Good Day to all! Charlotte County Historical Society’s annual Hibiscus Festival is coming up May 2, 3, and 4th at Gilchrist Park. Hope to see you there for a great time!
As you know from my previous column, 1902 was not shaping up as a good year for Captain Albert Dewey. In July he’d lost the Mary Blue, flagship of his small fleet, to a mysterious fire. Little did he know things would only get worse.
One September evening, during a driving rainstorm, the captain was relaxing after supper with his wife and sons in the central hall of their Retta Esplanade home when a shot rang out. Struck in the left calf, Dewey initially thought his son Willis had accidentally shot him while cleaning a gun nearby.
However, the bullet had come from the front porch, fortunately grazing a cross brace in the screen door, which deflected it. His sons grabbed their guns and ran outside, but no one had heard any unusual sound before or after the shooting. Although Dewey’s brother-in-law, John Farrington, persuaded the Punta Gorda Bank to post a $500 reward, about $20,000 today, the shooter was never identified. Just a few months later, town Marshall John Bowman would be assassinated.
Despite an initially good prognosis, the wound refused to heal. A month after the shooting, Dewey travelled to his “old haunt”, Savannah, for treatment where it was discovered the bone was shattered and gangrene had set in. Consequently, doctors amputated his leg just above the knee.
A few years later, when the phosphate industry moved north to Polk County, the Port of Boca Grande, with its new railroad, became the area’s major shipping point. Consequently, Dewey sold his fleet of river tugs and ore barges, becoming Punta Gorda Bank’s executive cashier, then vice-president of its successor, the Punta Gorda State Bank. He was also active in the drive to carve Charlotte County from a portion of DeSoto County and when that occurred in 1921, was appointed Charlotte County’s first tax collector. I believe my Dad, L. Victor, was the county’s fourth.
Interestingly, although clearly a successful businessman, it wasn’t until 1925 that Dewey owned his first home, which was on Cross Street (U. S. 41 south), between West Retta Esplanade and West Marian Avenue. He died shortly after Christmas in 1935 and is interred next to his wife Mary at Indian Springs Cemetery.
Visit Charlotte County’s website to view photographs of Captain Dewey, his boats, home, and family members. Select “Community Services”, then “Libraries and History”. Click on “Physical Items”, then “Archive Search”. Enter the subject of your search on the “Search” line.
You can also view photos on the Punta Gorda History Center’s website. Select “Online Collections”, then “Key Word Search” and enter the subject of your search.
“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 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.
April 16 column
