Community History
Storms of yesterday that hit Gasparilla Island
November 14, 2024
BY MARILYN HOECKEL
A story from 1989 detailed some of the biggest storms to hit Boca Grande
Editor’s note: This was from an Aug. 4, 1989 edition of the Boca Beacon.
There are five big sto…
Bunkhouse restoration supported by Charlotte County
November 14, 2024
The Charlotte County Board of Commissioners addressed the restoration and site selection for the historic Placida Bunkhouse at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
“I’m personally not inte…
Remembering the old island school, and the era of the old Boca Grande Hotel
November 7, 2024
BY KIM KYLE AS TOLD FROM CHARLYN CRANDALL HEIDENREICH
Charlyn Crandall Heidenreich and her brother, John, attended the Boca Grande School from 1945 to 1948. At the time, their father, John M. C…
Tanks for the Memories: The evolution of water storage on the island
September 26, 2024
BY KAREN GRACE
The late Capt. Fred Futch once said that although many people say the biggest change to the island came from the building of the bridge, he thought it was the formation of the wa…
Business and Real Estate: Signs point to restoration of historic Sharp compound Hacienda
September 19, 2024
The red-tile roofed estate just north of Fifth Street known as the Hacienda, has new signs for its restoration, courtesy of its contractor, Sarasota-based Ball Construction, Inc.
Ron Marcotte …
Preservation Board approves Tesla array, cottage renovation
September 12, 2024
The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved four projects at their Sept. 11, 2024 meeting, including two Tesla solar projects. Present were members Barbara Wickwire, Paul Eddy…
1949: Boca Grande’s first newspaper, the Boca Grande Journal
September 12, 2024
BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTOR, BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER
The year was 1949, when NATO was established, West Germany was created, the People’s Republic of China was formally proclaimed and the So…
Full steam ahead: Placida Bunkhouse restoration recommended
August 29, 2024
Restoration plans and estimated costs for the Placida Bunkhouse were released from the consultant at the beginning of this week. Included are drawings of what the restoration will look like as wel…
Historic Preservation Board reviews solar panels
August 29, 2024
The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board will meet at 10 a.m. on September 11, 2024, to consider four items, including solar panels in the historic district.
Cases include SCA2024-00005, a f…
History: A primer on the school buildings of Boca Grande
August 22, 2024
BY KIM KYLE
From 1893 to 1908 there was a school located on 4th Street in a frame building. The building may have also been used as a church. The first school on Gasparilla at the north end of …