Happy Throwback Thursday, Brieflings,
The month of July pops up often in Lake County’s historical dates of note. In the late spring of 1886, Gov. Edward A. Perry signed a bill creating Lake County from portions of Orange and Sumter Counties. The new county became a legal entity 60 days later, on July 27, 1887.
All good things eventually come to an end. Passenger trains chugged to Mount Dora until the summer of 1950, bringing many visitors to the Lakeside Inn, the depot’s closest neighbor, the city’s chamber tells us.
Construction began on Clermont’s iconic Florida Citrus Tower, a landmark honoring the region’s citrus industry, in July 1955.
When the USO entertained in Leesburg
This week, more than three-quarters of a century ago, Leesburg’s USO was on the second floor of the Stoer Building — now known as the Opera House — on Main Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets.
“There was a mural of soldiers and their partners dancing to the music of a truly “hot” Army Air Corps orchestra.”
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Local history: Heavy metal tragedy in Leesburg
As we mourn metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, we’re reminded of his tragic connection to Leesburg.
On March 19, 1982, Ozzy Osbourne lost a close friend, Randy Rhoads, a mind-blowingly talented musician and a personal inspiration to Ozzy who previously played guitar for the LA metal band Quiet Riot. He helped Ozzy out of a slump, reigniting his music career as a solo act.
Tragedy struck guitarist Rhoads, and in turn, Osbourne, right here in Leesburg. After a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, Osbourne’s tour bus stopped in Leesburg to repair the air-conditioning in his tour bus. The location, known as the Flying Baron Estates, was popular for tour buses, and most of the property was owned by country music legends and Leesburg transplants, the Calhoun Twins.
Ozzy’s tour bus driver, Andrew Aycock, was also a licensed pilot. He decided to take a Beechcraft F35 plane for an unsanctioned flight and invited the band’s hairdresser and Rhoads. Read more in Frank Stanfield’s story.
Have a local tale or pics from way back when? Email either or both to news@dailycommercial.com
Bye for now,
JG
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Ozzy’s tragic tie to Leesburg
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
