Posted 12/22/2018

     Recently, the Chicago Planning Commission approved a 69 million dollar proposed renovation of the Congress Theater building.  The only step needed in the process is Chicago City Council approval.  Tentative start date will be in 2019.  

     Developer Michael Moyer is slated to receive 9.65 million dollars in TIF funds.

     The proposal included the following:  creation of 14 apartments and a 50 room in the theater building; construction of a 7 story building in a nearby parking lot.  This building will have  retail space and 72 residences.  Moyer plans to resume concerts in the 4,900 seats theater.

This house is currently located at the corner of First and Hough Streets, Fort Myers. It was moved from its original location at Fowler Street and First Street.It was built in 1919 for Walter Langford.  He was a banker and a rr impressario.  The architect was Francis Kennard.    Langford died in 1920.

In 1923, the property was purchased by George Kingston, an inventor ( Kingston carburetor). It was owned by the Kingston family until 1953.

The property was sold to the First United Methodist Church. The church used the property until 2001. In that year, the church donated the property to the City of Fort Myers. In 2003, the building was moved across the street.

The house is Prairie Style. It is 5,232 square feet. It features two large entrance porticos. It has a wrap around veranda. The roof was changed from clay tile to shingles.

Burroughs Home Back Yard

Front Staircase

View from Front Room

Back Staircase

Burroughs Home view from back yard

Back Yard Grotto Burroughs Home

The history of the Burroughs Home located at 2505 First Street in Fort Myers begins in 1899. John T. Murphy, a Monana cattleman, visited Fort Myers for his business. He liked the area. He purchased 450 feet of waterfront property on the Caloosahatchee River.

In 1901, Murphy contracted to build a 2 and one half story home on the site. The style was Georgian Colonial Revival Style. The architect was George Barber. He was a kit and catalogue house architect. The house was delivered in 137 crates for installation.

The house has 11 foot ceilings, pine floors, oak fire places, and a winding grand staircase. It featured indoor plumbing and electricity. The second floor has four bedrooms, and two full baths. The third floor has three bedroom and one large bathroom.

The garden has a fountain, a grotto, a gazebo, tennis courts, and reflecting pool.

     Mr. Murphy died in 1914.  His wife Cora never returned to Florida.  She sold the house and property for one dollar to a banker Walter Langford.  He turned the property over and sold it to Howard Cole of New York.  He purchased it for his fiance.  Apparently, she was less than enthused with the house.  The property was then sold to Nelson and Adeline Burroughs in 1918.  The Burroughs both died in 1932.  Their two daughters both lived in the house.  Jettie died in 1972; and Mona in 1978.  As a term of her will, Mona left the property to the City of Fort Myers.  It was to be used as a park, library of a museum.

     The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is currently under the management of Uncommon Friends Foundation.  The goals of this organization is character education, business ethics, and historic preservation.

     In 2015, the tennis courts were bulldozed.   On this site was built Gayle McBride Pavillion.  This was to be used for private and public events as a fundraiser.

     The Seaboard Airline Railroad came to Fort Myers in the 1920’s.   There was a station at the intersection of Palm Beach Drive and East Riverside Drive south of the Caloosahatchee River.

     It was Spanish Mission Style.  The architects were Wiley and Clark.  Construction costs were $75,000.  It was 200 feet long. The interior walls and ceiling were finished with mottled cream stucco.

     The station was abandoned when rail service was discontinued in the 1950’s.    Tracks were removed.  

     For a while, the building was used Reilly Brothers Construction.   Currently, the building is empty and surrounded by fencing.

Sannibel Bridge  and Causeway