Winter Garden Magazine August 2016 | Page 13

history’s mysteries winter garden elementary school B uilt in 1916, the Winter Garden Elementary School was once located at 208 South Main Street on the southwest corner of Smith and Main. The original building was just the center two-story structure. In 1922, the one-story wings were added to the building on both sides to accommodate 8 more classrooms; an upstairs lunchroom was added in the 1960’s. Originally, the school educated students in first through fourth grades, and then those students continued their education at the Oakland-Winter Garden School, which was located in Tildenville. Later, the school hosted children from kindergarten through sixth grade until 1951, when Dillard Street Elementary was built, and then housed kindergarten through third grades. Winter Garden Elementar y School closed in 1979 and remained vacant for over a decade. In the 1990’s, the building was purchased for $115,000 and subsequently demolished. Jessie Brock was the principal of the school for 44 years, from 19261970. Courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation. AUGUST 2016  |  WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE   |  13