So it’s a cool start this morning ... 52F in Central Florida (60F in Pompano Beach.) The whole family started the day sittin’ on the front porch. It’s breezy, but lovely. The doggies just enjoy that porch so much! (Us too!)
Today’s fun was interviewing an elderly neighbor for her story on life in Harbor Shores for our newsletter. Here’s my article; hope you enjoy it!
It was a different era when Georgia and Joe Borho first saw their future Lake Eustis property in the 1950’s. Friends from Orlando owned the lakefront lot in Harbor Shores, a newly designed waterfront community project in Grand Island, Florida. Georgia and Joe enjoyed a boat ride from downtown Eustis to the vacant lot for a picnic lunch and lake swimming. There were less than 8 homes built at that time, two lakefront and 6 canal front. Several similar picnics and swim parties were enjoyed until one day, in the early 1970’s, their Orlando pals asked if they’d like to buy it as they planned to sell. Joe was in love with the lakefront property and, despite great career possibilities elsewhere, decided it should be Georgia’s and his retirement home. For many years they spent time off picnicking at their lot. By 1976 they’d built a large family home for themselves and their two teenagers. Wonderful family memories were made water skiing, swimming and hosting parties for family and friends.
Original planner and property owners were Grace and Art Shirley who built the huge ranch-style home on the point. Georgia and Grace became good friends who swam back and forth between the docks. Asked if she’d had any wildlife scares swimming in what we (nowadays) think of as alligator and snake infested region, Georgia shared this story.
Georgia was swimming home from Grace’s place at dusk when she saw a head pop-up next to her. Startled, she stopped swimming. An otter with 4 pups swam right in front of her path and continued on their merry way. Asked about alligators, Georgia told a story about seeing just one in all the decades. The gator grabbed a turtle from her lakefront property. Georgia was so mad at the alligator that she ran toward it and threw a stone hoping it would release the turtle. It didn’t, but the ol’ gator didn’t come back either!
During the Cuban Missile crisis of 1961, Grace and Art Shirley built the large home on Calla Court as Grace had become frightened of lakefront living. It was a difficult era when nuclear war was forefront in everyone’s minds. Lucy Hawkins purchased the big lakefront home as the Shirleys moved. (Have you noticed the older homes all boast bars on the windows?) What should have been a simpler time with friends barbecuing and swimming in the lake was overshadowed by a war looming. Eventually, the Hawkins family sold the original home on the point to the McKenzie family whose son now occupies the home.
Georgia and Joe met in Texas while she was babysitting her sister’s ill baby. Joe worked at the hospital nearby and often visited his former pediatric charges. It was during this time that Joe met and fell in love with vivacious Georgia. There were a few years difference in age, she 17, he 23. Joe was allowed to dine with Georgia’s sister’s family, but dating Joe wasn’t permitted. Well, there was no stopping Cupid’s arrow and the couple quietly eloped. A marriage announcement appeared in the newspaper a week later! It was time to tell their families they’d wed. Joe was in the air force which required they move about the country living on air bases. It was while Joe was stationed in Newfoundland Canada that the family grew by two! You see, after eight years of marriage, they’d adopted a baby girl just 8 1/2 months old. FOUR months later Georgia gave birth to their son. Joe and Georgia had 47 1/2 years of wedded bliss enjoying their two children and two grandchildren.
Another fun story that Georgia shared had me laughing. You see, their two children were at school, Joe at work and with household chores done Georgia got her pool float and a boat anchor and set out on Lake Eustis to sunbathe. She may have fallen asleep when a gust of wind took the float out from under her. She reached for it but was pulled back. What was going on? Georgia remembered she had tied the anchor line to her ankle! In the confusion she was most worried that Joe’s “favorite” boat anchor was on the lake bottom and dove down to get it! Fortunately, she decided it best to untie the line from her ankle and swim quite a distance to shore. The pool float was waiting for her on the lawn. When Joe heard the story he was relieved she’d left the darn anchor where it still lies, at the bottom of Lake Eustis!
Georgia loved being a mother who baked goods for every function, served as Cub leader and hosted children’s picnics lakeside. There were always children enjoying the property.
Eventually, Georgia healed from Joe’s passing and unknowingly attracted another wonderful gentleman who shared his life with her for several years until his passing.
You can often see Georgia walking, now with a balance pole, still very active and alert. When you see her please thank Georgia for sharing her wonderful memories of life in our Harbor Shores.
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