James Abraham to Discuss Southwest Florida's Frontier at VAC

James Abraham, local author and publisher, who is presently working with Vernon Peeples on a history of Punta Gorda's early days, will be discussing the Southwest Florida frontier on Monday, November 7 at noon at the Visual Arts Center.

He reflected with us recently on Punta Gorda's role as part of that frontier.   "Geography was and is Punta Gorda's destiny. Because the city was located on a peninsula overlooking a great harbor, it became a natural port and shipping terminus.   Today, its proximity to I-75 and U.S. 41 makes it a crossroads." he observed.  

He went on to talk about the Southwest Frontier "the Director of  U.S. Census had declared the American frontier closed in 1890 and Frederick Jackson Turner gave his famous speech about its end in 1893. Both of them were wrong" 

"The vast wilderness of the Southwest Florida frontier was still beckoning,  and Punta Gorda was  emerging as part of it."  noted Mr. Abraham, who holds a history degree from Oberlin College and has published several local histories.

Abraham,  is known for his engaging, authoritative, and sometimes humorous discussions about history. He lectured on the influence of Baltimore on Edgar Allen Poe during the Charlotte County Library’s Poe series, and most recently gave an illuminating lecture at FGCU titled “Slavery Caused the Civil War.”

Among the books he has published are “Englewood Lives,” a social history of that community; “Down the Street: A Memory Book of Punta Gorda’s Black Community,” and “Babcock Ranch and Tales of Bygone Days.”

Mr. Abraham's discussion on the Southwest is part of the VAC's "Spirit of the American Frontier" event and  is free and open to the public.

Details:

Where: Visual Arts Center, 210 Maud Street in Punta Gorda
When: Monday, Nov. 7 from noon to 1 p.m.
Call 941-639-8810 for more information.