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Stone Block Building, Fort Myers

Stone Block Building

Stone Block Building

Stone Block Building

Stone Block Building

Stone Block Building
This building is located at the corner of First Street and Hendry St, Fort Myers. It was built in 1905 by Dr. Benjamin Matheson. It was the home of the First National Bank and the Leon Hotel. The structure was constructed of pressed concrete blocks.
In 1912, Peter Tonnelier purchased the building. He remodeled the structure to include Mediterranean, Egyptian, and Moroccan motifs.
This building is one of the structures that surround the area known as Patio de leon.
Currently, the building now houses retail and apartments


Richards Building

Richard Building

Richard Building
This building is located at 1615 Hendry Street Fort Myers. This was originally known as the Phythian Building. It was built for Albertus A. Bertie Gardner in 1924. It was a four story Italianate Style Structure. It was the first building in Fort Myers with an elevater.
It was purchased in 1945 by R.Q. Richards. It was renamed the Richards Building.
It is currently operates as rental property.
Robb and Stucky Building

Robb and Stucky Building
This building is located at 1625 Hendry Street. Virgil Robb and W.R. Lee opened a general merchandise store in Fort Myers in 1915. They were later joined by Harry Stucky. Lee left the company in 1925.
The store was moved into a four story brick building at 1625 Hendry Street. The building had showrooms and a warehouse. The company grew and expanded. They moved out of the Hendry Street Building in the 1960’s.
The company filed for bankruptcy in 2011. In the same year, the family of Samuel Kuo purchased the brand and intellectual properties. The new first showroom opened in 2012. The company grew and flourished.
The old Robb and Stucky Building currently operates as rental property.

Robb and Stucky
Heitman Evans Building, Fort Myers
The Heitman Evans Building is located at 2235 First Street, Fort Myers. In the early 1900’s, Harvie Heitman convinced Edward Evans (a former mayor of Fort Myers) to join him in creation of the Heitman Evans Company. This was to be a hardware and sporting goods store. Evans was to be the manager; Heitman the silent partner. Heitman demolished the Blount General store at this site. He constructed a new building. It was two stories. It was a brick structure measuring 60 × 150 feet. The building was orange in color. It had 12 inch thick walls. It featured an Otis elevator. The ground level was a hardware store. The second level was for the display of farm implements. Construction costs were $20,000.
His goal was to build the most modern hardware store in America. Mr. Evans managed the story for 20 years. Gilmer Heitman served as president. The business closed in the 1940’s.
The building is now a rental facility for lawyers and other professionals.

Heitman-Evans Building

Heitman-Evans Building

Heitman–Evans Building
Earnhardt Building, Fort Myers


Earnhardt Building

Earnhardt Building

Earnhardt Building
In April, 1914 Harvie Heitman contracted with a crew to tear down a livery stable and old frame buildings on the south side of First Street between the First National Bank Building and the Langford Block. This was for his new enterprise to be called the Earnhardt Building.
His plans for the project were promptly approved for a two story 193 foot long brick building with 33,000 square feet of space.
The Earnhardt Building was a distinctive structure with an external wall of cream pressed brick with white tile and terracotta trim. There were decorative cornices. There were 35 offices on the second floor. There was space for 8 stores on the ground floor.
The building was completed in February, 1915. It was alleged at the time that it had the only public restroom in Fort Myers with hot and cold water.
The first tenant renting in the building was McCrory Five and Dime Store. It was at this location for 75 years. Another renter was the law office of Shepard and Woolshair. They rented from 1945 to 1968.
The building was extensively remodeled by Dominick Goertz in the early 2000’s. There were then 15 loft apartments, office rental space and street level restaurants.
At the present time, there are multiple condo apartments.
Bradford Hotel, Fort Myers

Former Bradford Hotel

Bradford Hotel

Former Bradford Hotel

Former Bradford Hotel

Former Bradford Hotel

This building at 2247 First Street, Fort Myers was the former Bradford Hotel. It opened in 1905. The building was designed by Harvie Heitman. Tootie McGregor provided the financing. The Hotel was named after her son. Contractor was Manuel Gonzales
The Bradford was managed by Charles Day.
The Bradford originally had 41 rooms. 5 years after the opening, an annex was added.
There was steam heat, electric lights, private baths, and carpeted halls. There was a large dining room on the second floor.
The building was constructed of 100,000 Chattanooga pressed bricks. There was a rounded corners entrance. There were arched windows and doors frames. There was a veranda around the building fronts on the second floor. The interior was lathe and plaster with native woodwork.
There were 4 store spaces on the first floor. They measured 25 × 65 feet. They had plate glass fronts.
In October, 1924, J.R. Randell became the new proprietor of the Bradford with a long lease. In 1979, it was sold to Bill Smith, Inc. by one of the Heitman daughters
Roy Bently and Russ Staley made improvements in the building from 1983 to 1985. The building is now known as the Bradford Apartment.
The first Floor has been occupied by the Florida Gulf Bank and later the Iberia Bank.
Riverfront Warehouse, Fort Myers

The Firestone

The Firestone

The Firestone
his four story warehouse at 2224 Bay Street, Fort, Myers was built in 1925. For several years, it was used as a fish processing facility. During the Depression, the building was abandoned.
It was used in 1946 by the Dew Drop Inn. Over the years, it has by used by multiple dining and entertainment operations.

The Firestone

The Firestone
Fort Myers Yacht Basin






Former U.S. Post Office, Fort Myers; Now the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center

Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center
The site of the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center Art 2301 First Street Fort Myers has significant historical importance. Hundred of years ago, it was the site of a Native American Calusa Settlement. In the mid 1980’s, it was the site of Fort Myers.
In 1933, a 23,000 square foot post office was built at this site. The architect was Nat Gaillard Walker. The style was Neoclassical. The structure and the ionic columns were built of concrete and steel. They were faced with coquina rock ( coral formations, sea shells and limestone quarried in Key West. Construction costs were $200,000.
In 1960, the building usage was converted to a federal courthouse. It housed government offices.
In 1998, the building was vacated. A new nearby courthouse had been built. Unfortunately, the old courthouse building has deteriorated significantly due to water damage, wear and tear and skipped maintainance. Original fixtures were stolen or destroyed.
In the year 2000, the city of Fort Myers purchased the building from the federal government for $185,000. In the year 2003, the city leased the building to Florida Arts with the proviso that they restore the building and convert it to a cultural art center.

Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center












