Finding Paradise Naples Florida the 1800s, U.S. survey teams exploring the southwest coast of Florida sent detailed reports to the U.S. Senate. Descriptions of the area captured the interest of General John S. Williams, a senator from Louisville, Kentucky. Captivated by the potential, Williams recruited Walter Haldeman, a wealthy, adventurous publishing magnate and owner of the Louisville Courier-Journal. In 1885 the pair chartered a boat and sailed down the southwest coast of Florida. When they encountered a magnificent beach with a natural bay just beyond to the east, they knew theyd found their paradise. The Business of Growth By 1889, Williams and Haldeman had built homes on the beach, constructed a pier, and established a 16-room hotel. Eventually, Haldeman paid $50,000 to Williams for the Naples Development Company, effectively making him owner of the town, which included 8600 acres of land. Around 1912, land developer Ed Crayton from St. Petersburg, Florida, purchased most of the Haldeman property, initiating a new chapter in Naples history. In 1926, Naples received electric power, and in 1927 rail service was available. In 1928 the Tamiami Trail was completed, linking Tampa, Naples and Miami. Ed Crayton worked on developing Naples until his death in 1938. Only the 1929 market crash and World War II slowed the inevitable growth. Until the 1950s, the City of Naples remained a small, lovely oasis along the Gulf of Mexico
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:36:42 +0000
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