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)

406 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

The Blanchard House, built in 1925 by local builder Thatcher Johnson as a notable example of Florida vernacular Craftsman bungalow architecture, was home to Joseph and Minnie Blanchard.  He was a steamboat pilot and she was a mail-order bride.  After all the Blanchard heirs were deceased, in 1997 Bernice Russell purchased the house.  The Museum was the vision of Bernice Andrews Russell and in 2004 it was established as the Blanchard House Museum of African American History and Culture.  Mrs. Russell was a humanitarian, social activist and historian for the African American community.  She felt it important to document the history and contributions of African Americans in Charlotte County.  The Bernice A. Russell Community Development Corporation, created in her honor is dedicated to continuing the work begun by Mrs. Russell.  At her death in 1999, the house was donated to the Bernice A. Russell CDC by her daughter, Dr. Martha R. Bireda and her children.  It was dedicated as an educational institution focused on the history, culture and contributions of African Americas in Southwest Florida on May 22, 2004.

This one-story wood frame building reflects local traditions from 1905 to 1920s and was built in a style that dominated smaller homes during this period across the country.  This dwelling features a front gabled roof, using sheet metal 3V crimp roofing materials.  It has a shed roof over the porch and a rear shed roof addition.  A distinguished archeological feature is a diamond shaped front gable and vent, a hallmark of Thatcher Johnson's building. More additions were added in 1961 and 2014.