An oral history interview conducted with Buddy Clark Alexander by Charlotte County Libraries & History. The interview highlights: Buddy Clark Alexander's family and childhood; his time working for Ford in Michigan; his time as Clerk of Circuit Court; and his memories of Hurricane Donna and Hurricane Charley. The statements expressed within do not reflect the views of Charlotte County staff.

An oral history interview conducted with Chris Anders by Charlotte County Libraries & History about Hurricane Ian. The statements expressed within do not reflect the views of Charlotte County staff.

An oral history interview conducted with Judy Anderson by Charlotte County Libraries & History. The interview highlights: Judy Anderson's youth in the area; how she worked under Charlotte County's Supervisor of Elections Henryetta "Tosie" Hindman; how she ran for the position of Supervisor of Elections after Tosie Hindman retired; and her time as Supervisor of Elections, including how Hurricane Charley affected elections in Charlotte County in 2004. The statements expressed within do not reflect the views of Charlotte County staff.

An oral history interview conducted with David Bartley by Charlotte County Libraries & History. The interview highlights David Bartley's youth in El Jobean, his family's carnival business, and his thoughts on local figures. The statements expressed within do not reflect the views of Charlotte County staff.

An oral history interview conducted with John Bass by Charlotte County Libraries & History. The interview highlights: John Bass's youth; how he got into photography; the Bass family; his memories of Eugenie Clark; the Cookie House; and his thoughts on Englewood. The statements expressed within do not reflect the views of Charlotte County staff.

This portrait was painted by Christiane Belle as part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. 18 x 24 inches. Oil on canvas. The subject is 'Commodore' Caldwell Hart Colt, the son of gun scion Samuel Colt, who followed in his father's footsteps as a gunmaker. In 1879 he designed the Colt double barrel rifle, one of the rarest Colt firearms that was ever made. One night in 1984, the “Oriole," a yacht belonging to Caldwell Colt, was anchored off the Hotel Punta Gorda. Suddenly, party guests cried out, “Man overboard!” Only too late they realized it was the yacht’s owner, face down and dead in the water. Caldwell’s mother commissioned Louis Tiffany to create a stained-glass window as a tribute to her son. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Christiane Belle was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. 16 x 20 inches. Oil on Canvas. This painting illustrates a famous house in Charlotte County history. Formerly known as McAdow Hall, it was built at the turn of the century as the home of Perry W. McAdow. It was to be deeded to the town upon his death, but taxes and struggles for ownership ensued for many years. McAdow contributed to the community by filling in the harbor off Harvey Park and securing franchises to build and operate kerosene street lights in Punta Gorda and the town's first telephone system. The building was converted to a lodge in the 1940s. As a lodge, the space held the largest dining room in Punta Gorda, capable of serving 300 guests. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

This painting by Christiane Belle was part of Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show in 2021. 16 x 20 inches. Oil on canvas. This is an imaginary portrait of Mary Leah Sandlin by Christiane Belle. Mary had a tragic end for a young girl of 14, helping with the ironing on the family porch. In those days some irons were powered by gasoline, which in Mary's case combusted and poured flames over her. Mary caught fire and ran to neighbors to try to put out the flames, but it was too late. Years later, owners of the former Sandlin home heard old timbers creak and moan, steps walking towards Mary’s former bedroom, irons turning off, and other paranormal activity. Mary, the teenage ghost, features on some walking tours of the area. Local artists were invited to submit original works of art to Charlotte County's Centennial Art Show. Pieces were based on the book 'Our Fascinating Past: Charlotte Harbor' by Lindsey Williams and U.S. Cleveland. Submissions were accepted in Fall 2020 and were displayed at the Mid-County Regional Library on February 27, 2021.

Indian Springs Cemetery in Punta Gorda, Florida, 1886-2004.

This photo shows the home of Mott Willis with unidentified family members on the porch. Mott Willis was the owner of a general store (purchased from Joel Knight in 1912 and renamed Mott Willis and Sons) located on what is now Bayshore Road in Charlotte Harbor, opposite Knight's dock (now the site of a county fishing pier). Willis also had an oystering business, providing oysters to local restaurants and hotels, as well as carrying mail to the outer islands and running a ferry service to Punta Gorda and the islands. The Willis home was sited southeast of the store, in the Harbor View settlement platted by Nathan DeCoster after the Civil War, on or near what is now Harborview Road.

This undated photo shows Thomas Samuel Knight III (1902-1970) in his WWII army uniform. His great-grandfather, Joel Knight, settled in Hickory Bluff (now called Charlotte Harbor) in the early 1860s. Joel Knight's brother Jesse, with his family of fifteen, had settled a bit farther north in the 1850s; their homestead is now part of Myakka State Park. The Knight brothers were natives of Georgia. Thomas Samuel Knight III, son of Thomas Samuel Knight, Jr., and Mary Virginia Taylor Knight, built a home on what is now Willow Grove Street in Charlotte Harbor. That house is now a historical resource owned by Charlotte County.

An oral history interview conducted with Danny Biehl and Barbara Biehl by Charlotte County Libraries & History. The interview highlights: how Danny Biehl's family came to Punta Gorda and opened the Slip-Not Lounge and Mobile Home Park; how Danny spent his youth in the area; Danny's time in the Air Force during the Vietnam War; how he married Barbara; how Danny and Barbara took over the Slip-Not Lounge and Mobile Home Park; how Hurricane Charley affected them; and their thoughts on Punta Gorda. The statements expressed within do not reflect the views of Charlotte County staff.