Lost murals
Flying Times
This mural was the eleventh for the Society and was painted by local artist Jack Reto on the walls of the Charlotte County Airport building at 28000 Airport Road. It was the second mural painted in town by Reto and consisted of two panels.
The first panel captured the first airport in Punta Gorda as it existed around 1934. It was a grass strip that paralleled Tamiami Trail just south of town. One of the earliest passenger planes to visit Charlotte County was the Ford Tri-motor and locals paid $5.00 for a ride.
The second panel showed modern day flight with the current airport in the background. It featured aircraft from the many performers and featured acts that performed at the annual Florida International Air Show.
The mural was dedicated on March 27, 1999 and destroyed by Hurricane Charley in 2004.
Evolution of Medicine in Charlotte County
The eighth mural created by the Society was located on the front facing walls of the SW Florida Regional Imaging Center at 329 East Olympia Avenue. Local artist Charles Peck painted the six-panel mural capturing the history of medicine in the area beginning with the Calusa medicine man and ending with the first area hospital established in 1947.
The mural was dedicated on March 11, 1998. It was lost in 2009 when the building walls were resurfaced.
Lest We Forget
This mural illustrated a history of wars fought in the name of freedom. It was painted by local artist Liz Hutchinson, her third for the Society. It was dedicated at a commemorative Veterans ceremony on Veterans Day, November 11, 2005.
The mural was located at the KIWANIS Veterans Garden in Veterans Park at 100 Nesbit Street. It was lost in 2016 when the mural wall deteriorated and was torn down.
Wotitzky General Store
Jacob Wotitzky moved to Punta Gorda after the railroad arrived and opened a general store in the late 1890’s. A photograph of the store’s inside was the inspiration for this mural.
Artist Gary Grindell painted the mural, the third for the Society, on the Hindman Insurance building at 323 Tamiami Trail. It was dedicated on April 10, 1996. The mural was lost during Hurricane Charley in 2004.
Local artist Clare Harvey recreated the mural on the office building at 309 North Tamiami Trail. It was dedicated on October 16, 2008. The new mural was lost in 2019 when the building walls were resurfaced.
Harbor Life, Then & Now
This mural represented the early days when Punta Gorda was a commercial fishing community and tarpon sport fishing first became popular. It showed some of the harbor fishing shacks where fisherman dropped off their catch and replenished their supply of ice.
Local artist Charles Peck painted the mural on the Slip-Not Lounge. It was dedicated on February 20, 2003. The mural was lost in 2024 due to building damage from several hurricanes.