Day to all! Did you know there are 29 streets on Isaac Trabue’s original town plat? The seven angular perimeter streets were discussed in my last column. The twenty-two remaining, with more familiar names, are the subject of this column.
Beginning at the town of Trabue’s easterly end and moving west, first is Milot, likely a misspelling of Milus, as it appears today, for Trabue’s brother-in-law Milus Nesbitt, then Cochran, maiden name of Trabue’s sister-in-law, now Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Wood, for business associate William Wood. Nesbit, a second one after brother-in-law Milus, noted above and another misspelling. Then King, now also U.S. 41 north, perhaps for family friend Archibald King or even prominent Fort Ogden rancher and merchant Ziba King, who by early 1893, with partner J. L. Sandlin, owned a wharf on the bay front and a large two-story mercantile store on the street.
Next is Taylor, maiden name of Isaac’s wife Virginia, then Cross, now also U.S. 41 south, for John Cross, the real estate agent who handled Trabue’s initial 30-acre purchase from James Madison Lanier. Harvey, for Kelly Harvey, the surveyor creating the town plat who by now you’ve likely figured out, was clearly uncertain of some names. Gill, for brother-in-law Charles Gill, McGregor, for brother-in-law Thomas MacGregor, then Chasteen, probably a misspelling of Chastain, for Isaac’s father.
As with the seven angular perimeter streets in Trabue’s town plat, most of the eleven west of Chasteen no longer exist. Several were less than a block long running from what is now a portion of Marion Avenue, west of its Henry Street intersection, to the waterfront.
The first after Chasteen is Barry, with an “a”, for nephew Robert Berry. I’m beginning to feel a bit sorry for surveyor Kelly Harvey and his spelling errors. Although they could have been due to Isaac’s penmanship, that may be the primary reason Trabue refused to pay him for the job.
Unfortunately, the origins of Shreve and Pitman are unknown. Alice, for a niece, no longer officially exists, but is part of the city’s linear park. Maude, for nephew Robert Berry’s wife, provides access to Fisherman’s Village, former site of the Maude Street (City) dock. Cosby, for Trabue’s aunt Lucinda, was near what is now the entrance to Starboard Point condominiums.
Remaining streets on the plat west of the Henry, Marion intersection, such as Brown, likely for F. Q. Brown, agent for the Florida Southern Railway’s real estate division, Elizabeth, for Isaac’s mother, Wilson, likely for Thomas E. Wilson, Virginia Trabue’s maternal grandfather, and Inville, origin unknown, and Trabue, have also been lost to development. However, Isaac created and named an avenue after himself in 1893 when he and wife Virginia replated blocks 27, 28, and 29. Today, only one block of Trabue Avenue remains between McGregor and Chasteen Streets. A big “Thank You” to the Colonel, for expending the effort to utilize other than just numbers to identify streets in our town! Another characteristic making Punta Gorda rather unique.
Trabue’s plat can be viewed on the Charlotte County Clerk of Circuit Court’s website. Once the site is accessed, select “Searches”, then “Plats and Condominiums”. At the “Description” box, enter “Trabue”, select “Submit”, then “Trabue” and an image of the plat will appear. Interestingly, it is drawn with a southerly rather than northerly orientation.
“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.
May 28 column
