Pioneer Hole
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 26° 45.036 W 082° 15.711
17R E 374524 N 2959434
Located at Park Avenue and 4th Street West.
Waymark Code: WMZ9XY
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/05/2018
Views: 7
On November 28th, 1905, the steamboat Mistletoe of Tampa with the engineer corps and a force of sixty laborers landed on the beach directly opposite this spot, and the initial work of surveying and constructing the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway was commenced that day. This palmetto tree stood near the door of the officers tent, and the glass insulators at the top of the tree are the original insulators that supported the wire of the first telephone line, which was built on trees from Punta Gorda for the purpose of giving the headquarters of this company telephone communication.
The only inhabitants of Gasparilla Island at that time were Captain William Lester, light house keeper, and the assistant light house keeper and his family, L.M. Fouts and Edwin L. Fouts are the only members of the party now residents of Boca Grande. The railway forces were under the direction of George S. Bruce, chief engineer, and L.M. Fouts, Vice President and general manager.
Marker Number: None
Date: None
County: Lee
Marker Type: Plaque
Sponsored or placed by: Unknown
Website: Not listed
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