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.

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.

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 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.