A Page Out of Punta Gorda History Literally

Doing a search today I discovered a page  from the Punta Gorda Herald from the beginning of the 20th century that in itself revealed something about names familiar to Punta Gordans today in the second decade of the 21st century.

The page was from a January 10, 1902 Punta Gorda Herald Page.

On  the page, A.C. Freeman was selling hardwood furniture.  This is the same A.C. Freeman of the A.C. Freeman House that sits on the corner of Tamiami Trail and Retta Esplanade -- the Victorian you see as you first enter Punta Gorda from the southbound bridge.   Freeman, in addition to selling hardware and furniture, was also the mayor of Punta Gorda at the time (note his designation in the directory in the first column of the page.

Moving along the page, you'll spot the Punta Gorda Ice and Power Company -- now the home of a favorite local watering hole -- the Punta Gorda Ice House.  We can thank the building's owners  for restoring this all but destroyed historic building that had it's  roof torn off and major wall collapse during  Hurricane Charley. The owners refused to demolish this South Florida landmark pledging to rebuild it which they did into a marvelous pub.

As you look down the column of professional service cards, a number of names will resonant not the least of which is Issac H. Trabue, Attorney at Law.   It's said that Trabue, founder of Punta Gorda, returned to Kentucky in 1907 (apparently he kept an ad running here though unless he had a son with the same name.) Another name, J. (James) L.. Sandlin, is the same who built, with his wife, the house on the corner of Retta Esplanade and Harvey Street now referred to as the "Sandlin House" despite many owners since.  Sandlin's card says "real estate."  He made his fortune in many businesses though including real estate, cattle, citrus growing and merchandising.  Albert Gilchrist, Governor of Florida at the time* ,  who lived in Punta Gorda, and is memorialized by "Gilchrist Park," also appears in the column selling all kinds of land.

Another name Punta Gorda residents  will recognize on the page is E. Wotiztky mentioned as selling shoes, hats, gent's furnishings and other merchandize.  Jacob Wotitzky, a push-cart peddler from Czechoslovakia , came to Florida as an innovating frontier marketer  carrying merchandise to prospective customers by schooner.  When the railroad came to Punta Gorda, he opened a store here, which is now commemorated on the wall of the Prudential real estate building on north Tamiami Trail.  The family name remains prominent in Punta Gorda  through the Wotitzky Law firm with its attractive new building on Olympia in downtown Punta Gorda. 


*This edition of the Punta Gorda Herald incorrectly carries Jennings as Governor.  He was Governor of Florida until 1905 when he was succeeded by Broward, who was succeeded by Gilchrist in 1909.