|
HISTORY OF NAPLES
Once, the only people to stroll Naples' seven miles of
white, sandy beaches, were the Caloosa Indians. The
first settlers, Roger Gordon and Joe Wiggins, arrived in
Naples in the late 1860's. A river and two inlets still
bear their names.
Throughout the 1870's and '80's, magazine and
newspaper stories telling of the area's mild climate and
abundant fish and game likened it to the sunny Italian
peninsula. The name Naples caught on when promoters
described the bay as "surpassing the bay in Naples,
Italy." In 1887, a group of wealthy Kentuckians, led by
Walter N. Haldeman, owner of the Louisville
Courier-Journal, purchased virtually the entire town of
Naples. One of the first improvements Haldeman and the
Naples Company made was to build a pier 600 feet into
the Gulf of Mexico. The unusual "T" shape allowed large
ships to dock easily. Despite being destroyed and
rebuilt three times, the pier's "T" shape remains.
Naples quickly gained a reputation as a winter
resort. Social life revolved around the Naples Hotel,
which played host to celebrities such as Rose Cleveland,
Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, Greta Garbo, Hedy
Lamarr, and Gary Cooper. As the town of Naples went up,
so did the price of property. The cost of a beachfront
lot soon reached $125. In 1911, Barron G. Collier, who had made his fortune
in streetcar advertising, visited nearby Useppa Island.
He was so taken with the area that he bought over a
million acres of untouched swampland - including most of
Naples. Collier believed that Florida's west coast could
enjoy the same boom that the east coast was experiencing
in the 1920's; but first it was necessary to bring in
road and railroads.
Based on Collier's promise to help build the Tamiami
Trail, in 1923 the state legislature created Collier
County, of which Naples is the county seat. Collier
spent more than $1 million of his own money to construct
the Tamiami Trail, which opened in 1926 as the only
paved highway linking the state's two largest cities -
Tampa and Miami. Collier died before he could see his dream come true,
but come true it did. Today, Naples enjoys unparalleled
prosperity. And the area's unrivaled sport fishing,
hunting, boating, sun bathing, and beach combing attract
people today just as it did a century ago.
*Historical information thanks to
"Dining and Doing Guide"
Back in the early 30's, winter visitors were coming
to Naples to enjoy the sun, the beaches and a small golf
course located at the end of Fifth Avenue near the
beach. It was in 1932 that Charles "Lucky" Lindbergh
landed his plane in that area. Lindbergh and his wife,
Ann, had a retreat in Sanibel and would drop in to pick
up supplies. Naples Downtown consisted of a few
businesses located approximately 3 blocks east and west
of Ninth Street South (U.S. 41), at the junction that
was known as Four Corners. Ed Frank's Garage and his
small strip mall, the Chamber of Commerce building,
telephone company, train depot, a liquor store, gas
station, dry good store, Club 41 and not too much else
was located there. Club 41 was a popular place for entertainment. It has
been said that among the guests that frequented the Club
were Gary Cooper, Lawrence Tibbets, Gertrude Lawrence
and perhaps Gloria Swanson.
Occasionally a car would pass by Four Corners. Some
were crossing the state going to Miami on the new
Tamiami Trail East that had been completed in 1928. At
noon you could hear the loud train whistle from the
Orange Blossom Express as it arrived daily at the Depot
train station just a block away. Today the Depot remains
as a historical landmark of the train service that began
in Naples in 1927. In 1923, the Frank family lived upstairs over the Ed
Frank Garage near 10th Street South. This was the first
commercial building on Fifth Avenue South. Mrs. Frank
would throw her table scraps to alligators in the swamp
below which eventually was filled in with old cars and
motors. This family was one of the first settlers in the
area and are noted for having opened the first car
dealership. Mr. Frank invented the first swamp buggy and
also built the first strip mall.
The first bank in Collier County was built in 1923 in
Everglades City. It was 26 years before Mamie Tooke,
often called the Mother of Naples, opened the first bank
in Naples in 1949 on Fifth Avenue. South. She was
instrumental in teaching locals how to budget and save
their money, and many of those original depositors
became large land owners. In 1989, it became Barnett
Bank. Cory Osceola (a member of the Seminole tribe and
local resident of Naples) and his family used to set up
a stand and sell their Indian crafts on Fifth Avenue.
They were a very well respected, old Indian family in
the area. The descendants of the Osceolas are now
world-renown builders of Chickees (cypress pole
constructions with palmetto-thatched roofs). Today many
of their structures stand in southwest Florida and the
Caribbean. The Naples Depot began providing train service on
January 7, 1927. The last train to leave Naples was in
1971 when the service was discontinued. The Depot has
since been restored and is today used by many community
organizations for functions. A train whistle is blown at
noon every day just as it was in the early days of
Naples.
The Rexall Drug Store on the corner of Fifth Avenue
South and 8th Street South was the meeting place of
local businessmen. They sat at the benches in front of
the store and discussed local business highs and lows
each day. No one objected when the children sat on the
floor inside reading the new comic books when they
arrived. This building changed hands in 1971 and is now
known as Naples 5th Avenue Pharmacy. The Naples Women's Club was responsible for providing
Naples with it's first library as early as 1932. In
1951, they built the club house at Park Street and Sixth
Avenue South which housed the library and had a separate
street entrance.
The location of the Naples Chamber of Commerce has
come full circle. In 1928, it was located in
approximately the same spot as the Chamber's Visitors'
Center of today. In 1929, a small building housed the telephone
company where the Merrill Lynch building is now located.
In 1945, there were 17 telephones in town. In 1968, the
United Telephone Company built a new telephone building
around the first little structure. The counter where
telephone bills were paid is now the counter where the
chef from Bistro 821 turns out his delicacies.
In the 1944 hurricane, Pappy Turner's cow and calf
were loaded on a skiff and put on high ground for
safety. That location today is the sight of Kepp's Men's
Store. This was also the original location of Wynn's
Market in 1945. (The Turner family still owns Turner
Marine on 10th Street South.) In 1960, during Hurricane Donna, surge water was over
the table tops of Beroni's Cafe which was located on
Fifth Avenue South near 9th Street South. The first road, of sorts (shells in deep mud ruts),
from Naples to Fort Myers was completed in 1918 and is
known today as Tamiami Trail North. To travel to Miami
one would have to go north to Jacksonville and then
south. In 1928, with the vision and resources of Barron
Collier, the Tamiami Trail East was completed from
Naples to Miami.
Special Thanks to the Florida State Archives
Photographic Collection for Historical Photos and to
Dining and Doing Guide for Historical Information
Naples Area Elementary Schools
Naples Area Middle Schools
Naples Area High Schools and Colleges
Naples Area Private and Alternative Schools
Naples Florida Homes Naples Real Estate Naples
Condos
I thank you for visiting my web site and look forward
to meeting you when you visit Naples. Naples has been
rated as one of the most beautiful places to live in the
country and for good reason. The weather in Naples is
ideal in the winter with temperatures typically in the
upper 70's to the mid 80's. Sunsets in Naples change
daily and so does the population. The Travel Channel
ranked Naples " Number 1 " in their rankings of
Americas's Best Beaches for 2005.
Golfing, boating, sunning on the beach, swimming,
tennis, dining, fishing, nature trails, The
Philharmonic, shopping, and of course looking at Real
Estate are all just some of the activities you can be
involved with when you are in Naples. Terracina in the
Vineyards
Naples has over 10 miles of sandy beaches with dozens
of access points. Two of our beaches have been ranked
among the top 20 in America; Clam Pass Beach and Delnor-Wiggins
Pass State Park. There are condos located directly on
the beach in Naples as well as condos located on the bay
waters that are across the street from the beach. We
also have homes on the beach in Naples as well as homes
located on waterways leading to the Gulf of Mexico.
We have fine shops and art galleries as well as a
major mall. When you visit my Search Site you can also
link to a number of other Naples links.
Fish the 10,000 Islands
area in the Everglades or fish the bays behind Keewaydin
Island no matter what the weather is like in the gulf.
Fishing is also good in many of the inland bays and
canals, such as in Naples Bay, Port Royal, Aqualane
Shores, Royal Harbor, The Moorings, Park Shore, Pelican
Bay and Vanderbilt. There are many marinas and yacht
clubs in the Naples area.
Whether you want a
single family home in Naples, a condo in Naples or any
other real estate in Collier County, I can help you. I
can help you to buy wisely.
Naples is the crown jewel of Southwest Florida --
nestled on the sun drenched beaches of the Gulf of
Mexico. Naples is known for world class shopping, dining
and abundant, challenging golf courses. It is also, only
steps away from island seclusion or the untamed tropical
wilderness of The Everglades. Boasting one of the
nation's best sandboxes and calmest seas, Naples makes a
splash with water lovers and recreationists. Friendly
parks beckon sports enthusiasts and picnickers with
lovely green spaces and recreational facilities.
Explore Naples, Florida because it's fun to explore!
Naples has rapidly become known for its world-class
hotels and resorts, beaches, upscale Naples Florida
restaurants, Naples Real Estate, Naples Florida
shopping, beautiful beaches, and amazing Naples sunsets.
Naples Florida also has a reputation for challenging
golf courses, superb boating and fishing, sporting
events, Naples real estate diverse art galleries and
theatre, and of course, perhaps the most appealing
characteristic, fantastic year-round weather in Naples.
Explore Naples is here to help you find the information
about Southwest FL that you are looking for. Whether
your interested in real estate, Vacation real estate for
Naples or vacation rentals, nightlife and entertainment
and more about and the perfect Naples, Florida
restaurants, or even daily excursions like an airboat
ride in the Everglades, Explore Naples has got you
covered for anything you need in Florida! Looking for
great deals for Florida, hotels, Dining, Florida Real
Estate? Explore Naples can help. We have partnered with
the number one online hotel reservation company
available on the Internet today. When you search for
Naples Florida hotels on the Explore Naples website, you
will find the lowest Special Internet Rate Prices
available, Guaranteed! So, why look anywhere else, and
pay higher prices? Book your Naples hotels reservation
today to visit us in all of Southwest Florida and
Naples.
We hope you find this website useful and informative,
and if you are unable to find information about Naples,
Florida Restaurants, Naples Florida Accommodations
Hotels, Real Estate, Shopping, Dentist, Beaches,
Nightlife, Physicians, Bars, Pictures, Golf Courses, Art
Galleries, Naples, Florida Doctors or anything else in
Naples, please contact us. We look forward to having you
visit us in the very near future. Offering Hotels,
Dining, Florida Real Estate, Restaurants, Naples,
Physicians, Naples, Florida Real Estate, Naples, Florida
Dining, Golf Courses and much more. Real Estate,
Realtors Agents, and much more about Restaurants In
Naples and Soutwest Florida, Naples Florida Hotels,
Naples Dining, Sporting Events, Community Events,
Dining, Real Estate Brokers and more. With all these
options and things to do for Naples Florida, dining,
Naples restaurants, shopping, real estate in Naples,
Florida.
Our family has visited Naples for three weeks every
winter since 1982. The variety of Naples activities and
attractions seems to grow every year. This year, we plan
on visiting Naples newest attraction, the Naples
Botanical Garden.
Elizabeth Murphy - Denver, Colorado
One thing Naples, Florida is not known for is boredom.
So, get ready for some fun, because you will be
pleasantly surprised at the diversity of Naples
attractions and activities. Visit the 14-acre Naples
Nature Center, where you can rent a kayak or canoe and
explore Naples watery mangrove lined trails. Or, if you
are looking for a little more speed in your watercraft,
visit the everglades and experience the joy and
exhilaration of an airboat ride as you travel safely
over the wetlands, home of alligators, bald eagles,
egrets, and the Florida panther.
Don't stop there. Naples has plenty of other water
activities to enjoy. Naples boat charter companies will
take you offshore to fish for the big ones, and if
fishing is not of interest to you, rent a boat or jet
ski for the day and leisurely cruise along Naples
sun-drenched back bays where resident manatees and
dolphins play. Kids of all ages will enjoy getting up close and
personal with animals and reptiles from the Naples Zoo,
riding the go-karts at King Richards Family Fun Park,
put-put golf, or playing volleyball at one of Naples
beach courts.
For those of you with more refined tastes, lose
yourself in the Naples Botanical Gardens, a wonderland
of orchids and tropical plants, or tour the Naples
Museum of Art, or von Liebig Art Center; see live plays
and concerts at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the
Arts, Naples Dinner Theatre, or the Sugden Community
Theatre, and if you are interested in exploring the
10,000 years of Naples history and archaeology, be sure
to visit the Collier County Museum.
There is no end to the number of ways you can have
fun in Naples Florida. Whether you want to shop until
you drop, play golf until you hit that perfect shot,
play tennis on one of Naples many public tennis courts,
or spend your time relaxing on the white sandy beaches,
you will find an activity that satisfies your needs.
Speaking of needs, for those who wish to tempt lady luck
visit the Seminole Casino, featuring high paying gaming
machines, live action poker and award winning dining. If
for any reason you are unable to find a specific Naples
activity or attraction in the Explore Naples website,
please contact us by clicking here.
A climate for business
in Naples Florida
By Jim Lockhart,
Naples Daily News, business editor
The economy of Southwest Florida has changed over the
years from one concentrating on just a few industries -
tourism, real estate, agriculture - to an ever-evolving
combination of goods and services that shows the growing
diversity of the area. To be sure, the old standbys
remain at the top of the heap.
Tourism is the seasonal engine. From autumn to late
spring, the region is bursting with visitors, here to
enjoy the sandy beaches, warm weather and variety of
man-made tourist attractions. Many of those visitors
decide to stay, fueling the ever-growing real estate
industry. From a community that hugged the coastline
just a few decades ago, it has matured into a
county-wide conglomeration of housing developments, all
designed to make the one-time visitor a permanent
resident.
And even if not one more tourist ever came to Collier
County, there would still be a vast agricultural empire.
That empire has appeared somewhat tarnished in the last
few years, thanks to foreign-trade policies,
heavier-than-usual rains, cold snaps and pest invasions,
but even in the worst of times, Collier agriculture does
more than its fair share to feed the nation,
particularly with winter vegetables and citrus.
But there's more. Not-so-old timers can tell you of
when one had to drive to Miami or at least Fort Myers to
do any decent shopping. But that has changed as the
nation's major retailers have discovered Naples. An
expanded Coastland Center mall and revitalized Fifth
Avenue South, along with the traditions of Third Street
South, are helping to make the area a self-contained
shopper's paradise.
And industry is also discovering Southwest Florida.
Not the dirty, smelly industry of the Rust Belt, but a
clean, high-tech industry that brings welcome jobs and
year-round production |
