Aubrey Rogers And Doug Hendry

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

River Park

The King Of The Swamps Retires Today!

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

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!

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

The Old Baroni House

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

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

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!

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

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

Before the DC-3s . . .

. . . 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 . . .

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 ?

. . .1961 I think . . .

NPD in the early 60's

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

Bindle Stiff Bartenders

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

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

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?

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

Driving In From The East

Lake Park Homegirl's Blog

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

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

David Frank lifeguard.

Typical 70's Afternoon Showers

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

Lowdermilk Park Lake Before It Went High Falutin'

Carter Miller Band & Inside Andy's Steakhouse

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

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

Naples Bay off the west Gordon River Bridge.

NO! Not More Pre High Falutin' Royal Harbor!

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

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

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

By far my favorite comment to date! BH

The Bridge On Galleon Drive & Lantern Lake

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

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

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

NO WAY! Not Another 3rd Street Picture!

3rd Street One More Time!

Yep, it's a different picture!

3rd Street South @ 13th Avenue South

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

Gerry Johnson AKA Scorpio By The Pier

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