For me, a third grader at Beach Elementary, September 10, 1960, started off like any normal day. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the gulf breezes were cool. At this time, we lived in a 40 foot trailer on the gulf side of Red Coconut Trailer Park. As I prepared for school […]
Surviving Hurricane Donna Read More »
Part I: The Storm As a kid growing up on Fort Myers Beach, I can recall many times packing our belongings and heading into Fort Myers because of a potential hurricane. Luckily, most of those trips turned out to be nothing more than a social event for the parents and kids who drove to town
By September 1928, the real estate boom in Florida was beginning to fade. The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 had frightened many new residents when they realized how vulnerable their homes were when a hurricane hit. The Miami hurricane caused flood waters from Lake Okeechobee to enter the city of Moore Haven, killing over 100
Lake Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 Read More »
The old swing bridge that served the island for over 50 years was built in Germany in 1927. The bridge was brought to the United States in 1928 originally for use in Jacksonville. However, the bridge was somehow diverted to Fort Myers Beach sometime in 1928. In 1929 the bridge was installed at the present
The Old Swing Bridge Read More »
When I was a kid, I remember coloring eggs for Easter, and as a mom, this was always an Easter tradition in our house as well. The history of coloring eggs in the spring started well before Christianity. Many cultures around the world view the egg as a symbol of new life, fertility, and rebirth.
Happy Easter…..the humble egg Read More »