The Real Naples

City Dock & Crayton Cove 1950's

2011-12-22T06:17:00.002-05:00

Courtesy Marilyn (Whitney) Collins

Pre Donna Pier

2011-12-21T16:09:00.004-05:00

Courtesy Marilyn (Whitney) Collins

Joey Gratton 1953 - 2011

2011-11-14T07:45:00.001-05:00

M & M Marina

2011-11-01T11:56:00.004-04:00

In photo driving the forklift Marilyn Whitney standing Merton Whitney owner's of the marina.
1312 5th Avenue South
Phone # MIdway 2-4656

Beach Store Summer 1968

2011-10-28T14:44:00.002-04:00

Dab Barber, Norman Zeller & Brookside Homeboy.

Photo credit Jeannie Cornett

House Of High Fidelity

2011-10-25T14:03:00.006-04:00

House of High Fidelity had the coolest rockin' FREE jukebox loaded with some of the best rock & roll in the 60's. A great way to spend Saturdays...

Old Naples Lemonade Stand 1950's

2011-10-23T06:58:00.004-04:00

Left to Right: Barbara Rihm, Sally Dun, Kathy Dun, Kathy Keely & Petey Dun

Photo taken at the corner of Broad Avenue South & 2nd Street South.
Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

USS Marlin @ the Pier late 1950's

2011-10-16T15:51:00.007-04:00

Wikipedia link to the submarine believe it or not it's still around but land locked!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Marlin_(SST-2)

Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Wonderful Neighbor On The Gulf

2010-10-22T11:58:00.002-04:00

April 17th 1962

2010-09-06T06:13:00.002-04:00

Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Isle Of Capri

2010-08-30T06:13:00.003-04:00

Isle of Capri barely developed & 951 stops at the turn off.
Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Mid 50's Aerial Photo #4

2010-08-27T06:45:00.003-04:00

Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Mid 50's Aerial Photo #3

2010-08-26T06:09:00.004-04:00

Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Mid 50's Aerial Photo #2

2010-08-25T06:10:00.005-04:00

Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Mid 50's Aerial Photo's #1

2010-08-24T06:59:00.004-04:00

The next few photo's are a series of shots starting at the East Trail & working north.
Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Wiggins Pass Area

2010-08-23T06:11:00.001-04:00

Undated photo.
Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

4 Corners 5th Avenue South & North 41

2010-08-16T13:13:00.009-04:00

This is the earliest aerial photo I've ever seen even Club 41 on 4 Corners (instead of the Gulf Station). Love the school bus on Central Avenue.

Photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Naples Park, Vanderbilt Beach & Wiggins Pass Area

2010-08-16T05:23:00.005-04:00

Good shot of Naples Memorial Gardens like I always said people are dying to get into Naples Park ;)

Undated photo credit Kathy Keely Smith

Pre Donna Pier

2010-08-13T07:17:00.002-04:00

Kathy Keely Smith's unreal early pier photo.

Boston Whaler Ad

2010-06-21T01:31:00.004-04:00

My dad bought an early Boston Whaler from Phil Morse at Boat Haven. This is a picture from one of the original ads. Somewhere there is a picture of the aft section being driven away with an outboard while another fellow rows the bow section in another direction.

Marco Beach

2010-06-16T06:11:00.005-04:00

Taken from Marco Beach Hotel & Villas.

1961 Junior Deputy Program Promotional Film

2010-06-11T07:15:00.010-04:00

All the local 60's police celebrities! Doug Hendry, Aubrey Rogers, John Rogers & Don Harris. I did one or two of these camp outs & NEVER want to hear "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" again. Had a run in with at least one these folks, sure could rain on some Halloween fun.

Film courtesy Capt Mark Baker.
Again many thanks to GC Homeboy for the find!

Golden Gate Country Club

2010-06-10T06:58:00.001-04:00

Photo taken February 3rd 1967.

The Real Naples On Facebook

2010-06-08T07:45:00.002-04:00

The Real Naples is on Facebook now! Photo's only with a brief description (I'm bored with my stories its easier this way).

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Real-Naples/120102424698135?v=wall

The "GREATEST" Naples Roadtrip!

2010-06-04T14:25:00.010-04:00

I don't know if this relates to Naples but in Homeboy's kookie little world it does. Plus the Rolling Stones album Exile On Main Street just got re released so I'm gonna let this fly. Me & 3 of my friends (Andy Mclenon, Scott Kepp & Barry Johnson) loaded up & drove to Charlotte North Carolina to see the Stones. Incredible tickets front center, 10 feet back in front Keith's amp wholly cow one of the truly greatest things, show, summer vacation in one trip, one summer. Scott has since passed away & so this is kinda my little tribute to him & the summer of 72. If you ever read how how good the Stones were that year triple that by times 10, its still burnt into my memory...

Middle photo: Scott Kepp all others Brookside Homeboy.

Naples Police Department August 1964

2010-06-04T14:07:00.004-04:00

From left: Policeman 1st Class Winebrenner, Desk Officer Kaester, Sergeant Bliss, Sergeant Bass, Desk Officer Wall, Sergeant Alexander, Policeman 1st Class Spohn, Policeman 1st Class Jones, Policeman 1st Class Hayes, Patrolman Grimm, Patrolman Young, Chief Of Police Caruthers.
Missing Desk Officer Holzhausen, Patrolman Dampier.

Naples Airport @ Radio Road

2010-05-23T05:21:00.002-04:00

You can see the forestry fire tower off in the distance on Radio Road.

School Crossing On 2 Lane North 41

2010-05-13T06:32:00.005-04:00

Jeff, Vince & Linda Wood crossing Highway 41 @ 14th Avenue North (Pippins or Chris' Gourmet Castle) Sergeant Bob Dennis NPD stopping traffic.
Photo probably taken in 1964

3rd Street South

2010-05-08T18:22:00.002-04:00

Courtesy David Sorokoty

Omah Clark's Bar

2010-05-08T17:38:00.006-04:00

Don't drink but if you do buy it here! Great slogan for those days & probably for these days too :) This bar sat on the southwest corner of 41 & 4th Avenue South. As you can see from the top picture it sat right in Nicks Liquor's driveway. From the looks of the bottom picture any moment all hell could break loose. Always have to be careful with rowdy people in business suits...

Chamber Of Commerce

2010-05-06T06:19:00.002-04:00

1952 Naples Police Department

2010-05-04T05:56:00.001-04:00

South 10th Street, 4 Corners & Beyond

2010-05-02T11:28:00.006-04:00

Lake Park Area From Goodlette Road

2010-04-29T15:07:00.004-04:00

In this photo the old Lake Park Elementary School, Goodlette Road newly paved, the railroad tracks along Goodlette, the rear of Chris' Gourmet Castle.
Also the empty field between Royal Castle & Chris' Gourmet Castle.
Retouched repost photo taken August 16th 1968.
Courtesy of the Les Whitaker Jr. family.

The Beach Store

2010-04-26T07:45:00.010-04:00

I believe this was toward the end of the Beach Store & the beginning of the change of 50's, 60's & 70's Naples. Odd things that slip your mind the city's fiberglass garbage cans & the old telephone booth...

Photo's taken June 1974 courtesy Howard Green

Jim B thank you for your comments, it truly makes this worth doing! BH

Port Royal, Naples Bay & Beyond

2010-04-25T11:01:00.002-04:00

Some Naples 60's & 70's Era Characters

2010-04-23T14:56:00.014-04:00

A good number of these people have passed away & when my mind wanders back then it gets pretty sad. This is my little tribute to some these guys. If you lived here back then you probably knew some of them.

1st photo: Brent Collins & Johnny Frye
2nd photo: Jeff Barber & Roger Morris
3rd photo: Dab Barber
4th photo: Dave Clements
5th photo: Brad Macintire & Danny Farmer
6th photo: Brookside Homeboy

Note to readers please pay attention, the 3 words "A GOOD NUMBER" of these people have passed away. Please don't panic & think you might have died. If that was true you wouldn't be reading this because I Brookside Homeboy am still among the living. :)

My favorite Jeff Barber story is he would stand on the pier & tell tourists that the pier was there to separate the salt water side from the fresh water side. You could catch fresh water fish on one side & salt water fish from the the other side. :)

Photo's #1-5 Courtesy Kathy Keely Smith
Photo #6 Courtesy Howard Green

4th Avenue North & 41

2010-04-23T06:47:00.008-04:00

Interesting in this photo Thunderbird Motel, the Esso Gas Station, Tropics Drive-In & Dairy Queen which believe it or not is still there. Also in this photo Mr. Donut, Barley's Paint Store, OK Tire Store & Pittman Funeral Home.
Courtesy the Les Whitaker Jr. family.
Retouched photo taken August 16th 1968

Naples Bay & The Fish House

2010-04-19T07:18:00.012-04:00

Interesting in this photo Central Mall (before Bayfront) under construction & Naples Redi-Mix concrete plant ran by "Redi-Mix Richie" Yannaco.

Central Avenue & North 41

2010-04-15T17:37:00.009-04:00

Central Avenue & 41

2010-04-12T06:31:00.003-04:00

Interesting photo mostly because its the only one I can find that has the Anchor Lounge in it. Also Seashell Motel, Howard Johnson's (got his ho-jo workin') a good chunk of Naples Junior High even the new Naples Daily News building although it might have been the Collier County News at that time who knows?

Bob DeVille The 1st Publix Manager At Store #76

2010-04-08T14:10:00.008-04:00

Publix had 35 stores (only in FL) when Bob started in 1956. (Now....to the credit of many Neapolitans...there are 1,014 Publix supermarkets in: Florida - 729, Georgia - 177, South Carolina - 42, Alabama - 39 & Tennessee - 27.)
Made manager in 1959 (age 25).......came to Naples when store opened in 1962. He requested moving due to the Everglades and hunting & fishing. First Naples visit was on a Sunday.......deadsville with only Four Corner's gas station and Fifth AV Rexall open. Realtor Chuck Grimm showed the family Naples........and horrors!.....lots were selling for the outrageously high price of $55,000 in Port Royal. One could buy an average home for that much! heh-heh. Store #76 was often called 'the tail end" but became the Number ONE volume store in the chain. Winter season was horrendous but the crew was FANTASTIC. The stock men, part-timers and cashiers (Betty Harris, Lorene Adams, Peggy Wall, Ann Colwell, Alice Gilley, Lois Benfield, Bea Herbert, Mildred Salter, and others) weathered it all year after year. Bob always thought he had the FINEST team including great assistant managers. He worked 27 years and has been retired 27 years. Bob worked and loved Publix (being accused of having 'green blood' (Publix color). Bob knew the Jenkins, Blanton’s and founders of Pubix as it was a 'family geared' company. He purchased stock and badgered.......truly badgered employees to do the same. He has been happy to see it benefited many. Having about 50 teenagers working for him at almost any given time has made him know many Neapolitans and their families. He was able to see immature boys develop into successful, responsible adult men. His own three sons (Ken, Phil, & Troy) and three daughters (Robyn, Monica, & Colette) worked at Publix 76 in their youth and it is still in the family with the third generation there. A daughter married a son of a Publix manager. Retirement came in 1983 when he was 48 years old and there were 285 stores. At age 76, Bob is still the staunchest admirer of Publix. It is still his “bread and butter”. Bob delights and is encouraged seeing employees at many Publix stores showing signs of the potential he saw in the young ones that called Publix their first job. Publix let him enjoy 22 consecutive summers driving from Naples to Alaska for fishing and having a tractor to play on in North Florida. Naples is and will remain his home and Publix………and those that have helped make it grow, will be forever in his heart.

Goodlette Road Post Office (under construction)

2010-04-07T06:37:00.002-04:00

Grace Lake Florist & Zita Inc.

2010-04-05T06:26:00.007-04:00

This building is now occupied by Tommy Bahama's on 3rd Street & 12th Ave South.
Grace Lake Florist
1244 3rd Street South
Phone # MIdway 2-2752

Piccadilly Pub & Menu

2010-04-01T16:18:00.009-04:00

Piccadilly Pub
625 5th Avenue South
Phone # Midway 2-5940
Menu courtesy of Kevin Ginos

The Batcher Family Do The Parade

2010-03-30T19:09:00.015-04:00

In photo left to right Jodi Batcher, Ruth Batcher, Georgette Shepard, Virgil Batcher, lady handing trophy Grandma Batcher and Vickijo Batcher 1968-69 Swamp Buggy Queen. Photo taken in 1968 at Cambier Park.

Swamp Buggy Guys

2010-03-26T07:00:00.012-04:00

Left to right: Paul Frank, Henry Espenlaub, Ed Frank & Roy W. Smith. History tells me the Frank brothers invented the swamp buggy. According to bogus Leonard Chesser #2 it was Tommy Burke from Kittle Pontiac so I'll let you decide. :) See bogus Leonard Chesser #2 video link here:
http://tinyurl.com/ykx46m6
Golf Course Homeboy brought me a T shirt with this image on it & I've seen this photo for years. So here it is one more time for posterity...
PS: Also Roy W. Smith was Naples longest serving mayor from 1946 to 1960.

Naples Depot

2010-03-25T06:32:00.001-04:00

Naples Bay

2010-03-22T16:27:00.002-04:00

More Naples Community Hospital

2010-03-18T07:18:00.002-04:00

Naples Community Hospital

2010-03-17T05:49:00.003-04:00

At 4th Avenue North between 7th & 8th Street North

Marco Residents Beach

2010-03-15T06:12:00.002-04:00

Aubrey Rogers And Doug Hendry

2010-03-11T11:32:00.003-05:00

Photo of the 1949 Fort Myers Police Department front row kneeling left is Aubrey Rogers front row kneeling right Doug Hendry.

River Park

2010-03-10T08:02:00.002-05:00

The King Of The Swamps Retires Today!

2010-03-07T08:58:00.005-05:00

Leonard turns in his alligator shoes!
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/mar/06/photos-swamp-buggies-leonard-chesser-godfather-bug/

The Original World Famous Mile O' Mud

2010-03-02T16:41:00.007-05:00

In 1979 I walked into a TV/stereo store in Pasadena California. As I walked toward the TV section there was a large gathering of people huddled around a TV set. At 1st I thought it must be football as I got closer I could hear them talking. It went like this, what are those things & where is that at in the bayou's of Louisiana? I started laughing as I peeked over their shoulders it was the Swamp Buggy Races from Naples. I walked away smiling thinking about Naples & how wild & fun I remembered it being. It still cracks me up when I think about it...
PS: Also in the photo the stock car track with the motocross track dirt overlay.
Map link to former location.
http://tinyurl.com/ygntfy8
Photo taken February 2nd 1975

My Name Is Leonard Chesser!

2010-02-27T14:17:00.012-05:00

I've been holding onto this until now, today is Leonard's 70th birthday & this is his birthday present (he didn't even have a copy until now). You should know who Leonard # 1 is, # 2 is Bill Sanderson better known to many as Larry from the Newhart Show. Where's his brother Daryl & his other brother Daryl when you need them? And # 3 is Leonard his BAD self! This is the coolest piece of Collierbilia I've come across so far it just doesn't get much better than this!

Thanks to GC Homeboy & his LW & DWS for tech assistance.

If video disappears you can view it at the Real Naples Channel too!
http://www.youtube.com/user/therealnaples

East Trail & Kelly Road

2010-02-23T06:05:00.001-05:00

The Old Baroni House

2010-02-18T17:03:00.006-05:00

A photo of them removing the old Baroni house which sat off to the right & rear of the restaurant (now known as St George & the Dragon, you can see the restaurant to the left). I believe the Baroni's actually lived there at one time & later used it as the kitchen.

Photo taken March 1966

Reminder the ultimate in 70's Naples video coming up at the end of the month!

Collier County Sheriff's #2 #3 & #4

2010-02-15T07:14:00.015-05:00

Above you'll see a photo of Collier County Sheriff Louis Thorpe, deputy Roy Atkins & & young new deputy Doug Hendry. Collier County's 1st sheriff was W R Maynard, the 2nd was Thorpe that died of a heart attack at age 59. Atkins was his under deputy & took over command & served out his term. I believe he ran against Doug Hendry the 1st time & beat him by seven votes. Doug ran again & won & I can kind of grasp the story from that point on. The second scan is Doug's honorable discharge papers. And here's a totally unknown fact to me on line 33 are his WWII decorations & citations. He served in Normandy & received 5 Bronze Stars & a Purple Heart for his time served there. Doug kicked some serious butt way before becoming sheriff that wasn't a projected image he was the real deal. Thanks for all you did EA!
Again thanks to Doug Hendry Jr. & Golf Course Homeboy
PS: Watch this blog toward the end of the month I've got the COOLEST piece of Collierbilia that I've come across so far! It's over the top!

Collier County Sheriff EA Doug Hendry

2010-02-10T10:27:00.009-05:00

Growing up in Naples in the 60's & 70's if there was one person that loomed larger than life it was EA Doug Hendry. To begin with the EA stood for Eldridge Albert a little known fact I always wondered about but never knew.I recently was lent his personal files and got to browse through them & am overwhelmed by the magnitude of this man. These 2 military photos are taken from those files & give a little glimpse into his life before policing Collier County. I guess what sticks out in my mind would be him at the Swamp Buggy races in his sheriff's shirt, blue jeans & cowboy boots. Not to mention him starting the races by firing his pistol (loaded with live rounds) in the air. If I didn't know better I would have to say that its all some kind of weird dream. In this day & age it really doesn't seem like it could have ever happened...
Also in these photo's are Doug's military dog tag.
Thanks to Doug Hendry Jr. & Golf Course Homeboy

The Sub At The Pier!

2010-02-02T19:31:00.016-05:00

I remember going down through this rusted, floating washing machine thinking who in their right mind could spend much time in here. It was like crawling through a drain pipe in those Draino commercials. I'm thinking this must have been around 1968 but I really can't pin down the year. The city cut out the handrails & built a set of enter/exit steps that creaked & shifted with the waves. Back then it was right up there with being the "Wonderful Neighbor On The Gulf" for a day, the town was really BIG TIME now! Doug Hendry did the Timex commercial with John Cameron Swayze, we didn't need no stinkin' moonwalk, didn't care if John Lennon thought the Beatles were bigger than Jesus, we had a sub at the end of the pier! Shiver Me Timbers Matey! ARGHHH!
Reference Bored update: There were 2 subs at the pier at different times. One was the USS Marlin & the other was the USS Mackerel. Here's the Wiki link to the Mackerel which I believe is the one in the photo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Mackerel_%28SST-1%29
Thanks Golf Course Homeboy

The Old Dock On Naples Bay

2010-02-01T11:07:00.003-05:00

I'm shooting in the dark here because it was a little before my time but you can see the water tower down by the pier off in the distance. I'll scoot down to the shuffle board courts & try to get the dirt on this photo.

PS: This is Crayton Cove I've seen it in history books.

The Naples Pier

2010-01-31T10:37:00.001-05:00

Before the DC-3s . . .

2010-01-30T12:16:00.009-05:00

. . . Lockheed, Beechcraft or Grumman ?

In the early days, Naples Airlines operated as Provincetown-Boston (hence PBA) and were not even in Naples during the off season.

The "official" tourist season (Apr15 through Dec 15) began after the "snowbirds" had recovered from Thanksgiving "up north".

PBA operated in the (you guessed it) New England area including Boston (Logan airport pictured), and serviced folks at Provincetown, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and the surrounding area.

In the fall, the planes (there were 2, I think) would make the trip south where they became the link between Naples and the larger commercial carriers in Tampa and Miami. There were just a couple of round-trip flights per day in the morning and afternoon. One plane did the Tampa loop and the other did Miami. We used to wave at the Tampa guys whilst playing sand-lot football out in Seagate.

This question may have already been answered, but my memory has gaps . . .

. . . is this airplane a Lockheed, Beechcraft or Grumman, and did these planes become the first "mosquito bombers" upon the arrival of the DC-3's?

Seagate Homeboy
NHS Class of '67

10:23 a.m. PST

Photo credit: Bill Armstrong at Airliners.net

The Viking Tavern . . .

2010-01-28T10:59:00.004-05:00

This ought to bring back a few memories . . .

Like some of my other T-shirt pictures, if this one shows up elsewhere on the Internet I know where you got it ! (Granted it's public domain, but . . .)

SH

Did someone say Jr. Deputy ?

2010-01-26T02:33:00.008-05:00

. . .1961 I think . . .

NPD in the early 60's

2010-01-24T11:05:00.010-05:00

OK Kiddies, lets see if you can name the ones I missed . . .

l/r, Chief Sam Bass, Jack Bliss, Barrie Kee, Fire Chief "Pearlie" Riner, blank, blank, Richard Davidson, Ken Mulling, blank, Ed Jones, Mrs. Holzhausen?, blank, Nick Trifiletti, Det. Mike Grimm, Dave Dampier, Det. Gary Young, C.H. Dasher. (Where's Sgt. Spohn?).

This was back in the day when juveniles who got "out of line" risked a visit to Judge Stanley.

Please no derogatory remarks as I will delete them.

SH

Bay Terrace Condo & Naples Bay 1969

2010-01-22T07:42:00.002-05:00

Bindle Stiff Bartenders

2010-01-21T10:54:00.008-05:00

This was taken reasonably early on a Sunday morning in the mid 70's, in front of Wally Green's house. We were undoubtedly planning the course for the day. "Waddayawanna do?" "I don't know Whadda you wannado?" "I guess we could have a beer and think about it . . . ."

Seagate Homeboy and Neill Davis (R.I.P.), the hood ornament is my dog "Boo".

Jungle Larry & Safari Jane

2010-01-20T06:34:00.009-05:00

OK I've lived here for going on 50 years & really have/had no idea what these 2 actually did/do. I've never been to Jungle Larry's & am still bothered by the toucan sign on 41 being torn down. I'm not taking away anything from them because I look at this way they have given the rest of us the right (or nerve) to walk around with cool clothes...
I guess the people all over Ohio walk around lookin' pretty snappy too.
It's kinda like Batman or Superman (for their fashion sense) livin' in your hood.

West Gordon River Bridge & Naples Bay

2010-01-16T06:51:00.010-05:00

Interesting in this photo (at least to me) is the Direct gas station & you ask why Homeboy is that interesting? Before it was built walking home at night was a truly dark, creepy experience. After it was built it was a little like a Disney World trip with a megaton of light, a snack & soda machine. In 60's Naples it really didn't take much for a "We have arrived" next stop, New York type head trip. But in retrospect look at where that has got this pretty little town now. If you ever walked home on the east trail you'll probably remember these HUGE (like maybe 6 inches long) cockroach looking, it came from outer space, bugs. They were attracted to the lights on the bridges. They would always be all over the sidewalk & street making this god awful, death screeching, wing flapping noise. Similar to local politicians these days when you say your sick of more new taxes...

PS: A little shout out to my friend Brent Collins he worked at that gas station wherever you are my friend here's to you!

Photo taken August 18th 1968
Courtesy of the Les Whitaker Jr. family.

Golden Gate City Of The Future?

2010-01-12T07:34:00.003-05:00

And to think back then I thought Brookside was considered the outskirts of town.

Driving In From The East

2010-01-11T07:18:00.002-05:00

Lake Park Homegirl's Blog

2010-01-10T21:15:00.004-05:00

Tara is a long time resident/friend/contributor to the comments on this blog & always leaves me laughing. I'm plugging her little blog because I find it funny & because I want to....

http://www.naplesnews.com/blogs/stuff-fell-out-while-i-was-thinking-tara-linn/2010/jan/10/humor/

Tropics Drive In & 41 Construction

2010-01-08T18:34:00.007-05:00

This is for all the followers of the Facebook page "Naples - BEFORE everyone ELSE moved here" check it out if you're on Facebook!

PS: Could they be digging for Mrs. Waples killer?

Lowdermilk Park Lifeguard

2010-01-07T10:33:00.001-05:00

David Frank lifeguard.

Typical 70's Afternoon Showers

2010-01-05T07:47:00.007-05:00

4 Corners
4 Corners from 10th Street
Central Avenue & 41
8th Street @ Police Station

Lowdermilk Park Lake Before It Went High Falutin'

2010-01-04T18:33:00.001-05:00

Carter Miller Band & Inside Andy's Steakhouse

2010-01-03T08:03:00.009-05:00

I have a ton of Andy's Steakhouse stories but must be having writers block or something. As time goes by I plan on filling in some missing stories on this blog.
Bottom picture Carter Miller @ Andy's with Spicer sitting in, space looking head is yours truly & to the right Dick Moreland & Greg Whitaker.

Top scan Carter Miller's 45 released when they played @ Andy's.

PS: The only thing I crawl to is the coffee maker in the morning.

Some Elwood Starn Trivia

2010-01-01T17:22:00.021-05:00

The 65 foot Elwood Starn was named for a real captain who sailed for Starn fleet of tour/fishing boats based out of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The patriarch of that family (back in the 1930’s through 1969) was Capt. Clarence Starn, who was well known for his seamanship and even more so for his business prowess. Elwood Starn was Captain and master of the motor vessel “Malabar” in the mid-1940s.

Did you ever notice for the first few years, the Starn would go missing from Naples in the summer months? That’s because she motored north for the “$ummer $eason” in Atlantic City, NJ. She would return to Naples prior to “Tourist $eason” with a fresh coat of paint and any refitting complete. It was always cool to see her moored there for the first time each year. It just felt right.

I went to high school with the step-son of the then current skipper “Capt. Frank” (Diebold?). Anyway . . . his step-son was a pal of mine and a star player on the NHS basketball team; I will refer to him simply as “Batman”.

Capt. Frank had a new ’65 or ’66 Cadillac 2-door Coupe De Ville, BLACK, long, and low; we called it “The Batmobile”.

Batman, being a good kid, and the “star athlete” he was, had the Batmobile at his disposal nightly. The Captain Starn had a huge cooler that was stocked with sodas and beer daily . . . We were 16-17 year old kids . . . we had no interest in the sodas.

In the middle of the night (for us, in the mid-60's, that was after 8 p.m.), we would stealthily arrive dockside in the “Batmobile” and off-load the remaining ice cold beer. The cops knew the car belonged to Capt. Frank and never bothered to check why the car was parked down by the boat at night. Sometimes we would just sit there and drink until the beer was gone, sometimes we would cruise in the “Batmobile” doing our 60's version of “low-riding”.

The important point here is “free beer".

Thank you Capt. Starn; thank you Capt. Frank; thanks "Batman".

Before Tin City & The Capt Elwood Starn

2009-12-31T07:08:00.004-05:00

Naples Bay off the west Gordon River Bridge.

NO! Not More Pre High Falutin' Royal Harbor!

2009-12-28T17:57:00.003-05:00

Note to H.Daniels you were wrong, Brookside candyasses would never go into Boat Haven's yard while police were there. We were too busy drinking the free beer we got off the boats the night before. :):):)
Photo taken January 22nd 1963

North Gulfshore Blvd @ Doctor's Pass

2009-12-26T16:40:00.005-05:00

For the unknowing that's Harbor Drive Bridge in the photo.
Photo taken September 17th 1968
Courtesy the Les Whitaker Jr. Family

Doctor's Pass Area

2009-12-24T10:27:00.004-05:00

Just an incredible shot of the pass taken overlooking North 41 around the Red Lobster, Harold's Place section of the Trail. Bow Line Drive is the last developed street in the photo.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE Neapolitans!

Royal Harbor Before High Falutin' Set In

2009-12-21T08:26:00.006-05:00

By far my favorite comment to date! BH

The Bridge On Galleon Drive & Lantern Lake

2009-12-20T07:58:00.004-05:00

Also a good shot of Hurricane Park the large empty lot on the west side of Gordon Drive. A good place to ride dirt bikes or anything else that might come to mind.

United Telephone Company

2009-12-16T07:22:00.003-05:00

This is the one I'm most familiar with it had a good shade break (concrete bench & table) to sit under on the way to the Beach Store. It started out with out of state phone books & a concrete table but over time they both disappeared. A good place to spend Sunday being the whole town shut down & it was on the loop Chris Gourmet Castle & a spin around the pier. It had everything a mooching teenager could ask for even a stop light so your victims couldn't escape you bumming a ride at the stop light. I think the Beach Store would open around 11 or 12 in the morning on Sundays?

Inter County Telephone & Telegraph On 5th Ave South

2009-12-14T06:59:00.001-05:00

Let Me Up! I've Had Enough 3rd Street!

2009-12-11T07:11:00.002-05:00

NO WAY! Not Another 3rd Street Picture!

2009-12-10T05:55:00.001-05:00

3rd Street One More Time!

2009-12-08T05:00:00.004-05:00

Yep, it's a different picture!

3rd Street South @ 13th Avenue South

2009-12-06T06:58:00.003-05:00

Fun stuff going on in this photo EVEN Cook's Laundromat!

Gerry Johnson AKA Scorpio By The Pier

2009-12-02T07:18:00.010-05:00

Gerry Johnson

Naples, FL

Gerry Johnson, 65, a longtime Naples resident and Naples Daily News institution, died November 29, 2009, at his home in Old Naples.

Friends and family will remember the 27 year newspaper librarian as a man who knew something about everything - and if he didn’t, he knew where to go to find it out.

Gerry was born November 8, 1944 in Middlesboro, KY. He grew up in New Jersey and came to Naples with his family as a teen-ager. He spent many days fishing at the Naples Pier. He graduated from Naples High School in 1963.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Florida, spending his junior year studying at the University of Hawaii.

Gerry was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Bamburg, Germany. To his dismay, he worked as a cook despite the Army having trained him to drive heavy equipment.

During his time on leave, Gerry traveled across Europe and to South America and Mexico. After his stint in the Army, he attended Florida State University and earned Master’s degrees in urban/regional planning and in library sciences.

He worked for a time in the 1970s at the University of South Florida marine research laboratory in St. Petersburg. Upon returning to Naples, he worked briefly for the City of Naples before becoming the Naples Daily News librarian in 1980.

In that role, he catalogued thousands of newspaper clippings and historical photographs that became an invaluable resource not only for reporters and editors but community history lovers and authors.

Gerry also wrote a popular Naples Daily News column about astronomy, one of his many interests, along with history, music and film noir.

He retired from the Naples Daily News in 2007, but his archival impulse did not let up. He kept two iPods and computers loaded with old country and blues music and stored personal interviews with Naples historical figures on audiotape.

Gerry was preceded in death by his mother, Frances Johnson; and father, Bertram Johnson.

He is survived by his brothers, Barry of Naples, and Richard of Tallahassee.

A celebration of Gerry’s life will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, December 5th at Naples Funeral Home, 3107 Davis Blvd., Naples.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gerry’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Please sign guestbook naplesnews.com/obits

The Pier Area

2009-11-26T06:27:00.003-05:00

Its almost hard to remember this area with vacant land especially the lot to the right of the pier with the Australian pines.

Photo taken August 16th 1968
Courtesy of the Les Whitaker Jr. family.

PS: Happy Thanksgiving!

Margaret "Peggy" Wall

2009-11-25T07:53:00.003-05:00

July 6th 1929 - November 21st 2009

Naples Shopping Plaza

2009-11-24T17:16:00.004-05:00

Who didn't know about this place? I remember Liggetts getting robbed in the middle of the night probably in the late 60's. They tried to get the safe open & couldn't & drug it almost all the way out to the highway. It left ruts carved in the pavement almost all the way out by the sidewalk & then loaded it up & took it with them, I don't believe they were ever caught. At one time there was a game machine in front of the drugstore & Publix bag boys would always be playing it without spending any money. You could put a pop bottle under one side & play for free all night. I always thought those bag boys were geniuses for figuring out how to stick it to the man.....

PS: Looks like the picture must have been taken around Christmas time judging by the decorations.

Open Hearth and Friends . . .

2009-11-21T15:39:00.012-05:00

Before the north wall was removed and the lighted "disco" dance floor was installed, it was "Nick's Domino Club", before that it was "The Port Hole" with an 8 foot round window facing the Tamiami Trail, but around 1970 it became the:

These are T-shirt captures

Cameron played so many gigs there in the early 70's they almost became family. Lane Cameron now has a recording studio in Reno.

(Big Daddy's reference has been removed)

Save the turtles

2009-11-16T21:26:00.010-05:00

Not too long ago someone said it would be cool if there was a posting about the "turtle tanks" at Boat Haven.

Well, here ya go . . . complete with a little "lift" from "DuBroy Setptic Tank company" and Captain Cecil Lamb passing by in the background aboard his tarpon-fishing boat "Silver King".

This is in the early 60's, before roofs were added over the tanks. The gas docks are located behind the crane, and the Boat Haven building is in the left background.

City Dock (part deux)

2009-11-12T10:19:00.009-05:00

This was taken in the late 60’s from a Cove Inn balcony. Two small structures are the Dock Master’s “office” on the right and bathrooms on the left. The flat-roof houseboat is tied up at the site of the future gas dock. The long low white roof covering the boat slips was removed a few years later to accommodate taller boats and as a maintenance issue; the roof over the slips on the right war later removed as well. Royal Harbor is visible on the far side of Naples Bay.