MONTHLY SPEAKER SERIES KICKS OFF THE NEW YEAR
Happy New Year! Our monthly speaker for January is Robert Ballard who will present on the History of Pine Island. Robert Ballard is a 3rd generation Pine Islander and graduate of Fort Myers High School. He traces his family’s early arrival on Cayo Costa in 1888 and their move to Bokeelia in 1942, where he was born in 1946.
After leaving the area in 1969 to see the “outside” world, he returned to Fort Myers in 2000. He has worked in the aircraft industry, the medical equipment industry and the welding and robotics industry, retiring in 2013. After retiring, he moved back to Bokeelia into a house that his aunt and uncle built in 1968 after leaving their home on Cayo Costa. Since retirement he has been involved in trying to protect the last remaining tracts of longleaf and slash pines on Pine Island that it got its name from.
Bob’s presentation begins at 7pm this Thursday, January, 9th. The presentation is held downtown at Collaboratory (former location of the train depot) 2031 Jackson Street. Light refreshments are served.
ABOUT THE SOCIETY
The Southwest Florida Historical Society (SWFLHS) was established in 1963 by a group of citizens to “preserve the history of our area”.
In 1983 the SWFLHS received as a gift a building that was destined to be demolished by the City for a new parking lot. Harper Brothers Construction donated the building and Flint and Doyle was contracted to move the building to the campus of the Lee County Alliance of the Arts. Siting the building to its current location on the Alliance property was completed and renovations started to bring the building up to City and County Building Codes.
In 1984 the SWFLHS received its Articles of Incorporation with the following purpose:
“The mission of the society is to discover, collect and preserve original and source documents, maps and photographs pertaining to the history of SW Florida.
To bring together those interested in the history of this area; to promote and stimulate public interest and appreciation of the history of this area; and to further the preservation and knowledge of Southwest Florida’s past.”
In 1987 a Dedication of the Building was held and the doors were open to the public.
