🍉 Happy Throwback Thursday,
In the 20th century, Leesburg kicked off summer with its famous watermelon festival. Even actor Gary Cooper attended one while on location for a film in the area. During its peak, the event attracted thousands to Main Street. Old photos show record-breaking 73-pound melons and famous melon-eating contests. (Lady Lake had its own watermelon-eating contest last Saturday. See the photos here.)
Accounts say that a local boy invited him, and he showed up and posed for a photo that you can see at the Leesburg Heritage Museum…