[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

As I understand it Harold Schwartz and Al Tarrson were struggling to sell lots by mail until that became illegal in 1968. They did start with a trailer park (in a watermelon field I have heard). It was not until Harold bought out Al and brought his son Gary Morse down that things started to roll. I view Gary Morse as the driving genius, Harold as the PR man.

"History
Harold Schwartz, a Michigan businessman, began selling land tracts via mail order in The Villages area in the 1960s. He and his business partner, Al Tarrson, were forced to close this aspect of the business following the implementation of a 1968 federal law banning real estate sales by mail order.[10][11]

Stuck with considerable portions of Florida land, in the early 1970s, Schwartz and Tarrson began the development of a mobile home park, Orange Blossom Gardens, in the northwestern corner of Lake County. By the early 1980s, the community had sold only 400 units. Schwartz bought out Tarrson's interest in improving the business and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, on board in 1983.

Morse noted that the thriving retirement communities (such as Del Webb's Sun City developments) offered numerous well-maintained amenities to the residents. They also had diverse and nearby commercial development. Morse began to upgrade the development significantly. Their sales improved in the mid-1980s. Schwartz began to buy large tracts of land in nearby Sumter and Marion counties for future expansion. In 1992, Morse officially changed the overall development name to The Villages. The development is still controlled in all significant aspects by descendants of Schwartz and Morse.

By the early 1990s, The Villages had more than 8,000 residents, three golf courses, the first Winn Dixie supermarket opened, just four restaurants and nightly dances were held in a tent.[12]"

From: The Villages, Florida - Wikipedia

So why is the son named Morse when his father was a Schwartz?

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Consists of the area on the northern side of the golf cart bridge going over 441. Where it all began in the Villages under Harold Schwartz. A beautiful area that started in the 1980’s with manufactured homes built out around the Orange Blossom Golf course in Lake county. Many of the homes have been replaced with stick frame and block homes, but still predominantly manufactured homes. One of our favorite areas in the entire Villages. We rented there long term before buying our home in CDD1.

Agree, it's so expensive to move, and it gets harder the older we get, but... Orange Blossom Hills and other original areas are so appealing, they haven't built a country club since that even comes close to the one there, and WOW, have the kept up the rec center, the pools parks and all the facilities there. It's tempting. And the number of new homes being built there are fantastic, the lots so nice (some are on TWO or the original lots, and the convenience to shopping, while good all over the villages, but nothing like what is in that area !

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

So why is the son named Morse when his father was a Schwartz?

Gary Schwartz changed his name to Morse because of anti-German sentiments at the time. Mark is his son.

[Warcats]

If anyone checks out the historic area they will find it one of the most beautiful areas of the villages certainly. “Trailer Park” has negative connotations and these well kept lovely villages in no way trashy or fitting the stereotype. Affordable with many close by needs. When the rec center which is already great is redone there will be few villages that rival them in facilities and beauty

[msilagy]

My first home was in the historic side - nicest people, friendliest Southside pool, and beautiful area. I never liked the reference to trailers and when anyone made that comment I told them I pulled my home down the street several times a month! Double wide manufactured home is the accurate description. I got my start in the villages there, moved 21 months later to SS and bought a CYV, stayed there 3.5 years, then rented that to a lovely man that ended up buying it, and I now own a 3 bedroom CYV near Sumter Landing. I'd say I had a pretty good run $ in TV over the years as a seasonal resident of Fl. Never ever downplay the beauty of the historic side and the CC there with that lovely pool!

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by JohnN

not meant to be disparaging, but aka "the trailer park" east of highway 27

i've heard some bad things said about the historic district, but the fact is it's the loveliest available. the landscaping is what comes to mind when thinking of resort living & has the most stores & restaurants. i wanted to find a home near SpanishSprings & SumterLanding, but there weren't any available. yes, i'm in the dreaded south of 44 villages, but that doesn't mean we cant enjoy the beauty of the area, & do spend time & $$.

[Retiredsteve]

Originally Posted by kp11364

Hi everyone,

Can you tell me what area is considered the "historic district" in TV? Bounded by <A>, <B>, <C>, <D>? Or the villages of <1>, <2>, <3>, etc.

I had heard that the power conduits and other utilities in this area are not underground, and at one point this area had suffered a long power outage. I just want to be aware of conditions when I'm looking for a resale.

Attaching a PDF if it helps.

Thanks!

. You heard wrong. There is no gas lines and the power lines are underground. That doesn't mean there can be no power outages

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

Gary Schwartz changed his name to Morse because of anti-German sentiments at the time. Mark is his son.

Not true.
Mr and Mrs. Harold Schwartz got divorced and Mark was given his step- dad's last name, Morse. He became a real icon and visionary to be admired. Wish he was still with us. He and his wife Sharon listened to 2 Veterans and former P.O.W.'s and developed the Vererans Memorial in Spanish Springs. You can visit the beautiful memorial, still dedicate a brick to a Veteran because they LISTENED to the residents. Mark Morse wasn't a people person, they say, but he surely made TV a gorgeous address that we call home. R.I.P. Mark & Sharon Morse.

[bowlingal]

27/441 and north is considered the historic side. North of Spanish Springs, home of the manufactured houses

[Chrusan]

Originally Posted by JohnN

not meant to be disparaging, but aka "the trailer park" east of highway 27

How incredibly rude. I think it is a lovely area and people keep their lawns and homes well maintained.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The thing is though - this section of the Villages is mostly unaffected by hurricanes. Might be the result of being closest to the Ocala Forest, which acts as a barrier of sorts against the wind? It could also be that we're on a higher elevation than the rest of The Villages. Maybe we're simply closer to the "center" of Central Florida. I don't know diddly about geology, or weather science, but I'm sure some science geeks will have an explanation.

There was some flooding in 2017, making it impossible for golf carts to get over the bridge to Spanish Springs for a couple of days. There was also some flood damage to some homes at the edge of Silver Lake. But to my knowledge, there was no catastrophic damage to the manufactured homes on this side as the result of severe weather, since a tornado came through in 2007. The tornado damaged homes on the other side of 441 too.

We get wind and rain, sure. But Harold Schwartz apparently hired some top-notch engineers and land surveyors who designed a very efficient design layout of the properties here. I've only lived here three years, but we've visited The Villages for over a decade before moving. A friend we visited was 2 doors away from a house that was demolished by a tornado. And that was south of Sumter Landing, off Buena Vista somewhere on a street that lost several homes. That year, the Historic Section remained relatively unscathed, though the power was out for a few days and that alone was pretty horrible.

To answer the OP's question: our utilities are underground. There's a power tower next to Wawa outside our neighborhoods on 441, and there's another one behind East Schwartz, and I remember seeing the top of one across the street on Griffin somewhere near the southeastern corner of the Silver Lake village, but none within our community at all. We have no tunnels that anyone has to worry about, and MOST of our area is on a higher elevation, which reduces the risk for flooding (but obviously doesn't eliminate it).

I'm not personally aware of any homes with gas power or stoves on this side of the Villages. I also don't know if propane stoves are a thing here. Every home I've visited has electric. That doesn't mean they don't exist, it just means I've never seen it.

Villagers who live south of the border (south of 441) should cross over and drive around. Yes, most of the houses are double-wide manufactured homes with carports, and some are single-wides. But the area is well-maintained and often attractive with lots of interesting shrubs, and with hills. Orange Blossom Country Club’s pool is, in my opinion, the most beautiful pool in The Villages. Prices are going up there quickly. Some people are buying lake front manufactured homes and replacing them with sturdier homes, though I don’t see how that is cheaper than buying a smaller home in the south. The worst thing is that lots of people—perhaps Villagers—either bought homes there to rent out or kept their original homes and rented them out, and the purchase price was cheap enough that younger people with minimal income have moved in, some with drug problems. I would love to see the entire area restricted to buyers and renters who are 55 and over. That would solve most of the crime problems. The area also has some of the funkiest outdoor decoration, which you can find if you drive to the back of the area. Sort of a bohemian vibe. Looks like there would be fun parties there.

[Annie66]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Absolutely disparaging!

I guess you speak "Southern".

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Marmaduke

Not true.
Mr and Mrs. Harold Schwartz got divorced and Mark was given his step- dad's last name, Morse. He became a real icon and visionary to be admired. Wish he was still with us. He and his wife Sharon listened to 2 Veterans and former P.O.W.'s and developed the Vererans Memorial in Spanish Springs. You can visit the beautiful memorial, still dedicate a brick to a Veteran because they LISTENED to the residents. Mark Morse wasn't a people person, they say, but he surely made TV a gorgeous address that we call home. R.I.P. Mark & Sharon Morse.

Are you talking about H. Gary Morse. Mark is his son and current boss of TV.

[jmaccallum]

When we cross the bridge over 441, us folks who live in the Historic District know we are safe at home. When we gather under our carports for neighborhood Happy-Hour we laugh at the ignorance of those who speak of our Haven, yet know nothing about it. And we sleep peacefully in our homes, of whatever construction, that have withstood multiple hurricanes since before the first CDD to the west was even a vision.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Marmaduke

Not true.
Mr and Mrs. Harold Schwartz got divorced and Mark was given his step- dad's last name, Morse. He became a real icon and visionary to be admired. Wish he was still with us. He and his wife Sharon listened to 2 Veterans and former P.O.W.'s and developed the Vererans Memorial in Spanish Springs. You can visit the beautiful memorial, still dedicate a brick to a Veteran because they LISTENED to the residents. Mark Morse wasn't a people person, they say, but he surely made TV a gorgeous address that we call home. R.I.P. Mark & Sharon Morse.

This was my understanding too and parents had a seasonal home from Mr. Schwartz for a long time.