Fort Myers, Florida, History

From the city site.

Located on the south bank of one of the longest river names around, the Caloosahatchie and named after Col. Abraham Myers. A fort by that name was started for use during the Seminole Wars in 1850 and abandoned afterwards.

It was reoccupied by Union forces during the Civil War and abandoned at the conclusion in 1865. Settlers and their families, land speculators and Florida Crackers (name given to cowboys) moved in.

In 1885, the Town of Ft. Myers was established. It became a destination for winter folk back in the late 1800s and especially when the Royal palms Hotel was built. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison built their winter homes here.

The Tamiami Trail also caused further growth.

In the 1950s to recently, there was a huge land boom with lots of new residents and growth. Lee County (in which the town is located) and all of Southwest Florida also were affected. Of course, the recession has put a sudden halt to this growth with lots of places for sale.

In 2004, Hurricane Charley hit the area hard (folks still talk about Charley. The following year, Hurricane Wilma also struck the area.

At Least It's Warm. --DaCoot

Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida

Three other buddies and I just got back from Southwest Florida from a six-day vacation. Hard to beat plane fares, car rentals and motel rooms for $468 apiece.

We were all there to enjoy some warm weather after this lousy winter, although the other three are all big-time snowmobilers (although Sir Frank earned his pathfinder award when he tried to drive through mighty cold open water back in January).

We flew from Chicago's O'Hare on the 3rd, the morning after Blizz '11, one of only few leaving that morning. Flew into the Southwest Florida Airport.

Shoveling and moving four-foot drifts less than 18 hours earlier, now stepping out into 80 degree + weather. I can live with that.

Spent most of the time in Cape Coral, with side trips to Pine and Sanibel islands and Ft. Myers Beach.

Give Me That Warmth!! --Cooter