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Community History

October 30, 2025

History: How much of our islands here are ‘hainted’ by ghosts

BY KAREN GRACE, BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER Whether hauntings are real or not, Gasparilla Island and its surroundings have a history of ghost stories. The earliest involve Cayo Pelau, an island to…

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This date in the Boca Beacon: Fall Festival and Bocaween festivities

October 30, 2025

FIVE YEARS AGO Lee County was called out for not informing residents in a timely manner regarding a Historic District Public Information meeting…

History Center reopens

October 30, 2025

The Boca Grande Historical Society & History Center is opening up on Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a new exhibit “Footprints fr…

Placida Bunkhouse needs local buy in for re-use

October 23, 2025

Charlotte County commissioners voiced unanimous support for preserving the historic Placida Bunkhouse and ultimately returning it to Placida during…

First discussion on Amory Chapel’s future use

October 23, 2025

An engineering firm has applied for preliminary permitting for conversion and construction of Amory Chapel in the Gasparilla Island State Park at th…

This date in the Boca Beacon: Hurricane Wilma and Fishery Flea Market

October 23, 2025

FIVE YEARS AGO The north end of the island and town were undergoing road construction and detours as sidewalk improvement, sewer improvement and…

Brief history of the frame sheriff’s house on Wheeler Road

October 16, 2025

The original sheriff house is believed to have been moved from the block at 1st Street and Gilchrist Avenue, donated by the Hammond family for the b…

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