FMBGN-ROXIE-Estero Island Historic Society-Saving Fort Myers Beach Memories

Fort Myers Beach is changing so fast that even longtime locals can forget what used to sit on a familiar corner. From storm loss to new construction, the island’s “before” can start to fade unless someone saves it on purpose. We’re at the Roxie in Times Square with Ellie Bunting from the Estero Island Historic Society, talking about how to preserve Fort Myers Beach history after Hurricane Ian while the community rebuilds. 

We get into the Historic Society’s public programs and what they reveal about the island’s past and future, including a recent gathering with representatives from multiple island churches and an upcoming talk that looks back at the 1920s, when development reshaped the beach in lasting ways. Allie also shares updates on their popular murder mystery series and a new project to turn those stories into a book, proving that local history can be fun, social, and easy to join. 

From there, we dig into what recovery leaves behind: the “Lost Icons” book documenting businesses lost during the storm, the emotional pull of places people miss, and a creative plan for a walkable “what used to be here” trail. The idea uses small sculptures at former landmark sites paired with signage and QR codes that bring up photos and context, creating a simple, powerful way to connect memory with place. We also talk about preserving handmade post-Ian street signs through posters and custom mugs, plus how residents can donate photos or meaningful artifacts to help fill in the record. 

Subscribe for more Fort Myers Beach stories, share this with a neighbor who loves the island, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What Fort Myers Beach landmark do you miss most?

Estero Island Historic Society
161 Bay Road Fort Myers Beach, Florida, 33931
esteroislandhistoricsociety.org

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Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbors

Intro/Close 0:00

Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor podcast. No shade, just sunshine. Drama-free, positive vibes only. This is the Fort Myers Beach Chamber Roxie series, where we share local information, meet the people who make this island special, and shine some sun on the businesses that keep our island flowing. Here's your host, Cabo Jim Scheller.

Historic Society Programs And Talks

"Cabo" Jim 0:17

Welcome to Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbors. Today we're at the Roxie here in Times Square with the Chamber. And today from the Estero Island Historic Society, we've got Ellie Bunting. Welcome. Thank you. Yeah. So we've been talking quite a bit lately and a lot of things going on, but uh let's start off by sharing a little bit about what you guys are doing at the Historic Society. You've got a lot of different programs and series going on.

Eillie Bunting 0:40

We do, we have a lot going on. We uh just finished our third public meeting of the year on Monday. We did a really nice discussion with uh four of the churches on the island. Okay. We had representatives from each of the churches talk about where they were, where they're going, and it was very interesting. And then um next Saturday we're doing siding into the decades. We're gonna talk about the 20s when all the development happens.

"Cabo" Jim 1:08

A lot of changes, right? Like now, a lot of changes now.

Murder Mystery Events And New Book

Eillie Bunting 1:12

Yeah, exactly, exactly. Um, very much so.

"Cabo" Jim 1:16

More history for you to get involved with. And you you're doing a murder mystery series as well, too.

Eillie Bunting 1:22

We do the murder mystery series. We did three this year, and um I think that's it for this year because Janet had surgery this week on the day, so she was supposed to do the one in March, but we're gonna put that off until the fall. Okay. And uh we're working on a book with the murder mysteries. So that's fun.

"Cabo" Jim 1:41

That's exciting. You already have a book out now, too, right?

Lost Icons After Hurricane Ian

A Walking Trail Of What Was

Eillie Bunting 1:43

We do, we have the lost icons. It's been out since, well, this end. Okay. And um, that's been a good seller. And that's about the businesses that we lost during the storm. It's about what we lost during the storm, exactly. And then what we're trying to do, and we're not sure how we're gonna do it yet, is um I don't know if you've seen the mermaid trail up in Brooksville. Well, something like that on a smaller scale. Okay. But where there were, like where Pete's timeout was, yeah, we would put a dolphin and have a little thing talking about it. It'd be like a walk in door of of what used to be. Yeah. And then you click on a QR code and see pictures of what it used to look like and that. So I love that. That's what we're thinking of. Yeah.

"Cabo" Jim 2:27

Well, anything we can do to help with that, I love that idea. Yeah, because like you said, we've got to capture a lot of that history here because we're losing a lot of it.

Eillie Bunting 2:35

We do, we do, and so many people have not been here more than five years, and they don't some even haven't been here before Ian, so they don't have any idea.

"Cabo" Jim 2:44

Yep, and you know, I drive up and down the Estero Boulevard every day, and I'm having trouble remembering what was there, what was that, you know? It's it's it's the landscape looks totally different nowadays.

Places We Miss And Old Cottages

Eillie Bunting 2:55

It does, it does, and we can't forget what used to be there. Exactly. I think a lot of businesses, like what we're hoping is Margaritaville will pay for the sculpture, and yeah, that's then that was a big part of the community big love center in that area in there. So I think it'll be fun.

"Cabo" Jim 3:12

Are there certain things that you miss that you enjoy?

Eillie Bunting 3:17

I miss having a movie theater. Right. Definitely. And I I I'm at the South End, so there's no place to eat there, one place, but you know, it it it's you're very limited, and I miss that. I miss the uh beach bar down at it. Yeah.

"Cabo" Jim 3:31

So yeah, my favorite place was the cottage. Yes, of course, yeah. I mean, that was what, a hundred-year-old house? It was, it was 1921. Wow, one of the oldest structures that was on the beach. And now you've got one of the remaining ones.

Eillie Bunting 3:45

We've got, I think, gosh, I'm I think it's the only remaining one. There were four of them originally. Okay. And I think Silver Sands cottages is gone. Yeah, pine cones gone, this is gone, so yeah, we're the only one left. Wow.

"Cabo" Jim 3:59

And then they're rebuilding, they have the cottages down here, right? Yep, the different colored ones. So they're rebuilding those.

Eillie Bunting 4:05

That was good news, yes.

Storm Street Sign Posters And Mugs

"Cabo" Jim 4:06

They're gonna be cottages. That's nice. Yep, yep, they're gonna raise them, keep the integrity of what they were. So bringing back a little bit of the history, and and I'd like to see more of that. Yep, yep. So anything we can do to help out and push that forward. But anything else you'd like to share with our listeners about what you guys are doing or how they can help out, or if they have information, share it.

Eillie Bunting 4:29

Yeah, we've got several. Um, I should have brought them. Uh, we have the Jesse's posters ready. Okay. And that's the poster that Jesse Titus did of all the street signs that were on the island after the storm, and she did a fantastic job. Um, maybe I'll send you pictures, you can plug it in somewhere. Absolutely. And um, and then we make mugs individually. If you want your sign on a mug, we'll make that.

"Cabo" Jim 4:53

And then you've got a lot of those signs in your showing there in the building, yeah. That's a big part because when after I and people didn't know what road was what and people handmade these signs to tell each each other or people what road was what.

Eillie Bunting 5:09

So it was a very good, very good effort.

"Cabo" Jim 5:12

Very good.

Eillie Bunting 5:12

Um I hope we can preserve at least, you know, people that live on that street. Now we have every street that we have is on that poster.

"Cabo" Jim 5:22

Don't have every street on the island.

Eillie Bunting 5:23

Every street. Yeah, I think some people have have them in their garage. Right, right. You send me the picture. I don't really need the boat the sign.

"Cabo" Jim 5:31

Exactly.

Eillie Bunting 5:31

If I have a picture, then we can make the mugs and we can put it on, you know.

"Cabo" Jim 5:35

Exactly.

Eillie Bunting 5:35

So we eventually maybe we'll get more.

"Cabo" Jim 5:37

And I know there's a lot of people on the island too that, you know, uh through the hurricane or after the hurricane, found a lot of stuff in their yard. Oh, definitely. You know, and they've held on to some of that because they're like, oh, this was from this place, this was from that place. It's a sentimental meaning to it, but you know, stuff like that is important too.

Meetings, Museum Hours, And Volunteers

Eillie Bunting 5:56

It is, it is, and we've had people been very generous on giving us things that they find and you know, glasses and cups from different restaurants, yeah. Very good, very good. Any last words for our listeners today? Well, we encourage you to um join us. Yep. And uh we're having a meeting in April, I think it's April 8th. We're new new members. Okay, and we're gonna provide lunch, so we have more information on that coming out. Okay. But that's gonna kind of wrap up our season. And um hopefully Mankansas PS will be open in May.

"Cabo" Jim 6:31

That's true, that's coming soon, right?

Eillie Bunting 6:33

Then we'll start our regular. We haven't been open any any specific days because we don't know what's happening back there. Yeah, but once it opens, we're gonna go back to our at least Saturdays, be open on Saturdays and what hours you yeah, we usually nine, ten to twelve on Wednesday and Saturday. Okay, but again, we need people to be there and and uh keep it open. So we're working on that.

"Cabo" Jim 6:56

Volunteers, if you got nothing to do, come on down, help out. It's a great cause, you know. It's again preserving that history and the stories of the island, which are so important who we are today and where we came from. Exactly. So I appreciate everything you're doing for the society and uh look forward to supporting you. And I love that idea of the little stop and uh you know the little tour of the places gone by, right? Yep, that'll be fun. Well, very good. Well, thank you, Ellie. It's been a pleasure, and we'll see you down at the historic side soon. For sure. All right, take care.

Intro/Close 7:31

Thanks for sticking up a little sunshine with Roxie and the Fort Myers Beach Chamber. If you'd love today's local scoop, share this episode, leave a quick review, and follow for more island stories, and come join us every Friday at the Roxie Times Square on beautiful Fort Myers Beach. Also, nominate your favorite neighbors, local legends, heroes, or local show. Go to fmbgoodneighbor.com, fmbgoodneighbor.com, or call 239 427-4100.