December 15, 1996

Tarpon Tourney Revived Today's Chamber Of Commerce

The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce presented its 18th annual Christmas Parade Saturday at Punta Gorda, and it was the best yet.

The Silver King and the Goddess of Gab teamed up in 1937 to lay a solid foundation for today's Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. King was the fighting tarpon. The Goddess was the late Esther O. Jordan McCullough, first executive secretary of the county-wide Chamber.

Several groups preceded today's Chamber. Their rosters are a "Who's Who" of the leading business and professional men of their day.

A Punta Gorda Board of Trade was organized about the turn of the century. Members are unknown, but they aimed to promote the town and growth opportunities. The Punta Gorda Herald of 1908 reported that the Board had completed a year of "harmonious operation."

Things apparently had not gone as smoothly as reported. F.A. Whitney, president, declared: "However, there are some who would not be satisfied under any conditions. If the Almighty were to propose annexing Punta Gorda to Heaven, someone would vigorously protest that it must be annexed to Hell or nothing!"

Charlotte Harbor Town boosters organized a Board of Trade on New Year's Day 1913 to support a proposed Charlotte Harbor and East Coast Railroad. Officers were J. R. Mauck, president; John Hagan, secretary treasurer; and T. A. Stephens assistant secretary. Membership fee was 50 cents, monthly dues the same.

Two months later, the Punta Gorda board also endorsed the proposal. Members at that time were J. J. McCann, George S. Stone, S. F. J. Trabue, J. F. Corbett, J. G. Meyrick, T. B. Stephenson, J. W. Newman, R. C. Blount, R. C. Addison, Clay Porter, James Sandlin, E. W. Rountree, A. C. Jordan, Frank M. Cooper, J. E. VanCamp, H. L. Dotson, and J. K. McClelland. Their stand on the railroad venture was not popular because of concern about competition from across the bay.

Punta Gorda Council gave CH&ECR a franchise to lay track over a trestle bridge and along Nesbit Street to the Atlantic Coast Line, successor to the 1886 Florida Southern Railway. Despite this, investors failed to subscribe enough capital; and the project was abandoned. The boards of trade on both sides of the harbor faded away from loss of members who were either disappointed or disgusted.

Florida Land Boom

As the Florida Land Boom got underway, Punta Gorda merchants organized a Commercial Club. Its office was in the Masonic Temple on Sullivan Street behind today's Professional Building.

The Club distributed an illustrated pamphlet in October 1921 extolling the "Tropical Southwest Coast of Sunshine and Flowers." A broader outlook was indicated by the brochure's covers. The front one was headlined " Charlotte County," and the other "Punta Gorda." A footnote stated: "Published by the publicity committee of the Punta Gorda Commercial Club: A. C. Jordan (publisher- editor of the Herald.) Paul K. Garrett, D. N. McQueen, J. Mizell, and Wallace Chadman."

Organizer of the club, and its secretary, was Max Charles Price. He was an architect from Philadelphia who came to Punta Gorda in 1914 for his health. The Mrs. McCullough recalled in a recent memoir that Price was "an untiring worker for anything that was for the good of the community." He also was city manager and chairman of the Red Cross.

The Commercial Club changed its name to Chamber of Commerce in 1926 when it became involved -- along with the service clubs -- in bringing a hospital to Punta Gorda.

The land boom collapsed with the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression. Punta Gorda Chamber faded as many members were bankrupted and the rest struggled to stay open. Its last secretary was Nell Linquish.

Businessmen tried to revive the Chamber in 1932. Officers were Farquson "Jimmie" Johnson, president; Frank F. Forth, vice-president; Phil B. Huguenin, treasurer; and Ray Moore, secretary. The office was in the rear of the Punta Gorda State Bank on the southwest corner of Marion and King streets. The Chamber entrance was on King Street.

The effort was premature. Not many members joined. A last push for membership was launched in May 1934. The Herald reported:

"A representative crowd of 25 or 30 citizens of the city and county was present at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters Monday night for the purpose of reorganizing that body which has been more or less inactive for sometime past.

"The reorganization was effected by election of the following officers: R. K. Seward, president re-elected; Frank Rigell, vice-president; Phil Huguenin, treasurer re-elected; Miss Nell Linquish, secretary re-elected.

"Directors elected were Jennings Rehwinkel, Max Price, Dan F. Gibbons, W. H. Johnson, G. C. Persons, and Byron Rhode. Paul K. Garrett was chosen publicity director.

"The board of county commissioners and city commission will be asked to make substantial appropriations for support of the organization's work."

Unfortunately the county and city had no money beyond bare necessities. Neither did enough businessmen. Once again the Chamber languished.

Finally ten business men gathered on May 10, 1937, and each donated $25 as start-up funds for an expanded Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. They were W. R. DeLoach, W. F. Rigell, Earl D. Farr, Fred B. King, Charles S. Steele, E. H. Smith, G. C. Persons, J. W. Coleman, Dan F. Gibbons, and Clarence Coleman. DeLoach was elected president, and Rigell vice-president. The others constituted a board of directors.

Hire Executive Secretary

DeLoach prevailed upon Esther, the vivacious wife of Dr. Vernon Jordan (a dentist who later died) to take on the job of executive secretary at $10 a week.

"The office equipment consisted of an old desk, chair, beat-up typewriter and empty literature rack," said Esther. "My first job was to go around to the hotels and restaurants collecting folders for the rack. I was supposed to work just a half-day, but that lasted only the first day. I got so busy that I worked full time on my own."

Esther, already active in community and church affairs, liked the challenge and meeting people. Her enthusiasm in describing the advantages of Charlotte County earned her the nickname "Goddess of Gab." A letter so addressed was promptly delivered by the post office.

The tarpon run that year was particularly active. Near record catches prompted local sportsmen to call for a tarpon fishing tournament similar to others in previous years. Esther McCullough said the reaction of Chamber members. "It was too late to organize a tournament for 1937, but they recognized the value such a contest might have in attracting tourists.

"I prepared a folder publicizing a 1938 Charlotte Harbor tarpon tournament and sent copies to all the names on local hotel registers. The event was to run from May 15 to August 31. Prizes ranging from fishing lures to trophy cups were donated by Chamber members.

"The Dutch Kitchen donated 20 small cups for fishermen who caught tarpons weighing 100 pounds. The Charlotte Bay Hotel gave a silver cup for the largest tarpon caught. "The J. T. Manning Hardware trophy went to the woman catching the largest tarpon.

"The Sparks Tackle Shop cup was for the individual catching the most tarpons in one day. The Eagles Nest Lodge trophy was given for the most tarpons caught by one person during the tournament. A midas-metal cup was donated by Bright Spot Texaco Service for the last tarpon caught.

"There were separate prizes for local fishermen and visitors. All contestants had to register and be accompanied by professional guides. There was no fee for anglers, but guides paid $5. The tarpon had to be caught on rod and reel and brought to gaff without help.

"Tarpons were weighed and displayed in front of our office on King Street. Chamber members were on hand day and night as judges.

"Lucius White, Western Union Telegraph office manager, caught the first tarpon; but he had neglected to register so his 72-inch catch was disqualified. He gave us the tarpon.

"We removed all its scales that were four inches wide. Then I soaked them in bleaching solution, pressed them flat and stamped the Chamber address on them for souvenirs. They were snapped up," says Mrs. McCullough.

Tournament Winners

"One of the remarkable catches was that of 13-year-old Frances Beard of Savannah, Georgia. She caught three tarpon one day weighing 95, 88 and 35 pounds respectively. The largest weighed 10 pounds more than she did."

The Herald reported tournament winners. In the visitor division, the largest tarpon, 124 pounds, was gaffed by Richard DeCoskey of Elyria, Ohio; largest by a woman, 112 pounds, by Mrs. Joseph Amon of Rahway, N.J.; most in one day, 4, by R. Merill of North Carolina; most during tournament, 5, by Ewing Carter of Alabama; last tarpon, on August 31, by Mrs. Verhaag of Chicago.

County attorney Earl Farr dominated the local division. He caught the largest tarpon, 115 pounds; the most, 9; most in one day, 3; and last.

More than 100 anglers from 13 states participated.

"Because of the tournament success, Chamber directors raised my salary to $20 a week. We had three more tarpon tournaments but discontinued them after 1941 because of gas rationing during World War II," said Esther.

"I resigned so I could help my husband in his dental office after his technician left. The war effort created a great shortage of workers. Lois Barnhill took on the job as Chamber executive secretary, and she was followed by Dodice Salmon.

"The tarpon tournaments put the Chamber on its feet, and it has not faltered since," said Mrs. McCullough.

The Christmas parade was begun in 1978 and has grown steadily in size, quality and popularity ever since. The Grand Marshal's selection for the float most aptly representing this year's theme -- "An American Christmas" -- was the Boots In-line Dance Club. Its huge float depicted a country village surrounded by a grove of lollipop trees.

The Charlotte Regional Medical Center creation of a Mississippi River steam boat -- complete with rotating paddle wheel -- was chosen for special recognition.

The Conquistadores' new galleon with its loud cannon was a crowd pleaser.

Habitat For Humanity planned to construct a large, model home while enroute in the parade. At the last minute, however, it was decided that the project might be dangerous to carry out on a moving float. Therefore, the volunteer carpenters built the structure while parked in the Memorial Auditorium parking lot before the parade started.

The Grand Marshal, your writer, was accompanied in the official lead car by a future Miss America -- Cona Garman, his nine-year-old grand-daughter who is a pupil at Sallie Jones School.

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Photo courtesy of Charlotte Harbor Area Historical Society

Champion angler of the 1938 Chamber of Commerce tarpon tournament was Earl Farr, posing here with his prize catch and son Drayton.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers