The first Lee County Courthouse was built in 1894.  It was a two story wood building.   The structure was a compromise.

     The saga of the replacement of the wooden  building with a more ornate structure was the story of competing interests of Bill Towles (Chairman Court Board) and Harvie Heitman ( business entrepreneur).

     It was Mr. Towles goal to replace the wood courthouse with a more ornate brick and granite building. In 1914, he brought up the matter with the County Board. He orchestrated the approval of the measure.  An architect was hired and a construction contract was awarded for $74,900.

      Equally determined to derail this project was Harvie Heitman.  He successfully stopped the project with court injunctions twice. Each time the project was rebid, the cost was increased.     The final contract was awarded to F.P. Heiner of Atlanta.

     While Heitner’s agents were travelling once again to obtain yet another injunction, Bill Towles arranged for Heiner to begin the demolition project of the Old Courthouse.  This was essentially completed when Heitner’s agents returned to Fort Myers with another injunction. 

     The Old Lee County Courthouse is located on 2120 Main Street.  It was designed by Francis J. Kennard.  It was built in 1915.  The style was Neoclassical.   Its outside walls are brick and granite.  There are two porticoed Doric columns at the front entrance.  The lobby is constructed of marble and carved wood.

     By 1984, it was evident that the building was inadequate for the needs of the time.  The courts were moved to the new 5 story 32.5 million Lee County Justice Center.  The old courthouse stood empty for 4 years.

      Beginning in 1988 and lasting for one year,  the building was restored and renovated at a cost of $5 million dollars.

     The Old Courthouse currently provides offices for state house and senate members as well as Lee County Commissioners.  The court room is the meeting chamber for the County commissioners.

     On March 16, 1989, the Old Lee County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

     The Morgan Hotel was located at 1415 Dean Street, Fort Myers.  John Morgan Dean, a Rhode Island developer, converted the former wooden Sanchez Boarding House into the Morgan Hotel by wrapping it in concrete blocks. It opened in 1924.

     Morgan was given permission by the city to build Dean Street facing the hotel on one side.  The building had 62 rooms and 62 baths.  There were telephone booths in the lobby. There was a dining room on the roof and a solarium.  The main entrance was on First Street.   There was a railed railed front porch. 

     Hotel faced hard times in the 1930’s.    Name was changed to the Hotel Dean in 1970.   It closed in the 1970’s.  

     The building now features rental apartments.  Ford’s Garage Restaurant occupies the first floor.

Located at 2320 First Street. The building was originally the Old Hill House. Opened in 1889, it was operated as a boarding house by Mary Hill and her Daughter Flossie.

In 1918, the building was purchased by W.P. Franklin. He renovated the structure in a Mediterranean Style. He ran it as a hotel. Six years later he spent $3000,000 to build a 7 story addition. This made the building the tallest structure in Fort Myers. It featured a roof top garden and a restaurant.

Currently, the building operates as a renal apartment business.

This is located at 2132–2138 First Street, Fort Myers. It opened in 1927 as a five and dime store. It was built by Lucius Currian Cutright, Frank C. Alderman, and John Decin. Construction costs were $136,000.

     Recently, the Chicago Planning Commission Approved a 75 million project to rennovate the Uptown Theater.  Final approval is needed by the City Council before the project can start.

     Jam Productions and Farpoint Development plan to restore the Uptown Theater as a 4,831 movie movie and concert venue at 4816 N. Broadway.

     The joint venture will buy a 31,000 square foot parking lot near the theater at 1130 West Lawrence Avenue for one dollar from the city of Chicago.  

    Several sources of funding have been obtained including $13 million in TIF funding.

     The theater building has been closed since 1981.