I N S I D E

From Ruin to Re-

naissance Exhibit

Early Banks

Southern Supper

Founder Focus

P U N T A G O R D A

H I S T O R Y C E N T E R

The Punta Gorda History Beacon

W I N T E R , 2 0 2 0 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1

D A T E S I N O U R

H I S T O R Y

• Janurary 8, 1883

IsaacTrabue pur-

chased 30-acres of

land on the south side

of Charlotte Harbor

from James Lanier for

$500. Land that

would ultimately be-

come the town of

Punta Gorda.

• January 21, 1894

Caldwell Colt, son of

Samuel Colt and fa-

mous yachtsman dies

at Hotel Punta Gorda.

• January 29, 1903

Marshall John Bow-

man shot at his home

on Taylor in Punta

Gorda.

Hurricanes and Fires have been the nemesis of Punta Gorda since its beginning. This year the History Center will focus on the storms and fires that both wrecked hav-oc and often led to major improvements - recoveries that improved the town.

New Exhibit—From Ruin to Renaissance

Published

Quarterly by

At the History Center this Winter

Winter Programs

Come by and learn a little more about your local history. All programs are on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. Light Refreshments provided. The following programs are being offered: January 15th — Punta Gorda in Flames—Early fires that almost destroyed the town—Slide presentation followed by observations by a member of today’s fire depart-ment 29th — History Bites with a Local — Memories of Charlotte High with members of the Punta Gorda Old Timers Association. Story of Integration of School in the 1960s. February 5th — Rain—Hurricane History—Major Hurricanes that hit this area and their impact. Presentation and Discussion 12th — A Murderous Love Story — The Story of the Bloody Bucket—Presentation 19th -The Streets Where We Live. How They Got Their Names. (Presentation with Q and A) 26th - History Bites with a Local — Memories of Hurricane Charley — Local resi-dents share their experiences during and after Hurricane Charley in 2004.

(continued inside p. 3)

Search the archive: www.puntagorda.pastperfect.com

Marion Ave. After Charley

P A G E 2

Early Banks The Punta Gorda Bank, Punta Gorda’s

first true local bank was chartered 120

years ago in 1899, an outgrowth of an

earlier branch bank of the State Bank

of Fort Meade, opened in 1894 and

managed by John Farrington (sketch

below).

Actually, Punta Gorda had another

branch bank (no dedicated building)

even earlier in 1889, a branch of the

Polk City Bank managed by S.P. Hinck-

ley (the Hinckley-Harvey house still

stands on Retta Esplanade).

The 1899 bank opened its doors at the

northwest corner of Marion and Cross

Street (now 41 south). Perry W.

McAdow, a wealthy owner of

goldmines in Montana, had just relocat-

ed in Punta Gorda and needed a

bank. He constructed the one-story

building and helped recapitalize the

original Fort Meade branch bank, be-

coming the first President of the Punta

Gorda local bank. The building housed

the bank on the corner with Earnest Dry

Goods, the Punta Gorda Trading Company

and a community social hall comprising the

rest of the space. A Charlotte County

Historical Marker noting where the bank

was located can be seen on 41 South be-

fore reaching Marion Avenue on the west

side of the street.

The Merchant Bank chartered in 1912 be-

came Punta Gorda’s second bank. This

building still stands on Marion Avenue oc-

curpied by Serendipity Salon.

T H E P U N T A G O R D A H I S T O R Y B E A C O N

Frank M. Cooper Senator F. M. Cooper was one of Punta Gorda’s most promi-nent citizens who owned several busi-nesses, organized a major bank, and be-came a Florida State Senator. Senator Cooper was one of the leaders who drove the divi-sion of DeSoto Coun-ty to create Charlotte County. Unfortu-nately, he died in 1921 shortly before Charlotte County officially came into existence and never saw his vision be-come a reality. To learn more about Senator Cooper and more biographical information on his-torical figures from Punta Gorda’s past visit our virtual ar-chive at Punta Gor-da.pastperfectonline.com. Direct:https://puntagor-da.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Cooper%2C+Senator+Frank

Punta Gorda Bank opened in 1899

Founder Focus

Sketch of original bank opened in 1894

Merchant Bank on Marion Avenue

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1

Come see the exhibit and participate in the research and programs we will be conducting over the course of the year. In addition to providing education through our wall exhibit and slideshows, we will be inviting locals to partici-pate in presentations of their personal recollections as well as conducting further research to increase the information the Center has on this important part of our past. It is only with learning about this past that we gain insights for the future.

From Ruin to Renaissance— New Exhibit (Continued)

Punta Gorda’s 5th Annual Founders’ Southern Supper Honors In-

ductees to History Hall of Honor

March 11th -The Women who helped make Punta Gorda. (Presentation with Q and A) 18th - Where They Stayed — Early Hotels and Homes in Punta Gorda (Presentation) 25th- History Bites with a Local —- From Elegance to Embers - the Hotel Charlotte Harbor and its Demise

Winter Programs (Continued)

1921 Hurricane Seminole Hotel

Matt Weeks Family

Kirkland Family

Rev. Bill Klosser (MC )and Rev. Frankie Fayson of Bethel AME Church

Martha Bireda accepts award for her mother Bernice Russell

512 E. Grace Street

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Phone: 941-916-8800

Email: puntagordahistorycenter@gmail.com

www.puntagordahistorycenter.com

www.puntagorda.pastperfect.com

The Punta Gorda History Center is a non-profit 501

(c)3 non-profit organization created for the purpose

of preserving and educating about Punta Gorda/

Charlotte Harbor History. Your tax deductible do-

nation will support:

· Continued operation of the Center on Grace

Street

· Digitization of much of the Peeples and other col-

lections and online access to the collections

· Programs and publications providing education on

local history

· Preservation materials, equipment and support for

archiving more of the Peeples and other local family

collections

You may send your tax-deductible donation to:

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 512557

Punta Gorda, FL 33951-2557

The Punta Gorda History Center

Preserving Our Past….Inspiring Our

Future