Historic Englewood Florida
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Page 4 www.yoursun.com E nglewood has come a long way since Bob Scott opened his outboard repair shop at West Dearborn Avenue and Orange Street in 1955. That was right about the time people started moving to Florida in big numbers. Air-conditioning was becoming readily available, and home build- ers were riding the post-war building boom. Small, aordable houses were pop- ping up all over the state. These were perfect for retirees or as winter homes, or for families just starting out. For the families already living here, it must have been a big change seeing these new people arrive. Many were self-reliant folks who earned their living mostly on the water. But change is inevitable. And as the population grew, so did people's needs. And a person moving into the community could really make a dierence. Josephine Cortes, who arrived in 1954, would become the editor of the Englewood Herald, precursor to The Daily Sun, and first published Sept. 2, 1955. The town would get its first dentist when Dr. John Flower opened his practice in 1957. Within a few years, Englewood residents would demand reliable fire service and safe drinking water. The community would petition the Florida Legislature to create the Englewood Area Fire Control District and the Englewood Water District, with both coming online in 1959. Bob Scott jumped right into the mix of things. His experi- ence as a mechanic specializing in boats, and a firefighter in Illinois were valuable in the growing Englewood community. Despite having only one good leg, Bob became an integral member of the evolving fire- fighting team. He was named Civil Defense Director for the community. He also cracked people up with the antics of Susie the monkey and Fritz the Wonder Dog. This year, Bob's family received the Englewood Legends Award from the Secret Society of Smoked Mullets and the Englewood Area Chamber of Commerce. The award honors families that helped create the community we know today. You can read more about Bob Scott and his family in this special section. We would like to thank Nancy Scott Wille and Robert Scott Jr. for sharing their memories and their photos with us and the community. We'd also like to thank our own Diana Harris, Englewood historian extraordinaire who has taught the community so much about its own history. 1955: The year a Legend arrived in Englewood HISTORIC ENGLEWOOD 2023 A publication of The Daily Sun and Adams Publishing Florida Regional President APG Florida & Chesapeake ................................................................................................................................................ Jim Normandin Publisher ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Glen Nickerson Advertising manager ............................................................................................................................................................................................... Omar Zucco Editor ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Chris Porter Designer ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Sean Porter CONTENT AND PHOTOS PROVIDED NANCY SCOTT WILLE, DIANA HARRIS, JESS ORLANDO PHOTO PROVIDED BY NANCY WILLE Bob Scott on the radio, 1956. CHRIS PORTER Englewood Sun Editor