Irving Moxley Jones posing by a rail fence on Naples beach, c1920, in typical sporting dress of the day. Pine trees in background.

Naples pier, c1920.

Caption along bottom edge reads "Gulf at Naples bath houses".  Shows bath houses at foot of the Naples pier.    Luggage cart rails visible down center of pier boardwalk, c1910.

Mamie Tooke sitting in her Bank of Naples office.  Photo taken December 28, 1976. She made history as its first female president in 1955. When Barnett Bank merged with Bank of Naples in 1974, she remained its president.

A native of Lake City, Florida, Mamie became president of the Bank of Naples in 1955 and served as the first woman director of the Naples Chamber of Commerce. A tireless booster for the city, she worked on practically every civic cause and fundraising project launched in Naples over the next 20 years, including the Naples Community Hospital, Garden Club, Naples Community Concert Association and Naples Woman's Club.

Les and Bea Bronson.

Mamie Tooke was the first woman to serve as Director of the Chamber of Commerce and as bank president (Bank of Naples) in the State of Florida. 

Naples' first mayor Speed Menefee.

Naples Mayor Archie Turner.

Naples' first Chief of Police Cale Jones.

Ted Yates.

Tom and Grace Truesdale.  Tom was a Naples contractor who was named President of the Rotary Club in 1959.  Grace was Collier County's first female realtor and broker. 

John and Jane Volka.

Horace and Mildred Wright.

Helaine Forman.

Alexandra and Lawrence Brown.  For more information, http://www.naples-florida.com/browns-of-naples.htm.

1938: While visiting Palm Beach, Florida, Mr. and Mrs. Sample came to Naples, FL to inspect the possibilities of retirement in that area.  They liked the area and ultimately arranged to have a winter home in what became Port Royal.

1938-50: Sample bought approximately two square miles in what became Port Royal.  He chose the name “Port Royal” for the lore of the 17^th century Jamaican city where pirates caroused.  His vision was a community for all ages.  The bond for residents was a desire to live a “quiet way of life”.

Benny Morris at the White Pelican. 

Benjamin W. Morris arrived in Naples in 1936 and ran the Old Cove Restaurant and Pub that was located in Crayton Cove.  In a December 1965 "Holiday Times" magazine article, Morris owned sixty-five pleasure boats in his lifetime.  The current one mentioned was the "Big Dipper."  However, the one that impresses most Neapolitans was the "Mangrove King," a scow with a topdeck cupola that was reached by steps and ladders.  Its canopy was a striped vegetable table peddler's umbrella.  Source: Holiday Times, December 1965 magazine p.191.

Nettie Lou and Roland Staley.

"Chic" Coleman.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Watkins, Sr. 

In late 1946, Henry B. Watkins Sr., a 56-year old retired toy manufacturer from Ohio, bought the Naples Beach Club Hotel along with its golf course. Watkins Sr. then proceeded to create a new beach resort between the golf course and the Gulf of Mexico – the site of the current resort. The pleasure that he received through the enjoyment of his guests and his pure love of the game of golf, all added in his decision to purchase the property.  Source: naplesbeachhotel.com