Seminole Hotel

[Major 2]

Seminole Hotel, Punta Gorda, Florida
Description Built in 1887 as the Dade Hotel and later called the New
Southland, in 1914 re-named by * Nathanial Thomas Ragland ,the 22-room inn became the Seminole Hotel.
Albert W. Gilchrist, governor of Florida, lived here for many years. Shown here on
its original site at the corner of Marion Avenue and Taylor Street.
In 1920 after GD sold it, the building was placed on logs and rolled one block west to the
corner of Marion and Sullivan Street. It was later lost to fire.  

This photo is a little out of the time period. It was taken when My Grandfather & Grandmother owned it form 1914-19.
I have an orginial post card, it shows Teddy Roosevelt & Gov. Gilchrist in my Grandfather's 1916-17 Jordan Automobile, with my Grandparents background .
Roosevelt stayed several times at the Hotel when he and Gov. Gilchrist fished together the Ten Thousand Islands.
I'll post that photo later it's on my work computer.


* N.T. Ragland was my Grandfather.

[Dr. Bob]

Kewel!!

[Major 2]

I had to size this down to get it to load here...

TR & Gov. Gilchrist in Granddad's Jordan.....

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I am trying to post this in the timeline of Teddy Rosevelt's life ... is this before he went on the Amazon exploration tripor afterward?

Never mind; I Wickipedia'd it .... he came back from his Amazon Explorations with what was to be a lifelong case of malaria .... and was still recovering from that and a wound that nearly killed him on the expedition ... he came back from the expedition in 1914. 

But the picture looks like he is not letting the malaria or the wound slow him down one bit ....

Bully!

[Major 2]

Wadd...as you discovered it was after...

The copy is not real good, the original is in a Post Card form . I had the PC enlarged and that's the photo you see.
The copy I sent you also shows the mounted Post Card with the hand written message by my Grand father.

" This was taken when Teddy Roosevelt was our guest.
  The Madam and I are standing near the post "

sorry for the quality, it is far better in the original Post Card & enlargement... as opposed to this scan.

BTW.. there is another photograph, in a book,  it is Teddy and Gov. Gilchrist playing chess on the hotel porch.
I've seen the photo but can't recall the book...
The really cool thing is the hand carved chess set belonged to my Gradfather, and my Sister still has it !

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Major 2

That postcard is a great piece of history just as it is ...

But I am guessing that, were you to take it to a professional who works with digital cleanup, he could get you a new copy of the postcard totally cleaned up  and you would still have the original ...

The chess shot, were I your sister (and be so very very happy that I am not) woud be on the wall directly over the chess pieces ... that is bragging rights!

[Major 2]

Major 2

That postcard is a great piece of history just as it is ...

But I am guessing that, were you to take it to a professional who works with digital cleanup, he could get you a new copy of the postcard totally cleaned up  and you would still have the original ...

The chess shot, were I your sister (and be so very very happy that I am not) woud be on the wall directly over the chess pieces ... that is bragging rights!

The set is not currently on display it's locked away, the Photo ( the only one we've seen was in a book)
I'm in touch with the Charlotte Harbor Historical Society. I'm hoping they can provide a copy.
I have several other photos, from their collecton, They however want the Post card.

As for that card it is in great shape, it is professional mounted and sealed in the frame with the print ( of which I scanned reason it is so poorly reproduced) That Framed PC is on my wall.