Greater Naples Leadership Masters Class XVII

HISTORY DAY October 17, 2012

CONTENTS Agenda Goals and Objectives Speaker Biographies Our Walk from Ridgeways to Palm Cottage Brief History of Naples Volunteer Opportunities

AGENDA

Dress Code: Business casual for outdoors (comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and umbrella (if rain is predicted)

Session leaders: Cathy Boltz, Coordinator, Jim Morrison, Bill Swartz, and Betsy Wolf

Location: Start and Finish Day: Ridgway Bar and Grill - 1300 3rd Street South, Naples, FL 34102 262-5500 Park in the lot across the street, behind Tommy Bahama’s and Sea Salt Restaurant

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7:30 Meet at Ridgway’s for continental breakfast Please be prompt & wear your GNL Name Tag!

7:40 Welcome and Introduction: Ken Lyons, Class Chair, and History Day Session Leaders

7:50 Panel: Long time residents and business owners give their perspective of changes in the Naples landscape.

Earl and Thelma Hodges: Residents of Naples who have witnessed growth of Naples and Collier County since 1956. Mary Watkins: The Watkins family founded and owns the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. Moderator: Mary Smith, President of the Naples Historical Society Board

8:20 Q & A

8:30 Comfort Break

8:50 Short walk of Old Naples--led by John Mayer and History Day Session Leaders.

9:15 Arrive at Palm Cottage.

Elaine Reed, Executive Director, Naples Historical Society, will give an overview of the Naples Historical Society.

9:30 Break into three groups for tours of Palm Cottage given by Dottie Giles, John Mayer and Anne Raker.

10:30 Board bus for Collier County Museum

11:10 Arrive Collier County Museum Tim England, Manager of the Museum of the Everglades (a Collier County Museum), will present on the history of Everglades City.

11:30 Naomi Goren, Curator of Education, Collier County Museums, will present on Collier County history.

11:50 Q & A

Noon Lunch at Collier County Museum, comfort break and touring the museum on your own.

12:40 Board bus for Marco Island Historical Society (the newest Collier County Museum)

1:25 Arrive Marco Island Historical Society

1:40 Interview with Herb Savage conducted by Bill Swartz, Cub Reporter.

Kathy Miracco, President, Marco Island Historical Society, will give a summary of the Marco Island history

2:20 Q & A

2:30 Comfort break and snacks

2:50 Re-enactment by Ed and Kathy Miracco of Doctors Charles and Mary Olds.

3:10 Tour of the museum--Three groups led by Marion Nickolay, Elaine Michaeles and Louise Russell.

3:25 Board bus for Naples (complete the evaluation forms before arrival)

4:20 Arrive at Ridgway’s and receive the introduction for Education Day and folders.

Cocktails at Ridgway Bar and Grill--one free drink coupon per person (wine, beer or soft drinks)

Ridgway’s has offered to give us 2 for 1 cocktails and drinks that evening

Ridgway’s has also offered to give us 20% off dinner that evening (Reservations would be appreciated)

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

"Understand yesterday and today to build a better tomorrow."

GOAL: To better understand Greater Naples’ past to see how it has influenced Greater Naples today.

OBJECTIVES:

* To review history of Collier County as seen by the early Native Americans, invaders, pioneers and more recent visionaries.

* To visit historical sites and museums.

* To provide historical background and context for future GNL sessions as you study the challenges and issues of today for the future of Naples and Collier County.

* To ask each speaker to review what their community involvement has been and what they see as volunteer opportunities for Class XVII.

"To help shine a light on where we are headed we need to examine our past, know who we are today and look into the future."

Phil Lewis, Executive Editor, and Dave Neill, Publisher, Naples Daily News

Your History Day Session Team is looking forward to helping each of you by sharing our own experiences while researching the history of Naples and Collier County.

Cathy Boltz, Coordinator Bill Swartz Jim Morrison Betsy Wolf

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Tony Ridgway: Tony is a graduate of Kenyon College and was in the USAF from 1967-1971. He spent time in Vietnam in 1969-1970 and finished a career as an Avionics Maintenance Officer for Air Force One. He began his restaurant career on October 4, 1971, in Naples, Florida. He is currently owner/operator of Tony's Off Third and Ridgway Bar & Grill, both in Olde Naples, and Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar in Park Shore. Tony participated in Leadership Collier in 1992. Food and the restaurant business are still his passions. It is a good thing, as they are a lot more difficult to operate than they were 41 years ago. His current hot buttons are Health Insurance and Hurricane coverage or lack thereof.

Mary S. Smith: Mary, a Chicago native, was raised and continues to live in Barrington, Illinois, during the summer months. After graduation from Elgin Academy, Mrs. Smith attended Les Ambassadrices in Paris. Married at 23 to Stephen Byron Smith, the couple started started coming to Naples on yearly, but brief visits to his family's place at the Bahama Club. The couple's interest in Naples Botanical Garden and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida is on-going, but the focus of Mary's attention has been Naples Historical Society, of which she is the President.

Mary Watkins: Mrs. Mary Watkins is the matriarch of the Watkins Family, owners of the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. Mrs. Watkins is a graduate of Ohio State University, and moved to Naples as a new bride with her husband Henry in 1949, just 3 years after Mr. Watkins Sr. purchased the original Naples Beach Hotel. Henry Watkins was at one time Chairman of the Board for the Collier County School Board, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, and Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, he was instrumental in the relocation of the Collier County Seat from Everglades City to Naples. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins raised two sons, both whom continue to live in Naples. The Watkins Family represents 60 years of multi-generational community involvement and Mrs. Watkins is uniquely positioned to discuss the history and importance of the Hospitality Industry of Naples.

Earl and Thelma Hodges: Earl came to Naples in 1956 to visit an uncle. He stayed to work in the funeral home profession and in 1962 he opened his own funeral home. The building, which was located at 3520 North, (U.S. 41), was known as the Earl G. Hodges Funeral Chapel and was expanded three times. It seated over 200 people during its existence. In addition to the Funeral Chapel in Naples, Earl also owned the Johnson-Hayes Funeral Home, with two locations in Gainesville and Trenton, Florida – along with an interest in the Colonial Crematorium also located in Gainesville. These holdings were sold a few years ago. The Naples Vault Company was founded by Mr. Hodges in the early 70’s and the Naples Crematorium in 1975. In January, 1983, he acquired the Casto Funeral Home, Golden Gate, Florida. Earl was Vice President of the Florida Funeral Directors Association 1979-1980, is past Chairman of the Collier County Red Cross, Past President of the United Way. Past President of the Chamber of Commerce, Past President of Naples Shrine Club, Past President of Swamp Buggy Days, Inc. and served for 10 years on the County Planning and Zoning Commission. He is recipient of the Naples Outstanding Citizen Award, International College Humanitarian Award, and Junior Achievement Leadership Award. Thelma and Earl were married in 1958. Thelma came to Naples in 1955 to work as a nurse and was one of the first three employees of Naples Community Hospital after it was opened. During the next several years she was in charge of the Emergency Room, Central Supply and Surgery. She worked for the Hospital for the next 20 years. Thelma has always been a member of the Naples Community Hospital Auxiliary and has served in nearly every officer position. Thelma is also past president of many of the local organizations, including the Junior Women’s Club, Visiting Nurses Council, Chairman of Bazaar Luncheons, and Chairman of the Old Timers Association. She was recently honored as one of the “Women of Power” in SWFL by the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce. They were honored in 2007 when Hodges University became their namesake in recognition of their significant gift to the institution as well as their community service.

John Mayer: Born in Austin, Minnesota, John graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1964. He worked as a Funeral Director for over thirty years. John’s parents discovered Naples in 1955, and he knew, then, that some day he would retire to Naples. John became a Florida resident in 1995, and has been involved with the Naples Historical Society for over 17 years. He is now serving his third term as a board member.

Elaine Reed: Elaine, Executive Director for the Naples Historical Society, possesses over 20 years of strategic marketing management and economic development experience in the U.S. private sector and on U.S.A.I.D.-funded projects in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. While overseas she lived in Albania, Armenia, Hungary, and Ukraine.

She holds an MPA in Nonprofit Organizations from Hodges University and an undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati. Her credentials include the writing of two textbooks; one book was a supplemental college textbook, which was a case study, and another book called The Art of Marketing, which was translated and published for national distribution in Albania. Having owned a business in Naples for several years, she appreciates the demands of running a business, profit or nonprofit.

Volunteering is a passion she encourages for everyone including her 10-year old son, who attends Seacrest Country Day School. He willingly helps her maintain Historic Palm Cottage. She is also a member of the Naples Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising Association of Collier County. Fluent in Albanian, she maintains her language skills with the over 1,200 Albanians living in Collier County. Naples has been her home since 1999.

Timothy England: Timothy was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire, in the United Kingdom. He arrived in Naples in the early 1990’s after graduating from Plymouth University with an Honors’ degree. After being a part time volunteer on various projects with the Boy Scouts of America, Tim joined the Museum of the Everglades six years ago. He began as a horticulturist at the main Collier County Museum. Tim has worked at all four Collier County Museum sites as a museum specialist. He is currently the Manager at the Museum of the Everglades.

Naomi Goren: A native of Denver, Colorado, Naomi moved to Bonita Springs, Florida in 1987. She graduated with honors from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2001, earning a Bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science and a minor in Business Management. She was also Editor in Chief of the Eagle, FGCU’s student newspaper. Since 2003 she has worked in Museums, first as Volunteer Coordinator for the Collier County Museum and later as Volunteer and Docent Coordinator at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Currently, she is the Curator of Education for the Collier County Museum. Naomi has had a passion for history and teaching from a young age and enjoys the opportunity to share Collier County’s fascinating story.

Herb Savage: Herb, his wife Emily and their three children moved to Marco Island from Miami in 1977-78. Herb was born in Lemon City, a suburb of Miami, on January 6, 1919. He attended the University of Florida before the Second World War intervened. He went to OCS in Virginia and was taught to be a specialist in mine warfare and demolition. After the war, he finished his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Architecture before returning to the Miami area. He first met the Mackle Brothers in 1958-59 when Jimmy Vinsel was the lead architect of Marco Island. Herb was hired by the General Development Corporation which later became the Deltona Corporation. Working together, these two corporations developed Marco Island. Herb learned the Polynesian style of architecture in Hawaii and worked that into the buildings of Marco Island. He designed the Welcome Center and Sales Office, the Admiralty Condos and also the Marco Hotel and Villas--which was the first hotel on Marco. Herb’s wife, Emily, has a well known shell shop/art studio on Marco across from the office where Herb goes almost every day.

Kathy and Ed Miracco: Kathy and Ed retired from the Food and Drug Administration in January 2006. They both had worked for the agency for 34 years, beginning as field investigators in Brooklyn, . They moved from Maryland to Marco Island in August 2006 and became members of the Marco Island Historical Society in January 2007. They have served the society in a variety of capacities since that time. Kathy has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2008 and is the current president of the society. They began re-enacting for the society in 2008 and portray Dr. Mary Olds and Dr. Charles Olds. They have portrayed these Marco Island pioneers for Hodges University Center for Lifelong Learning, several branches of the Collier County Library, and the Marco Island Historical Society.

OUR WALK FROM RIDGWAYS TO PALM COTTAGE

The parking lot behind Tommy Bahama is the site of the original Naples Hotel which was constructed in 1888. When it opened, it was only accessible by boat to the Naples Pier. Many customers came for the entire winter season and enjoyed hunting, fishing and surf bathing.

Please take note of the building in which the current Campiello Restaurant now stands at 1177 Third Street South. It is one of the original commercial buildings in Naples. It was known as the Naples Mercantile Building and was constructed in 1919.

On the opposite side of the street on the corner, at 1148 Third Street South, is the Olde Naples Building from 1922. It is currently under construction and was the headquarters of the Naples Improvement Committee. This building was the first town hall and Naples first movie house.

At Gulf Shore Boulevard and 12th Avenue South, the Naples Pier was started in 1888 as a passenger dock. It has been rebuilt several times due to fire and hurricane damage. Most recently, it was rebuilt after in 1960 with funds donated by Lester N. Norris.

Arrive at Palm Cottage, 137 12th Avenue South, Naples.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF NAPLES, FLORIDA

Humans have lived in southwest Florida for centuries beginning with the first hunters and gatherers who drifted down the Florida peninsula at the close of the last Ice Age in search of bigger game and warmer weather.

1521 Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon set sail from Puerto Rico with 200 colonists to explore and settle Southwest Florida’s lower gulf coast. Calusa Indians immediately drove off the Spaniards, mortally wounding Ponce de Leon.

1837 Old Foster, the earliest military post in the county, was activated by the U.S. Army during the Second war. The vast cattle herds of the growing Seminole nation began drawing attention from the white man from the north who desired the Indians’ cattle and land, thus causing a series of Seminole Wars.

1871 Roger Gordon built a fishing camp on the inlet that bears his name. (He is the first “documented” Naples resident.)

1881 Wealthy Philadelphian tool-maker, Hamilton Disston, purchased 4 million acres of Florida swampland and wilderness, including all of present day Collier County, from the state of Florida for 25 cents an acre.

1886 The Naples Company was organized in Tallahassee, Florida.

1887 A group of Ohio and Kentucky residents led by Louisville Courier Journal Editor Walter Haldeman purchased the Naples Company and continued to sell the land holdings at $10.00 per lot. The first plat map of Naples was registered with the Lee County Clerk’s Office in Fort Myers.

1888 Work began on the Naples pier and two blocks inland the Naples Hotel was constructed on the site where the Plaza on Third Street is now located.

1889 A newspaper ad began: Hotel Naples at Naples On The Gulf. Ninety miles south of Punta Gorda, the most southern hotel on the mainland of Florida is now open. Visitors will find comfortable accommodations and every attraction of land and sea that Florida can offer, a beautiful beach, delightful surf bathing in winter, unlimited boating, fishing and hunting facilities, an abundance of game, fish and oysters and especially fine Tarpon fishing.

1896 Anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing unearthed the famed Key Marco Cat while excavating an ancient Calusa Indian site on Marco Island. Miraculously preserved, the tiny wooden statuette was part of one of the richest archaeological discoveries in North America.

1901 Naples and Fort Myers were connected by phone.

1910 A hurricane destroyed the first Naples Pier.

A shell road connecting Naples with Fort Myers was completed. The trip took six hours.

1911 Barron G. Collier, who made his family fortune selling advertising space onstreetcars, began purchasing what would someday amount to over 1,000,000 acres of land. In the 20s he began building the Tamiami Trail, replacing the former shell road between Fort Myers and Naples. He continued to build the Tamiami Trail across the state through the middle of the Everglades.

1914 E.W. Crayton, a former Ohio real estate executive, helped form the Naples Improvement Company and he took over the responsibility for the development of Naples from the Halderman interest. He served as Chairman and President of the Town Council from 1923 to 1938 and the main road through the Moorings and Park Shore was named in his honor. In a 1938 interview, Mrs. E.W. Crayton said that in previous decades Naples was more a club than a little village and it was the hope of her husband to keep it that way by screening selective buyers to keep the friendly, small town ambiance.

1923 Collier was successful in having Collier County incorporated on May 8th. Collier County became the state’s 62nd county. On July 7th the Collier County Board of Commissioners held their first meeting at the Rod and Gun Club in Everglades City. On July 9th, Collier County’s first bank, The Bank of the Everglades opened in Everglades City. The County’s first newspaper, The Collier County News, began publication on July 25th.

1925 The first meeting of the Naples Town Council was held.

1927 Seaboard Air Line Railroad completed the tracks and began providing train service from the depot at 10th Street and the Tamiami Trail. The Orange Blossom Special became the first passenger train to arrive in Naples.

1928 The Tamiami trail was officially opened to traffic in the Everglades, completing the first paved highway from Tampa to Miami.

1933 Episcopal deaconess Harriet Bedell arrived in Everglades City and began her work among the . She achieved ‘sainthood’ in 2008 and is the only official saint from southwest Florida.

1938 Peter Parley Wynn moved to Naples and operated a grocery store with his wife, Vida, at the Bayview Inn located in what is now the Crayton Cove business district. The Wynn family has remained a fixture of the business community ever since.

1939 Collier County’s founder, Barron G. Collier, died in .

1943 Florida’s first oil well was drilled near Sunniland in eastern Collier County. The U.S. Army activated a military base in Naples Army Air Field to train combat pilots during WWII. The Gulf was patrolled by air and there were stories of submarine sightings, but no reported landings. After the war, the training base was given to the city and it became the Naples Airport.

1946 W. Roy Smith became the first modern day mayor of Naples, a post he held until 1960.

Julius K. Fleischmann came from Cincinnati as a winter resident and soon purchased a home and became a local investor and developer. Fleischmann’s first project was what is now Third Street South shopping area, which began at a time when the street was barely paved and there were only a few structures standing.

1947 President Harry S. Truman dedicated in Everglades City.

Ed Frank operated a garage at what is now 11th Street South and U.S. 41. He developed a swamp buggy with huge airplane tires and four wheel drive with interlocking front and rear wheels, enabling him to travel anywhere in the Everglades.

1949 The Florida State legislature approved a new charter for Naples, changing it from a town to a city.

1953 Naples Airport was dedicated as Naples America Airport.

1960 Hurricane Donna devastated Naples in September with a direct hit. Residents set to work immediately rebuilding their homes and their city with an influx of insurance money. Maintaining a tradition of being rebuilt after fire and hurricanes, the pier was reconstructed once again thanks to the generosity of long time philanthropist Lester N. Norris.

1962 Collier County’s seat of government was officially moved from Everglades City to East Naples.

1968 Alligator Alley was opened to traffic.

1976 Southwest International Airport in south Fort Myers opened and I-75 was extended to Naples. Both of these events substantially increased access to the Naples area.

1986 The Ritz-Carlton Naples opened in December and The Registry followed one year later. These two world class hotels, plus the remodeling of the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, enabled many visitors to sample the Naples landscape. Many visitors went on to purchase condos and homes which spurred a building boom.

1989 The Philharmonic Center for the Arts opened as a non-profit organization established to enlighten, educate and entertain people by presenting the very best of the visual performing arts.

1994 Marco Island Historical Society formed.

1997 Marco Island incorporated to become Florida’s 398th city.

2013 Ponce de Leon’s 500th anniversary of discovering Florida. In April, 1513 land was sighted land which Ponce de León believed was another island. He named it La Florida in recognition of the verdant landscape and because it was the Easter season, which the Spaniards called Pascua Florida (Festival of Flowers).

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Naples Historical Society 137 12th Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 www.napleshistorysociety.org

Ellen Fischer, Program Coordinator 239-261-8164 [email protected]

Collier County Museum 3331 Tamiami Trail East Naples, FL 34112 www.colliermuseums.com

Naomi Goren, Curator of Education 239-252-8242 [email protected]

Museum of the Everglades 140 West Broadway Everglades City, FL

Tim England, Manager 239-695-0008 [email protected]

Marco Island Historical Society 180 South Heathwood Drive Marco Island, FL 34145

Kathy Miracco, President 239-642-1440 [email protected]