C:\Users\punta\OneDrive\Pictures\Sunset CoC:\Users\punta\OneDrive\Pictures\Sunset Cottages 1941.jpgttages 1941.jpg
Punta Gorda Historic Buildings and Sites
Punta Gorda History Center Historic Buildings and and Site Records
1876, Laura Street
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
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
415 East Virginia Ave.
Built in 1925 and home to Jean Cleveland, Punta Gorda's first female city clerk and her son Ulysses S. Cleveland. Cleveland died in 1991 at 100 years old.
In 2021 the city voted against funds contributing to the preservation of the home. Garrett Kizer, of Charlotte Harbor Construction and current house owner tried to save the home when he realized it wasn't fiscally feasible. So teaming up with City Council member Jaha Cummings and his mother, Martha Bireda, current director of the Blanchard House Museum, redoubled their efforts and in 2022 they received a grant of $480,000 for the renovation. The house will be moved from 415 E. Virginia Ave. as an extension to the Blanchard House Museum, 406 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. It is being used as an educational institution focused on the history, culture and contributions of African Americans in Southwest Florida. (Info from The Daily Sun, 6/19/22) It had significant damage from Hurricane Ian and is closed while under repair. (9/23)
Tamiami Trail
C:\Users\punta\OneDrive\Pictures\Sunset CoC:\Users\punta\OneDrive\Pictures\Sunset Cottages 1941.jpgttages 1941.jpg
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This prairie style home which originally had open porches was built for Edward and Nora Yeager in 1920. Their son E. Burnett Yeager was C...
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Circa 1920 Over its history, this cottage built in the 1920s has served as the home to many Punta Gorda businesses including early on a f...
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This house was built in 1887 by S. P. Hinkley who came to Punta Gorda with the lumber company that supplied the wood for the Hotel Punta G...