It is astounding that in a little over 100 years, Naples has changed from a relatively unknown area into the well-planned and thriving city that we know today. This "Bit of History", compiled by Jean Molhoek, provides a glimpse of Naples' past.
When Florida gained its statehood in 1821, most people thought of Southwest Florida as an area of wilderness and swampland. It was Walter N. Halderman, owner-publisher of the Louisville Courier Journal and General John S. Williams, a prominent Kentucky politician, who "discovered" Naples in 1885 and promoted the area as a refuge for Northerners who would like to escape the bitter cold winters. It is believed that the first sunset reminded the two gentlemen of similar sunsets in Naples, Italy, thence the name Naples came into being.
We are all familiar with the beauty and harmony of present day Naples, but the city and the state of Florida had very humble and simple beginnings. It's earliest inhabitants were small bands of aboriginal Indians who moved into the peninsula. Their main diet was shell food found along the shallow water, a fact made clear by the enormous shell mounds that are still visible today. These mounds of shells, which are now protected, were used by the early settlers as road building material and also for the cement that was in the early buildings referred to as "tabby".
In 1513, Ponce de Leon recorded that he sighted sand hills and then returned in 1517 to claim the area for Spain. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris gave Florida to the English. Even though most of the Spaniards left for Cuba, the remaining few intermarried with the Indians and fought during the First Seminole War (1810). Their defeat culminated in the United States' acquisition of Florida in 1821. It is generally believed that approximately 200 Indians, descendants of those families, are currently living in the Everglades area and living and working in Collier County.
For the next 25 years, a few traders and squatters were living in and around Naples. Records show that there were ten families living near Everglades City and that there were two business houses in the area. The first construction in Naples, in 1889, was the building of a 16-room hotel and the 600-foot-long Naples Municipal Pier. The Pier enabled large boats to dock at the end, and to become a popular place for fishing and watching the sunsets. Halderman's family continued with the development of Naples until 1914, when
Seminole leader, "Billy" Bowlegs 1858, Courtesy Florida State Archives
The Naples Hotel, January 1906 looking east from the Pier. The boardwalk served as rails for a small car that transported luggage and supplies.
E.W. Crayton purchased the business. Under his leadership of 25 years, he turned Naples into the beautiful and well planned city as it is today.
The Naples Hotel was expanded and became the center of the social life of the winter guests. Around 1922, after a single lane shell road was built between Ft. Myers and Naples, the city slowly began to grow.
A 10-passenger bus traveled the 45 miles in around 5 hours, allowing time for repairing flat tires and digging the vehicle out of the sand. A small golf course was built and was replaced in 1932 by the Naples Golf and Beach Club which still stands today.
Without roads to the larger cities to the north and east, Naples was destined to remain a small town. It was the vision of Barron Gift Collier, a successful advertising magnate, that would ultimately change the future of Naples. Collier visited southwest Florida in 1911 and purchased Useppa Island on his first visit. For the next ten years, Collier envisioned a land of great opportunity and laid out a plan for the part he would play in its development and potential growth. In 1921, he started to fulfill his plan and for the next two years continued to purchase land. Collier eventually owned over a million acres in southwest Florida.
When the Florida Legislature convened in 1923, Collier presented his plan for the new county. He promised to provide better drainage and transportation, promote the area for new settlers, and most
importantly, to finish the uncompleted Tamiami Trail. The Trail, which started in Tampa and continued south to Fort Myers had no possibility of linking to the 43-mile trail in Dade County without major funding. It was Barron Collier who provided the capital to complete this necessary link to the East Coast.
Barron Gift Collier, 1983-1939. Courtesy, Collier County Historical Society
Officers and airmen from the Naples Army Airfield on their monthly Sunday outings on Naples Beach., May 1944. Courtesy, Collier County Historical Society
The impact of World War II had a major influence on the future of Naples. With the need of training centers for pilots, Collier County and Naples joined forces to provide the necessary property for an airport. The service men that were stationed at the air field experienced the relaxed life style and beautiful weather in Naples and many returned after the war to make Naples their new home.
During the next decade, new streets, homes, beach restoration and a mosquito control program were established. There were many families who contributed time and money to provide recreational areas such as Cambier Park, Caribbean Gardens, Delnor State Park, Lowdermilk Park and Fleischman Park. The citizens by subscription, opened a full equipped and accredited hospital. The elegant Third Street South shopping area was built. The Conservancy was formed to preserve Briggs Nature Center and The Rookery Bay area. The building activities of this era attracted new business such as banks, restaurants, real estate and retail businesses.
In 1970, the population in Naples was 13,000 and specialty shops closed from May 15 to October 15 with the proprietors leaving the area. The population doubled during the winter months providing an active social life in the few established private country clubs and private homes with cocktail parties, dinner parties and fund raising benefits. During this growth period, the Earl Frye family moved to Naples. Frye soon joined his friend Wes Downing and formed a real estate business. David E. Frye, his son, continues in the family tradition as president of Downing-Frye Realty, Inc. Downing-Frye Realty has experienced phenomenal growth and is now the largest real estate office in Florida.
As Naples continues to grow, new developments and golf courses abound. Third Street and Fifth Avenue are flourishing as well as recently developed shopping centers in North and East Naples. Stores that once closed during the summer are now open year around. New schools are being built to keep up with the demand of young families.
With all the growth and changes happening in Naples, it is gratifying to know that the image that attracted the first settlers still stands true today. Naples continues to be a beautiful, relaxing place to live with beauty and harmony abounding for all of us to enjoy.
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