Your Window to the Past

Enjoy just a few of the thousands of photos and documents preserved and archived by the Naples Historical Society.   Each one reveals a unique view of turn of the century Southwest Florida.

A Few of Our Historical Photos

		This was the first building in Naples. It was built in 1887 as a temporary office for the Naples Company while the hotel and pier were being constructed. Seated in the center is Walter N. Haldeman, owner-publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal, who financed much of the venture. Standing is General John S. Willliams, who talked Mr. Haldeman into coming to Naples.
		The "Bon Temps" was operated by Captain Stewart between Fort Myers and the Naples Pier in the 1910s to transport passengers and supplies to the Old Naples Hotel. Once the road to Fort Myers became passable, bus service replaced the boat.
		Palm Cottage, Naples oldest house built in 1895, has a unique history. It was constructed of Tabbie Mortar (home-made cement) for Henry Watterson, the famous editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Mr. and Mrs. Walter O. Parmer, who owned the house from 1916 to 1938, are shown on the front steps. Palm Cottage is now the headquarters for the Naples Historical Society.
		The Old Naples Hotel at its prime in the 1920s. This picture was taken with a panoramic camera and reproduced from an old postcard. It's the only full view of the hotel known to exist because it was impossible to take such a wide angle with a regular camera.
		The Old Naples Hotel in January 1906 looking east from the pier along what is now known as 12th Avenue South. At that time only the boxy center with 16 rooms existed. In 1916 the south wing was added and in the early 1920s a north wing was constructed. Note Palm Cottage at the left center.
		The Old Naples Hotel all decked out for the official opening of the Seaboard Airline Railroad Station on January 7, 1927. This picture was taken by John Hachmiester, a Naples resident from 1912 until he died here in May, 1940.
		"Downtown Naples" 1928. The building in the center was the commissary, Naples only store. It is Naples oldest commercial building and is now called The Wind in the Willows. Captain Stewart's Post Office was the little building just to the right of the commissary.
		The "Orange Blossom Special" was the first Seaboard Airline Railroad train to come to the Naples Depo - January 7, 1927. This magnificent photograph was taken by Mr. Robert Fohl, Sr., head greens keeper at the old 9-hole golf course on 3rd Street and 5th Avenue South.
		The Paw-Paw Patch, Naples first two-cell jail. It was built by the city in the early 1940s at a cost of $381.68 and served the city until the mid 1950s. The relentless mosquitoes that inhabited the place were its worst feature.
		Mr. "Ed" Frank, inventor of the Swamp Buggy and his party about to leave on a weeklong hunting trip into the Everglades in 1947. L-R Paul Frank, Henry Espenlaub, "Ed" Frank, and Naples Mayor Roy Smith.
		This 1958 aerial photograph shows the Old Naples Hotel with the pier in the background. Note the many vacant lots and the lack of automobile traffic back those days.

Our archives are available to the public by purchasing restored black and white photographic prints in a variety of sizes. The prints are perfect for personal or business use. Each print is accompanied by a detailed photograph description; they look great matted and framed. Call the office to discuss how we can make this happen for you! 239-261-8164.

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