These posts relate to a broader history of SW Florida
The first free public library on Fort Myers Beach was located in this small cottage owned by Clem and Lucy McGee. The library was manned a few hours each day by volunteers and remained in this cottage from 1955-1956. In 1957, the library moved to a larger cottage on Avenue A with 3,000 books in […]
Fort Myers Beach Library Read More »
During the “pink gold rush” of the 1950s, over 200 shrimp boats called San Carlos and Estero Islands their home port. Hurricane Donna swept across the islands in 1960 destroying many of the shrimp packing houses that were never rebuilt. The hurricane, rising gas prices, imported shrimp, and decreased demand for shrimp all contributed
Since this is Shrimp Festival Week, I am going to continue on the subject of shrimping for the next couple of posts. I remember when I was a kid, my father would go to San Carlos Marina every afternoon to watch the fishing boats dock and see what they were catching. Back in those days,
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In 1949, “pink gold” was discovered in the Dry Tortugas off Key West. This particular species of shrimp, known by its scientific name of Penaesus Duoranum, is considered by many to be the sweetest species harvested in the United States. When word got out that this new pink shrimp was something special, shrimpers from all
“Pink Gold” Discovered in Gulf–Shrimping Industry is Born Read More »