Calaboose comes from the Spanish term calaboozo, for jail or cell. It was a common name for small holding cells found in many pioneer towns. This 10 x 16 foot cage is made from riveted iron bands. It served as the city jail from 1889-1928 when it was replaced by the county's first jail in the Charlotte County Courthouse on Taylor Street. The iron bands of the calaboose were once covered by an iron roof. The cage apparently had two swing-down bunks on either end. The swinging front doors were locked by a padlock. The apparatus was installed on Herald Court in downtown Punta Gorda. The Calaboose ended its days on Jim and Patsy Parker's Washington Loop Ranch before being given to the Historical Society. The Parkers gave the Calaboose to the Punta Gorda Historical Society in honor of his father, Edwin M. Parker, who was Mayor of Punta Gorda in 1941. D&M Construction moved the Calaboose from the Ranch to town.
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...
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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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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...
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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...
