W E ST O RA N G E T I M ES &
Observer Celebrating more than 110 years in West Orange
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VOLUME 86, NO. 37
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Carson Montgomery takes national stage. 17.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
Turn for the worse A late turn in its path pushed the eye of Hurricane Irma closer to West Orange County Sept. 10 and 11. Among the losses: a nearly 100-year-old water tower from Winter Garden’s citrus days. OBSERVER STAFF
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he water tower wasn’t included on the National Register of Historic Places, or any other historic site, for that matter, but it held significant value in Winter Garden nonetheless. Constructed in the 1920s, the tank was an important part of the operations at the South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Association in Tildenville for decades. To locals in recent times, it was an endearing reminder of yesteryear. But the old structure was no match for Hurricane Irma, which raged through Central Florida late Sunday, Sept. 10, and early Monday, Sept. 11. The tower, located on the old South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Association property on Tildenville School Road, was knocked to the ground sometime during the storm, sending rushing waters into nearby businesses and destroying inventory and records. SEE PAGE 4
Photos by Amy Quesinberry
Town of Oakland employees were out early Monday morning to start cleaning up storm debris. Gabby Baquero
SEE COVERAGE ON PAGES 4-6
Marbais Enterprises, a used car dealership on North Lakewood and 15th avenues in Ocoee, had its sign torn down and suffered significant damage to its fencing.