History

History of Port Carlos Cove

This history is compiled from Virginia Millert’s collection and the minutes from the Port Carlos Cove’s Minutes Book. We thank Virginia for all of her work.  If anyone has additional information, or a correction please email webmaster@portcarloscove.com .  With your help this project will evolve.

Virginia Millert

PORT CARLOS COVE, is a mobile home community located at 1802 Main Street, San Carlos Island, Fort Myers Beach, Florida.  The Mobile Horne Cooperative consists of spaces for 155 units, each mobile home space is provided with central utilities, such as water, sewer and electricity. The cooperative owns all the real estate but does not own any of the mobile homes or the personal property placed thereon or in a unit by any member or tenant.

 

Index of Information
Summary of  Port Carlos Cove by Virginia  Millert
Contains historical documents from “The Beach Bulletin” written by Jeanette Simon of 94 Blackbeard, secretary of the Port Carlos Mobile Colony. These are weekly from December 7, 1971 to April 1972.
Booklet with membership pictures, probably taken in 1972. There are 58 pictures, but all members are listed alphabetically.
The Park newsletter: MATADOR January 1974~ monthly.
An aerial photo of the park and other streets off Main St. 1978 mortgage of Doris Tiedt
Purchase of park by Donald V. Whipp and Carl A. Kreager, 8-14-1978
Letter of Intent- April 28, 1982 to sell San Carlos Cove as others have initiated purchase of park. It is to be offered to residents to buy.
Preliminary lists of committee 1982 ( for purchase)
Newsletter: Jeanette Simons did it for 11 years. Then Nancy Dale
Many letters, financial planning concerning purchase of park.
Planning for a sidewalk along Main Street 1981
Letter announcing the completed purchase of park June 15~ 1982Newspaper clipping Nov. 14. 1982 “Mobile Home Dwellers do it their way” A San Carlos Cove Civic Assn. Newsletter March 1982
Correspondence between Zack Turner. Ken McDono~ lawyers and the park officers concerning lot # 7 where turners rented for 17 years. then were surprised to hear that McDonoughs had ‘bought’ their lot.
Clippings:
Death of Donna Sims, May 4, 1988
Donation to fire station from PCC for S1300. Marianne Sutherland and Dale Fenton- april13, 1988
Some Lists of Residents: Booklet about 1972.1981,1982,1983. undated lists, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1999.2000. (Lists from 2001-2005 are in another book)
1976_Bylaws
76-81 Bylaws
.1981_Bylaws1 copy of the first prospect
us booklet of the Port Carlos Cove Corporation
1983 Rules and Regulation
 In our History of Port Carlos Cove, we have several loose leaf notebooks. Some are photo albums, others contain documents including letters between the committee members and previous owners of this area. There are some minutes of meetings in the early 1980s. There is a list of the deed as it passed from owner to owner beginning in 1879.
Some of our Directories are included in these books
One book contains Newsletters form early days through 2008. The officers of the Civic Association and the Directors of the Corporate Board are listed from the beginning through 2008.
Much information and original papers were given to me by Dorothy Wingate and Marianne Sutherland. Please handle the papers and books with care as some are quite fragile
I have taken many small items from old newsletters and from papers like the “Beach Bulletin” They are included mostly for the interest and may not be strict historical fact. Enjoy them.
The first pictures we have of this park were taken of new homes being installed on Galleon Way in 1966. These pictures are in one of the photo albums in the library. # 1 album
Feb 10, 1972 It was called: “Port Carlos Mobile Colony.”
1981, they tried to get a resident park manager appointed thr
ough owner Mr. Kreiger.
Historian, Virginia Millert  
 

Vol2_V.Millert_Note001  This is a handwritten Note from Virginia Millert

Pictures by Volume and Years
Volume 1 1982-1990
Volume 1 1990-1991

DEED INFORMATION:

Lots one and two of section 19 on mainland. Township 46.

1. Deeded to State of Florida September 15, 1879 as “patents to Swamp Lands”

  1. 2.  Deeded to Jacksonville (by FI), Tampa and Key West Railroad Co. December 31, 1888.
  2. 3.  Deeded to Lawrence Me Neill and Walter F. Coachman by RR Foreclosure suit, May 25, 1903.
  3. 4.  Deeded to Consolidated Naval Stores Co. June 11, 1903
  4. 5.  Deeded to Consolidated Land Co. July 26, 1909.
  5. 6.  Deeded to Albert H. Berry of Monroe Co, Tennessee, Feb. 26, 1919
  6. 7.  Deeded to Estero Bay Estates May 22, 1925
  7. 8.  Deeded to George F. Berry Fr. May 16, 1944.
  8. 9.  Deeded to Warren M. Tiedt February 4, 1966. Part Carlos Trailer Park inc.
    1. 10.  Deeded to Carl A. Kreager and Donald V. Whipp, July 1978. San Carlos Cove.
    2. 11.  Deeded to Port Carlos Cove November 15, 1982

1978

Owner/manager, Doris Tiedt sold to Whipp and Kreager for approximately $1,500,000. It was renamed San Carlos Cove with 145 mobiles. By 1982 it was filled to capacity with 155 homes. On November 15, 1982, it was purchased from Kreager and Whipp by the residents for $3,000,000. Evidently the mortgage was held by Doris Tiedt.

Mortgage acquired November 15, 1982. Mortgage paid in full December 27, 1990.

BURNING OF THE MORTGAGE February 23, 1991 at 8:03 pm

After the purchase of the park, a champagne and cake party was held in “our club house” to celebrate. The name was changed to Port Carlos Cove Civic Association.

Beginning name changes:

Port Carlos Mobile Colony 1971

San Carlos Cove 1981 Civic Association

A committee of 12 was formed to research ways and means for the present occupants of land owned by Carl Kreager and Donald Whipp of San Carlos Park, to purchase the park outright, so each purchaser will legally own said land and its amenities.

The original group of 12 met on April 19, 1982. June 14, 1982 was the deadline for deposits of $2,000 each. November 10, 1982 at NCNB (bank) Estero Blvd, Louise Holthaus signed the check for $3,000,000 and mailed it to Carl A. Kreager and Donald V. Whipp.

1980

Pancake Breakfast Dec. 7, 1980 82 people, Clara DiCarlo, chairman

1982

Committee who worked on buying the park:

First Group in 1982

 1. Bill Martin 3. Fred Casadie
5. Francis Warren 7. Bill Dressel
9. Ed Sutherland 11. Ben Rogers
2. Janette Simon 4. Louise Holthaus
6. Earle Lindley8. Vernon Brandriff
10. Harry Campbell 12. Dorothy WJngate

 There were many other residents who worked on the buying out the park, such as:

                  Howard Harris, Jim Consolloy . Heahnle  Corey LeCount, John Ingledue                          Bob Nickolson

June 1982 Announcement of possibility of buying the park.
July 30, 1982 Newspaper article describing the buy out by residents.
June 18, 1982 big storm and flooding in the park. November 20, 1982 Bavarian Fest1982 Meetings

1982 Meetings

Annual Meeting Dec. 6, 1982 with 120 present. Mae and Bill Dressel Social Chairpersons. Dick Haney retired as park handyman.

Valentine–ice cream social sold home made ice cream ! Bazaar profit: $1,025.
Art Class with Hugo Hilt 9:00AM Ceramics with Anne Riffle
Luau May 28, 1982. Janet Lindley’s idea. Roasted 3 pigs. 179 attended. New ceiling panels installed in clubhouse.
Crafts with Bill Busfield
Saturday evenings: “Do Your Own Thing”
Renters were notified to either buy their lot or take the consequences: the possibility of raised rent or . being evicted.
coat racks,flowers at the ‘boat’ entrance working street lights

The Newsletter in 1982 was dedicated to Janette Simon who was editor for 11 years. She came to Port Carlos Mobile Colony in 1969 and called the Newsletter: The Beach Bulletin. Other editors of the Newsletter were: Nancy Dale, Ed Campbell, Evelyn Soderburg and Reatha Seaman, Marianne Sutherland and in 2000 or 2001 Rick and Sue Hobot took it over and added color. .

A group painted the club House: Bill Busfield, H. Campbell, Guy Cline, H. Harris, W. Dressell, D.

Fors, G. Haehnle, E. Lindley, Les Simpson, C. Rueppel, Peg and Bill Martin.

1981 Beginning of Bike Path efforts. Lee Co. commissioner approved plan to construct a safety walkway. (Beach Bulletin 2/3/82)

Mixed shuffleboard tournament Jan. 22. 1982
Luau May 28, 1982. Janet Lindley’s idea. Roasted 3 pigs. 179 attended. New ceiling panels installed in clubhouse.

50 volunteers to build the safety walkway. There can be 2 shifts of workers. Volunteers installed the forms and poured concrete for 4″ thick and 8 feet wide. Feb 1983 approximately 1500 linear feet have been built. About 30 volunteers in the area, including other parks, worked on it. The sidewalk project was to be finished by March 20,1983. A ribbon cutting ceremony would be March 23 at 10:00AM. “Decorate Your Bikes” was the order of the day. When the committee was dissolved, the remaining funds of $268 was donated to the rescue squad. There is an entire photo album dedicated to this.

Pictures for 1982
Volume 1 1982-1990

Volume 2 1982 Pictures

1983

Feb 1983 PCC won 1st place in the Beach Christmas Decorationg Contest. A certificate was given. Additions to the park about 1983:

Card table racks Chair caddies
Mail box stations with roof
A request was made for ideas for a Logo for on the ship.
March 1983 A new bulletin board has been placed near the mail boxes.
A roof over the barbeque pit was built by Frank Gardner, Hod Draper, Ben Rogers, Fred Casadei, Ken McDonough and Curly Gross for less that half of the bids received.
New wooden disc carriers for shuffleboard discs.                                                       ‘
Membership dues were $1.00 per person.
Blood Pressures taken by Donna Sims continues

1984

Voted out a hot tub.
Increased legal meetings to 3 per year.
February: The Sanibel Bridge tickets were available for 50 cents.
Line dancing was available for anyone who wanted to come, Louise Holthaus in charge
There was a George Washington tea and style show, Feb 23.April –Meetings ended with entertainment
Pancake breakfast of March served 175 people.
Extension to pool patio was discussed.
May –Third annual Luau: Marianne Sutherland and Louise Holthaus chaired. 123 attended. First Western Party, a Country Hoedown.
Dec. 1, first Christmas Bazaar.
Dec. =Bylaws have been amended
First Halloween party Oct. 31, 1984
January 1984 Volunteers clearing out the back 40, Bavarian Fest, Pinnacle club, get acquainted teas were some of the year’s activities. They stated:
“OUR ASSOCIATION IS SOUL Y FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUN”

Vol2_1984  Pictures

1985

Jan 1985–patio extension finished.
Smoking banned in club house at large affairs.

Vol2_1985   Pictures

1986

-Jolly Roger Party-Roast Beef dinner.
When the safely sidewalk was completed, remaining funds of $268 were donated to the rescue Squad. It was difficult to get officers even back then!
16 new tables purchased to club house.

Thelma Clark in charge of Art Class.

Marianne Sutherland was the Historian

/ ~       March 1986–Donna Sims took blood pressure for residents

1987–

Trip to Acapulco, Jan 19 to Feb. 2
Roast Beef dinner, Jan 17, 1987, 119 attended.
Park flooded New Year’s eve 1986-87 Entertainment at the Civic Association meetings.
Ice Cream Social on March 7, 1987, 1:30 pm.
Jolly Roger Party, Ham supper. Treasure hunt, and dancing.
Shrimp Boil at # 50, plus covered dishes, 78 people, on Valentines Day. Directors discussed having monthly meetings.
Annual meeting Feb. 18, 1987
Ann Glover in charge of Ladies’ Shuffleboard Discussion on Neighborhood Watch
Voted to give the Board $500 for planning expenses for extension of Club House.

1988

 Shuffleboard courts reserved for ladies Mon, Wed and Fri from 10:00 toI2:00; For men 1 :00 to 3:00 each day.
Assessment of $200 collected.

A plea for people to attend association meetings .

. A Planning committee meets 1 st Monday of every month at 10: 15

Monthly fee is now $75 as of March. New Drinking fountain at pool side. Association dues $2.

Hod and Wib Draper moved away and were given a book of pictures of people in the park. These were collected by Helen and Francie Warren. The Drapers gave this book back to the park. This is the first photo album of individuals that the park has.

Discussion began concerning a plan to expand the club house. A new roof and solar system were installed.

Nov. 1988 flooding in the park.

A new pole for Canadian flag. A sports equipment shed added. A Renter’s party

Photo album given to Wally Simon (who lived in park 18 years,) was returned to Park. New roof and solar system added to clubhouse

Louise Holthous continues to take blood pressures.

There used to be a nominating committee before the annual meeting. Considering enlarging the club house.

List of FIRSTS:

Sports Day April 10, 1985 68 people. Euchre March 4, 1987

Pitch and Putt tournament Jan 28, 1987

Thelma Clark designed the logo (light house) for this park.

1974 January- part ofa Newsletter was called MATADOR. Port Carlos Mobile Colony.

A Question was asked: “Does anyone know who fell into the canal?”

1989

January– new patio furniture. Co-ed soft ball games. Started working on golf course.

April– association minutes were included in the Newsletter, which was a good idea. Old time movies were shown in the club house, much laughter and enjoyment.

Sarah Lombard will teach quilting.

Nov. 1989,55 Alive program scheduled, also CPR Suggestion made for a list of park members to be available 2 new grills were purchased.

? Date bought a golf training machine for about $474, no one used it, got rid of it.

Also we bought a ‘fogger’ to keep away the no-seeums. Also didn’t work well. Got rid of it.

1990

Lawyer suggested that PCCCA incorporate for our protection. $500 fee.

Mae Dressel contacted Pest control people for anyone in the park who wants this service. Fire chief was presented with $1500 from our park

Motion made to form a building fund raising committee for remodeling the club house. Dale Fenton to be in charge.

Picnic at lakes Park arranged by Joe Starkey.

Motion made to incorporate. It was important to have a tax ID number.

Pictures for 1990
Vol2_1990

1991

Fred and Gloria LeBlanc to run bingo

New Historian for the park is Morris Whitmoyer. Presented fire chiefwith $1300.
BURNING OF THE MORTGAGE February 23, 1991 at 8:03 pm

Re-doing and adding shuffleboard courts. Christmas Parade of Boats

Pictures for 1991
Volume 1 1990-1991

1992

Historian Whtmoyer is gathering history and Reatha Seaman is typing it. Blanche Simpson is gathering history of shuftleboard.

Doris Teidt is comprising a story of major events in the park.

Helen Warren is working on a story of Christmas decoration in the park. Rit was asked for the history of Sports activities.

It was suggested to buy a membership to Sam’s Club for the park purchases. Construction in rec hall to begin in March.

March 12, Beverly Triplehorn is taking over the office immediately as secretary. The Quilt drawing made $1250 for the park

The storage building at the end of the club house was built, donated by Coastal Aluminum.

Pictures for 1992
Vol2_1992_ClubhouseExpansion
Vol2_1992_Continued

1993

April 5, 1993 Fire ChiefMc Carthy given $1500. Presentation on Citizens against Crime.

Euchre to teach new players.

December= after 10 years, Gene Haehnle to resign Chair of Bazaar. Bill Olney and Werner Wieder agreed to do it.

“Horseracing” new years eve.

1994

January No interest in Western night or style show or aerobics. Presidents plaque to be placed in the halL

Peggy Sellers and Ed Muldoon to tape videos for the library. Shuftleboard grandstand projects, concrete to be poured. Line dancing doing well.

March committee is working on our Prospectus.

April 4, Check to Fire Chief McCarthy for $1600. He said that telephone requests should be ignored as they are scams !

Antenna purchased for clubhouse.

Louise Holthaus placed photo albums in the office of the early days of PCC.

~.——~~———-~

Shuffleboard viewing stand being prepared.

Golf cart donated to park by AI and Barb Beaton.

1990 exercises in pool, led by Betty Fenton

House numbers were to be painted on driveways. They didn’t last. Filtered water faucet put outside club house. It had only been inside. Canadian flag pole up

Quilting class with Sarah Lombard

Euchre club pizza supper with Betty Fenton in charge

Full Moon boat cruise followed by wine, punch and cheese party.

1991-

They were asking for an historian.

Canadians put on dinners 1991 Moonlight cruise

Style show.

April $18,000 in building fund, for enlargement of rec hall.

Royal palms planted by Bill Dressel. He started them form seed a year ago from trees in his yard. New shuffleboard courts.

Bingo– Florida regulation: Bingo. We Must pay $350 for license fee and so bingo games will be halted until laws changed for small parks. Gloria and Fred LeBlanc in charge.

1992

Started Square dancing

From the Board: The words “no extra assessment for 3 in a mobile” are deleted. Monthly assessment is $75.

Park is 10 years old:

Mortgage is paid off to Doris Tiedt Purchased a computer

6 new shuffleboard courts Recycling

Club house renovation not yet completed.

Membership in Sam’s Wholesale Club.( any 6 members can buy membership for $6. Each.)

1993

Building of the addition to the clubhouse 1993

Pleas for people to recycle properly.

Round tables and padded chairs ordered for club house. Clubhouse almost finished. Acoustic problem to be fixed.

First Annual Block Party held in new clubhouse, Jan 25, 1993 About 140 people. Honored our veteran service women.

Seawall on Blackbeard repaired

Video library explained.

Vol2_1993    Pictures of 1993

1994

 

1995

Vol2_1995    Pictures of 1995

1996

NWSLTR_Jan_1996

Vol2_1996001  Pictures of 1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Pictures from 2003    Vol2_2003001

2004

2004 Hurricane Charlie

2005

2005_Bridge Proposal

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

redevopment of Ebtide