Tag: Boca Grande Historical Society

Business and Real Estate: Signs point to restoration of historic Sharp compound Hacienda

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...

1949: Boca Grande’s first newspaper, the Boca Grande Journal

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...

History: A primer on the school buildings of Boca Grande

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...

History: Boca Grande resident and actor, impeccably mannered Brian Aherne

BY KAREN GRACE Famous stars have been coming to Gasparilla Island for years, from Lana Turner to Robert Redford, Harrison Ford and Michael Keaton. The most famous was Katherine Hepburn, a...

The Grand Old Lady: Remembering the Boca Grande Hotel, 1930-72

BY JAMES BLAHA, BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY On February 10, 1930, the following article appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press: “Plans for a three-story resort hotel at Boca Grande to cost...

Summer at the Boca Grande History Center

BY THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY The late Robert Fischer, author of “Boca Grande: Once A Railroad Town,” wrote that there are “Many beautiful places to live or vacation in southwest...

Letters: Boca Grande Historical Society recalls Jackie Sullivan

To the Editor: The Boca Grande Historical Society recently learned of the death of John “Jackie” Sullivan. Jackie was one of the many people who contributed to several History Bytes...

Ian documentary premiere sells out for Historical Society

January 26, 2024
Staff Report
Entertainment, News

While many on the Island have spent the last 15 months recovering from Hurricane Ian, the Historical Society and Island TV have worked on documenting this current history. It will premiere next...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pam Heilman, attorney and community volunteer

January 4, 2024
Sheila Evans
Community, Profiles

Few people are more enthusiastic, joyful, grateful, or optimistic than Pam Heilman. She is a board member and number one cheerleader for the Boca Grande Historical Society. Pam served as president...

5th Street Veteran’s Memorial to be unveiled November 8, reception to follow at History Center

October 30, 2023
Staff Report
Community

The renewed Veterans Memorial at the intersection of Gilchrist Ave. and Fifth St. on Boca Grande, will be unveiled on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 8 (no time given). To celebrate this...