Remembering downtown Orlando

In the early to mid-1960’s, my mom and I would walk a few miles from Orlo Vista to the Pine Hills Shopping Center.  From there, we would catch a bus to downtown where we would always shop at McCory’s and Woolworths, which were located on the left (east) side of Orange Ave.  We would have lunch at one of the little diners that were in each of the stores.

Each year the two of us would make an annual pilgrimage to the Orange County Fair, which was held in a large field near Central Ave.  My school let us out of school an hour early as a special day to attend the fair.  My favorite ride was the Scrambler, which you sit in.  It swings in and out, and left and right.  My mom preferred the exhibits.  I always had to get cotton candy, and always went home with a prize goldfish in a plastic bag.  I cried when it died a few weeks later, and looked forward to next year’s goldfish.