Newsletter | November 2019

 In last month’s newsletter, we learned that the library had moved to the Woman’s Club on Sullivan Street and remained there for 32 years. By 1956 the number of books donated by patrons had reached more than 5,000 and the small library was out of space. Mrs. Nan McCullough, president of the Woman’s Club at the time, started a drive to build a new dedicated library building. A committee was formed and they reached out to city and county officials for funds.
The City of Punta Gorda donated the land at 260 Retta Esplanade beside the Memorial Auditorium, in what was then Cross Park, for the new library. The County Commissioners provided some funds and private donations starting coming in. Local contractors donated labor and materials. The new library project became a community-wide effort.
A 1-room library was built in 1957 and named the Charlotte County Public Library and was the first library building constructed in the county. The building was dedicated in early 1958 and a full-time librarian, Mrs. Muriel Goddard,  was hired in the fall. Louis Calder, the owner of the Allapatchee Hunting Lodge, financed an addition of a reading and reference room and later two offices in 1959. A side addition was added in 1962 and air conditioning was added in the summer of 1965.
In 1973 the library was renamed the Punta Gorda Public Library. After 16 years at this location, the library had outgrown the space. A larger library was needed to house the growing collection.

“The architect’s sketch of the proposed Punta Gorda Public Library shows the first wing of the building, which will be built in Cross Park under the sponsorship of the Punta Gorda Woman’s Club.”
Punta Gorda Herald, November 15, 1956.

We raised a significant amount of funds in October getting us to just over 58% of our goal. If you’ve donated, THANK YOU! If you haven’t, please consider becoming a Mural Book Sponsor discussed at the beginning of the newsletter. You can also donate online or by mail:

Online: visit www.puntagordamurals.org/donate

By Mail: Send a check (payable to PGHMS) to:
PGHMS, PO BOX 510506, Punta Gorda, FL 33951

Once again we’re sharing the story of an amazing volunteer program that the PG Fire Department (PGFD) and PG Police Department (PGPD) participate in each season called  “Christmas Cheer.” It serves the students of Baker Center School who are 5 months to 5 years of age, many of which are in great need this holiday season.

This program grew out of a teacher’s request many years ago to PGFD seeking a “sponsor” to provide her students with a small Christmas toy. It was learned they may not be getting any gifts for Christmas and were lacking food and warm clothes during the winter. The teacher told stories of a boy in her class taking a girl’s coat to wear because he didn’t have one of his own and another student putting their school lunch in their pockets to feed a younger sibling at home.

PGFD adopted her class that year, raising enough money to provide a winter jacket and a Christmas toy for each child. The story was shared and Walmart donated a send-home holiday meal for each student. It was discovered that this was not an isolated case in this school and over the years, PGFD and PGPD joined forces to sponsor more classes, reaching 200 children last December.

This season their goal is again to support the entire school (200 students). They need help to make this happen. If you’d like to support them, please donate a Walmart Gift Card to PGFD or PGPD to purchase the items for each child. All amounts are welcomed.  Donations are needed by 11/22 and can be dropped off to Jen Molnar, Fire Marshall, at the Public Safety Building, 1410 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda.

  The Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society was started almost 25 years ago as a non-profit, 501c3 organization with the goal to help revitalize our small town and capture its amazing history by painting murals on the outside walls of its buildings. With strong community support over the years, we’ve established Punta Gorda as a major Mural City, drawing visitors from far and wide.
The ‘Society’ isn’t really a society in the true sense of the word, but actually a small Board of Directors who oversees the organization and its activities. We currently have a few openings on our board and are looking to find a ‘few good volunteers‘ as potential board members. As supporters, we know you are interested in the Society and the work we do. If you are interested in getting more involved, please contact us to better understand what being a Director on our Board is all about. I would love to meet with you to discuss what’s involved and see if its a fit for your time and talents. Please contact me at this email (kgaylord320@gmail.com).