THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

FIVE YEARS AGOThe Boca Grande Historical Society was celebrating “Railroad Week” by introducing a new exhibit called “Railroads, Phosphate and Real Estate.”

TEN YEARS AGO

We had a sunrise eclipse.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

John McCain took the island vote in the polls with 58 percent. Island businesses were shuffling from locations and some disappeared altogether as rents downtown soared.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

The First Baptist Church suffered a huge loss by fire, estimated at more than $100,000. The cause was believed to be faulty wiring to a water heater.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Hurricane Mitch passed by without much of a blow. Melissa and Baby Sammy J were killer bees, and Holly Taylor was a fortune teller for Bocaween. 

THIRTY YEARS AGO

St. Louis encephalitis came to town, and boats were backed up for hours due to high winds not allowing the swing bridge to open.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

Renovations at Hotel Hell were almost complete. Between 50 and 60 species of fish were found in a massive red tide kill.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Local youths including Lorn Heimann, Garret Jones, John Paul, Stephanie and Brandy Wheeler and Jason Mueller got to camp overnight at Myakka River State Park. They got a tour, an airboat ride, a slideshow and ghost stories out of the deal.