Stories from Lost Icons
Fort Myers Beach was once a bustling community where many residents made their living as business owners, commercial fishermen, and shrimpers. Lost Icons of Fort Myers Beach traces the history of our island through the landmarks that welcomed generations of residents and visitors and became an important part of our landscape.
The book recounts the story of the famous arches and the old swing bridge and explores the transformation of Times Square from a business district into an entertainment destination. Most importantly, it pays tribute to the beloved businesses and landmarks lost when Hurricane Ian struck the island in 2022.
Before-and-After Photographs
Our collection of before-and-after photographs reveals the enormous changes Hurricane Ian brought to Fort Myers Beach. These images preserve the memory of familiar landmarks while documenting the devastation, recovery, and transformation of our island.
The Story Behind the Handmade Street Signs
One of the most difficult challenges residents faced when they returned to the island was finding their way around. Nearly all the street signs had been swept away by the storm surge.
A group of beach residents decided to solve the problem by creating their own artistically designed street signs. Neighbors gathered behind the Historic Cottage to work on the project. Eventually, handmade signs were created for almost every street. Some were simple and practical, while others were colorful works of art.
After the signs were installed, former Interim Town Manager Keith Wilkins rode his bicycle along Estero Boulevard and photographed them. He later donated the photographs—and sample coasters featuring several of the designs—to the Estero Island Historic Society.
At first, we tried to determine how best to display the photographs. Because people naturally wanted a poster featuring their own street, EIHS board member Jessie Titus used her artistic talents to create one large collage containing all the signs.
That collage is now available as a poster in our gift shop. We can also place individual street-sign designs on coffee mugs, which sell for $10.
Hurricane Ian Anniversary Items
As we mark the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Ian, the Historic Society is offering several meaningful ways to remember the island we knew and celebrate the community that continues to rebuild:
· Handmade street-sign collage posters
· Custom street-sign coffee mugs
· Copies of Lost Icons of Fort Myers Beach
These items are available through the EIHS gift shop.
Community Memories
Hurricane Ian damaged more than 90 percent of the buildings on Fort Myers Beach. No resident was spared the heartache of loss.
Those who remained on the island during the storm experienced terrifying conditions, and their stories of survival are unforgettable. Tragically, not everyone survived. We continue to remember those lives and to feel their loss every day.
By preserving and sharing community memories, we honor the people, places, and experiences that are part of our island’s history.
How Hurricane Ian Affected Our Historical Organizations
Hurricane Ian had an enormous effect on the Estero Island Historic Society, Matanzas Pass Preserve, and the Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center.
The EIHS cottages are located behind Matanzas Pass Preserve. As the photographs show, the Gulf swept debris across the preserve and onto our property—including an entire house. The preserve, which had recently been restored, was damaged beyond repair.
Although both EIHS cottages remained standing, more than seven feet of water flooded their interiors. We lost most of our files, many photographs, and a large number of irreplaceable artifacts.
Remarkably, the 1921 Historic Cottage survived the storm surge without water penetrating its walls. Its original Dade County pine and cypress construction protected the building from the mold problems that affected so many other structures.
The Laughing Gull Cottage was not as fortunate. Its interior walls were made from a type of drywall, requiring the entire interior to be gutted and rebuilt.
The Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center also suffered a devastating loss when its large building on San Carlos Island was destroyed. Needing a temporary home, EIHS worked with founder Joanne Semmer to move the materials she was able to save into our Laughing Gull Cottage.
Through determination, cooperation, and the generosity of many supporters, both EIHS cottages were restored and reopened to the public in 2023. Their survival is a testament not only to historic craftsmanship, but also to the extraordinary resilience of our island community.
