The American Lutheran Church purchased the first church site in Rocket City. They bought 5.7 acres and were waiting for 100 homes to be built, but about that time Rocket City went into bankruptcy. Magna was started in December 1977 by Bankers Life & Casualty Company to manage, develop and market properties in which they had interests. Magna owned Cape Orlando Estates, Avon Park Estates, Compass Lake Hills, Holly by the Sea, Placid Lakes Estates, Rolling Hills and Rolling Ranch.
To serve Cape Orlando´s 6,800 acres, 81 miles of streets, paved to Orange County specifications, were built at an estimated 1978 cost of $4,500,000.00. The water and sewer plants were providing service to 34 occupied homes as well as the Country Club. Being designed were $2,000,000.00 of new water and sewer facilities that would be able to serve 1,500 additional homes. Total construction and development costs for 1978 alone exceeded $6,000,000.00.
The most easily seen improvement was on the 7,000 yard, 18 hole par 72 Country Club Golf Course. In 1978, an average of over 200 golfers were using the golf course each weekend.
In 1977 Tom O´Neill was the President of the Cape Orlando Homeowners Association. Bill Lipford was the Vice-President; Ina Watson was the Secretary and Treasurer. Ray Rivera, Joe O´Kelley, and Bob Franklin were on the board. In October 1977, there was $157.80 in the Treasury; dues were $10.00 per family. Chris Franklin was the first child born in Rocket City (Parents are Saundra and Bob Franklin). Chris lived in the neighborhood until he was 20 years old and now lives in Illinois. In 1977, Margaret Shaleesh was the Chairlady of the Social Committee and Helen Barger was the Membership Committee.
In 1981 quail, and their babies, would come into back yards every day at 5:00PM to get fed. Some quail are still out here, but they are few and far between. Just recently, this writer was at Bob and Seretta Smith´s home in the City area. In their back yard were Mama and Papa Quail and their little ones being fed. In the l980´s you might see cattle in your front yard and you would have to call the cowboys to come round them up. On a moonlit night, you would see deer come to your back yard, especially if you had a licking block for the deer.
In the late 1970´s, Charlie Jazko was President of the Homeowners Association followed by Larry Lanigan, Adair Tobergte and John Bessler. In the early 1980´s, the name was changed from Cape Orlando to Wedgefield. Cary Linden was President for 4 years. Cary was involved in real estate, so he wanted to promote the neighborhood. There was a monthly newsletter (Magnifier) and a very active homeowners association. There was a Bike Club, Swim Club, Infant Swimming Lessons, Baby-sitting Co-op, Children and Adult Softball League, Neighborhood Watch, Garden Club, Men and Women´s Golf League, Volleyball and Soccer Games. There was a lighted Tennis Court and a Swimming Pool. The WHOA sponsored numerous pool parties.
Every August 'Neighborhood Watch' programs in the country sponsored ' National Night Out' and Wedgefield participated in this event several times. Everyone turned their porch lights on; twice, the WHOA closed Maxim Parkway and everyone brought a covered dish and their chairs and we had a bar-be-cue. There was a D.J. and dancing in the street. Sheriff Lawson L. Lamar and 'McGruff', the Crime Prevention Dog would whirl in here via helicopter and land at the park.
In 1982, a Neighborhood Watch Program was established due to one of our neighbors getting shot by a burglar. He was looking after a friend´s home while he was on vacation; saw a strange vehicle in front of the house, rode his bike down to check it out. He went inside and was shot but survived. The burglars are serving life sentences for this crime.
Sheriff Lawson Lamar, and Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Marian Hultgreen with the Sheriff´s Department advised us to organize a Neighborhood Watch Program. The first meeting was held at Sylvia Cox´s home. They met regularly for training sessions, often with Corp. Marian Hultgreen for instructions as well as for an occasional social function. At that time, there were only 60 homes in the neighborhood, so it was much easier to interest residents in becoming Block Captains. All of the households in the community were involved and every inhabited street had at least one or more Block Captains. In 1986, the Orange County Sheriff´s Department held a series of seminars on six Saturday mornings. Wedgefield had more residents attending than any other community. And in that year, at the Annual Appreciation Banquet held at the Rio Pinar Country Club, Wedgefield came in at the top of the list in the number of residents attending.
The neighborhood had a garage sale to raise enough money ($120.00), to buy Neighborhood Watch signs and posts. Jackie Finley, Thad Cox and Joe DeVeault installed 4 posts and 4 signs at the front entrance of Maxim, the front entrance of Macon Parkway, at the corner of Maxim and Bancroft, and Bancroft at Majestic. A few years later, the signs mysteriously disappeared and the residents lost interest in the program.
In 2005, Phil and Helen Unser restarted the program again and the ball is really rolling. Phil Unser and the volunteer Coordinators and Block Captains are working hard to keep our neighborhood safe. In August, there was a write-up in the Orlando Sentinel about Gangs and Gang Wars as far east as Union Park. This points up the need for a strong, active Neighborhood Watch. Phil has given out green Neighborhood Watch hats to all of the Coordinators and Blocks Captains and has been instrumental in having Neighborhood Watch signs installed at the Macon, Maxim and Starry Street entrances. Security is the most important issue in our neighbor- hood. If you haven´t already joined Neighborhood Watch or would be willing to be a Coordinator or Block Captain, please call Phil Unser (407) 679-6644.
In 1986, the Ball Park was dedicated in honor of Tom O´Neill (he was the second President of the Homeowners Association). Tom kept things active in the neighborhood. He would call this writer and say 'Sweetie Pie, let´s get something going', so we would organize a picnic, a pool party, or a ball game. There was a big celebration at the park honoring Tom O´Neill and a softball game between the Wobblers (employees of the Developers) and the Wackers (residents). There were 6 games over 2 years, and finally the Wobblers beat the Wackers 17 to 6. In December 1986, the Wedgefield Garden Club had 42 members (men and women). We met monthly at the 'Towne Star Community Center' and had many speakers. We celebrated every holiday and had a few dances in the community center. In December 1987 ,we went on a field trip (on Dancer, on Blitzer) to the Orlando Garden Club´s Christmas Wonderland, which had 17 decorated trees, Christmas crafts and baked goods. In the early l990´s, there were 400 homes in Wedgefield and 340 residents joined the Homeowners Association. Of course, there was a huge membership drive to accomplish that. In the 1990´s, there were many Presidents of the WHOA: Ed Fleming, Steve Sopko, Ed Smith, Debbie Greei, Ed Greet, Jim Murray, Jane Curran, Chuck Leader and now, our energetic Tom Minter. Tom has served as President for almost 4 years and there have been many activities. Easter Egg Hunts, Garage Sales, Craft Shows, Octoberfest, Bowling Leagues, Neighborhood Watch, C.O.P. Program, Appreciation Dinners, Halloween Parties, New Year Eve Dances; but, the event Tom has organized, that the Neighborhood has really enjoyed, is the 11 Golf Outings!
This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by. If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined. We would love nothing more than to be able to share the history of neighborhood name with all who reside there.
