“Rocket City” was launched in October 1962, when Milton Mendelsohn and others formed the “All-State Development Corporation and outlined a grand plan for a “City of the Future”.
They claimed “Rocket City” would include schools, churches, parks, 3 golf courses, a hospital, medical center as well as a 15 acre “Rod & Reel & Racquet Club”, 2 lakes, 40 miles of waterways and 6,000 homes.
In February 1964, Norman and Dorothy Bullock moved to Archer Blvd. from Georgia. Their home was the 3rd home in “Rocket City”. Norman was the Water Supervisor employed by John Manville who owned “Econ Utilities. His job was to supervise the installation of the water and sewer, which he did until his retirement in 1977. At that time, the area was wetlands, so Econ Utilities rented a horse for him to get around. He was considered a HERO to the ladies of the neighborhood because he killed the snakes that hung around their lawn.
Sandra Bullock, Normand and Dorothy’s daughter married Bob Franklin and they have lived on Archer for 41+ years where they raised three sons.
When Don and Bernice Leavitt moved to Majestic Street 40+ years ago, there were 8 houses. They raised 4 children here. There was the “Starfire Motel” on the corner of Hwy 520 and Macon Parkway. Bernice worked at the motel for a few years. Out of towners stayed there when they were interested in lots and buying homes. The building also housed the Sales Office.
There was a portable schoolhouse on the northwest side of Babbitt (near the park). It was open for only a year. Don and Bernice’s oldest son Danny was in the third grade and then the children went to Bonneville School until Columbia Elementary was built.
Bob Smith and his family have lived on Macon Parkway for 32 years. He was the first President of the “Rocket City” Homeowners Association.
In 1962, Ace-Craft was offering homes from $13,950 to $27,750, exclusive of home sites. “Rocket City” home-sites varied from $1,695 to $4,500, depending on size and location.
Florida Power (now OUC) and Southern Bell engineered all the wiring and connections to the homes. “Rocket City” was the first large Florida community to have underground wiring for telephones and utilities.
“Rocket City” developers had planned a shopping center in the neighborhood; among the tenants were “Jackson Minit Market”, “Hot Point”, General Electric” and Econ Utilities Corp.” a well as a barber shop, hardware store, laundry and landscape nursery.
Milton M. Mendelsohn. Executive Vice President and General Manager of All-State Development announced that the first of three championship 18 holes golf courses would be opened and ready for play in November 1963. Only the “Gold” course was opened in November 1963 and was said to have cost $197,300.00.
The All-State Development was offering a 1,000 acre site in its “Rocket City” development as a site for an East Central Florida State University. They sent the proposal to Governor Bryant and formal submission was made to the Orange County Commission in August 1963.
In October 1970, Milton Mendelsohn admitted he devised a scheme, which successfully persuaded some 400 people in Baltimore to invest $22,500 each in the ill fated plan to develop swampland into a city bigger than Orlando. Mendelsohn, along with 3 other men were charged with using phony bank Certificates of Deposit to falsity All-State’s records. Among the claims listed as false were: 1) That well know business concerns were backing “Rocket City”, such as John Manville and the Frigidaire Corporation. 2) That a quick profit could be made because land values were increasing so rapidly. 3) Large Industries such as General Electric would locate in “Rocket City” and the development was almost assured to get the new “Space University” (Florida Technological University). 4) The first phase of 1,500 homes would be built within one and a half to two years. He said he considered the project sound but builders wanted out, and the road and sewer contractors wanted money. His lawyers said “No swindle” was intended and termed the project’s demise and unfortunate collapse a risky venture. The Judge declared a Mistrial. His two partners were sentenced at the same time. A Baltimore cohort received a six-month term and the other was fined $2,500 on lesser charges.
Plans for launching “Cape Orlando” was submitted to the Orange County Commissioners in July 1971. John D. MacArthur, one of America’s wealthiest men backing the corporation which now owns “Cape Orlando”. MacArthur was the owner of Bankers Life & Casualty Company of Chicago and also was the developer of Palm Beach Gardens, which included several thousand homes and 3 golf courses. “Cape Orlando” had posted $1,620,000 in bonds to guarantee the project. A Drainage District had been formed to put an end to flooding. (This information was taken from articles published in the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper in 1963, 1968 and 1970.).
The first church site in “Rocket City” was purchased by the American Lutheran Church. 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 occupies homes as well as the Country Club. Being designed were $2,000,000.00 of new water and sewer faculties 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 improvements were on the 7,000 yard – 18 hole – par 72 Country Club Golf Course. In 1978, averages 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 BobFranklin 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 Saundra and Bob Franklin). Chris lived in the neighborhood until he was 20 years old. He moved to Illinois.
In 1977, Margaret Shaleesh was the Chairlady of the Social Committee and Helen Barger was the Membership Committee.
In the 1980’s, quail and their babies would come into back yards every day at 5:00 pm to get fed. Some quail are still here, but they are few and far between. In the 1980’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 them.
In the late 1970’s, Charlie Jazko was President of the Homeowners Association and then Larry Lanigan, Adair Tobergte and John Bessler. 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, volley ball 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-b-que. There was a DJ and dancing in the street. Sheriff Lawson L. Lamar and “McGruff” the crime prevention dog would whirl in via helicopter and land at the park.
In the early 1980’s, the name was changed from “Cape Orlando” to “Wedgefield”.
