[SacDQ]

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

[SharonW]

Originally Posted by davem4616

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...

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.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by HelenLCSW

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

[NoMoSno]

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".

[Tadpole]

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

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by SharonW

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.

Thank you for the family history.

[wrsom]

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!!

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Dgodin

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.

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.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Pam Smothers

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

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.

[manaboutown]

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.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by UseYourBrain

Why do they have different last names? Just curious.

Gary's mother and dad divorced when he was a little guy. I would guess that would be in the early forties. (Harold Schwartz married several times) Gary's mother married a man named Morse and moved back to Michigan where she had grown up. In the early forties there was much talk of Hitler and much fear among Jewish families. I have heard this said that she changed his name to Morse to protect him from the harm that was happening to Jews in Europe. It is the tale I have been told. Gary's brother of course, from a different mother still goes by the name Schwartz. Gary's sister has recently retired from the country store and bakery she ran for years, called Brownwood, in Michigan. We have seen pictures of her wonderful donuts and met a real live person who lived in the area that knew them back then and thus the story about his name change. It is a story told us from a delightful person who lived near the old Brownwood and now lives near the new one. Gary also brought many craftsmen with him and even some landscapers too. Gary and Sharon. Sharon died of cancer and Gary remarried and lived with his wife in the compound on the North side of 466.

[tophcfa]

I am guessing Gary would not be very happy about a high density rental apartment complex being built at
the site of one of the Championship Country Clubs he created for the single family homeowners he sold their dream homes to.

[allsport]

Originally Posted by davem4616

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...

As is his body or rather ashes under the statue.

[Cranford61]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

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

i don’t think it will make the NYT bestseller list.

[Westie Man]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Uh-oh. There goes his statue.

heck