Barron Park - LaBelle, Florida, USA - Municipal Parks and Plazas on Waymarking.com

This park is located on land donated to the City of LaBelle by W. Barney and Lois Barron. It is the focal point park in the downtown LaBelle area and sits adjacent to the Downtown LaBelle Historic District. It is an open park with no specific entrances so GPS coordinates are from the center of the park.

To fully understand the history of this park and how it came to be we need to understand the land ownership through the founding of this area. The following is from the Fort Thompson Historical Marker text:

"LaBelle´s history begins here, along the Caloosahatchee River, on this old Fort Thompson site. Fort Thompson began c.1838 as a military post during the 2nd Seminole War, named for Lt. Colonel Alexander Thompson, who died in the battle of Okeechobee in 1837. The Confederates used the site during the Civil War to raise cattle for their troops.

In 1879, former Confederate Captain Francis Asbury Hendry (1833-1917) acquired the property, making it his home in 1889. He established a cattle ranch and soon the town of LaBelle grew along its western boundary.

In 1885, steamboat service carried passengers from Fort Myers to Fort Thompson, and in 1912, when LaBelle became a port on Florida´s Intracoastal Waterway, it became a river paradise.

In 1905, Edgar Everett Goodno (1858-1936) purchased Fort Thompson and built an ice plant and an electric plant to serve a growing population. By the end of the decade, the former fort had become the cattle and citrus town now known as LaBelle. Thomas Edison was known to have visited LaBelle, staying at the Fort Thompson Hotel.

In 1924, Henry Ford purchased part of Goodno´s property. It remained in Ford´s name until 1942 when he sold it to one of Captain Hendry´s cousins, Joseph B. Hendry."

Joseph B. Hendry was the father of Lois Barron. In the 1960"s she and her husband W. Barney Barron donated the land to the City of LaBelle for a park.

Name: Barron Park Street Location: 1559 DeSoto Avenue Local Municipality: City of LaBelle State/Province, etc.: Florida Country: USA Date Established: 1960's Picnic Facilities: Riverfront picnic tables Recreational Facilities: Tennis courts, dedicated benches, covered pavilion, gazebo, stage with large seated area, restrooms, boat docks and slips. Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): American Flag mural Fountains: yes Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: Caloosahatchee River frontage Special Events: Yearly Swamp Cabbage Festival last full weekend in February. Web Site: Not listed Memorial/Commemoration: Not listed Monuments/Statues: Not listed Traditional Geocaches: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
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Date Logged Log   07/16/2021 BoomersOTR visited it 09/14/2018 BoomersOTR visited it

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