Good Day to all! Here is my annual Halloween column. Hope to see everyone on West Marian Avenue Sunday evening at its corner with McGregor Street. The Punta Gorda Kiwanis Club will be handing out glow ropes while they last. Bring your “trick or treaters” by to get one.
Did you know a local Halloween tradition began over 90 years ago? At one time, Albert Waller Gilchrist was undoubtedly Punta Gorda’s most distinguished citizen, evidenced by the city street, bay front park, southbound U.S. 41 bridge, and north Florida county bearing his name. Gilchrist County is the last county created in Florida. Initially intended to be named “Melon”, it was changed upon the state legislature learning of Gilchrist’s passing.
Raised in Quincy, Florida, Gilchrist was born at the home of his maternal grandparents in Greenwood, South Carolina on January 15, 1858. Although his father was General William E. Kilcrease, a prominent Florida plantation owner who died of pneumonia in 1860, for some reason, Albert was persuaded by his mother to change his last name. That and the civil war left the family in poverty, but their financial situation improved when his mother remarried.
Albert gained his secondary education at the Carolina Military Institute graduating as valedictorian and at age 20, won an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Although doing well initially, rising to the rank of cadet lieutenant, by the end of his third year he lost his class ranking due to being deficient in experimental philosophy, whatever that is, and returned to Florida to take up civil engineering. Soon after, he was employed by the Florida Southern Railway, working on several lines being added to its system, one of which would run from Bartow to Trabue (Punta Gorda).
As surveyor for the Florida Southern’s new route from Bartow Junction, Gilchrist’s arrival in Trabue preceded the railroad’s completion in July 1886. Recognizing the opportunities presented by a new, growing town, he decided to stay, resigning his position with the railroad to become a successful real estate broker, land developer, and surveyor.
Throughout his career, he also served the citizens of Florida. As brigadier general of the state militia and four terms as DeSoto County’s state representative, which then included today’s Charlotte County. Between stints as a legislator, Gilchrist served in the Spanish-American War, resigning his Florida Militia brigadier general commission to enlist as a private in Company C, Third United States Volunteers. Although in Cuba for 18 months, his unit saw no combat and he mustered out as a captain in May 1899. It’s said, when asked about his war experience, he responded, seemingly “tongue in cheek”, “I did not kill anybody and nobody killed me.”
During his last term as a state legislator, he was unanimously elected Speaker of the House in 1905 and in 1909 became Florida’s 20th elected governor, defeating two prominent politicians from Jacksonville and Key West in the democratic primary, no small feat, essentially assuring his victory.
During his campaign for governor, he adopted the slogan “Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.”, illustrated by the well-known statuette of three monkeys. In 1908, he also placed an ad in many newspapers stating, “I am not unmindful of the fact that the governor is the steward and not the master of the people who elect him. I will remember my oath and carry out the laws as laid down in the statutes and constitution.”
Having never married, upon his death in May 1926, many charities were the beneficiaries of his considerable fortune. One such bequest is a trust administered by the Punta Gorda Masonic Lodge to provide free ice cream for children each Halloween. Not certain it will happen this year, but if you’re in Punta Gorda Halloween evening “Trick or Treating” with your children or grandkids, it won’t hurt to head over to Gilchrist Park to see if they can enjoy a treat, courtesy of Governor Gilchrist. Albert Waller Gilchrist died in New York City, but is interred at Indian Springs Cemetery.
Photographs of Albert Gilchrist can be viewed by visiting Charlotte County online library resources. Select “Community Services”, then “Libraries and History”. Click on “Physical Items”, then “Archive Search”. Enter the subject of your search on the “Search” line.
Photos are also available on The Punta Gorda History Center’s website, choose “Online Collection”, then “Key Word Search”, as well as the internet.
“Did You Know” appears, typically, every other Wednesday, courtesy of this newspaper and the Charlotte County Historical Society. The Society’s mission is to help promote and preserve Charlotte County’s rich history. We are also always looking for volunteers and interested individuals to serve as board members. If you believe our area’s history is as important as we do, please visit Charlotte County Historical Society on-line at https://cchistoricalsociety.com/, or call 941- 769-1270 for more information
Check out History Services’ yearlong project, “Telling Your Stories: History in the Parks”. It began in January 2021 with placement of the first interpretive sign “Charlotte Harbor Spa” at South County Regional Park. The last was dedicated December 15, 2021 at Centennial Park featuring Florida postcards. All dedicated signs can be viewed at online library resources. Select “Programs and Services”, then “History Services” and “Virtual Programs”.
Visit the same site to access recently released oral histories featuring 40 local folks. Select “History Services” and scroll down, or phone 941-629-7278, to find out what history related programs and videos are available.
October 29 column
