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Community History

January 16, 2025

History Center: Some 20th century artists of Boca Grande

BY KAREN GRACE BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER Frank and Louise DuPont Crowninshield first came to Boca Grande in 1916 or 1917 having learned from Benny Crowninshield, Frank’s brother, of the large …

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Merritt ‘Babe’ Darna 1938-2024

January 2, 2025

Merritt “Babe” Neel Darna, a member of one of Boca Grande’s legacy families, died December 24, 2024. Babe was born on May 16, 1938 to Alfonso a…

Port Noise Complaint: The conclusion to the story

January 2, 2025

BY MILTON BELL Milton Bell is a Boca Grande native, born October 26, 1950, who grew up on the property of the phosphate loading facility at Port B…

Boca Grande history: White House florist visits and a lizard hunt fail, plus MerCabo

December 27, 2024

Brief news from this date in the archives of the Boca Beacon: FIVE YEARS AGO A bicyclist took a fall on the Boca Grande Causeway. Lee Flight…

History: Christmas Eve memories and Louise Crowninshield

December 12, 2024

BY KAREN GRACE, BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER For many years, Christmas Eve at the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Community House brought Santa and …

Island says goodbye to Kennedy-era Health Clinic Annex building

December 5, 2024

Demolition of the Boca Grande Health Clinic Annex building, located at 280 Park Avenue, began on November 25, marking the start of a promising new…

History: Some favorite personal memories of Boca Grande

November 28, 2024

BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTOR, BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER After many years of bringing my family to Florida for vacations, my wife and I decided …

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