When Willian M. Whitten came to Punta Gorda in 1899, he was seriously ill. In Punta Gorda he bought a newly planted pineapple plantation farm one mile east of town. They were known as sure-fire money makers requiring little investment and or work. Within two years Whitten regained his health and returned to Indiana to his family. His wife was seriously ill and he brought the family back to Punta Gorda in hopes she would recover. He built a new home he called Cedar Oaks at what is now Florida Street and LaVilla Road in the Old Florida style.
Pineapples were a new business in Punta Gorda when Mr. Whitten arrived. Around 1896 a group of leading businessmen, the McAdows among them, began the Solana Pineries Co. and planted their crop east of town. In 1903 just five acres were cultivated but produced over 2,000 crates of pineapples with a net profit of almost $2,700, a good sum in those days. In 1902 William Whitten moved to Punta Gorda permanently after previous visits. His plants began producing in 1909 and he subdivided about 250 acres east of town into 14 lots of various sizes naming the plat Pineapple Centre. At this time it was the main section of pineapple production in the area. A freeze in 1917 dealt the local industry a disastrous blow and rendered the pineapple industry unrecoverable. The Florida Southern Railway built a depot and loading dock there. It has since been demolished.
Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey and Olive Nelson occupied the home located at Florida Street and LaVilla. Mrs. Nelson (nee Brown) is the granddaughter of William M. Whitten. Mr. Nelson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Nelson.
William Whitten’s granddaughter resided in the home until recently. It was damaged during Hurricane Ian and is currently being restored.
