Olympia & Cross Streets - First Baptist Church

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This First Baptist Church structure is no longer standing.   Punta Gorda City Master file of demolished buildings shows it was constructed in 1909. It is an historical loss as it affected the early growth of the entire town.  It is currently an empty lot.  (2022)

The original congregation consisted of nine members. Among them were James L. and Mary Sandlin, James M. and Martha Sandlin Morgan, and Mrs. Nancy Linquish. Sandlin and Morgan donated to the Baptist congregation, two lots for a church to be built on the northwest corner of Cross and Olympia streets. The lumber for the new church was supplied by Morgan who operated a sawmill on Taylor Road near Alligator Creek. By 1893 the first issue of The Punta Gorda Herald noted that there was a Baptist Church Building.  It was also noted in the Herald of that year that Rev. T. J. Sparkman, pastor, conducted services every first and third Sundays.  

Over the years the Baptists added Sunday School rooms, a kitchen and dining room.  Still the original church building proved too small for the growing congregation.  In 1962, a larger sanctuary and attendant facilities were built at its present site on Gill St. The Crosland Chapel and Sunday school were dedicated January 28, 1962. The old pastorium was moved to the present site, but later torn down. With completion of the Crosland Chapel, the Cross Street and Retta Esplanade properties were sold to the Golden Rule Rebekah Lodge.

The building for a time served as a bridal store. It was badly damaged in Hurricane Charley and remains were demolished.

401 West Henry Street, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd/St. James Mission

Consecrated on Jan. 25, 1896, as the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.  The church began as St. James Mission in 1892 when Mrs. Virginia Trabue, wife of Isaac Trabue, founder of Punta Gorda,  requested Bishop William Gray to organize Episcopal services in the young town.  For sixty-six years it was a mission.  Albert Gilchrist donated the site and Mrs. Samuel Colt, contributed the funds to construct the building.  The Colt’s only son, Caldwell Hart, drowned in 1893 and this tragedy may have increased Mrs. Colt's interest in the local church.  The name of the church was changed at her request and she added a beautiful Tiffany chancel window in memory of her son.  The original structure circa 1919 served until 1980, when a new building was erected at Henry and Shreve Street.  

    

The first image is believed to be one of the first known photos of the Church of the Good Shepherd taken shortly after its completion in 1986. The second is the church as it looked in 1920, looking north from Cross Street. This view shows the rear of the sanctuary as well as the famed Tiffany Glass window. 

124 McGregor Street

 Built in 1892 entirely of heart pine.  The original shake roof was replaced at the turn of the century with tin because of a fire that almost destroyed the entire town.  The original home built by Dora Hart, wife of Gustave Hart of the Hart Chandlery, was 1.5 stories.  Before 1905, the roof was raised approximately three feet creating the two-story home that exists today.  This home has been restored with special attention to detail.