Between 1886 and 1904, the only means of travel south and
west of Punta Gorda was by boat.
During the winters at the turn of the 20th century, many
yachts would be seen anchored near the shores of Punta Gorda. Naphtha cabin boats like the
"Myakka" owned by Charles Dean of New England brought some of the
first "snowbirds" to local waters.
Sharpie sailboats engaged in commercial fishing roamed the harbor. Perry
and Marian McAdow, early wealthy residents, entertained the elite of the town
on their sailing schooner, the "Roamer".
During the nascent years of the community, paddler-wheelers
carrying both freight and passengers navigated the Peace River carrying goods
and travelers from Charlotte Harbor to Fort Myers, Cuba, Key West, New Orleans,
and Tampa. Steamboats such as the
"Alice Howard" and the "Clara" brought the mail and
passengers between Punta Gorda and Fort Myers.
Later the "St. Lucie" and "Thomas A. Edison" were
among the ships that made the 76-mile run.
The Morgan Line steamers arrived at Punta Gorda from New Orleans at the
Long Dock and left for Key West and Havana the same day.
Before the railroad ran to Boca Grande in 1907, steam tug
boats including the "Albert F Dewey" and the "Mary Blue"
hauled phosphate on barges down the Peace River.
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