First Presbyterian Church of Punta Gorda -- 130 Years Young

The First Presbyterian Church of Punta Gorda now sits on Airport Road across from the current location of the Masonic Lodge of Punta Gorda.  Ironically, it was in the original masonic hall in downtown Punta Gorda that the church was organized on October 13, 1895.  This year the congregation will celebrate its 130th anniversary.  

Construction of the first church building began in December of 1900 on Harvey Street across from where the City Hall now stands on land purchased from Isaac Trabue.  It was dedicated on April 14, 1901 with Clarence H. Ferran as the first minister.  

For sixty years, the old wood-frame church building served the community, surviving at least two major hurricanes in 1921 and 1926, when almost all buildings in Punta Gorda sustained damage. Then on September 10, 1960 Hurricane Donna hurled into the city and ripped the steeple from the church and damaged the building beyond repair. A year later a new modern church was built at the same location on Harvey.  

Then on Sunday, August 7, 2005 long time members of the church took their seats in folded chairs in the parking lot of the 2nd church sanctuary of the church for the last time before that building was also demolished.  A year before on August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley left the building in such a state, it couldn't be repaired to satisfy code requirements.

Over its history the congregation has included many prominent Punta Gordas including A.B. Tucker, Norma Pepper, H.W. Smith, Vasco and Lois Peeples, Vernon Peeples, John T. Rose, Dr. Robert Shedd, Frank Smoak Jr., Edwin Roundtree and Lindsey Williams among others.  

Updated March 28, 2025 by T. Murtha

The Smith Arcade

 

The Smith Arcade building across the street from the Punta Gorda post office was built in 1926 by a man named H.W. Smith, who was an early Punta Gorda baker.  Smith originally operated the bakery where the 1905 fire that destroyed much of the early downtown started.  He then built a new shop further east on Marion Avenue near Nesbitt and began expanding from there, first a hotel, the Bayview with shops within it, and later the Arcade.

Covered shopping areas date back many hundreds of years when they were constructed to allow traders to sell out of the hot sun in the Middle East including the vaulted arcades or ‘souks’ found in Jerusalem. However, it was in Europe where these arcades were embraced and eventually evolved into the elegant 19th century shopping arcades which became widespread in the UK and reached Scotland in 1827. Perhaps one of the most famous is the Burlington Arcade in London, which has a similar look to Smith's.

The original Smith's Arcade, one of the earliest in the U.S.,  had glass roof panels like the Burlington Arcade, but given the potential for leakage and the the hot Florida sun these were replaced.  But the Arcade still has the original stain glass windows and gorgeous tile floor with tiles made in Venice, Florida. 

The Arcade Building was the center of activity in Punta Gorda from 1926 to 1958.  During this period the U.S. Post Office was located in the building.  Residents made daily trips to the post office to receive their mail since the area did not have home delivery.  The Maxwell Pharmacy was one of the early occupants along with a new realty office.  Over time it was the home of Dr. Clement's office, the Harry Rich Radio, a small grocery store, a dentist's office, a radio repair business, and a beauty parlor. It was a favorite activity to stop for ice cream while waiting for mail, probably in the drug store which had a soda fountain. 

Today the  indoor Arcade is closed, but building itself houses the Perfect Caper Restaurant and a Florida Department of Correction state probation office.  

Hurricane Donna hits Punta Gorda in September, 1960

On Saturday, September 10, 1960, Hurricane Donna whipped into Punta Gorda leaving 12 people injured, 300 homeless, and millions of dollars in property damage in the Charlotte County area according to St. Petersburg Times of the following Monday.  The storm reached winds of 120 miles an hour,  

Parts of the roof of Sallie Jones Elementary were ripped off, major damage was done to the Charlotte Shopping Center and the cabanas in the Municipal Park were destroyed.  The iconic photo from the time was that of the steeple of the First Presbyterian Church tilted in half,

- Theresa Murtha 

Sunday Church History - the Adventists in Punta Gorda

Seventh Day Adventists have a long history in Punta Gorda.  They started a school in the early town in 1895. There were 13 students originally in eight grades. Services were also conducted at the school.  It was noted in the Florida Times Union of 1900 that  the Adventists were one of the congregations building a church here. (We are still researching if, when and where this happened).  

The Adventists also had a significant role in rescuing the local hospital in its early years taking over management in 1969. The Seventh Day Adventists adopted the early Medical Center as one of its official projects, the Punta Gorda Herald at the time reported . "It will have the support of the church organization, and its earnings will be used exclusively to expand the hospital and improve its services.” The adventists owned the hospital until 1994 when it was sold to HMA.  

The church has been located on Taylor Road since the late 1980s.  

(compiled by Theresa Murtha)

Sunday Church History - Punta Gorda Region’s First Church

 

The first church to form a congregation in  the Punta Gorda region was the Trinity United Methodist in Charlotte Harbor.  The church, originally located at what was then called Hickory Bluff (thought to have been near current day Melbourne St. ) was chartered in 1873 as a member of the Tampa Methodist Episcopal District.   This was years before Isaac Trabue bought the land across the river that would become the town of Punta  Gorda in 1887.  

The current structure is the fourth church sanctuary.  The church moved to its present location at Seneca and Parmely in 1889 on a lot provided by Mathieu and Mary Giddens A two-room school was also built next to it. This second church building was destroyed by a hurricane in 1910, and a third structure was severely damaged to yet another storm.  The 1926 Miami hurricane, which flooded the streets of Punta Gorda, blew the church off its foundation.  

While it was recovered at that time, in 1944, a strong wind caused the building to badly sway.  

So finally a fourth building was erected of masonry construction, third on the current site, and dedicated on Nov. 9, 1950.

(Information from article by Frank Desguin, Charlotte Sun)