9 minute read

WINTER GARDEN

from 07.01.21 Local Motion

by Orange Observer

from 07.01.21 Local Motion, page 20

TEN TO ATTEND

A Charming Little City with a Juicy Past

Settlers began arriving in the Winter Garden area by the 1850s, attracted by the fertile muck land that bordered Lake Apopka. They engaged in citrus and vegetable farming, living in small settlements situated along the lake’s south shore. By the end of the nineteenth century, Winter Garden’s business district had grown up alongside the two railroad lines that ran through the city. The commercial buildings were rebuilt with brick after two fires destroyed the wooden buildings and packinghouses that stood along Plant and Main Streets.

Winter Garden was established in 1903 and officially incorporated as a city in 1908. The population of Winter Garden had grown to more than 1,000 people by 1920, and the city had quickly become the center of commerce and agriculture in West Orange County. Lake Apopka’s emergence as “the large-mouth bass capital” attracted tourists, and the Edgewater Hotel opened in 1927 to accommodate these visitors. Early residents either owned or worked in the groves. As the citrus industry grew in importance and acreage, the commercial district continued to expand.

Winter Garden’s rapid development slowed considerably in the late 1960s. Lake Apopka had become severely polluted, and the construction of major highways in the area drew businesses away from downtown.

Despite the challenges, Winter Garden’s architectural heritage remained intact. The establishment of the West Orange Trail attracted thousands of visitors eager to patronize the new shops and restaurants that moved into the old buildings. In 1996, downtown Winter Garden was listed on the National Register of Historic Places after concerned citizens and community leaders rallied to rescue the commercial district.

Today, Winter Garden’s Historic District serves as a successful example of historic preservation. Infill development, redevelopment, repurposed buildings, preservation, housing and businesses all converge to create a thriving downtown that draws people from around the world.

— AMY QUESINBERRY

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

SPRING Crooked Can Celtic Festival. This free, three-day celebration features live Celtic music, Irish dancers, local vendors, good brews, food and more. Takes place at Crooked Can Brewing Company, 426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden.

Winter Garden Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt. The Lions Club offers a free Easter egg hunt for children ages 2 to 12 at Newton Park on Lake Apopka.

SUMMER All-American Kids Parade. A family favorite, this patriotic parade encourages children to decorate their bikes, scooters and wagons in red, white and blue for a spirited stroll through downtown Winter Garden.

Winter Garden Fireworks Display. End the Fourth of July holiday with a bang by taking in a fireworks display on Lake Apopka. Families bring chairs and blankets to take in the sparkling spectacle. FALL Halloweenfest. The city of Winter Garden’s Halloweenfest offers children a chance to trick or treat down Plant Street and features live entertainment, local vendors and family activities.

WINTER Christmas Golf Cart Parade. To celebrate the holidays, residents deck out their golf carts in true Christmas spirit and travel along golf cart-approved streets to spread cheer in downtown Winter Garden.

City of Winter Garden Christmas Parade. Kick off the holiday season with a jolly parade through Winter Garden. Local organizations, clubs, bands and businesses come together for some spirited fun. Route may vary.

Light Up Winter Garden. One of the hallmark events of the holiday season, thousands head over to Plant Street each year to take in the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree and enjoy the festivities.

Swathwood Family Spectacle of Lights. If you want to see a spectacular display of more than 100,000 Christmas lights, the Swathwood house — 12001 Florida Hills St., Winter Garden — is the way to get into the holiday spirit. It’s a family affair, and the lights are synched to music ranging from Christmas and pop to Disney favorites.

WINTER GARDEN

MAYOR JOHN REES Rees has served as mayor of Winter Garden for 13 years and was a city commissioner for 12 years prior. He also has served on boards of the city’s Planning & Zoning Board, as well as the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, Little League, YMCA, Health Central, Lake Apopka Natural Gas and the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation. The lifelong resident of Winter Garden graduated from Lakeview High School in 1967 and has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in accounting from Rollins College.

DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER LISA BENNETT Bennett is a lifelong resident of Winter Garde. She graduated from Calvary High School in 1981 and attended Valencia Community College. She has been co-owner/ broker of Windsor Realty Group Inc., Winter Garden, for 15 years. Bennett has served District 1 for four years and formerly served on the city’s Architectural Review Board. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Winter Garden and past chair of the board of Hope Charter School.

DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER RON MUELLER Mueller is a graduate of Florida State College in Jacksonville, majoring in business, and served eight years in the United States Navy on both Fast Attack and Trident II nuclear submarines. An Indiana native, he served two terms as alderman in the Saint Louis area before returning to Florida. He is currently employed at Wells Fargo in its Cyber Security Division and oversees Information Protecting Engineering and Transformation.

DISTRICT 3 COMMISSIONER MARK MACIEL Maciel came to Winter Garden from Rhode Island with his wife, Justine, and two children in 1998. His third child was born in Winter Garden. In Rhode Island, he served as a law-enforcement officer with the Department of the Air Force and worked in a family business. Having been a paratrooper and then an Air Force Reservist, he served a total of 32 years in the military and was activated multiple times after the events of 9/11. Maciel is a committee member with the East Winter Garden Boys and Girls Club, is a YMCA Board member and is a former six-year member of Winter Garden’s Planning and Zoning Board.

DISTRICT 4 COMMISSIONER COLIN SHARMAN Sharman has been serving the citizens of Winter Garden as commissioner since 2006. He attended Valencia College’s electrical engineering program, HVAC airconditioning apprenticeship program, Local 803. He is an account manager for Trane US Inc. and a certified mechanical contractor. He was on the city’s Planning & Zoning Board from 2005-06 and is a past board director of Florida League of Cities, Roper YMCA Indian Guides, Florida Health Care Association and Advent Health Winter Garden Advisory Council.

WELCOME TO WINTER GARDEN

Welcome to the city of Winter Garden! The city’s unique combination of small-town charm combined with family-friendly amenities makes it an ideal location to live and work. Its appeal and desirability is recognized nationally, including being named one of the “Best Places to Live in America” by Money magazine.

Winter Garden embodies a wealth of historical, cultural and natural assets that provide a high quality of life. Its brick-lined, walkable Historical Downtown provides a mix of restaurants, retail shops, museums, an art gallery, a theatre, landmarks, as well as a splash pad and recreational parks. The awardwinning West Orange Trail winds through the heart of our downtown, and every Saturday a prize-winning Farmers Market provides a community hub.

The city is committed to delivering top-notch customer service to our more than 49,000 residents and 2,000 businesses. In fact, we are a proud recipient of the 2020 National Voice of the People Award given to the top 10 jurisdictions nationwide for achieving excellence.

Once again, welcome and enjoy Winter Garden, where good things grow.

— MAYOR JOHN REES

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

n Winter Garden City Hall: 300 W. Plant St., (407) 6564111 n Cable/internet: Spectrum, (407) 291-2500; DIRECTV, (866) 906-2621; DISH, (844) 306-7067; AT&T, (866) 8170776; CenturyLink, (877) 862-9343; EarthLink, (844) 903-3107 n Power/electric: Duke Energy, (800) 700-8744 n Fire: Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department, (407) 877-5175 n Police: Winter Garden Police Department, (407) 656-3636 n Solid waste: City of Winter Garden, (407) 656-4111, Ext. 2009 n Utilities (water, sewer) Winter Garden Water Department, (407) 656-4100

n A.B. Newton published the city’s first newspaper, The Ricochet, and was the first mayor, postmaster and storekeeper. He owned the only imposing brick building in town, and his general store carried most every kind of merchandise. He also operated a packinghouse and sold crate material and fertilizer to growers.

n William S. and Juanita Maxey were longtime educators dedicated to the education of children in east Winter Garden.

n Henry Bradley Plant was the founder and president of the Plant System of railways, steamship lines and hotels, and he developed and promoted the west coast and central sections of Florida. Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden is named for him.

n The Luther Fuller Tilden family and descendants had a great impact on West Orange County, as several streets, an elementary school and a small community are named for the Tildens. Generations of the family were involved in the lucrative citrus business, and many of them lived in the Tildenville area.

n James Lafayette Dillard came to Winter Garden in 1887. He donated the property for the First Baptist Church Winter Garden, planted the first lettuce fields in the area, owned a packinghouse on South Dillard Street, was a well-known truck farmer and became one of the leading fruit and vegetable producers in the area. He served on the first city council and county commission. He and business partner B.T. Boyd built many of the commercial brick buildings in downtown after fire destroyed the wooden business district.

n William Lasenby Story Sr. arrived in the 1880s and lived one mile south of Winter Garden. He was publisher of the West Orange News and an extensive citrus and grove owner in Orange County. Story Road is named for him.