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The Birth of The Villages, New Poll, Day Trip 3
Plus: Live Music and More Events
🌅 Good Morning, Villages. It’s National Fudge Day so maybe a good day to make a stop at Kilwins in Spanish Springs, or Peterbrooke’s in Lake Sumter Landing. On this day, in 1903, The Ford Motor Company was incorporated. Welcome to a new week, and a new feature. Today I’ll begin a weekly History of The Villages story. Today’s starts at the very beginning with the story of how Harold Schwartz got things rolling towards what is now The Villages.
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In today’s Villages Pulse:
Poll of The Week + Final Results of the Favorite Country Club Restaurant
Villages History: The Birth of the Villages
New Day Trip: Webster Westside Flea Market
Let’s dive in.
— Kevin Rogers, Publisher
Poll of The Week
Quick and easy poll this week:
Year Round Villages Resident or Snowbird? |
Last Monday’s Final Poll Results
Due to the number of restaurants, you’ll have to zoom in a bit to read this.

Open House + $65,000 Price Drop
4774 Cosentino Ct. | Asking $699,900 | Open House: Jun 17, 20, 22 and 25th
This 3/2 designer home in the Village of Chitty Chatty is a must-see! It had a price drop of $65K on June 12, which comes as no surprise if you read the Alexander Kac Team’s Sotheby’s Market Report from last Thursday’s issue. It’s loaded with $200K in upgrades—think custom-painted driveway, a lead glass front door, and a block lanai with a killer outdoor kitchen. I LOVE THAT OUTDOOR KITCHEN! The oversized corner lot screams pool potential! Inside, a stone fireplace, tinted stackable sliders, and wood-look tile. The kitchen’s a dream: quartz counters, stainless appliances, sleek gray cabinets. The owner’s suite? Tray ceilings, dual custom closets, and a luxe Roman shower. Plus, a stretched garage with epoxy floors and a water filtration system. Golf cart to Brownwood or Lake Deaton Plaza for fun! Check it out!
Villages History
Welcome to the Villages Pulse History Adventure!
Part 1: The Birth of The Villages – From Swamp to Retiree Haven
Ever wonder how The Villages, “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown,” grew from swampy cattle land to a retirement paradise? In this multi-part series, we’ll explore its quirky history, from a risky land scheme to a golf cart utopia, packed with fun facts and historical tidbits!
The Story Begins…
In the 1960s, Michigan businessman Harold Schwartz and partner Al Tarrson sold Florida land by mail order, advertising sunny plots in Northern newspapers. Their target: a scrubby patch near Lady Lake, where alligators outnumbered people. But in 1968, the feds banned mail-order sales, leaving them with unsold swamp. By the 1970s, they pivoted to Orange Blossom Gardens, a mobile home park with 386 trailers in Lake County. Sales were slow—only 400 lots sold in a decade. Who wanted to retire in a mosquito haven?
In 1983, Schwartz’s son, H. Gary Morse, joined with a vision: transform this backwater into a retiree’s dream with golf, pools, and community vibes. By 1986, new homes, a golf course, and a clubhouse sprouted. In 1992, they rebranded as “The Villages,” evoking small-town charm. Morse’s genius? Community Development Districts (CDDs), which funded roads and amenities via low-interest bonds, paid by residents’ taxes, fueling rapid growth.
Quirky Facts & History
Seminole Roots: This was Seminole land until the 1840s, later cattle ranches and citrus groves. Steamboats brought tourists to Silver Springs, 25 miles away, for glass-bottom boat tours.
Eau de Swamp: Orange Blossom Gardens was named for citrus scents, but locals called it “Eau de Swamp” in rainy season.
Cow Patty Golf: The 1985 golf course was so rustic, players dodged cow patties!
Free Golf: Schwartz promised “free golf for life,” now a complex Villages perk.
Why It Mattered
Affordable homes ($25,000) and amenities drew retirees, boosting Lady Lake’s population from 3,000 to 10,000 by 1990. Morse’s lifestyle focus—golf carts, clubs—sparked a retiree magnet.
In Next Monday’s issue:
How did The Villages become a true hometown? Next Monday’s update reveals the town square that started it all! In the meantime share your favorite Villages spots with us at villagespulse@gmail.com.
Get Out Of Town!
A Fun-Filled Day Trip to Webster Westside Flea Market!

Leave your golf cart at home and head 20 miles south (from Brownwood) for a treasure-hunting adventure at Webster Westside Flea Market, Florida’s oldest and largest! Open every Monday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., this 35-acre open-air market in Webster is a bargain-hunter’s paradise. With 1,500+ vendors, you’ll find antiques, handmade crafts, fresh produce, and quirky finds like taxidermy gator heads or $10 quilts. Hungry? Savor hot dogs, kettle corn, or a cold beer from two restaurants and snack stands.
Park for a few $$ (free if you walk a bit!) and roam shaded stalls or sunny rows. Arrive early to beat the summer heat! A first-Sunday motorcycle swap adds extra fun. It’s a perfect day trip for Villagers craving deals and local flavor. Visit websterwestsidefleamarket.com for details, or check out their facebook for more timely info.
Upcoming Events
🍽️ Cooking Class | Prima Steakhouse | Mon Jun 16 | 12pm | Reserve going fast 🔥
🎹 Dueling Pianos | Waterfront Inn | Tue Jun 17 | 6:30 PM | Tickets
An Ocklawaha River Odyssey by Elizabeth Randall | Rohan Rec | Thu Jun 19 | 6PM | Details
🏌️♂️ Tom’s Full Swing Clinic | Sarasota Practice Center | Thu Jun 19 | 8 am | Details
🍷 Wine Class | Legacy | Sat Jun 21 @ 1pm | Book Now
🎹 Double Diamond Dueling Pianos | Belle Glade CC | June 19 | 5:30 PM | Details & Tickets
🤣 Dad Bods Comedy Show | Bonifay CC | Sat June 21 | 5:30 pm | Details & Tickets
🏌️ New To Golf School | Sarasota Practice Center | Mon Jun 23 | 9 am | Details
🏌️♀️ Ladies Only Full Swing Clinic | Palmer Legends | Tue Jun 24 | 9:30 am | Details
🎙️ Elvis Blue Hawaii Concert with Sebastian Garland | Old MIll Playhouse | June 26 - 6pm | Details
Jukebox Bingo - Villagers For Veterans | Old Mill Playhouse | Jun 26 | 6:30 pm | Tickets
💃 Suzie Casta/Donna Moore 70’s Dance Party | Colony Cottage Rec | June 28 | Details
🥃 Around The World Spirit Dinner | Bonifay | Sat Jun 28 | 4:30 pm | Details
📽️ Free Movie: Formula1 | Old Mill Playhouse | Tue Jul 1 | Details Few Tickets Left 🔥
🎸 Yacht Rock Gold | Reilly Arts Center | July 12 | 7:30 pm | Details & Tickets
Out of Town Events
🐂 Bull Bash & Country Music Festival | Ocala | June 20, 21 | Bull Riding and Country Music by Lonestar and Parmalee | Details
🎸 Seaside Fiesta Music Festival | New Smyrna Beach | June 19 - 22 | Details
Sponsored By First Class Rides

Weather
Monday: 87 🌡️ 74 | 🌦️ | 60% | 🌬️ SW 5 mph
Tuesday: 93 🌡️ 76 | 🌦️ | 40% | 🌬️ S 5 mph
Wednesday 96 🌡️ 75 | 🌦️ | 40% | 🌬️ SE 5 mph
Live Music Lowdown
Monday
Spanish Springs | Jerico - rock | 5 - 9 PM |
Lake Sumter | Never Never Band - rock | 5 - 9 PM |
Brownwood Paddock | Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop | 5 - 9 PM |
Sawgrass Grove | Boozy Bingo | 5 - 9 PM |
Edna’s On The Green | Scooter The DJ | 3 - 6 PM |
Red Sauce Sumter | Miranda Madison | 6 - 9 PM |
RJ Gators Sumter | Mike & Terrie | 2 - 5 PM |
Tuesday
Spanish Springs | Latin Ambition - pop/latin | 5 - 9 PM |
Lake Sumter | Old Skool - rock | 5 - 9 PM |
Brownwood Paddock | Clark Barrios Band - rock | 5 - 9 PM |
Sawgrass Grove | Jeff Whitefield Trio -country | 5 - 9 PM |
Edna’s On The Green | Tim Hargis | 3 - 6 PM |
Red Sauce Sumter | Mark Raisch | 6 - 9 PM |
RJ Gators Sumter | Coyote Joe | 2 - 5 PM |
Holy Shmokes | KJ Diamond Dave | 6 - 9 PM |
Bonifay Country Club | Karaoke w/ Pat Atkinson | 5 - 8 PM |
Wednesday
Spanish Springs | 4 For The Road | 5 - 9 PM |
Lake Sumter | MPIRE | 5 - 9 PM |
Brownwood Paddock | Ampli-Fires | 5 - 9 PM |
Sawgrass Grove | Blonde Ambition | 5 - 9 PM |
Edna’s On The Green | Big Bad Duo | 3 - 6 PM |
City Fire Sumter Landing | Karaoke | 7 - 10 PM |
Red Sauce Sumter | Lisa Beck | 6 - 9 PM |
RJ Gators Sumter | The Beach Billies | 2 - 5 PM |
Glenview Country Club | Chris Patti | 5 - 8 PM |
Holy Shmokes | Pwill Music Trivia | 6 - 8 PM |
Blondie’s Bar | Thomas Watkins | 2 - 4 PM |
Boosters Bar & Grill | Tyler Glynn | 4 - 6 PM |
Tierra Del Sol | Bobby Blackmon | 3 - 5 PM |
Bonifay Country Club | Boozy Bingo | 5 - 7 PM |
Thanks!
Thanks for reading Villages Pulse today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who loves flea markets.

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