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Newspaper
Mount Dora Topic
Location
Mount Dora, Florida, United States of America
Date
Sep 30, 1948
Page
1
A Mount Dora safety drive opens Monday to combat fire hazards. Chamber of Commerce backs the effort with business leaders and service clubs, while students carry home fire safety inspection blanks for parent completion and home checks.
Mount Dora mayor I J E Fortner proclaims the week starting October 3 1948 as Fire Prevention Week. He directs city agencies the fire department and schools to raise public awareness and urges citizens to prevent fires in homes and businesses. He asks schoolchildren to inspect residences with department help and signs the proclamation September 28 1948.
In the wake of a near trap during a home fire caused by overheated pipes residents recall a blaze in a closet. Kiwanis and Lions clubs will host talks next week and a school assembly to explain Fire Prevention Week. Authorities note 11 000 annual fire deaths and 50 000 injuries with 700 million dollars in property damage. Mayor J E Fortner issued a proclamation urging home inspections and caution.
In this week's Briggs Digs on Page 3, Briggs narrates a woodman Rene Dufrensne tale drawn from a small newspaper notice. The story involves Police Chief Pussyfoot Kerns and an unusually eventful Saturday night, with editoriaK pencil edits.
D H Utter, 87, died suddenly and followed his wife in death. He had lived in Dora for 25 years and was buried in Sayre Pennsylvania this week. His daughters are Mrs. Doe of Mount Dora and Mrs Edward Vos of Sayre.
Photo shows Director Gordon Goodrich and Bill Barker Jr resting after tearing down a 22 inch wall at the ice house. The wall hid a natural stage and the space will become the new theatre for Lake county talent this season.
Mount Dora Ice House Players plan Return Engagement for a riotous play about teens forming a Little Theatre group. Director Gordon Goodrich aims to organize by December 1 with a Sunday meeting at 4 pm to discuss plans. Civic support grows as space is prepared, seating could reach 250, and Rev George Gibson backs the project. Celia Claflin leads efforts to make the theatre a regional talent hub.
W. Troy Hall Sr a 62 year old Leesburg attorney died suddenly of a heart attack at a Leesburg hospital just a week after the death of his former law partner Circuit Judge J C B Koonce of Eustis He supported his son Attorney W Troy Hall Jr in Lake county's political rise Funeral services were held in Leesburg with burial in Lone Oak cemetery He is survived by his son his widow four daughters and a sister
The notice urges those who wish to switch to Republican or register anew to act today. The registration book in O. M. Simpson's office will be returned to the county registrar tomorrow, and new residents eligible to vote may register there as well.
Mount Dora residents are urged to support local merchants to bolster civic services and funding for parks and a swimming pool. The piece argues out-of-town spending drains city finances, threatens taxes, and reduces community improvements while tourists benefit elsewhere. It stresses loyalty, local taxation, and investing in home town shops to sustain public projects.
Florida State Bar Association committee lauds Article IV section as boosting efficiency and saving money for taxpayers. The comment, published in Topic on page 8, argues the governor’s executive powers will curb bureaucratic expansion and curb spending by more than 125 boards and bureaus dipping into the state treasury.
Mary Ann Bradford will continue the teen column with school news and youthful fun through new contributors. Patty Claflin takes over this week as other senior students share impressions of doings and events, page 4.
Two Mount Dora young men, Wayne Moon and W F Dub Duggan Jr, mark their 31st and early aging birthday as partners in AM & S Sales and Service. Their wartime letters forged a lifelong friendship and business dream to open a modern, up-to-date store in Mount Dora after returning from the war in 1945.
City officials consider a Florida Power Corp offer cutting wholesale power by about 10 percent for the city and a potential $250,000 municipal plant after an engineering study by A. P. Michael & Son. Mayor Fortner says consumer bills may drop about 3 percent but city wholesale costs would fall less. Leesburg reports a five year deal with no consumer savings while losses from line removal and upkeep rise. A Mount Dora study evaluates Fairbanks Morse plant prospects and will be presented to council.
Merchants urge the City Council to launch a rat control program as soon as possible after a meeting last Monday. Burke Chester, county sanitation officer, said Jack Traewick would visit Mount Dora within two weeks to assess needs in each business, noting previous cooperation issues and higher losses from rat damage than program costs.
E T Brantly of Clermont to take over the Gudgeon Electric Co and operate it as Brantly Gudgeon Electric Co from Highland Street headquarters. He plans Mount Dora as his headquarters and will move with his family at year end. The firm, started by Tom Gudgeon in 1916, passed to Clarence Gudgeon in 1927 as his father retired after 64 years in electrical work.
The piece recalls the six month effort to transform a failing bank atmosphere into a new storefront selling appliances music sporting goods and service. It notes the birth of Wayne Moon in Mount Dora and his father W F Moon as a local contractor and sportsman.
The Golden Hurricanes travel to Ocoee Friday night aiming to reverse a scoreless opening tie. Mount Dora beat St James of Orlando nine to four on first downs as Verdual Hamlin intercepted on the 20 yard line for a key moment. Coach Burke Chisholm, new to the ranks, works to whip the team into stronger form.
Merchants voted to make Wednesday opening optional with each store. A post card poll will decide whether to resume winter hours or keep summer closings. The change aims to ease shopper access as customers are now welcome any day.
Oct. 1 is the deadline to obtain a new driver's license or pay a penalty for using the 1947 license. County officials appeared at the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce last week, aiding hundreds of Dorans in purchasing their licenses.
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