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Fort Myers History
1841- 1863
Ft. Myers was one of the first forts built along the Caloosahatchee
River as a base of operations against the Seminole Indians. Ft. Denaud,
Ft. Thompson, and Ft. Dulany (Punta Rassa) all pre-date Ft. Myers. When
a hurricane destroyed Ft. Dulany in October 1841, the military was forced
to look for a site less exposed to storms from the Gulf of Mexico. As
a result of the search, Ft. Harvie was built on the grounds that now
comprise Downtown Ft. Myers.
Renewed war against the Seminoles in 1850 caused a re-occupation and
extensive reconstruction of Ft. Harvie. The post was then renamed Ft.
Myers in honor of Colonel Abraham C. Myers, who was soon to wed the
daughter of Major General David E. Twiggs, then commanding Ft. Brooke
(Tampa). The expanded fort eventually became quite an impressive base.
At it's peak, it featured a 1,000 foot wharf, and more than 50 buildings
constructed of hardy yellow pine. The cleared ground around the fort
fell roughly within the area bounded by the present day Hough, Monroe
and Second streets.
Abandoned in 1858, Ft. Myers was re-occupied for a few weeks the following
year. The War Between the States brought federal troops back in 1863
for a stay of 2 years, but at the wars end, Ft. Myers was abandoned
by the military once and for all.
1864 - 1875
In the years after the war, people from all over South Florida came
to Ft. Myers in search of scarce building materials. Unfortunatly, many
of the forts buildings were literally dismantled and carried away. Also
during the years after the war, cattle baron Jacob Summerlin often drove
his herds
past the old fort grounds on the way to Punta Rassa where they were
shipped to Cuba to be paid for in gold. During the late 1860's, and
in the 1870's a number of settlers began to drift into the area, and
by 1876 there were enough people living on properly surveyed land to
justify creating the community officially. In that year, the plat for
Ft. Myers was recorded in Key West , county seat fo Monroe County, which
then included all of what is now Lee County.
1876- 1897
Most of the growth during the remainder of the ninteeth century was
in the vincinity of the old fort grounds - present Downtown Ft. Myers.
Virtually all of the early construction was wood frame and very few
of these structures remain. During the 1870's, two general stores, a
school and a number of private homes were built. In 1876, when Ft. Myers
was platted,the United States Post Office offically changed the towns
name to Myers, supposedly to aviod any confusion with Ft. Myer, Virginia.
Although local people continued to call their home "Ft." Myers,
the name was not legally restored until 1901.
A few hotels began to appear during the last two decades of the ninteenth
century, the first being Keystone, at the foot of Park Street. By 1885,
the population was upto 349, the Ft. Myers Press was in operation, people
were beginning to settle along the river away from the immediate fort
area, and
Ft. Myers was about to gain its most famous resident. In 1885, Thomas
A. Edison visited the town, fell in love with it, and within 2 years,
he had built his home and laboratory on the banks of the Caloosahatchee
River.
A colorful addition to the area during this period was the appearance
of a number of pineapple plantations along the river. The year 1884
was critical for Ft. Myers. Lee County was created (out of Monroe),
a new courthouse was built, a second newspaper - Tropic News - opened,
and a severe freeze in the state resulted in much of the citrus industry
moving farther south - some of it to this area.
1898-1919
The twentieth century dawned with 943 residents in Ft. Myers. The town
was experiencing what an historian called a "building boom."
The "boom" actually began in 1898 with the construction of
what is now called the Murphy-Burroughs home setting the standard. Within
the next few years a number of more elaborately decorated framed vernacular
homes appeared along First Street and out along Palm Beach Boulevard.
The growth of the community was greatly facilitated in 1904 with the
arrival of the Coast Railroad, with its terminus at a dock on Monroe
Street. During the same year, construction began on the Bradford Hotel
which still stands on First Street. A power plant, several banks, commercial
ice plants and new hotels reflected the increase pace and growth during
the first decade of the century. Another notible sign of growth during
the first two decades of the 20th Century was the beginning of several
residential developments such as Edgewood, Wardwood Grove, and what
came to be called Dean Park. Streets were paved Downtown, and the famous
palms were planted along McGregor Boulevard, which itself was improved
to Whiskey Creek on the road to Punta Rassa.
1920 - 1927
The 1920's brought what was called the "Boom Time" to all
of Florida, and Ft. Myers shared in the riches. Most of the Mediterranean
Revival buildings seen throughout the City were built during this period.
In fact, the Mediterranean Revival style, which combines serveral other
prominent architectural styles, typifies Florida during the 1920's.
Excellent examples of Mediterranean Revival construction are to be found
in commercial buildings in the downtown area as well as in private homes
in all parts of the city.
Growth radiating out in all directions from the old fort grounds was
to be seen during the 1920's. Still-prominent developments such as Seminole
Park, Riverside Park, Edison Park, Valencia Terrace, Allen Park, Alabama
Groves and others had their beginnings in the Boom Time. It was also
during this exciting period that the Seaboard Railroad came to town
offering competition to Henry Plant's older Coast Line. Today three
terminals from this period can still be seen in the city. The opening
of Tamiami Trail, linking Ft. Myers with Tampa and Miami, added even
more to the fantastic
growth during this time.
1930 - 1939
Ft. Myers suffered along with the rest of the state when a combination
of poor publicity, hurricanes, and inadequate planning brought a collapse
to Florida's boom time. The onset of the depression brought development
and growth to a virtual standstill all over the country. Still, there
was some moderate progress. Some of the more elegant buildings in Ft.
Myers were built during this period. The Federal Building was completed;
and the Edison Bridge was constructed making travel to the north much
more convenient.
In addition to the site of the original fort, described earlier, is
the site of the yacht Basin. Identical to the Ft. Pierce Basin, the
Yacht Basin was originally designed for Sarasota by the W.P.A. Mayor
Dave Shapard, on a special trip to Washington, succeeded in transferring
the project to Ft. Myers.
Construction began in 1936, with World War II bringing the Coast Guard
to the Yacht Basin under the direction of Louis Conant. After the war,
Captain John Mickle oversaw operations as a municipal marina with a
capacity of fifty boats. In 1957 Captain Ed Hanson was installed as
dock master,
expanding facilities in 1972 to present day 246 boats.
1940 - present
The big story of the 1940's in Ft. Myers, as everywhere else in the
world, was World War II. Every county in Florida had air bases to take
advantage of Florida's fine flying weather. Lee County's bases brought
servicemen, and sometimes their families to Ft. Myers. Many of these
people, and their visitors, came back in later years to become permanent
residents.
In the years since World War II, Ft. Myers has grown along with Lee
County and the rest of Southwest Florida. Gradually, vacant commercial
and residential sites have been filled in. Development has been concentrated
east and west along the river, and south along Cleveland Avenue. New
commercial buildings and shopping centers have cropped up in all parts
of the city. Fortunately, the older downtown area, and much of the city's
historic districts, have retained much of their old charm.
Today Downtown Ft. Myers is filled with businesses ranging from boutiques,
restaurants, cafes, antiques stores, jewlers, financial houses, apartments,
and professional offices to a convention center. Also Centennial Park
is a popular place for visitors and residents to gather.
[submitted by Norita
Shepherd Moss]
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