Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. Southeast Chapter

Newsletter No. 125 – June 2011

PUNTA GORDA, , THE SOUTHERNMOST TERMINUS In 1886 the Florida built narrow gauge tracks to Punta Gorda By Ann Burks from Our Florida Heritage Magazine

Editors note: I came across this old article while, believe it or not, going through and cleaning out various material. I found the article still interesting after all these years. Punta Gorda is in Charlotte County, on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast.

In the 1880s, Punta Gorda, Florida, once known as Trabue, was a desolate, neglected little town on the southern shores of Charlotte Bay's . Of the 30 acres of town lots owned by Isaac Trabue, only a few parcels had been sold by 1885. Trabue's cousin, John, was the sole resident there. Trabue, as with so many others, knew the ticket to prosperity was with the iron horse. In a desperate effort to make a profit on his investment, he sought out the railroad companies. The Florida Southern Railway was pushing its way down the center of the peninsula into South Florida, and Trabue struck a deal with its board of directors in Boston, Massachusetts, half of his town lots in exchange for a railroad route through Trabue.

In 1886, the Florida Southern Railway built narrow-gauge tracks starting at Bartow Junction, now Lake Alfred, running straight through Trabue and two miles west out to Punta Gorda Point, a centuries-old fisherman's landmark named by earlier Spanish settlers, meaning "fat point." Here, a 4,200-foot-long dock was constructed, which reached into 14 feet of water to facilitate the Morgan Line steamships. The dock was flanked with a general store, several fish-packing sheds, a bank and a post office.

ACL depot ~2008 Punta Gorda. Postcard photo from the Florida Photographic Collection Southeast Limited PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA – continued

Trains carrying 200 carpenters, lumber, marl fill and bricks pulled into the town. The luxurious, 150-room Hotel Punta Gorda was erected on King Street in 1886. At the southern edge of town, rail tracks met at a triangular-shaped "wye," where trains backed around to change course for the return trip north. At the center of the wye sat the small frame depot that was to become Florida's southernmost railway terminal for several years. On July 24, 1886, the first passenger train chugged into town. But, as Kelly B. Harvey, the surveyor who mapped out Isaac Trabue's town in 1884, noted in a letter, there wasn't much waiting there.

At this time, the town was overrun with bums, toughs, gamblers, adventurers and fugitives from justice. I think there were five murders in the winter of 1886..., There were no streets, sidewalks or ditches. High saw grass, palmetto and pine woods were everywhere. The mosquitoes were fierce. When it rained, we waded, and the few lady pioneers stayed home. The largest owner of property, Mr. Trabue, could not be induced to contribute to, or make, any drainage or public improvements.

As the number of townspeople slowly rose, so did discontent with Isaac Trabue. Kelly Harvey led a revolt, which culminated in a secret citizens' meeting on December 3, 1887. At 11 p.m., over an ancient pool table, they overwhelmingly passed a resolution to incorporate and rename the town Punta Gorda. Before the county clerk in Pine Level, 25 citizens signed and swore to the necessary incorporating legal formalities, and by morning light, the town of Punta Gorda had passed from Isaac Trabue's controlling hands.

Harvey then made his move to build a new depot and clean up the town. Henry B. Plant purchased the Florida Southern Railway in 1897, and the upgraded its tracks to standard gauge. With Harvey's urging, a new frame depot was built across from Hotel Punta Gorda. Because Plant saw Punta Gorda's dock and depot as a potential threat to his Tampa station, he took up the rails to the long dock and built a shorter one near the hotel for affluent guests' yachts.

Morgan Line steamships were then re-routed to Port Tampa, and until the Atlantic Coast Line revived freight shipping in the early 1900s, the railroad served only new settlers and wealthy vacationers. These visitors were attracted to the splendid fishing, boating and hunting in this resort-like atmosphere. Harvey noted on Jan. 2, 1924:

Many of the notables of the earth have stopped and visited there. I have seen that hotel crowded with guests in beautiful gowns and jewels. There was music and gaiety. Dozens of millionaires' yachts in the bay and the owners spending money in the town like water. Boat races every Saturday afternoon, railroad excursions from all over.

Announcements: Our regular meetings are the 2nd Thursday of the month @ 6:30 PM, in the CSX Bldg., 500 Water St. Jacksonville, FL. {We are now meeting in the Acosta – C room on the 2nd floor at the CSX General Office Building.}

SOUTHEAST CHAPTER OFFICERS The Southeast Limited is published bi-monthly John A. Leynes Chairman 904-287-1044 by the Southeast Chapter of the Railway and Paul Newtson Vice-Chairman 904-296-7340 Locomotive Historical Society Bill Howes Secretary P. O. Box 600544, Jacksonville, FL Robert Van Nest Treasurer 32260-0544 The Southeast Limited Newsletter is edited and published by John Leynes, Jim Smith and Cliff Vander Yacht.

Above left, SCL depot circa 1970’s. Right, caption said ”First complete train from Bartow to Punta Gorda.” Photographs from the Florida Photographic Archives.

On a spur from the main line, private railroad cars parked next to the hotel. Celebrities and political figures, including President Teddy Roosevelt, who made fishing trips for tarpon and giant "devil fish" manta rays, frequented the hotel. Just in time for the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s, the Atlantic Coast Line bought the vast Plant System in 1902, and, in 1904, it extended its tracks to Fort Myers. Punta Gorda's first station was reopened and used as a packing house where workers filled boxes with oranges and winter vegetables. New fish- packing houses sprung up near the downtown depot.

Eventually, hotel guests and town residents tired of the strong fishy smell permeating downtown, the constant clanging of boxcars, and bothersome fires, set off by sparks from the wood and coal burning locomotives. In a December 1928 agreement with Barron Collier, a wealthy advertising executive, and the city, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad built Punta Gorda's third depot, situated one-half mile from downtown at the original wye site on the railroad's main line. For this relocation, Collier renovated the old hotel.

The Atlantic Coast Line depot was built of sturdy masonry materials in a neo-Spanish design, which was then popular in Florida, Texas and California, and the design of choice for several other railroad structures. Its white exterior walls shone bright under the sun in contrast with deep, red brick detailing on the columns, surrounding the windows and doors and at the base of the walls. A scalloped front wall, bearing the town's name, rose high above wide overhangs and a red shingled roof.

For the next few years, this station saw another swarm of prominent passengers and the fast flow of freight. It suffered under the collapse of the land boom and the onslaught of the Great Depression, and sent off young men at the beginning of World War II. The depot suspended its passenger service in 1971, and its freight services soon faced the same demise. The Atlantic Coast Line station still stands near downtown Punta Gorda and is Charlotte County's only remaining railroad depot. The station, for years in disrepair, was acquired and restored in 1996 by Old Punta Gorda, Inc., an organization that also revived and operates Isaac Trabue's land sales office and the town's first post office. Today, the depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Postcard from the Florida Photographic Archives. Caption reads” View of the Punta Gorda Hotel from the Bay Looking East.” Meeting of May 12, 2011

The meeting of the Southeast Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society was called to order at 6:45 PM by chairman John Leynes in the Acosta Conference Center at CSX headquarters at 500 Water Street, Jacksonville. There were ten members and two guests (Emory Shughart and Ron Fuller) present.

Secretary's Report: The minutes from the April 14, 2011 meeting were distributed, corrected and approved.

Treasurer's Report: Robert Van Nest reported that the savings account balance on May 12, 2011 was $5505.18. There was $381.00 in the checking account. In addition, the chapter has two certificates of deposit. Recently received receipts for 2011 chapter dues renewals and donations included $1131.00 from national and $15.00 directly from a new member. Nearly all of the Chapter's 2010 members have renewed for 2011. The treasurer's report was read and approved.

Committee Reports: - Southeast Limited Newsletter (Leynes & Smith): Cliff VanderYacht is now assisting with production. John Leynes and Jim Smith reported that most members are now receiving the publication by e-mail without complaint and this is saving time and money. - Trip Committee: Jim Smith suggested exploring potential for interesting local trips. Steve Vertescher noted that John Buckley has a website dealing with this. Larry Shughart and Chris Frank are planning a trip over the Columbus Day weekend to the East Broad Top RR and would welcome others to join them. - Website Online: Cliff VanderYacht is adding many back issues of the Southeast Limited.

Old Business: - ACL 1504: The chapter did not have a representative at the April 28 meeting and we have not received word on the status of the 2011 Florida grant request or a definitive date for the first on-site working party. - Railroad Music DVD: Chairman Leynes reported that the script and material are now in hand and that he and Ed Mueller have targeted completion by the end of 2011.

New Business:

There was continuing discussion on the 2011 "Priorities" outlined by chairman Leynes at the January 15 meeting. It was agreed we need to reach out to chapter members (particularly new members) who are not attending the monthly meetings and to nurture relationships with other groups such as the NRHS. Current members will be challenged to bring in at least one (1) new member in 2011. Options for a chapter project studying and documenting an aspect of railroad history in Florida were discussed, including building on the work of Larry Brennan (see Ed Mueller's presentation below). Chairman Leynes' proposal for an Annual Members Photo Bulletin was tabled until next meeting. Cost-effecting ways to promote our videos and Bulletin 86 reprint are still being explored.

Announcements: - May 21 Train Collectors Association meeting in Jacksonville - May 21 (4 PM) First Coast Ensemble Armed Forces Day performance at Jax Landing - June 2-5 R&LHS Annual Convention in Elkins, WV

Next Southeast Chapter Meeting: June 9; Presentation by Paul Newtson on Positive Train Control

Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.

Program: Presentation by Ed Mueller on resources he has identified for studying railroad history in Florida. The scheduled video on the Pennsylvania RR (Art Towson) was deferred due to a problem with projector.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Howes, Secretary