This date in the Boca Beacon: Mercabo sold

FIVE YEARS AGO

Eighty Boca Grande owners sent notarized letters to the Florida’s Division of Historic Resources to opt out of the National Register of Historic Places.

TEN YEARS AGO

More than 45 artists were featured at the Tarpon Festival in downtown Boca Grande. Thousands of people were expected to attend.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

The historic tarpon boat Timbo, owned by Lamar Joiner Jr., caught fire in the Pass. No injuries were reported but the boat was a complete loss.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

The Island School held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new 6,000 square foot classroom building. The Boca Grande Community Center’s tennis courts and playground would be closing to make way for construction.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

Mercabo, the Mercury Marine testing facility and conference center, was sold to a corporation owned by Kentucky businessman and island resident Brad Kelley.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

The first Boca Grande All Release Tarpon Tournament was held. A four-foot release stick was used which made the tournament both easy and fun.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Ted Turner IV, son of broadcasting czar Ted Turner, was the celebrity angler in the Boca Grande Chamber’s “World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament.”

FORTY YEARS AGO

CSX Resources presented islanders with a status report on Boca Bay, a 379-unit project proposed for the south end of the island.

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

A groin to control erosion at South Dock was proposed by Florida Power & Light. An existing groin had been built in 1970 and had been beneficial.