2022 Members and Visitors Guide for the Punta Gorda Area
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1440093
Page 96 2022 Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce Members & Visitors Guide BY FRANK DESGUIN Sun Columnist Many of the names of Punta Gorda streets go back to the time of founder Isaac Trabue. Here are some streets from Trabue's original town plat. Beginning at the town of Trabue's easterly end and moving west, first is Milot, likely a misspelling of Milus, as it appears today, for Trabue's brother-in-law Milus Nesbitt, then Cochran, maiden name of Trabue's sister-in- law, now Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Wood, for business associate William Wood. Nesbit, a second one after brother-in-law Milus, noted above and another misspelling. Then King, now also U.S. 41 north, perhaps for family friend Archibald King or even prominent Fort Ogden rancher and merchant Ziba King, who by early 1893, with partner J.L. Sandlin, owned a wharf on the bay front and a large two-story mercantile store on the street. Next is Taylor, maiden name of Isaac's wife Virginia, then Cross, now also U.S. 41 south, for John Cross, the real estate agent who handled Trabue's initial 30-acre purchase from James Madison Lanier. Harvey, for Kelly Harvey, the surveyor creating the town plat who by now you've likely figured out, was clearly uncertain of some names. Gill, for brother-in- law Charles Gill, McGregor, for brother-in-law Thomas MacGregor, then Chasteen, probably a misspelling of Chastain, for Isaac's father. Most of the 11 streets west of Chasteen no longer exist. Several were less than a block long running from what is now a portion of Marion Avenue, west of its Henry Street intersection, to the waterfront. The first after Chasteen is Barry, with an "a," for nephew Robert Berry. I'm beginning to feel a bit sorry for surveyor Kelly Harvey and his spelling errors. Although they could have been due to Isaac's penmanship, that may be the primary reason Trabue refused to pay him for the job. Unfortunately, the origins of Shreve and Pitman are unknown. Alice, for a niece, no longer officially exists, but is part of the city's linear park. Maude, for nephew Robert Berry's wife provides access to Fishermen's Village, former site of the Maude Street (City) dock. Cosby, for Trabue's aunt Lucinda, was near what is now the entrance to Starboard Point condominiums. Remaining streets on the plat west of the Henry, Marion intersection, such as Brown, likely for F.Q. Brown, agent for the Florida Southern Railway's real estate division, Elizabeth, for Isaac's mother, Wilson, likely for Thomas E. Wilson, Virginia Trabue's maternal grandfather, and Inville, origin unknown, and Trabue, have also been lost to development. However, Isaac created and named an avenue after himself in 1893 when he and wife Virginia re-plated some blocks. Today, only one block of Trabue Avenue remains between McGregor and Chasteen Streets. Trabue's plat can be viewed on the Charlotte County Clerk of Circuit Court's website at charlotteclerk.com e history behind many of Punta Gorda's streets Sun file photo Taken in September 2019, boats can be seen at Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda. The village is full of shops and restaurants.