River Weekly News Fort Myers
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FREE Take Me Read Us Online at Home IslandSunNews.com VOL. 12, NO. 12 From the Beaches to the River District downtown Fort Myers MARCH 29, 2013 Cathedral Cove by David Pavey Peter Winograd Caterina Szepes Shell Point An Evening In Photo Show Paris At The Opens Monday Davis Art Center he annual Shell Point Photo Show he Sidney & Berne Davis Art will be open to the public Monday, Center is hosting An Evening In TApril 1 through Friday, April 5. TParis on Saturday, March 30 at The display will be on view inside the 5:30 p.m. It will be an intimate evening Resident Activity Center located on of French food, wine and music and is The Island at Shell Point Retirement the first of two Dinners With Berne this Community from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. season. Proceeds from the Dinners With “This photo show will allow guests to Berne support the Sidney & Berne Davis view beautifully captured images ranging Art Center, 2301 First Street in the from brilliant landscapes to family pets downtown Fort Myers River District. and everything in between,” said Dotty The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. Morrison, Shell Point resident and photo with champagne and hors d’ oeuvres. A show coordinator. “From amateur French dinner by Chef Carlo Rao will be continued on page 19 served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the musi- A Butchart Garden Path by Harold Seer cal program at 8 p.m. Entertaining guests will be renowned Andres Diaz classical musicians, including violinists the world. He is currently first violinist of Peter Winograd and Caterina Szepes; cel- the American String Quartet and is in resi- Morning Meander list Andres Diaz; violist and CEO of the dence at the Manhattan School of Music Davis Art Center Jim Griffith; and pianist and Aspen Music Festival. At Lakes Park Wendy Chen. The program will include Szepes, violinist, is a member of the ee County Parks and Recreation is Szepes playing Debussy’s La Plus Que Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. A native of offering a free birding walk at Lakes Lente and The Girl with the Flaxen Berlin, she has appeared both as a soloist LPark on Saturday, April 6. Take a Hair; Diaz playing the Faure Eligie and and as a chamber musician throughout walk along clear paths with experienced the Cello and Piano movement from Europe, Australia, South America and bird patrol guides to see birds in native the Messiaen Quartet for the End of the United States. Her concerto perfor- vegetation and crucial nesting areas for Time; Winograd playing the Massenet mances include those with Rheinische many birds. Arrive a few minutes after Meditation from Thais and the Blues Kammerphilharmonie Cologne, the 8 a.m. for a brief introduction and to movement from the Ravel Sonata; and Symphony Orchestra of Aue and the sign waivers. Tours start at 8:30 a.m. Chen playing the Debussy Claire de Lune Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra. Among Wear comfortable shoes and dress. Bring for solo piano. The musicians will finish her numerous awards are first prize in water, sunscreen and binoculars. Parking together with the Faure Piano Quartet in the Cleveland Institute of Music concerto is $1 an hour or $5 for all day. c minor. competition, one of the top prizes in the Lakes Regional Park is at 7330 Violinist Winograd returns to Fort Mendelssohn competition in Berlin, and Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. Meet at Myers, recognized early as an exception- first prize in the Berlin National Youth Shelter A7. Enter Lakes Park gate from ally promising young artist and was a Competition. Szepes has been invited Gladiolus. Turn right. Drive to the end of top prize winner in the 1988 Naumburg to participate in various chamber music the road, continue through the parking International Violin Competition. He festivals in the U.S. including the Taos lot. Shelter A7 is located near the train then made his New York debut to critical summer music festival and the Marlboro station. acclaim and has since appeared as a guest festival in Vermont. For more information, call 533-7580 soloist with numerous orchestras around continued on page 19 Eastern phoebe photo by Meg Rousher or 533-7576. Visit www.birdpatrol.org. 2 THE RIVER - MARCH 29, 2013 Historic Downtown Fort Myers, Then And Now: ‘Silver King’ At JS Tarrer & Sons by Gerri Reaves rom the time the “silver king” was discovered in the waters of Southwest Florida in the 1880s, the tarpon has Fhad a role in the tourist economy of Fort Myers. It wasn’t only the weather that drew wealthy seasonal visi- tors to the pioneer town. Big-game fishing had its allure as well. Businesses and fishing guides profited from fishing tackle, boat charters, and related activities. Tarpon excursions departed from the downtown docks, as well as from the pier at the Royal Palm Hotel a few blocks east on First Street. Countless historic images record men and women proudly posing with their tar- pon catches. Postcard images sent out the word that Fort Myers was the place for tarpon fishing. Hotels and business kept records of tarpon weights, and local newspapers even published notable catches. In general, the silver king was viewed, first, as a challenge at sea, and second, as a trophy to display. Catch-and-release was not a widespread practice. This circa 1935 photo documents a large catch hanging from the awning beam at JS Tarrer & Sons on First Street. Tarrer’s store was located in the 1925 one-story Leak Today, a more business-like atmosphere prevails under the awning near First and Hendry, Building. The Heitman-Evans where the “silver king” used to be photographed Hardware Co. is just beyond on photo by Gerri Reaves the northwest corner at Hendry Street. Two other signs visible in the mid-distance mark the locations of two businesses That neighboring store run in the Heitman-Evans storefronts; the Morris Plan Co. of Fort Myers and First by Edward L. “EL” Evans was Federal Savings and Loan Association. known the world over as the Green wooden benches, like the one in the circa-1935 photo, used to be located headquarters for all things to do throughout downtown. They served as convenient resting spots to people-watch or with tarpon fishing in Southwest catch up on the news with friends. In fact, in the historic photo (center), a group Florida. It’s worth noting that of men are doing just that down at a bench at the Bradford corner across Hendry Evans, a recognized tarpon Street. expert, “condemned the need As for JS Tarrer & Sons, it was a relatively short-lived business. By the start of for killing of tarpon,” according World War II the Tampa Morning Tribune and Wilbur K. Martindale radios had to author Carlene Fredericka moved into the boom-time building. Martindale would remain there for many years. Brennen. Today, a court-reporting business is located where a poor tarpon once hung as Tarrer worked for years symbol of another era on First. as the secretary-treasurer at Visit the historic Leak Building, where in 1935, you had to watch out for tarpon Heitman-Evans. Shortly after as you strolled the sidewalk. Evans’ death in 1934, Tarrer Then walk a few more blocks to the Southwest Florida Museum of History to opened his own store and evi- learn more about the economic importance of fishing to Fort Myers. dently joined in the competition For information, call 321-7430 or go to museumofhistory.org. Hours are 10 for the seasonal tarpon-fishing a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. business. Be sure to visit one of the area’s best research centers, the Southwest Florida Notice the “fishing tackle” Historical Society, where you can see historic photos of downtown when it had a sign with the motto, “Fishing working waterfront. begins here.” The all-volunteer non-profit organization is located at 10091 McGregor Tarrer & Sons was advertised Boulevard on the campus of the Lee County Alliance for the Arts. primarily as a paint store, how- Contact the society at 939-4044, or visit on Wednesday or Saturday between 9 ever. As the signs indicate, it a.m. and noon. also sold Benjamin Moore Co. Circa 1935, a tarpon is photographed at JS Tarrer & Sources: Archives of the Southwest Florida Historical and Randy Wayne White’s paints and artists’ supplies. Sons on First Street Ultimate Tarpon Book, edited by Randy Wayne White and Carlene Fredericka courtesy of Southwest Florida Historical Society Brennen. Read Us Online: www.IslandSunNews.com Contributing Writers Click on The River Jennifer Basey Joan Hooper Kimberley Berisford Audrey Krienen Advertising Sales Graphic Arts/Production Photographer Suzy Cohen Scott Martell Isabel Rasi Ann Ziehl Michael Heider Ed Frank Capt. Matt Mitchell George Beleslin Sarah Crooks Writers Max Friedersdorf Patricia Molloy Co-Publishers Kris See Gerri Reaves, Ph D Priscilla Friedersdorf Laura Zocki Puerto Lorin Arundel Office Coordinator Anne Mitchell Jim George Di Saggau and Ken Rasi Patricia Molloy Jeff Lysiak Dr. Dave Hepburn Scott White The River Weekly News will correct factual errors or matters of emphasis and interpretation that appear in news stories. Readers with news, tips, comments or questions, please call (239) 415-7732 or write to: The River Weekly News, 1609 Hendry Street, Suite 15, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Fax number: (239) 415-7702. E-mail: [email protected]. The River Weekly News reserves the right to refuse, alter or edit any editorial or advertisement. PRINTED ON RECYCLED Independently Owned And Operated • COPYRIGHT 2013 The River Weekly News • LORKEN Publications, Inc.