Specialties include first editions, autographs and ephemera of all sorts, comic books and vintage magazines. The railroad started as a 3 ft 914 mm narrowgauge line running south from denver, colorado in 1870. The bed linens were comfortable and the water pressure for showering excellent and we truly enjoyed the enclosed lanai. The charlotte harbor and northern railroad not only brought phosphate and supplies to gasparilla island. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. The northern portion of the path runs on the former right of way of the charlotte harbor and northern railway, which operated on gasparilla island from 1907. The tampaboca grande train was popular even after the automobile starting eroding passenger traffic. The boca raton historical society is committed to preserving the rich history of boca raton through education, preservation, exhibits, tours and special events. Discover librarianselected research resources on railroad history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Here the latest of derek hayess historical atlases delves into the history of the. Gasparilla was the nickname of jose gaspar, the last of the buccaneers, a famous pirate. Aug 09, 2000 the discovery of phosphate deposits in the region and the introduction of the railroad soon increased the pace of life, and a thriving port was built on the islands south end. The tampa boca grande train was popular even after the automobile starting eroding passenger traffic.
Denver and rio grande railroad,rare books, western americana. Explore the islands history as a fishing village in this late 19thcentury lighthouse. As the twentieth century dawned and the florida boom loomed on the horizon, the town of boca grande began to hum with the activity of a rapidly growing population. Hotels near boca grande beach, port charlotte charlotte harbor. We have plucked from obscurity 30 fascinating books most of them outofprint about railways from cairo to new south wales to yosemite encompassing engineering, history, industry, photography, policing. Whether youre a visitor, a newcomer, or a longtime resident of boca raton, you owe it to yourself to learn more about our rich history. The railroad brought wealthy visitors and, just three years later, boca grande. For old florida island idyll, head to boca grande sarasota.
By 1910 boca grande pass was already famous for its unequaled tarpon fishing among fishermen, who stayed on nearby useppa island. Boca grande community barrier island parks society. Mar 01, 2018 for old florida island idyll, head to boca grande boca grandethat idyllic oldflorida town on gasparilla island south of englewoodretains its smalltown charms while the rest of southwest. But despite a late start, railroads forever transformed this beautiful region of the sunshine state and connected its people to the outside world. The history of boca grande florida is steeped in discovery, dating back to 5000.
The charlotte harbor and northern railway is a historic railroad line that at its greatest extent serviced gasparilla island in charlotte harbor and a major. She and our mother instilled in us a love of books, and this beautiful library. As an official cooperating organization with state parks, the nonprofit california state railroad museum foundation is dedicated to enhancing the educational and interpretive programs of the california state railroad museum and railtown 1897 state historic park. Amory ran the book boat, a traveling library that visited the. Schwieterman forward by senator dick durbin truman state university press personally signed by the author. The discovery of phosphate deposits in the region and the introduction of the railroad soon increased the pace of life. The discovery of phosphate deposits in the region and the introduction of the railroad soon increased the pace of life, and a thriving port was built on the islands south end. Joint truckee donner railroad society truckee donner historical society tour did you know there had been four logging railroads north of boca reservoir.
The next history bytes lecture will be on wednesday, feb. At the boca grande community there is a meeting room whose plaque reads arthur a. Book appraisers on abebooks abebooks shop for books. Built, stocked with books, and donated to the citizens of boca grande in 1950 by roger amory. The railroad archives boca grande historical society. It was named after the man who financed johannes guttenbergs 15th century invention of the moveable type. Arthur houghton was a winter resident of boca grande along with his wife nina for many years. The book that i feel is the best railroad history ever published goes to don hofsommers the quannah route. Come aboard as a passenger and meet the train crew members at work. Judge wilson mccarthy and the rescue of the denver and rio grande western railroad by will. We specialize in railroad books, train books, train dvds, military, tanks, trucks, automobiles, aviation, motorcycles, buses, tractors, ships, locomotives, calendars. Local area guide shopping on boca grande gasparilla vacations. For old florida island idyll, head to boca grande boca grandethat idyllic oldflorida town on gasparilla island south of englewoodretains its smalltown charms while the rest of.
All the ceiling fans were great for air circulation. After the sal takeover the train continued to run until the late 1950s. Boca grande, florida news newspapers books scholar jstor march 2011 learn how and when to remove this template message. It was a threestory, brick resort hotel where most of the island weathered the hurricane of 1944. We specialize in railroad books, train books, train dvds, military, tanks, trucks, automobiles, aviation, motorcycles, buses, tractors, ships, locomotives, calendars and all forms of transportation books and dvds. Gasparilla island is a part of both charlotte and lee counties, while the actual village of boca grande, which is home to many seasonal and some yearround residents, is entirely in the lee county portion of the island. Home browse science and technology technology transportation railroad history. The railroad barons, the gilded age, and the greatest labor. Arizona hobbies selection of railroad books is divided into three main subcategories to help the customer see all titles available for a specific railroad company, geographic location or subject.
In 1929 the boca grande hotel was built south of 1st st. List of books and articles about railroad history online. Soon, the village of boca grande was developed, and winter residences were built for upper class families from the northern states. Jul 26, 2003 great overview of the famed rio grande railroad. These are the routes that formed the narrow gauge system and never were converted to standard gauge. By 1905 it was felt that building a railroad to port boca grande and carrying. Really enjoyed touring the lighthouse and leaning about its history including the phosphate mining and railroad that were a huge part of the economy. Signature press has been publishing highquality railroad history books since 1993. Boca express train museum tours are on hiatus at this time. Houghton jr reference room dedicated february 21, 1991 for the purpose of stimulating the young to read and for the use and enjoyment of all islanders. Denver and rio grande railroad,rare books, western. Jelks was born and grew up in port boca grande or, as she calls it, south dock during the 1930s and 1940s one of two black communities on the island. When you stay in our vacation homes in boca grande and gasparilla island, florida. Lighthouse and beach, history and fungreat combination.
Closed until further notice to keep our community safe and to protect the public during this pandemic. Aug 28, 2015 to find out more about the history of gasparilla island and the town of boca grande, visit the boca grande historical societys museum and gift shop at 170 park avenue or at their website at. Gasparilla island has a vibrant history that began more than 2,000 years ago. Americas long romance with the train has been the subject of many books, but none has used contemporary maps to comprehensively illustrate the story. Cottage in boca grandes famous historic district boca. The train stopped at gasparilla, the fishing village at the north end of the island, at the railroad depot in downtown boca grande, and at the south end phosphate terminal.
Experience an exciting nostalgic tour about the glamorous days of train travel via living history interpreters. With vintage photographs, postcards, and other memorabilia culled from such sources as the boca grande lighthouse museum, the boca grande historical society, the boca beacon, and the collections of many local families, this delightful retrospective will take readers, both residents and visitors alike, on an entertaining journey through the. When the first iron horse arrived in southwest floridaat charlotte harbor in 1886nearly 150,000 miles of railroads already existed in america, the transcontinental route was open, and pullman sleeping cars were in wide use. Publishers of railroad history books signature press. Railroad books, colorado, rare books, western americana. It is at the end of the road, just like key west, but far less known, and has some of the same quirkiness and bohemian nature that is typical of key west and other florida end of the road towns. Boca raton historical society boca museum history of. Gasparilla island was, in its early history, the site of a small fishing village and a. Visit the history center boca grande historical society. The charlotte harbor and northern railway was first chartered in 1897 as the alafia, manatee, and gulf coast railroad. The rio grande railroad initially carried much of the commerce destined for northern mexico. It was named after the man who financed johannes guttenbergs 15th century invention of the moveable type printing press which made mass publishing possible. Boca ratons fec train depot boca express train museum. Boca grande pass, a natural deepwater inlet at the south end of gasparilla island, was seen as the perfect place for a deepwater port to simplify the process of shipping phosphate.
Karens books offers transportation books and videos at discount prices delivered right to your door. Add to cart boca grande a series of historical essays front cover. Boca grande history boca grande area chamber of commerce. In 1929 the boca grande hotel was built just south of downtown boca grande. In the great railroad revolution, renowned railroad expert christian wolmar tells the extraordinary story of the rise and the fall of the greatest of all american endeavors, and argues that the time has come for america to reclaim and celebrate its oftenoverlooked rail heritage. Mbi books are always good historical writings and author j. This was our fourth or fifth trip to boca grande and this lodging spot gets our vote as the best. An official, 1940 system map of the seaboard air line railroad. Find 41 photos of the 1600 e railroad ave home on zillow. Boca grande is a place that most floridians have never visited. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. It is a successor and enlargement of central valley railroad publications, and has acquired rights to more than fifty former titles of howellnorth, darwin and superior railroad books. Transcontinental railroad books in print and videotapes. Sep, 2016 at the boca grande community there is a meeting room whose plaque reads arthur a.
Railroad books, colorado, rare books, old maps, photographs, western americana, colorado history, arizona, new mexico, wyoming, utah, gold mining, transcontinental. Rio grande railroad the authority on texas history. Chuck and pat agles will tell the story of how the boca grande historical society came to be, and others will add their memories as well. The boca grande historical society and museum, 2006. Come browse our extensive selection of custom tied flies, books, luggage. Collectible railroad books the car might be king today but thousands of devoted writers have ensured the railroads will never be forgotten. The gasparilla inn was built by railroad executives and was first open for the 191112 season.
While most who lived at the port worked there, those who lived in town worked for the railroad and in private. Book appraisers on abebooks abebooks shop for books, art. However, the completion of railroads to laredo diverted much of this traffic, and for many years the rio grande operated a daily mixed train between the two cities to carry freight, passengers, mail. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. Plenty of bw and color photos go along with the written material of its history. It provided transportation across the sound for trains crossing to boca grande. In 1911, the first hotel, the gasparilla inn, opened, and the island became a major vacation destination for the elite from tampa, fort myers, 1 and new england. View more property details, sales history and zestimate data on zillow. Boca grande is a small residential community on gasparilla island in southwest florida. Train, railroad, transportation books from karens books. The history of boca grande florida is steeped in discovery, dating back to 5000 b.
Life on gasparilla island once had a very different rhythm. Book your stay boca grande beach hotels with us at travelocity and enjoy the. By 1910 boca grande pass was already famous for its unequaled tarpon fishing among fishermen, who stayed on nearby useppa. It served mainly as a transcontinental bridge line between denver, and salt lake city, utah. A new magnificent railroad depot was built for the tourist to debark at boca grande and there was a stop at the gasparilla fish camp on the north end. The railroad brought wealthy visitors and, just three years later, boca grande pass had established itself as a worldclass tarpon fishing destination. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum virtual bookstore. It was filled with detailed information about abandoned lines, discontinuance of the san juan passenger train and the rio grande southern all the stuff i wanted to know a lot more about. Denver and rio grande railroad, colorado, denver and rio grande western, books, antiquarian books, old maps, old photographs, cabinet cards, stereo views, gold mining. The other was in the area of palm avenue between 1st and 3rd streets. Bradley, who created the american agricultural chemicals company, secured the charter for the line in 1905, and renamed it the charlotte harbor and northern railway. The rio grande started as a narrow gauge railroad, and even after the core lines had been converted to standard gauge, maintained an extensive three foot network throughout the mountains of southern and central colorado.
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