Mrs. Virginia Taylor Trabue

 

Mrs. Virginia Taylor Trabue was the wife of the town's founder, Col. Isaac Trabue.  The daughter of James and Charlotte Scarborough Taylor, she was born in Savannah on December 19 in 1832.  During the Civil War, she lived on the Isle of Mann, off the coast of England, with her mother.  She returned to New York City in 1865 where she met and married Isaac.  They settled in Kentucky where Isaac practiced law.

In 1885, the Trabues came to the land that Isaac had purchased south of the Peace River, and Virginia became one of Punta Gorda's first pioneer women.  Working with her husband to help establish the town that became Punta Gorda, she lived on land with no streets or stores that was covered with palmettos and swamps with alligators, snakes, panthers, and bears.  They lived initially in a dilapidated wooden shack right on the water's edge originally constructed by the Laniers. 

Virginia, an Episcopalian, was very instrumental in the early establishment of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.  She convinced the bishop to start the St. James mission in Punta Gorda in 1892 that became the Church of Good Shepherd. 

Less than 5-feet tall and an avid chess player.  Her and Isaac dedicated a block in Punta Gorda for the growing of pineapples to support an annual chess tournament.  After Isaac died in 1907, Virginia continued to reside in Punta Gorda.  Ever the civic-minded, she dedicated Cross Park - the current location of the Event Center - which had been deeded to her in 1911 to the city.  She is also said to have deeded the city the land for the original City Hall building.

There is a record of her living in Punta Gorda as late as 1920, when on her 88th birthday many of the townspeople came to her home on Cross Street at the time to wish her well.  She had many friends in the town, as evidenced by the cards she sent here when traveling.  The wife of R.K. Seward, owner and founder of the Herald, was a close friend.  

Virginia Trabue died in 1924.  Her grave is in Indian Springs Cemetery. 

Helphenstine, Bob and JoAnn

Bob and JoAnn Helphenstine established what would become an iconic Punta Gorda business, Palm Auto Mall, a multimillion-dollar auto dealership.  They also contributed in many significant ways to the continued development and prosperity of their adopted community.  

Bob and JoAnn moved here from the Jacksonville area in 1955 after purchasing Campbell Chevrolet.  At that time their new dealership was surrounded by cattle fields and woods.  Since the name Helphenstine was so long, they decided to name the business, Palm Chevrolet.  Bob became the salesman working the front of the dealership; JoAnn took over keeping the books and became an indispensable part of the overall operation.  As the area grew, so did their business, from a one-dealership company to Palm Auto Mall, lining both sides of Tamiami Trail with a wide variety of car brands.  After Bob passed away in 2002, JoAnn took over and oversaw even more growth with additional buildings and brands.  Then after 60-plus years in the business, JoAnn sold Palm Auto to Gettel in 2017.

During his life in Punta Gorda, Bob Helphenstine also served on the City Council from 1968 to 1978, participating in talks that led to the development of Fishermen’s Village and helping to oversee many important city projects including the construction of a new sewage treatment plant and expansion of the water plant.  He was a believer in managed growth and thought that “if you weren’t moving forward, you were moving backward.”  Bob also served on the boards of numerous community organizations, including the Edison Community College Foundation, the Charlotte County Vocational Center and the Charlotte County YMCA.

JoAnn has served on many nonprofit boards, as well, like the YMCA and Florida Southwestern State College, and has supported countless local charities and nonprofits.

 

McCann, John (Jack)

 

John (Jack) McCann was born in Key West, Florida in 1866.  He arrived in what came to be Punta Gorda in 1886 as a captain of Perry McAdow’s schooner “Silver Spray.” In 1892, he married Mary Frances Roe with whom he had three children born in Punta Gorda: Maive, Bertram and Edward.  

Captain McCann obtained fame by taking the former President Teddy Roosevelt in search of the devil fish in March of 1917.  The widely publicized event had resulted in Roosevelt’s catch of a 16 foot, 8 inch manta ray.

McCann was the city’s Marshall and was in charge of the storm warning service for more than 30 years beginning in 1912.  He displayed storm warnings from a 75 foot high steel structure on the bay front.

Captain McCann was also a member of Punta Gorda’s first Board of Trade.  He also had many hobbies including horticulture.  He was the first person to develop a double hibiscus and the first pink and white double amaryllis.

McCann died at his home at 713 West Retta Esplanade in 1944.

Guthrie, William Elza

 

William Elza Guthrie was born in Charlotte Harbor, Florida on December 28, 1895, only eight years after the incorporation of Punta Gorda.  His father, William B. Guthrie, was instrumental in establishing the commercial fishing industry at Charlotte Harbor after arriving with wife, Lillian, from North Carolina. 

Will Guthrie spent most of his life working in the fishing industry, 44 years with the Punta Gorda Fish Company, where he became a senior officer, its secretary and treasurer.  Will’s first career though was teaching at the local school in Charlotte Harbor, where he met his wife, Freddie Lee Roberts, also a teacher, whom he married in 1919.  His concern for schooling led to a 19-year role on the Charlotte Country School Board, sixteen of those years as Chair of the Board.  

Guthrie was also very active civically, as a charter member of the Punta Gorda Rotary and a grandmaster of the Masons Lodge of Punta Gorda.  Thanks to him, we have a written history of the local fishing industry that he wrote for a presentation to the Rotary. 

Will and Freddie made their home and raised six children in Punta Gorda, where Mrs. Guthrie also became very involved in the community, serving among other roles, as President of the Punta Gorda Woman’s Club.  

Will passed away at 67 in 1963.  At his funeral, the pall bearers and honorary pall bearers included a large roster of Punta Gorda’s civic leaders of the day.  

 

 

Goff, Wayne

 

Wayne Goff was a prominent builder and developer known throughout Charlotte County for his generous contributions to many organizations in the community.  He was instrumental in the startup of the Punta Gorda History Center. 

Wayne was a fourth-generation descendant of the Goff family who were original settlers of Englewood. A 1957 graduate, he was class president and played football, basketball and baseball at Charlotte High School; he remained an active CHS supporter throughout his lifetime. Wayne graduated from the University of Florida, College of Planning, Design, and Construction. He began his career with E. I. DuPont, then formed Goff Construction, Inc. in 1960; it is Charlotte County's first State Certified Class "A" general contractor.

Wayne was a builder/developer of Punta Gorda Isles (1970-1984), and owner and President of Church Growth & Building Consultants. He donated his services as general contractor for many churches, the Performing Arts Center, Habitat for Humanity Punta Gorda, the Punta Gorda History Center and for the construction of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Punta Gorda. He was instrumental in advancing Port Charlotte "U", an adult education school for retired residents, into the Cultural Center of Charlotte County.  He served with First Baptist Churches of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, Peace River Baptist Association, Florida Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention, Economic Development Council, Punta Gorda Rotary Club, Englewood Area Historical Museum, Charlotte High School Boosters, and Tidewell Hospice.

Wayne was married to his wife, Donna, for over fifty years. They raised three children: Keith,  Karen and Karla.

Naylor, Robert C. "Bob"

 

Robert C. "Bob" Naylor Jr. was born on September 9, 1944, in New York, but spent much of his adult life residing in and dedicated to Punta Gorda.

Bob began his career as a member of the United States Marine Corps. Following his military service, he devoted over 35 years to Punta Gorda, initially serving as a volunteer firefighter. His commitment led to roles as a full-time firefighter, fire marshal, and ultimately fire chief. Additionally, he demonstrated his dedication to civic engagement through longstanding participation with the Punta Gorda Kiwanis Club—holding positions such as Treasurer and President—and through his leadership in organizing Punta Gorda's annual fireworks events for many years.

Bob was admired and loved by those who knew him for his kindness and spirit of adventure evidenced by his passion for travel especially riding on his Harley.

Bob and Christine Naylor were married for over ten years before he passed away last year.  He was father to Amy (Kim) Runkle, Tracy and Lois Naylor; grandfather to Casey, Mikal, Danielle, Ryan, and Becky; and great-grandfather to Bradleigh, Kyal and Malachi   He also had a stepdaughter, Lori. 

 

 

Goulding, Harry (Pete)

The City council first passed an ordinance proclaiming Punta Gorda as “The City of Hibiscus”.  In conjunction with the proclamation, 2,200 red hibiscuses were ordered and planted throughout the city, which apparently made quite an impression on native son Harry Goulding, known as “Pete” to everyone in town.

Pete’s dad, Joseph, had moved to Punta Gorda from North Carolina in 1895, intent on harvesting egret plumes in the Everglades.  At the time a sought after complement to ladies’ hats, they were literally “worth their weight in gold”.  Soon after his arrival though, the market dissolved when their use became illegal.  Joseph however, fortunately for us, decided to stay, becoming a fisherman.  Not too long afterward, in 1908, Harry was born. 

Brought up in the business, Pete began as a “footer”, whose job was moving a large gill net’s loose end (“foot”) to shore once fish were driven into the open net.  The net’s other end already being anchored to shore.  Soon he began keeping the records for Captain Joe’s fishing operation, going on to become a bookkeeper, and eventually vice-president and secretary of the Punta Gorda Fish Company, one of five located on the railroad dock at the foot of King Street (U. S. 41 north) in the 1920’s.  Pete loved the fishing industry, but his passion became hibiscus hybridization.

 He and his wife Reba, who grew up in Charlotte Harbor, resided in a small “board and batten” cottage, still standing albeit with subsequent additions, on West Retta Esplanade.  The story goes that in the early 1930’s, Pete travelled throughout the state, gathering samples of the 12 hibiscus varieties growing in Florida.  From that stock, in his backyard, he developed many of those seen today, with almost 500 registered varieties to his credit. 

Pete was also what some might call a “character” and a great storyteller with sharp wit, evidenced by some of the names bestowed on his creations; Hokey Pokee, Peeping Tom, Mini Skirt, Sleeping Single, and Honey Do.  He especially enjoyed messing with “out-of-towners” visiting him when they would inquire about his name, Harry or Pete?  He’d respond, “My full name is Pedro Pathiro Patholo Guatemala Gouchinhimier Diaz Goulding”, and then grin mischievously as they tried to write it down.

Known internationally as “Mr. Hibiscus” and “King Harry”, Pete was visited by hibiscus aficionados from around the world hoping to learn his techniques.  His “hobby” garnered him hundreds of awards at flower shows and the American Hibiscus Society proclaimed his blooms “Best in the World” five times.  The Society’s local entity, the Harry Goulding Chapter, is named in his honor.  On July 6, 1988, the city council, recognizing the accomplishments of Punta Gorda’s native son, proclaimed Harry Goulding Day and in 2000, the council reaffirmed Punta Gorda’s status as “The City of Hibiscus”.

Pete passed away in 1993 leaving the city, state, and world a more beautiful place. 

(From column by Frank Desguin)