|
|
| |
Lee
County |
Page
1 of 2 |
| |
| •
Fort Myers • |
| |
• |
The first settlers here arrived around 1839. It was originally
was called Fort Harvie, and it was built during the Seminole Wars
near the Caloosahatchee River. According to historic records, this
location boasted barracks, a bowling alley, stables, and choice fishing
spots. For the most part, soldiers needed to stay close to the camp,
prepared for Defense against the Seminole Indians. This fort later
was improved and renamed Fort Myers after an officer (Colonel Abraham
C. Myers), under the command of General David E. Twiggs (whose daughter
Marion was to marry Colonel Myers). Many more buildings and a hospital
were added to the property during the 1850s. Today’s Edison
Bridge is close to the original location of this fort. Also, Billy
Creek in Fort Myers is near to where Billy Bowlegs and his people
camped. The modern city of Fort Myers was incorporated in 1885. |
| •
Punta
Rassa • |
| |
• |
Today,
Punta Rassa is close to Fort Myers Beach. The name roughly translates
to “a place or point of land where people of all types meet.”
A fort used in the Seminole Wars once stood near this spot, and was
called Fort Dulaney. Later, when more pioneers and ranchers came into
this area, Punta Rassa was used as a point to place cattle onto boats
for sale at other ports, some of which were in Cuba. |
| •
Bonita
Springs
• |
| |
• |
Incorporated
in 1999, this town started as a small fishing village along the Imperial
River in the 1880s. Tourism was the first industry, and construction
of US 41 was a vital part of that industry. The original Shell Factory
was originally built and operated in Bonita Springs. This burned down
in 1952, partly because the fire trucks had to come all the way from
Fort Myers. Today, the Shell Factory is found in North Fort Myers. |
|
•
Everglades
Wonder Gardens • |
| |
• |
Another
popular attraction, and this is still open today. Riverside Park is
home to the museum as ell as several small buildings, which used to
be cottages, and which have been moved to the park to serve as small
stores. These are known collectively as the “Imperial River
Cottages.” This attraction was founded by Thomas Edison, and
started as a facility for injured animals. Before long, things changed
at the gardens, and they produced crowd favorites, including bears
who drank Pepsi from glass bottles, and some animals that would be
featured in major Hollywood productions (such as a beloved black bear
called Tom who was featured in “The Yearling”). |
| •
Names
of interest • |
| |
Summerlin
Road in Fort Myers |
| |
• |
Named after Jacob Summerlin, a successful cattleman who received gold
from Cuba by shipping cattle to Punta Rassa, and later used his money
to fund Civil War actions against the Union. |
| |
Evans
Road in Fort Myers |
| |
• |
Named for Major James Evans. He is recognized as the founder of Fort
Myers, since he purchased lands from the government and hired surveyors
to establish the town site. |
| |
Cleveland
Avenue |
| |
• |
(US41)
in Fort Myers is named for Stafford Cleveland, who arrived in 1884
and started a newspaper. Today this paper is called the News-Press.
|
| |
Thomas
Edison |
| |
• |
Many
street names in Fort Myers make reference to Thomas Edison, who first
came to the town in 1885 and built a winter home, which today is open
to the public as a museum and gardens.
|
| |
Hamilton
Disston |
| |
• |
...bought
six million acres of South Florida swampland for 25 cents per acres.
Eventually, some of these lands became Bonita Springs. However, draining
and developing the lands proved more difficult than Disston had imagined.
Historic sources about this figure in history have revealed a lot
about what life was like for crews working on canals along the Caloosahatchee
River, Three Mile Canal, Nine Mile Canal and 13 Mile Canal (which
is now the Miami Canal). Click
here for PDF document This
file is 1.3 meg file and will require approx. 30 sec.
download on a high speed connection |
| |
Frank
P. Bailey |
| |
• |
...a
Sanibel pioneer, was born in 1873. He arrived on Sanibel Island in
1894 with his mother and two brothers. They began farming while they
bargained to buy their own land. The family eventually bought a plantation
store that combined packing and shipping of their own produce as well
as that of other farmers. Bailey co-founded the Sanibel Community
Church in 1917, and when Sanibel Packing Company—the name given
to the Bailey enterprises—was destroyed by a hurricane in 1926,
he built a larger store in a more secure location. That same year
he helped to establish Sanibel Community House, a facility that still
serves as a center of island activity. In the 1940s he set up a telephone
system and served as Justice of the Peace. Frank Bailey operated the
general store until his death in 1952. His Great Floridian plaque
is located at the Old Bailey Store, 950 Dunlop Road, Sanibel. The
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum also is partially named in his honor. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
