Day to all! Did you know a picture is not only worth a thousand words, but can literally cause folks to move? Frank Rigell was born in September 1901 on the family farm near Slocomb, Alabama, a small town southwest of Dothan, just across the Florida state line. The youngest of seven, when he was about 2 years old,…
Good Day to all! I had planned on my “Moonshine” column this week, but with Dad’s passing early last Wednesday, August 23, changed to my Desguin family column. There will be an obituary in the paper, but service details are: Visitation, Thursday, September 7, 5-7, Kays-Ponger and Uselton Funeral Home, 635 East Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda; Mass of Christian…
Good Day to all! Did you know Kelly Harvey, after leading the charge to incorporate and rename his adopted town, abandoned it? After weeks of public notice, the meeting to debate and vote on the town of Trabue’s incorporation occurred in early December 1887. Thirty-four men registered to vote on the matter, 30 white and 4 black. Significant, I…
Good Day to all! Did you know an accomplished musician played a significant part in Punta Gorda’s beginnings? Kelly B. Harvey, hailing from Indiana, was born in 1859 and apparently came to Florida in the early 1880’s. A surveyor and self-professed engineer, he worked for the new railroads and land companies investing in the southwest Florida frontier. He also…
Good Day to all! Hope everyone had a fun and safe July 4th. Thanks to all participating in and observing the 32nd Freedom Swim. Check out the Society’s new website at https://cchistoricalsociety.com/. Did you know that for about 15 years early in the 20th century, the Punta Gorda area was a principal supplier of the nation’s pineapples? Some of…
Good Day to all! First, two bits of information, the Society’s new website is up and running. Check it out at https://cchistoricalsociety.com/. Second, the 32nd Freedom Swim is coming up July 4. Start time is 2:30, Charlotte Harbor end of the bridge. Did you know the first “named” hurricane to strike this area was Donna? As stated in my…
Good Day to all! For two consecutive years now, our region has not gotten an early start to hurricane season with Tropical Storm Arlene forming June 2 in the Gulf. Hopefully, that portends a better year than last! Interestingly, it took off south and we didn’t get much rain. The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1, so, since it…
Good Day to all! Did you know sawmills were so important in the area’s early history that one of the first came all the way from Kentucky? William Huckeby was born around 1840 in Cloverport, Kentucky, just down the Ohio River from Louisville. During the Civil War, at an early age, he served as chief engineer on a stern…
Good Day to all and Happy Birthday to my brother Louis! The annual Hibiscus Festival is coming May 5, 6, and 7 at Gilchrist Park. Visit thehibiscusfestival.com for details. Hope to see you there! Did you know a former railroad right-of-way is one of Punta Gorda’s most popular parks? As noted in previous columns, the railroad came to Trabue…
Good Day to all! Did you know that the Native American sculpture by Peter Wolf Toth next to the Freeman House was carved from a tree planted by Marian McAdow over 100 years ago? Perry McAdow visited during the 1896 winter season, staying at the Hotel Punta Gorda. The story goes that upon taking in the view from the…
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