College Park Oral History Night with The Pickerills

ABOVE: Bob Pickerill shows photos of the Pickerill Baseball Team at the College Park Oral History Night with The Pickerill Family, April 22, 2013 at Infusion Tea in College Park.

Paul Pickerill was out on a boat fishing with Mike Cook one day and thought about starting a sporting goods business…

According to family historian, his wife, Paula Pickerill, in 1950 Mr. Pickerill purchased two lots for $2000.00 a piece at 2110 Edgewater Drive, the buildings were built and Pickerill’s Sporting Goods Shop  opened for business.

ABOVE: Bob Pickerill takes the microphone as his mother, Mrs. Paula Pickerill, seated to his left, prepares to speak at the College Park Oral History Night with The Pickerill Family, April 22, 2013 at Infusion Tea in College Park.

Generations of Orlandoans bought their boats, fishing rods, guns,  bicycles, baseball gloves, and Christmas toys at Pickerill’s in College Park.

As documented in a letter from former Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, “Christmas at the Jennings house couldn’t have happened without presents from Pickerill’s.”

In this April 22, 2013 College Park Oral History Night with the Pickerill Family, we learn firsthand of the special place Pickerill’s has in the memories of those who grew up with the Pickerill family sporting goods store in College Park.

Mrs. Pickerill remembers the George Stuart tradition, that every Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Stuart would find out when the new toys were coming to Pickerill’s  Sport Shop. They would together rush down to the store and pick out all the toys that they were going to give their kids. They would be the first customers to buy the Christmas toys and then they would put them in what was the first layaway system at the Pickerill’s Sports Shop as told by her son Bob Pickerill at the College Park Oral History Night.

Listen as the Pickerill Family, Bob, Randy, Paula, and Zachary, share the stories of an Orlando tradition, Pickerill’s Sporting Goods Shop.

LISTEN Part I  (14:34)

Open for business – “They always greeted you by name when you came in and really made you feel like one of the family.” – Edgewater High School Coach

Boats, motors, fishing equipment, guns, all kind of sporting equipment, bicycle repair shop, silk screening, trophies.

College Park Area Businesses – Albert’s, Jernigan’s, John’s Hardware, dress shops, shoe store, men’s clothing, women’s clothing.

Pickerill Christmas traditions – Caruso Family, Jennings Family, Stuart Family, and more.

LISTEN Part II  (14:56)

Patrick Air Force Base and the Pickerill trophy business.

Pickerill softball and baseball leagues. Cap Winslow, baseball catcher and College Park milk man.

Pickerill’s beat Denmark’s! 

Pickerill jerseys for the school teams.

I remember my first baseball glove. I bought it from your dad. I didn’t have quite enough to pay for it. He said, Just bring it when you have the money…

LISTEN Part III  (14:11)

Questions, Answers, and Comments from College Park residents at Infusion Tea.

College Park Oral History Night is the brainchild of Deborah Cook, Co-Chair of the College Park Historical Committee.  The committee is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of one of Orlando’s great neighborhoods.

Learn more about the history of College Park and the College Park Historical Committee by visiting the College Park Neighborhood Association website.      

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