Heart of Hendry Celebration

On Wednesday, November 18, 2009, the Lee Trust for Historic Preservation will host “The Heart of Hendry”, a celebration on Hendry Street between Main and Second Streets, highlighting historic preservation on this block.  Festivities will begin near the Coley Westbrook building and continue as partygoers “dine and tour around” the block getting an inside view at examples of historic restoration in the River District.

The Heart of Hendry will also mark the grand opening of the Seminole Lodge and the grand re-opening of the Coley Westbrook Building. The Lee Trust for Historic Preservation and several local businesses will celebrate the historic restoration, the renaming of the Courtyard Shops to Peeples Court, the reopening of The Bar Association Bistro & Lounge, and hold open houses for the public. Participating businesses include planning and engineering firm DeLisi Fitzgerald, public information and consulting firm Cella Molnar & Associates, and document management company Lit & More. .

Attendees will have the opportunity to win a dinner for four at the Bar Association Bistro and Lounge by visiting the various businesses participating in the event.

Seminole Lodge puts native history on display

Seminole Lodge is a historical museum created by Woody Hanson showcasing his family collection of Seminole-Miccosukee history.  His grandfather, the late W. Stanley Hanson or the “White Medicine Man” as the tribe called him, collected photos and heirlooms while being welcomed into the lives of the Florida natives. Famous for his life’s work in the tribe, he was both an anthropologist and an advocate for the tribes. Now, Woody Hanson invites the public to view his grandfather’s artifacts and enjoy the history of Florida at the Seminole Lodge.

Coley Westbrook Building a significant part of Fort Myers history

The Coley Westbrook Building was built in 1946 by George Lundquist and housed Coley’s, the store that served as the place to go for clothing for all occasions through the 1970s. The building was named after store founder and owner, John Coley Westbrook Jr. It was expanded in the 1950’s by Wheeler Brothers General Contractors, L. Edgar Wheeler and Sherman T. Wheeler, and restored over the past two years by L. Edgar Wheeler’s grandson Howard Wheeler, President of  Chris-Tel Construction.

DeLisi Fitzgerald principal Dan DeLisi says the building’s historical significance is what attracted his firm to relocate there three months ago. “As we seek to play a role in continuing to plan and shape the community, it’s important that we remember and give a nod to the past,” he says. “We’re proud to have the heart of our business in a building that’s part of the original heart of Fort Myers.”

1629-31 Hendry Street building returned to original grandeur

The building at 1629-31 Hendry Street was built in 1925.  Research indicates that Ryals Drug store occupied it in 1935, and between 1957 and 1994 it was Parker Book Store’s storage and display case and was owned by Douglas H. and Patricia Parker.  In 1995, Thomas Evan undertook a major renovation on the building and connected the original building in the front to a block building at the rear of the property and it became home to Mama Bella’s Restaurant. In the years following, the restaurant changed hands to Tropical Breeze Café, Downtown Fort Myers Pizza and then Ricardo’s Restaurant.  In July 2005, Kris Cella and Kaye Molnar set out on an adventure to completely restore the building to its original 1925 appearance.  Now home to Cella Molnar & Associates and Lit & More, it is a shining example of historic preservation and reuse.

The Heart of Hendry celebration runs from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. on November 18, and is free and open to the public.  For more information about the Heart of Hendry celebration, visit www.leetrust.org.