How long is fort myers beach

Return to the time when pirates buried treasure, Spaniards built forts, Indians hunted on the Beach, homesteaders staked their claims, shrimpers netted pink gold, a hurricane severed a land connection and mosquito hordes clouded the air.

The last homesteader staked his claim in Estero Island in Leroy Lemoreaux cleared his land and survived by growing vegetables and fishing. Lemoreaux remembered bears stalking the island and panthers howling in the night. Those were the days before bridge linked the island to the mainland of Fort Myers area.

A wooden swing toll bridge was the first bridge built in The toll was 50 cents for five people. The hurricane washed it away and severed the slim neck of land attaching San Carlos to the mainland making it and island. After a defeat by the U.

Navy, Black Augustus took his loot and settled on the island. The family of John Butterfield squatted on Mound Key in Estero Bay during that time and provisioned the aging pirate with sugar, coffee, grits and other luxuries in exchange for vegetables.

When the pirate died, he showed the family where to dig up his booty. Perhaps more treasure is hidden along the shores. Rumors persist that pirates used to sink long boats laden with treasure to later recover. Juan Ponce de Leon may have sailed waters around Estero Island about Hernando de Soto may have also dropped anchor in front of Estero Island in Relics of skulls and other artifacts found on Mound Key suggest that Spanish conquistadors may have passed through the Beach and perhaps built a fort on the hill on Mound Key.

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