Fort Myers, Florida: Part One | Untold Stories | Florida History

Fort Myers, Florida Part One explores the community and history of Fort Myers, Florida. Meet some of the pioneer families. Hear the untold stories of how this community went from a military fort, to become the second home of world famous citizens. See its transformation from a rural farm land to a town that flourished and offered fond memories of an era like no other.

The sunshine state has a rich and colorful history. For hundreds of years the state has attracted dreamers, opportunists, inventors and fortune-seekers. WGCU's Untold Stories aims to preserve the history of Southwest Florida communities.

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Fort Myers, Florida: Part One | Untold Stories | Florida History
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[roger]

Back when being a community was a thing.. now nobody talks to their neighbors and everyone lives on Facebook. It’s sad, people had pride and patriotism, now take a look around....

[RhondaLeahOtt]

I moved to Fort Myers from Miami at the age of eighteen in 1986. Oh how I loved it ! Lived there until 2000. When I go back to visit Family I'm so sad to see the changes.

[TerryB]

I went to a museum in either Lee or Collier county which had letters written by solders in the Seminole Wars. The letters bemoaned the fact that the soldiers had to fight in such a horrible area with nothing but heat, death and disease. The writers wondered why they were there and who would want this land in the first place. Now, we get ticked off when someone doesn't move their car when the traffic light turns green because they're glued to the smart phone.

[terrileamoody]

Thank you for this wonderful story of Fort Myers. Lots of great memories.

[manbaerpigg]

my 1st job was at florida growers when i was 5 making boxes n grading tomatoes on a conveyor belt....our lunches came from the farmers market restaurant. my pa was the supervisor n would learn me the ways of a dollar earned is a dollar saved....it was the 80's n i loved it....good video thank you.

[eliguaapologynotaccepted]

Very interesting to know about Fort Myers historian I I leave there in 2007 and became a bus operator in Lee County I miss that beautiful place thank you for such a beautiful story from N, y. ♡

[kbglife]

I like how that war part was skimmed over while technically declaring ft. Myers as a base of operations, and identifying the natives as “African American “.

[loganschimpf]

Wish I could find a channel with these videos for cities and towns of northeast Florida

[papasnook]

It’s a shame what Dunbar has become. Great video indeed.

[TwinTurboMom]

30 years old I never knew that about gladiolus.

[pistolpaulie]

Nothing was said about Cpt. Manuel A. Gonzalez. The founder of the community of Fort Myers. Known as the father of Fort Myers. They only showed a pic of him. Wow!

[ryohn]

Fort Myers has become more dangerous and very expensive. I lived there in 1984 but since been back in Ohio. I only have good memories but when I visited several years ago, it was crime ridden and prices of apartments were outrageous. We paid 600 for a 3 bedroom apartment in 1984 which was a not costly but compared to.the same place it's over 2000.00 a month.

[chopstixsix]

I wish Florida would of stayed a hidden gem. Now it’s so many people from so many different places that dilutes the original southern culture of the region. There are still some originals down here from both black and white families. But with the growth of Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral both squeezing Ft Myers with northern transplants and immigrants from the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Diversity is good but it seems nobody has a sense of community except in the older neighborhoods of Central Ft Myers or (the hood). The area It’s very transient, people just go to work and come home. If they retirees they do retiree things. People still wave hi but that about it.

[TheScorpion]

Thanks for sharing this video I been living in the 239 now for 2 year's it's okay I guess and cool to know the history of this small city but I prefer bigger cities with more stuff to see and do.
Maybe it's Covid-19 that put a screeching halt to anything fun around here but it seems pretty boring for the most part not much happening around here such as big sporting event's besides spring training Baseball.

[MOMSABADASS]

Wait!!? It gets better!! How about the 100's of people who were sent to Fort Myers Florida From New York during the YELLOW FEVER, EPIDEMIC!! AND WERE DESPOSED OF IN THE JUDD PARK CANAL TO CURRENT DATE!! YEAH THAT PART!!

[stevem-he]

Isn't Fort Meyers just a Taco stand on the beach?

[MOMSABADASS]

That's WHY THERE'S A 2ND SET OF (RXR TRACKS!! GOING FROM THE ORIGINAL TRAIN STATION AND THE OTHER SET OF RXR TRACKS BARE OFF, AND GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF MC GREGOR. IT WAS TO TRANSPORT THE 100'S OPON 100'S OF PEOPLE -&- BODIES FROM THE YELLOW FEVER!!!! GOOGLE

Let's hope the "Cancel Culture" Idiots don't start their crying to rename Lee County. History is what was true, and changing names doesn't change anything.

[brazilful]

Dont worry maybe expresident Trump will Rebuilt Fort Myers

[moneyshot]

Born in Lee Memorial @4:16 on 4/16/1992 that's me in ft myers FL. Always been funny my bday and birth time is the same