PAINTING THE TOWN for the past 25 Years

The Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society was incorporated on January 23, 1995, and it’s hard to believe that in five short months we’ll be 25 years young. We’re planning some exciting events to celebrate including publishing a 25th Anniversary BOOK!  Stay tuned for more details in next month’s newsletter.
Over the years folks have shared stories and thoughts on how the murals have contributed to the character of our little town, or how they showed them off to visiting friends and families, or maybe even created their own little walking or biking tours. Some have told us how the murals have influenced their decision to move here. We have appreciated all of them, but haven’t been good at capturing them.
So we’d like to try to gather them for our anniversary. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts or stories about the murals and the impact you think they’ve made, we’d love to hear them (and this time we’ll write them down). You can send them to us by replying to this newsletter, mailing a note or talking to any board member. We’ll collect them and hopefully find a way to share them during our anniversary year.
Here’s one we heard last week (and fortunately had a pen and paper at the time)…
“The murals are a marker that sets Punta Gorda apart from anywhere else, conveying a totally different feeling and message about the town. Punta Gorda is not one of the typical ‘Tamiami Trail’ towns and that is why we decided to settle here.”  Scott Mitchell, new Punta Gorda resident
We thank Scott for sharing this and hope you will share your thoughts with us as well.

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FUNDRAISING Continues for the Next Mural Project

The Punta Gorda Charlotte Library Mural

Our next mural will be on the arched wall facing Shreve Street on the new Punta Gorda Charlotte Library at 401 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda. Here’s some History about this Library. We hope you enjoy it.
It all started on April 1st, 1908 when the first area’s public library opened in the Guild room in the Rectory of the Punta Gorda Episcopal Church on the corner of Virginia and Cross (US41S) Streets. It started with 62 volumes of standard fiction donated by the Traveling Library of the Church Periodical Club in New York. Residents were encouraged to contribute other books. The first librarian was Mrs. Theo Q. Trout, and the library was open 7 days a week and each evening until 8 pm. Books could be borrowed for reading (free of charge) for 2 weeks. There was a fine of one cent a day assessed if held longer. Furniture and lamps were supplied by the church, and the cost of lamp oil and janitor was covered by donations.
After a number of years, t had become so popular that it began to interfere with church activities. In 1914 it was moved to the Masonic Lodge on Sullivan Street (behind what is now Leroy’s Restaurant). It was overseen by Mrs. Stella Gould who was also the telegraph operator for the town.
The library remained at the lodge until the fall of 1928……
Stay tuned for the October newsletter to hear what happened next.

(Reference: “Our Fascinating Past – Charlotte Harbor: Early Years” by Lindsey Williams & U.S. Cleveland)

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September Update on Library Mural Fundraising

Donations continue to come in. We’ve raised $7000 so far – just shy of 25%. If you’ve donated, THANK YOU!  If you haven’t and are considering it, here are ways to do it:

Online: visit www.puntagordamurals.org/donate

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

To become a Mural Sponsor, click here for more information.

All Donation Amounts are
Welcomed and Appreciated
and are tax-deductible!

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History Classes

Join us for the first session in our 1-Hour Local History Series
“Tails from the Harbor: History of our Fishing Industry (by the Numbers)”

Wednesday, October 16th
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Free of charge
Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association
2001 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda

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Other History Classes Coming Your Way – Fall 2019 & Spring 2020
We’ve teamed up with the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association to bring you the series of 1-Hour Local History sessions AND our regular History Classes (always updated with new murals and new stories).
To CHECK OUT the Dates and Times – Click HERE

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In Our Community

Sharing a little of what’s happening with other organizations
devoted to history in our area