The Banana Factory

A cool little rock band that played anywhere (and when I say anywhere means there hardly was such a place) back in the late 60's. I saw a few of their shows one that sticks out was on the pavilion at Lowdermilk Park. In the late 60's & early 70's there was NOTHING for younger people to do, I have to laugh when kids complain now. The show they played at the park was one of the 1st things I remember where there was something cool to do. It was late in the afternoon around sunset & I can remember how amazing the gulf looked & how GOOD that band sounded. The only thing that came close was another rock band named The Jesters they defined what made the Swamp Buggy Parade cool. Vince Wood Jr was the drummer for the Factory & if you lived in Naples then you knew Vince he was always around town & was one very talented person. Vince passed away February 18th 2007 a truly sad day, thanks for the memories you were part of what made growing up here great!

The Factory L to R: Jack Briggs, Russ Clarke, Craig Jaworski, Vince Wood, Susie Dysert & Bill Meek.

Rising From The Ruins

The new pier being rebuilt after Donna, looking back now I guess you could say the whole town rose from the ruins. I guess it escalated years later when either I-75 came through here or the Ritz Carlton was built.

Architects Drawing of New Pier (60's Era)

You know the one with a few more rules & regulations?

At Least Donna Left The Restrooms....

This is my last Hurricane Donna post (I think) of all things for the hurricane to leave behind it would have to be the restrooms! I remember the replacement pier's restrooms had an odor to them & usually had some shady lookin' characters hangin' around. But at least there were some RULES before Donna. We need MORE rules these days you see more rules at the pier than sunsets...

Souvenir Of Hurricane Donna Final Part

This souvenir booklet belonged to Reva Mullins, the mother of a lifelong friend of mine. Reva moved to Naples from Dayton, Ohio with her sons Rick & Don Spicer, in 1957. Don told me they moved here around Christmas time & rented the guesthouse @ 144 10th Ave South. First thing they did was run to the pier & go for a swim. All the locals stared at them like they were crazy after all it was in the middle of winter, so they had to be tourists. The next Christmas they stood on the pier & stared at the new tourists swimming these brutal winter waters. Reva eventually moved to Mullins Street (if that doesn't tell you what a small town it was, nothing will) where she lived for the remainder of her life. She passed away in June of 2007. I was originally going to Photoshop her notes out of this booklet but after reading them they were to me just as important and historic as the pictures.

Tamiami Sportcycle

If you rode a dirtbike in Naples in the 1970's there's a good chance you bought it from Mal or Marty Schrednitz. I can't recall how many Saturdays I spent along with my allowance at Tamiami Sportcycle. The Yamaha Enduro was kinda a way of life in Naples & they ALWAYS gave the police something to do all week. The majority of my teenage friends were from riding dirtbikes & Naples had miles of woods to ride in. This commercial was shot in 1978 with Marty doing the stunt riding. Also driving the silver Continental was the late Skip Gage an incredible artist & local rider. Parts of this TV commercial were shot in Wing South Airpark & Naples Airport. Marty also taught me how to ride a motorcycle in the car wash parking lot across the street & thanks to Marty I still ride to this day.

Souvenir Of Hurricane Donna Part Six

1946 Single Page 3 Town Phone Book/Page?

Two digit dialing how much simpler could life be? But your hand was probably sore from swatting mosquitoes the night before.

Gordon Pass Fish Camp After Donna

Souvenir Of Hurricane Donna Part Five

And if you're anything like me you are probably asking yourself "Who are the Gibbs"?

Is It Art Or Photo?

John Smith told me the little booth to the right in this photo was for a person to sit in & watch for German war planes & submarines along the coast. His mom was one of the spotters that sat there with binoculars during WWII they had a phone line to call if they spotted one. During the war most beach front homes had blackout curtains on their windows. The Germans would use the lights along the shore to navigate at night.

Looking Through The Old Bait House

Look at all those fishin' poles up in the rafters. Boy the old taxman could get $7.50 cents off every pole. No more free dinner here........

Link to story
http://tinyurl.com/m3g79h

1957 Pier

Pre Donna Pier

Souvenir Of Hurricane Donna Part Four

URGENT: Note To Followers

Souvenir Of Hurricane Donna Part Three

The Only Thing Left Standing

This is for my Naples Daily News blogger friends MLE, BigDogRanch and swfl_ff!
Click on the link for interesting blog comments!
http://tinyurl.com/realnaples
PS: I'm not swamp4ever.........
1960 Bait House phone # temporarily out of order please try back in a little while........

3rd Street South After Donna

Just like the local news outlets I'll just keep ramming this hurricane stuff down your throat until you have to come up for air.

Souvenir Of Hurricane Donna Part Two

5th Avenue South @ Park Street After Donna

Only in Naples: During Wilma I was at Home Depot & it was pouring rain. Outside in the parking lot was a 2 seater Mercedes convertible (with leather interior) with the top down with 8ft 2X4's sticking straight up in the passenger's seat. Then there's the single woman in Publix with 2 loaded & overflowing shopping carts with a tropical depression out off the Carolina's...