Fort Myers Real Estate
Condos, Homes, Lots

FORT MYERS (Lee County)

RIVER PORT HOME OF COWBOYS AND INVENTORS

FT. MYERS, the largest city in Southwest Florida, started in the 1840's when a hurricane forced the evacuation of Seminole War Fort Dulaney at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee. First Lt. John Harvie found a safe place for a fort, which was named FORT MYERS in honor of Seminole War hero Colonel Abraham C. Myers. While retired soldiers built homes along the River, it was cattlemen like Jake Summerlin and Captain James McKay, using the river to ship cows to Cuba, that developed the town in the 1860's and 1870's.

Still, at the time of incorporation in 1885, there were just 349 citizens, waiting for the arrival of the railroad and Northern visitors like Thomas Alva Edison.

Map of Historic Downtown Fort Myers area

START: PARK to walk or DRIVE from the FORT MYERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE at 2310 Edwards Drive (941-332-3624) by the waterfront. To the northeast you'll see the site of the (1) THOMAS EDISON BRIDGE (1931), spanning the Caloosahatchee River on what is now Alternate US41 with the massive high-rise bridge to the left taking US41. Ironically when Florida Governor Doyle Carlton opened the concrete structure on Edison's 84th birthday, it lacked electric lights.

To your left is another Lee County landmark, the: (2) FORT MYERS CIVIC CENTER (1943), on the end of Hendry Street. The one-story complex was a favorite with World War II troops.
 

GO ONE BLOCK EASTWARD and TURN SOUTH ON JACKSON STREET, PASS BAY STREET, and unless you are in a hurry turn left to see three old downtown residences: At 2466 First Street, the (3) WALTER LANGFORD HOUSE (1919), a red brick and white masonry bungalow with two hip dormers and four full story dormers. Across the street in the next block is the: (4) JOHN MURPHY HOUSE (1892), 2505 First Street, an outstanding Victorian house with a three sided verandah and a widow's walk. This Murphy-Burroughs House is a popular local attraction

The LANGFORD HOUSE (M.E. Russell postcard, Florida State Archives)

At 2581 First Street is the Queen Anne (5) HEITMAN HOUSE (1908), with another widow's walk and a circular verandah. TURN AROUND AND RETURN WEST ON FIRST STREET. On the northeast corner of First and Bay is the: (6) FIRST BUILDING (1920), 1301 First Street, known to many as the Bank of Fort Myers.
 

On the southeast corner is the (7) REGENCY HOUSE (1910), 2320 First Street. CONTINUE DOWN FIRST PAST JACKSON STREET.

At 2258 First Street is the (8) EARNHARDT BUILDING (1915), a fine brick structure with elaborate trim and spiral scrolls at the cornice. Across the street at 2221 First Street is the (9) PATIO DE LEON (1913), one of the many commercial buildings, including four hotels, by retired Michigan financier Peter Tonnelier.

TURN LEFT (south) ON HENDRY STREET. At 1534 Hendry Street is the (10) OLD LEE COMPANY BANK (1911), a two story stuccoed brick Neo-Classical Revival started by pioneer James A. Hendry. Note the mosaic of Robert E. Lee recessed on the wall.

Across the street is the (11) EDISON THEATER (1920), 1533 Hendry Street, opened by John Hendry whose first theater started in 1908. ONE BLOCK DOWN is the: (12) R. O. RICHARDS BUILDING (PYTHIAN BUILDING) (1923), 1615 Hendry Street, started with Royal Palm Pharmacy and designed by Tampan Fred J. James. Richards, President of the state pharmacy board, was instrumental in getting Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics to come to Fort Myers in 1924.

At 1625 Hendry Street is the (13) ROBB & STUCKY BUILDING (1924), a four-story Neo-Classical. TURN RIGHT ON SECOND STREET. At 2253 Second Street is the (14) ANDREW GWYNEE INSTITUTE (1911), founded by a Memphis cotton broker who wanted to boost local education. Nearby is the Lee County School offices.