Untold Stories

Because “they were honest men” was the reason given by the residents of Naples when asked why six men in particular were chosen on December 1, 1923 to be the First Fathers of Naples upon incorporation on December 1, 1923.

The Bank of Naples, the city’s first financial institution, opened in 1949 at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue South and 8th Street South.

On May 15, 1953, Naples Mayor W. Roy Smith stepped aside as City Father and handed the gavel over to incoming Naples Mayor Worth DeVore, a member of the Naples High School Senior Class.

In 1954, Naples made headlines in South Florida when Naples Chamber of Commerce members promised Naples would be the politest city in the State.

On Monday, March 5, 1956, Naples Community Hospital became operational, ending the era when the only option was to travel to Fort Myers for access to a hospital.

Members of the Naples Woman’s Club made sure books were available to the community long before the Collier County Public Library System was established.

Caribbean Gardens evolved from the Naples Tropical Gardens and Arboretum cultivated in 1919 by renowned botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling.

The Naples High School Band and about 250 Neapolitans waited anxiously on the observation deck at Miami International Airport on Thursday, February 14, 1963.

On April 25, 1927, Town Council drew up Naples first Charter. The Charter confirmed the composition of Town Council as one mayor and five councilmen.

In 1947 Town Council adopted The Naples Plan, a simple way to “improve Naples,” funded entirely by the community through tax deductible donations.

Edwards Gorham Wilkinson was not a newcomer to Florida when in 1923, he was selected to represent the Town of Naples as a member of the first Town Council.

Sixteen months after the Town of Naples was incorporated on December 1, 1923.

Relieving the Town Manager of dual duties, Elsie Lehman was hired by Mayor William L. Clarke, Jr.

In 1970, Janet Davis Cason was appointed second Naples City Clerk.

Fred Lowdermilk was appointed manager just four months before the City of Naples was chartered in 1949.

Seventy-three percent of Naples’ voting residents, or 5,060 persons, elected Edwin “Ned” J. Putzell, Jr.

On February 4, 1964, Archie Turner ran for mayor against H. Milton Link, member of the Zoning and Planning Board in 1961 and developer of The Moorings in 1957, and won the election.