H. Gary Morse, the developer and founder of the Villages???
 

Did anyone else see that Gary Morse is listed as the founder of the Villages on page 49 of the new Villages magazine that came in today's paper? His father Harold Schwartz founded and started the development of the Villages until he handed it over to his son Gary Morse. Why is the Villages magazine not even mentioning the real developer and founder of the Villages?????
There is also a street named after Mr. Schwartz, not just one named after his son as they wrote. Why are they trying to rewrite the history of our area? Without Mr. Harold Schwartz the Villages would not exist. Just found this very odd. Give credit where credit is due and don't try to rewrite history.

Uh-oh. There goes his statue.

Didn't notice it until I read your post

I recall reading somewhere that when Mr. Schwartz invited Gary Morse to come down and help him manage things it was called Orange Blossom Gardens (or something like that)...which is the area that we refer to today as 'the historic district'.

Mr. Morse, not Mr. Schwartz could easily have been the visionary and founder of the sprawling new development called "The Villages". The historic section was annexed into TV and given a Villages identity.

So, call it semantics if you want...doubtful that the Morse family is trying to nullify the work and efforts of Mr. Schwartz....his statue is still in Spanish Springs

just my guess...

I like what you said and how you said it.

Harold Schwartz started the development of modular homes called Orange Blossom Gardens and when Gary Morse, his son, whose mother changed his last name when she remarried, when Gary Morse came from Michigan to join his father who came from Illinois, when site built homes and the first squares came to be and things started on a much bigger scale, THEN it became;

The Villages.

Someone should write a book on how the Villages came to be what it is today

Stu I think there is one...called living in the bubble or something like that

the author had also been sending tidbits out electronically

he seemed to be an advisor for developers of other 55+ communities

The Complete Guide to The Villages, FL Interesting book. More for "before buying a home" but a lot of history in it.

May The Schwartz be with you.

Its available as an ebook for $ 27 and is periodically updated. When you buy it you are entitled to free updates for life (not sure whose).

Will contemplate this.

Stu,
If you haven’t visited Rohan Rec Center, you should. You can learn a lot about TV history there. Take your time and look at the many family photos and aerial shots of TV development. It’s fascinating. One could spend an afternoon there. Did you know that Katie Belle was a real person?

Stu, check out the book "Inside The Bubble" by Ryan Erisman

Don’t let outsiders know of the status, if so it might be peaceful protest as they tear it down? :icon_wink:

Go to Rohan Rec, nicely done history of how The Villages started and pictures. It was Harold Schwartz, not Morse. Just because your name was changed by your mother doesn’t change your bloodline. Don’t change history.

There is one

You are 100% correct. When I first came here in 1992 the only name connected to TV was Harold Schwartz. He is probably turning over in his grave as he watches what's become of it.

Mr Schwartz Founder
 

Absolutely remember Mr Schwartz walking in the Historic area asking if everything was all right for residents!

My understanding is that Orange Blossom Gardens, founded by Harold Schwartz, became successful and grew into a large area. Mr. Schwartz thought that Orange Blossom Gardens no longer fit because the area was much larger than a "garden" and already had designated areas. As the story goes, Mr. Schwartz held a referendum among the owners and asked them to vote for a new name. He offered them a choice of "The Villages" or "Schwartzville." The rest is history!

Stu.... there is and it's called Leisureville

Not about TV, just a trash story to sell paper.

The historic section was first and was not annexed later to the villages. The rest of the villages came into being after the golf cart bridge was completed over 441 and the first square was built. Before that a temporary square, actually a tent, existed in the historic area by the post office.

I would think the Morse family knows more about the history of The Villages then you or I would. They lived it. If I were you I’d let this go.

That would be a sad story.

Why do they have different last names? Just curious.

For sale: Eyeglass for shortsightednesses for small mindedness.
 

The author of the article could have phrased it a little more succinctly, however its main premise remains 100% spot on.
The morse children have been the expansion driving force post spanish springs and engineering the real growth of the villages. They have spent their youth and the rest of their lives in that endeavor. Let's hope they have conveyed their dreams for the villages to the next generation

Go see the history at Rohan Recreation. The family put the history for all to see. It was Harold Schwartz. Gary Morse’s mother changed his name.

Actually, he is beaming with pride.

The Morse family (Developer and his two sisters), need to realize, if it had not been for their grandfather (Harold Schwartz), they would not be living the life style they now have. They should honor him, and their father!

I saw that
 

Schwartz was Jewish — it seems they want to separate themselves from that heritage

Without Gary , the whole place would be the historic side.

Where did the phrase “Turning Over in the Grave” come from?

Gary Morse was Mr. Schwartz son. Mr. Schwartz was partners with some other gentlemen and started Orange Blossom Mobile Homes. When Harold bought out his partners he called his son Gary to come down and take over. Harold went back to Chicago where he worked in radio.Gary and his wife Sharon built The Villages you see today. Harold was still very much a part of The Villages but Gary was the driving force that made The Villages what it is today. Mark, Jennifer and Tracy, their children, grew up and worked in The Villages with their Dad and Mom and their work ethic was developed by their Mom, Dad and Grandfather.

:what:

Tarrinson and Schwartz started selling mail-order properties called "Orange Blossom Gardens" further north near 42/441.
Later they decided further south, where the historic side is now, would be a better location for expansion.
The area around 42 is still called "Orange Blossom Gardens".

That really sucks. Harold Schwartz's statue is on Spanish Springs Town square. Will they take that down?

Thank you for the family history.

Saw it and had the SAME reaction!! Mr Scwartz was great man with the vision of a wonderful place different from ALL others! Give the man credit!!

Just to add to your post a very large tent was erected just south of the Spanish Springs Square prior to the square being built and finished as it now stands. When the tent came down a new more elaborate sales office took its place on the south portion of Spanish Springs Square. Unlike his Son Gary Morse, Harold Schwartz often “hung out” at the Sales Office and greeted people as they came into the building. We met Mr. Schwartz in the New Sales Office on our lifestyle visit. You couldn’t ask for a nicer or more personal man who was very helpful to visitors that came to The Villages. We were waiting for our Sales Representative to show up, when he came over to greet us and ask us where we were from and “small talked” for a few minutes “ I’m Harold Schwartz and if you need anything at all don’t hesitate to call and ask for me”, Mr. Schwartz said to us. He was a hospitality guy and I believe that he meant what he said. Morse was the planner and Schwartz was the salesman and they apparently made a good team.

Why would you think that or post that??? What really sucks?? Harold will stay in the pond and we will be very glad he did what he did and his family honored him with the statue.

If they are still around there are some old threads addressing this topic. Several good written sources were cited in them; even a video or two were available if I recall correctly. It is a fascinating story of folks who worked hard and never gave up when faced with numerous hurdles to overcome.