Historic Bonita Springs

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1 Historic Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS HIS T O RICAL S O CIE T Y ROOTED IN HISTORY Table of Contents 2. Historic Time Periods of Bonita Springs 7. Selected Historical Properties existing properties 19.

Bonita Springs Historical Society The Society is pleased to share our town s heritage.

2 BONITA SPRINGS HIS T O RICAL S O CIE T Y ROOTED IN HISTORY Table of Contents 2. Historic Time Periods of Bonita Springs 7. Selected Historical Properties existing properties 19. Selected Lost Historic Properties 23. Heritage Tourism and Education 24. Historic Preservation 26. Archaeology & the Environment 28. Bonita Springs Historical Society The Society is pleased to share our town s heritage. Enjoy the look at selected historic homes and buildings within and let your imagination take you back in time to the beginnings of our town. A time when the hum in the summer air was cicadas, not air conditioners or cars. Historic buildings are like book covers - the outside is what we first see, but the story is contained inside; in the lives and memories of those who worked and lived there. We can learn a lot by just looking at a building, as construction, contributing to an understanding of the culture and society of that period. The Bonita Springs Historical Society hopes you will enjoy our diversity of old and new. Please note that sites listed with the video icon have a corresponding video that is available for viewing, along with other videos including downtown walking tours, at: www. bonitaspringshistoricalsociety.org or scanning the QRcode:

3 Page # Map # 7 1. Casner House, S. Riverside Dr. Owned by the Bonita Springs Historical Society 2. Wineberg-Sheaffer House, S. Riverside Dr. 3. Tucker House, S. Riverside Dr. 4. Wardner House, S. Riverside Dr. 5. Skinner House, S. Riverside Dr. 6. Ruth House, S. Riverside Dr Everglades Wonder Gardens, Old US 41 Rd Leitner House, E. Terry St. 9. Strickland-Agner House, E. Terry St. 10. England-Scheid House, Center Ave. 11. McBride House, Goodwin St. 12. Seripen House, Goodwin St. 13. Cheney House, Goodwin St. 14. Schmittie House, Goodwin St Liles Hotel, Old US 41 Rd. 16. Storter-Menefee House, Pullen Ave. 17. Wallace Liles House, Wilson St. 18. Imperial River Laundry, Old US 41 Rd Benson s Grocery, Old US 41 Rd. 20. Engel s Bicycles, Old US 41 Rd. 21. McMillan House, Matheson Ave. 22. Fidelity Florida, Old US 41 Rd Hendren s Grocery Store, Old US 41 Rd McSwain House, Old US 41 Rd. Owned by the Bonita Springs Historical Society 25. Baptist Church, 1939 Ragsdale & Front St Nutting House, Pennsylvania Ave Williams-Packard House, Tennessee St. 28. Haldeman House, c Pennsylvania Ave Smith House, Old US 41 Rd. 30. Reeves House, Old US 41 Rd. 31. Strickland House, Pullen Ave. 32. Rogers House, Hampton St Fleming House, Old US 41 Rd. 34. Doerr House, Hampton St Lee Memorial First Methodist Church, Shriver St Shangri La, Old US 41 Rd. Originally the Heitman Hotel 37. Braun s Building, Old US 41 Rd Elementary School, Dean St. 39. Frank Liles House, Dean St. Located off map: 12 Goodbread Grocery, 1926 Bonita Cemetery, 1921 Bonita Beach Rd. & Livingston Ave. 18 Browers-Briggs House, 1945 Dean St. 1 Videos about these and other historic sites can be found at:

Selected Historic Properties of Bonita Springs Richview Ct. Michigan St. W. Terry St. Edgewood St. 26 27 Lavinka St. Rio Vista Cir. Morgan Rd. Sun Aqua Ln. 28 Te nessee St. Washington St. Williams Rd.

1 6 Pennsylvania Ave. Kentucky St. Indiana St. Florida Southwest Coast Fort Myers Beach 41 Bonita Springs Naples 75 S. Riverside Dr. 5 Stonehaven Dr. Depot Park Front St. Old US 41 Rd.

4 Selected Historic Properties of Bonita Springs Richview Ct. Michigan St. W. Terry St. Edgewood St Lavinka St. Rio Vista Cir. Morgan Rd. Sun Aqua Ln. 28 Te nessee St. Washington St. Williams Rd. I linois St. Oak Creek River Royal Ct. Pine Ave. Idaho St. Sanibel Gulf of Mexico Jackson Ave. River Dr. Main Dr. Nevada St. Forest Park Ave. Rosemary Creek Imperial River Oregon St. 1 6 Pennsylvania Ave. Kentucky St. Indiana St. Florida Southwest Coast Fort Myers Beach 41 Bonita Springs Naples 75 S. Riverside Dr. 5 Stonehaven Dr. Depot Park Front St. Old US 41 Rd Center Ave. 8 Chateau Du Lac Ct. Watkins Dr. Goodwin St Felt Ave. Shriver Ave. Riverside Park Wilson St Reynolds St. 22 Banyan Tree Landmark Childers St Old US 41 Rd. 24 Ragsdale St. 29 Abernathy St Hampton St. Crockett St. 37 Dean St. 35 Orange Ct. Dr. 16 Pullen Ave. Legend Historic sites Leither Creek 38 Horne Ave. Leitner Ln. 39 E. Terry St. Dortch Ave. Leitner Creek Dr. Tussy Rd. Historic sites that are highlighted in this publication. Forest Creek Dr. Park Ave. Matfair Ct. Chiders St. These buildings only represent a sampling of Bonita Springs older residences and businesses. It is not a comprehensive list of historic structures. Elwood Dr. 21 Matheson Ave.

5 Historic Time Periods of Bonita Springs 2 Although Florida contains our nation s oldest city, in many ways Southwest Florida was our country s Post-Reconstruction, 1879 to 1897

6 Spanish-American War, World War I and Aftermath,

7 Florida Land Boom and Bust, The Mecca of the Tourist and the Land of Promise for the Settler.

8 Depression/New Deal, World War II and Aftermath, Modern, 1950 Present

9 and their destiny.

10 Selected Historical Properties Liles Hotel (map #15) three modes with a new water fountain.

11 understanding of our local heritage. cultural and historical resources. local artisans in the historic cottages heart of our historic downtown.

12 Shangri La Resort (map #36) and still retains its historic character.

13 Lee Memorial First Methodist Church (map #35) the site of many community gatherings. new church (map #25)

14 11 Everglades Wonder Gardens (map #7) Florida continue to dwindle longest lasting resources of

15 12 Goodbread Grocery (Downtown Old US41)

16 Benson s Groceries (map #19) also managed the store for years and traditions of a small town general store, the owners continued to allow clients

17 Pop Hendren s (map #23)

18 Leitner House (map #8) Fleming House (map #33) home of their grandniece.

19 Elementary School (map #38)

20 Nutting House (map #26) Williams-Packard House (map #27)

21 Browers-Briggs House (Located off map) Smith House (map #29)

22 Selected Lost Historic Properties Baird s Tavern

23 Wayside Inn in the future.

24 21 Shell Factory & The Dome

25 22 The Depot Lawhon s Grocery

Heritage Tourism and Education eritage tourism

...enhance the city s attraction to visitors through

the use of historic sites, resources, and districts

26 Heritage Tourism and Education eritage tourism consists of historic, natural, and cultural attractions within a the state. region, nation and world....enhance the city s attraction to visitors through historic preservation activities as well to promote the use of historic sites, resources, and districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the city s residents. Heritage Tourism Workshop,

the power, authority and jurisdiction to designate, regulate and administer historical, cultural, archaeological and architectural resources in the city.

27 Historic Preservation Protect, provide access to and educate residents regarding the historic resources of the City of Bonita Springs. resources in the City from deterioration and/or demolition. the power, authority and jurisdiction to designate, regulate and administer historical, cultural, archaeological and architectural resources in the city. The City of Bonita Springs historic structures are major contributors to the quality of life enjoyed by our residents and visitors. They are of substantial value, contribute to urban revitalization, preserve our agricultural heritage, enhance our sceneries, serve as sources of recreation, and give identity and a special sense of place to our city.

28 historic resources.

29 Archaeology & the Environment gone, their shell and sand mounds

bonitaspringshistoricalsociety.org. 239-992-6997.

31 Bonita Springs Historical Society (map #1) the McSwain House (map #24, ) lery of to We hope you will help our preservation efforts by becoming a member.

32 BONITA SPRINGS HIS T O RICAL S O CIE T Y ROOTED IN HISTORY P. O. Box 3015 Bonita Springs, FL The Society is a 501(c)(3) Print date: rd edition Prestige Printing Publication designed: patticross91@gmail.com Resources We are thankful for ALL who made this publication possible and in particular, Bonita Springs Historical Society members Allison Fortuna, Ruth Nichols, and Charlie Strader. Special thanks go to the City of Bonita Springs, whose Partnering for Results grant program provided initial major funding. Thanks go to the Arts and Attractions Fund (and Southwest Florida Community Foundation) for additional grant funding. Funding this 2016 reprinting was provided by the City of Bonita Springs, Historic Preservation Board, and thanks go to Board member Trish Welles for edits. Although we have made efforts to be accurate, there are no doubt errors of spelling, fact, and Resources for information came from a wide variety of sources, including: Survey of Bonita Springs by Janus Research (2004); writings of Jane Hogg and other BSHS members; the book, The Beginnings of Bonita Springs Florida by E. P. Nutting; City of Bonita Springs documents; and of course, oral interviews with long-time residents. One of the sources for historical information was the wonderful book by Mildred Briggs, entitled Pioneers of Bonita Springs, Facts and Folklore. Neither a pioneer, or native of Southwest Florida herself, Mildred moved to Bonita in Nevertheless, her research and writings provide an closing paragraph is still poignant today: One looks at his bit of land, his home, and wonders what Another great resource on the history of our town is the beautiful photo-essay book by Arcadia Publishing (2008) entitled: Bonita Springs, Images of America.

33 BONITA SPRINGS HIS T O RICAL S O CIE T Y ROOTED IN HISTORY Bonita Springs Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 3015, Bonita Springs, Florida Funding for this 3rd edition has been generously provided by the Historic Preservation Board of the City of Bonita Springs.

Welcome. Small Town Charm. Big Bright Future. 1

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