James W. Simpson’s lifelong Mount Dora legacy spans citrus and civic duty
James W. Simpson, nearing his 96th birthday, shaped Mount Dora’s citrus industry and town life. He founded early packing houses, led the Mount Dora Growers Cooperative, served on city council, helped lay out streets, and led local business efforts including the Simpson Hotel and First National Bank of Mount Dora. He remained active in church and education while cherishing the city’s growth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cooperatives
Donnelly Street
Eighth Avenue
California
Donnelly and
Third
Simpson
Mount Dora
J.P. Donnelly
Moreno
Cape Cod
Mass
Board of Trade
Friday Night Lamplighters entertain Mount Dora
The Lamplighters four man band with Bill Seabrook and Bob Eastman performed at The Lamp Post Restaurant in the Fountain Room with Mary Rose Gray. They host Friday nights for dancing or listening, while Tom Rollins played the Hammond organ at Mount Dora Motor Lodge Friday and Saturday. Inez Shoup Dance School staged a professional like recital at the Mount Dora Community Building featuring 40 young dancers trained by Mrs. Shoup.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Lamplighters
Lamp Post
Fourman
Bill Seabrook
Bob Eastman
Mary Rose Gray
Fountain Room
Tom Rollins
Hammond Theater
Mount Dora Motor Lodge
Inez Shoup
Mount Dora
Mrs. Shoup
Awards Spread Across Local Students and Groups
Key Award recipient Bill Labud along with Diane Miller and Tracey Berg huis receive honors alongside several memorial and scholarship recognitions. Bank of Mount Dora funds a $500 scholarship for Labud and other awards honor students including Tom Windram, Cherished teachers, and community figures from Zellwood Apopka Plymouth Tangerine area.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bill Labud
Bank of Mount Dora
Mount Dora High Grad Advancing to Naval Academy
Bell, a 20 year U S Marine, will report to Annapolis July 9 for plebe training ahead of classes. He is the second Mount Dora High School graduate named to the Naval Academy in as many years, following George R. Johnson Jr. named last year by Congressman Bill Chappell.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bell
Annapolis
Mount Dora High School
Naval Academy
George R. Johnson Jr
Bill Chappell
Power Shortage Deemed Critical Across State
A low voltage power shortage is expected to continue statewide into Thursday. Warren Birn of Florida Power Corporations Eustis office says the Sanford plant is down and not expected back until Thursday. He urges large users to cut consumption between 2 and 7 PM and households to avoid nonessential use, including turning off water heaters, to prevent a total blackout.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Warren Birn
Florida Power Corporation
Eustis
Florida Power and Light
Sanford
Birn
Mount Dora
Brrn
Also Mentioned on This Page
James W. Simpson
Mr. Simpson
Eva Caughran
Mount Doran
Floridora
Diane Miller
Edwin Budge Mead
Tracey Berghuis
Lions Club
Anchor Club
Charles Alliott
American Legion School Award
Tom Windram
Florida Regents
Haden Leroy Bell Jr
Tracey Ann Berghuis
Alan Charles Gale
Edward Schuyler Jelsma
Richard James Johnson
DAR Good Citizenship
Belinda Jones
Middle Tennessee State College
Steve
Odom
Central Florida Junior College
Ocala
Diane
Doug Couch
Andy Witherell
William H. Danforth Foundation
Sharon Simpkins
U.S. Marines
Roy Beil
Waterman Memorial Hospital
Helen Barling
Gerri Jerue
Rubye Schroeder
Adele Schmitt
M.F. Brinker
Bost
Mary
Rose Gray
You
Broadway
Bourbon Street
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!