which included penny pitch,dart,ring toss,and
two bean bag games.
A walk through scary Spooky Halloween,. where
youngsters were greeted at the sight of a"corpse"rising
from his coffin, satisfied those who delight in having the
daylights scared out of them. The "corpse" was Larry
Smith; who deserves applause for his artfully applied
makeup.
Fifteen hundred pieces of candy were distributed to
the children, compliments of local area merchants and
•groups.
' I Refreshments were available including hot dogs,
orange drink and coffee.
A large bonfire was lit, supervised by the Winter
Springs Volunteer Fire Dept. '
One of the most popular attractions of the evening was
the hayride made from a tractor pulling a flat bed loaded
With hay, driven by Carl Mitchell.
The only thing missing was the"Witch Lady" who has -
delighted youngsters for the past three years. "Witch
Cady",alias Vickie Baker, was unable to participate this
year much to the disappointment of all those youngsters
who had looked forward to seeing her.
• • • •
Remember when...our own police department fast had
separate facilities? That was back in 1973. Prior to that
time, the police department shared a one room facility
with the city council, mayor, fire department, public
works, and others.
The purpose of separation was to allow police
interviews, to be held in a private manner, provide a
place to house confidential files, and to give the police
chief his own office. •
The city purchased a 60'x 10'mobile field office trailer.
The vehicle was set up in front of Hacienda Village on SR
434 in Feb. of 1973.
There were no furnishings in the trailer,so the officers
of both the fire and police departments, along with
public-spirited individuals, built a console to house the
complaint department and radio facilities.When finished
the-trailer contained an office for the police chief, a
communications and records room, and a ready room for
police personnel, which also housed the fingerprinting
apparatus and an office for the fire chief.
Much of the equipment purchased was intended for use
in the proposed city hall complex once it was completed. T
•
Remember When...
in Winter Springs
The year was 1967.After being labeled a"ghost town"
for a period of time, the future of the village of North
Orlando(Winter Springs),took an upswing.In little over
a month, twenty-nine families moved into the city. FHA
repossession signs were being replaced by curtains at the
windows of many home.New revenue was being funneled
into the city coffers. This revenue would provide
necessary city services. The future was hopeful. -
March of 1967 saw a rash of brush fires. For the third
consecutive Saturday, village fireman were called out.
The latest was located on the corner of South Edgemon
and Lombardy.It was believed that children playing with
matches were causing the fires.
The fire burned a large area with a cold day and brisk
winds causing the flames to spread swiftly. There were
12 firemen answering the call.They quickly had the blaze
contained.The Florida Forest Service responded and dug
a firebreak to protect the Lombardy Road homes.
The volunteer firemen were hampered by village
youngsters who came to see the fire and got in the way of
the men and equipment.
• • • • •
July of 1967 was the village council pass the first
reading of the city's first comprehensive criminal code.
The comprehensive ordinance spelled out various
offenses such as gambling, larceny, riot, unlawful
assembly, disorderly conduct, short weights, trespass,
various acts of immorality, drunkenness, false fire
alarms.discharge of fire arms,etc., as well as provisions
for seizure and sale of abandoned apparatus.