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.

 

123 Gill Street

This house was built for the Wotitzky family in 1890.  From Austria and Czechoslovakia, Jacob Wotitzky came to open a dry goods store, the Wotitzky General Merchandise Store, in 1886.  His wife Rosa and two children joined him from New York where they had been staying with relatives. some 2 years later.  He extended his trade by peddling wares from the schooner "Mollie O" among coastal customers throughout Charlotte Harbor and Southwest Florida.  

359 Gill Street

 Occupied by many residents:  teachers, attorneys, judges and a superintendent of schools.  

108 Gill Street

This Queen Anne Style home was originally a small cottage built in 1895 by the Riberos family. Then sold in 1896 to the Farrington's enlarging it in 1897 creating the house we see today. The Farrington's lived in this house until 1909 upon Mr. Farrington's death and Sadie Farrington* who rented it. In 1943, Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe S. (Mary ) Maxwell purchased. Maxwell was the owner of the Maxwell pharmacy and soda fountain which was a popular congregating place to wait twice a day for the mail to arrive via train located in the Smith Arcade where the Post Office was until 1958. 

*Sadie then moved to the house at 413 Retta Esplanade.