 |
 |
Florida
Public Archaeology Network
| Charlotte
County |
Page
2 of 2 |
|
|
|
A.C.
Freeman House |
• |
A
house museum in Charlotte County's only Victorian home, the A.C. Freeman
House was built in 1903. A former Punta Gorda mayor’s residence,
the A.C. Freeman House is Charlotte County’s only remaining
Victorian home. It houses the Chamber Visitor’s Center. Also,
the Punta Gorda Historical Society, housed in the Woman’s Club
on Sullivan Street, offers guided tours of the building, which contains
period furniture. It is located across from the Best Western Waterfront,
at 311 West Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda (at the intersection of U.S.
41 South and Retta Esplanade) 941-575-3387 |
Historian Lindsey Williams |
|
This
site contains many of the archived articles penned by local historian
Lindsey Williams about area history. Williams was a long-time collaborator
with fellow historian US Cleveland (now deceased). Together, the two
chronicled many of the events that shaped Charlotte Harbor, and Punta
Gorda in particular. This website also contains a lot of political
commentary, but here is recommended for its historic contents.
www.lindseywilliams.org |
Punta
Gorda History Park |
• |
501 Shreve St., Punta Gorda 33950 (941) 639-1887
Three buildings have been moved here since this park was opened by
the city of Punta Gorda. These buildings are completely unrelated,
but reflect a good faith effort by the historical society and city
to restore historic buildings and preserve them for public enjoyment.
One building (1886) once was the office of Punta Gorda founder Col.
Isaac Trabue, a Kentucky lawyer who purchased hundreds of waterfront
acres to promote the coming of the Florida Southern Railway. This
building still has its original sign, but now is used by the Peace
River Writers group. Another building (1890) at the park once was
a Cuban cigar makers’ cottage, and this building is not currently
open to the public. A fountain which used to grade the entrance of
an historic hotel until it burned in the early 20th century also is
found here. Finally, a building (1914) which should soon house the
new museum for Punta Gorda stands at the rear of the park. This building
started as a house, and next was an inn, so its role as a museum will
be its third lease on life. This building is undergoing renovations.
Thanks to historian Lindsey Williams for granting me (KBS) a personal
driving tour of historic Punta Gorda and sharing many stories with
me. |
El
Jobean Historical Properties Inc. |
• |
According
to the county’s visitors bureau websites, this facility offers
historic exhibits as well as fishing, and federal historic landmarks
(including a post office and general store) are on display.
This community was named as an anagram of its founder Joel Bean’s
own name. In the 1920s, Bean’s town attracted circus and carnival
performers, who used it as a winter base (areas outside of Tampa now
serve the same function). The most infamous inhabitant was Leo “Suicide”
Simon, who performed such stunts as detonating a box of dynamite while
crouched inside, and diving 120 feet into a flaming pool.
Simon’s hotel, where he and other “carnies” stayed,
no longer exists, but the town’s former post office/train station/general
store still stands. The 1923 building is on the National Register
of Historic Places and depicts the history of Southwest Florida and
the more immediate area. This museum is free to the public.
About 7 miles south of Port Charlotte on SR 776, across from the Mystic
gas station. 4370 Garden Rd., El Jobean (941) 627-3344 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Thanks
to M. C. Bob Leonard, Professor of History, Hillsborough Community
College for information from unofficial websites. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
