Charlotte Sun - Punta Gorda Herald - Punta Gorda, FL - Newspaper Headquarters on Waymarking.com

The Punta Gorda Herald was started by Robert Kirby Steward on February 17, 1893.

The first editorial featured the memorable statement:

We do not know with what favor the "Herald" will be met by the people of Punta Gorda, for we are informed that the newspaper business heretofore has been a failure. But we have an abundance of pluck and energy, and so long as our ammunition holds out we propose to stay in the field.

The paper opened up shop on the corner of Retta Esplande and Cross Street. Its success boomed like the City's growth and both enjoyed and fed off the acclaim of the other.

After a tragic fire in 1895 that made Stewart question the ability for the paper to recover and threaten to close, the Punta Gorda Herald was rebuilt on its original site from the help of friends extending credit. In 1901, Stewart sold the paper to Adrian P. Jordan and went into dry good sales.

Jordan built brick buildings for the newspaper to operate within, first on the corner of Taylor and Marion, then a larger building on the corner of Taylor and Herald in 1913. Despite the financial strains of the 1907 stock market crash, Jordan's business savvy and perseverance kept the paper going.

Jordan sold the Punta Gorda Herald in 1951 and the paper passed through several corporate hands until it was merged with the Charlotte Sun, a Sun Coast Media project, under the supervision of Derek Dunn-Rankin in 1979.

The newspaper operated out of the location at Taylor and Herald until it moved to the notable Purple House in October 2007.

The Purple House was build in 1923 but was only transformed into the Purple House from a renovation during the 1980's by Sam and Jack Cole of Chicago. It has hosted a number of residents and commercial businesses.

Area Served: Punta Gorda What is (later, was) its physical address?: 312 Sullivan St Punta Gorda, FL USA 33950 Does it now just provide an internet read?: No Internet address: [Web Link] Did you ever buy or subscribe to this paper?: I bought one here and there Please provide a link referring to the newspaper's demise.: Not listed If applicable, when was this publication's last edition?: Not listed

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