25250 Airport Road

 

The First Presbyterian Church of Punta Gorda now sits on Airport Road across from the current location of the Masonic Lodge of Punta Gorda.  Ironically, it was in the original masonic hall in downtown Punta Gorda that the church was organized on October 13, 1895.  This year the congregation will celebrate its 125th anniversary.  

Construction of the first church building began in December of 1900 on Harvey Street across from where the City Hall now stands on land purchased from Isaac Trabue.  It was dedicated on April 14, 1901 with Clarence H. Ferran as the first minister.  

For sixty years, the old wood-frame church building served the community, surviving at least two major hurricanes in 1921 and 1926, when almost all buildings in Punta Gorda sustained damage. Then on September 10, 1960 Hurricane Donna hurled into the city and ripped the steeple from the church and damaged the building beyond repair. A year later a new modern church was built at the same location on Harvey.  

1555 Taylor Road, Seventh Day Adventist

 

Seventh Day Adventists have a long history in Punta Gorda.  They started a school in the early town in 1895. There were 13 students originally in eight grades. Services were also conducted at the school.  It was noted in the Florida Times Union of 1900 that the Adventists were one of the congregations building a church here. (We are still researching if, when and where this happened).  

The Adventists also had a significant role in rescuing the local hospital in its early years taking over management in 1969. The Seventh Day Adventists adopted the early Medical Center as one of its official projects, the Punta Gorda Herald at the time reported . "It will have the support of the church organization, and its earnings will be used exclusively to expand the hospital and improve its services.” The adventists owned the hospital until 1994 when it was sold to HMA.  

The church has been located on Taylor Road since the late 1980s.  

(compiled by Theresa Murtha)

Charlotte Harbor Town

 First house in Trabue.  

The painting of this house now hangs in the home of Terry Runkle.  Mrs. McAdow moved from Punta Gorda and gave the painting to her friend Willie A. White, telegrapher.  Mrs.White died and her daughter Thelma left it in the house when she sold the estate.  A family named Runkle purchased the house and the daughter-in-law, Terry, found it stored in the garage.  She restored it.  

Marian McAdow painted this picture of the house that was on land that Isaac Trabue bought from Jams M. Lanier to start the town of Trabue.  The house is believed to have been built by James Lockhart.  James Lockhart was a former soldier from the Civil War and he and his new wife, Josephine, decided in 1876 to move to this section of the bay on the harbor's south side near where the current Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel and Suites was located until 2024.

The Lockharts then sold to James Lanier in 1879 and moved south to the Ten Thousand Islands.  Lanier then sold to  Isaac Trabue in 1883 who platted a new town in 1885.  The town was incorporated in 1887 as Punta Gorda and this is considered the oldest home in the city.

PER LINDSEY WILLIAMS:  The oldest known house in Charlotte Harbor Town was built on Laura Street by prominent cattleman John Hagan.  It was owned and beautifully restored by Victor Larrison and suffered only a little roof damage as a result of Hurricane Charley, Aug. 13, 2004.  

110 Harvey Street

This lovely historic home was built in 1924 as a manse for the vicar of the First Presbyterian Church, which was originally across the street. The structure has Georgian hard pine flooring preserved in the craftsman style.  Current owners are Mr. and Mrs. Sean Howard.

212 Durrance Street,

This home was built in 1925 by Charlie Johnson, The current owner purchased this house in 2004 from the estate of  Mrs. Mable Keys, a native of Punta Gorda.  Her husband, Arnold "Slim" Keys, ran Keys garage on Taylor Street.  Mable lived in the house for over 60 years until her death in October 2003 at the age of 91.  Mabel was a philanthropist and active member of local organizations including the Punta Gorda Garden Club.  When the current owners, Kathy Sutton, restored the interior of the house they discovered the original yellow pine flooring as well as an original brick fireplace that had been covered over. They have stayed true to this home's design other than some minor kitchen upgrades and newer porch windows installed by a previous owner.  This home and garage withstood Hurricane Charley with little damage. 

264 Marion Ave.

Abe Ephraim Goldstein was the first merchant in Punta Gorda to build a small furniture store on this site.  In 1887, he also persuaded carpenters working on the new Hotel Punta Gorda to devote one day to building a two-story home next door for his wife and son who were arriving unexpectedly the next day.  The present structure is constructed of patent stone concrete blocks with rusticated faces to mimic stone.  This was the first store constructed with masonry as opposed to wood.  

Over the years many retail establishments have occupied the building including Vasco Peeples’s IGA store during which time Mr. Peeple’s family lived in the upstairs apartment.  Later businesses included a bakery and an ice-cream sandwich shop (Cubby’s).  Cubby's closed in 2023 and a new establishment called Punta Gorda Deli Co. and Mercantile opened in 2023.   As a result of Hurricane Milton in October 2024, This building has been determined to be too damaged to reopen.  

115 Gill Street

 

Purchased by Grove Cochran, born in 1834 in New York and a Union Army veteran. He moved to Charlotte Harbor in 1885. He volunteered for a six-year voyage on a whaling ship at age 13; sailed the Great Lakes, worked as a locomotive engineer on the railroad, served under Gen. Sherman in the Civil War and had a bayonet wound as a souvenir. He claimed a pharmacist certification in Arkansas and opened a pharmacy on Marion Avenue upon moving to Punta Gorda. The house currently contains many of its original features and the front door is original. Eyebrow windows, hardwood floors, beadboard throughout and 12 foot ceilings.