Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY KAREN GRACE AND THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER – A few weeks ago, a phone call was received at the History Center. The caller was not familiar with Gasparilla Island but had found the Historical Society’s website and was interested in information regarding the early phosphate industry especially the Bowker Chemical Company. Jim Blaha, chairman […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON – During the sleepy summertime season in Boca Grande, there is hardly an echo of chatter, a friendly exchange outside of the bakery or a stranger to hold the post office door open for you with your package. It’s been a quiet couple of weeks in this beloved seaside town in anticipation […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – What a difference a week can make, in terms of changing the light shone on a specific, tricky issue like the recent nomination of the Boca Grande residential district to the National Historic Registry. Last week we reported that a nomination to the NHR had been made for parts of the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON – Back in 2018, when the land at the Placida boat ramp was freshly acquired, the Charlotte County Commission gave the go-ahead on a proposed project to expand the public access ramp. The ramp, located just off Placida Road, has been a popular visitation spot for boaters to access the Gulf of Mexico, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
Julian Keevil, of Manakin-Sabot, Va. and Boca Grande, died suddenly on September 18, 2020. Julian was born May 24, 1948, in London, England, to Olwen and Clement Keevil. Julian was a graduate of Tonbridge School and attended City of London College and the University of Dijon. He was a lieutenant in the Royal Marine Reserve, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
STAFF REPORT – Since the time she was taught how to write expository material and fiction, Olivia Cameron has been scraping characters together and creating stories for her family and friends to enjoy. While her mother was applying her makeup, Olivia would sit on the bathroom floor, chewing on a wad of watermelon-flavored gum and reading […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Because there appear to be some misunderstandings and concerns regarding the nomination of the residential area of our Historic District for the National Register of Historic Places, I took some time to read and research the presentation. I hope to provide some clarification. First of all, to have our historic village listed […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- An otherwise sleepy September in Boca Grande has been stirred up with the news that segments of the residential downtown historic district have been nominated for placement on the National Historic Register, and that a presentation was to be made to the Lee County Historic Board on Thursday, Sept. 17 on the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Obituaries.
Robert F. Fischer of Boca Grande and Craftsbury Common, Vt. passed away on September 5, 2020. Robert was born on November 25, 1945 in Newark, N.J. to Albert and Jennie Fischer. He graduated from Union Township High School in 1963, and attended Seton Hall University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduating […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The following is a story written by Karen Grace and the Boca Grande Historical Society. It details some of the more amusing highlights of small-town living back in the day, in Boca Grande. We thank them for their contribution. SUBMITTED BY THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY– Bayard Sharp was known for his love of boats, […]