July 24, 1994

Tucker's Grade And Webb Wildlife Mark Legends

With thanks to Leo Wotitzky, Kathy Hindman-Kartz, U.S. Cleveland, and Larry Campbell.

FIRST OF TWO PARTS
click here for second part

Travelers on Interstate 75 at exit 27 south east of Punta Gorda often wonder about the men whose names survive on road-side signs marking Tucker's Grade and the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area. Both men were legends in their own times. Their sagas begin at a cattle corral known as Willow Pens near a cypress swamp halfway between Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and State Road 31 (formerly Dixie Highway).

The area was opened to homesteaders in 1908. Approximately 12 settlers -- cow hunters, truck farmers and turpentiners -- took up acreage along a cattle trail through the vast pine forest, prairies and cypress swamps.

Moving cattle in Florida was much different from the technique used out on the great plains of Texas. The dense forests of Florida prevented gathering cattle in herds that would stay together at night. Cows could too easily wander off into the thickets.

Consequently holding pens were constructed along a cow path -- about a day's journey apart -- to keep cattle during the night. Willow Pens consisted of several holding areas strategically located to docks at Punta Gorda and to Punta Rassa south of Fort Myers.

A story in the Punta Gorda Herald of May 1913 gives us an insight into the homesteading process:

"The homesteaders of Willow Pens and Bermont are Beginning to prove up their claims. Several have already done so. Christian J. Schultz and George C. Hartman are among those gentlemen undertaking to prove up more recently. Mr. Shultz makes the commutation proof, while Mr. Hartman makes 5-year proof."

Homesteaders could obtain title to their land upon proving they had built a home with a door and window, cultivated at least three acres, and lived on the property at least three months of three consecutive years within five years following issuance of a "patent." These requirements could be commuted (reduced) by payment of some money, or by performance of some public service such as building a road or bridge. A little farther west -- at the intersection today of Tamiami Trail and Green Gulf Blvd. -- another village of homesteaders was taking root along the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The Herald reported in June 1913:

"TUCKER'S WOODS -- This section is thriving. C.P. Stanton has his house completed and enclosed with a fence and will soon move into it.

"Charles Richmond has moved into his house and is clearing ground for crops. "Charles McWilliams has the timber for a house now on the ground and is getting things in shape as fast as possible to move out and take up his residence.

"G. Johnson has set up his tent on his claim and is ditching, grubbing and making ready to build." Mrs. W.T. Morgan and Miss Ruth Nelson have taken up their residence on the Morgan claim.

"John Boyle has been out from Punta Gorda locating a building site on his father's claim and clearing up same."

Among the homesteaders was a Punta Gorda businessman named Capt. Allen B. Tucker. He also was an officer in the Florida Militia. It was common practice for town people to file homestead claims inasmuch as the three-month residence was not onerous and was generally overlooked anyway. The state was anxious to get marginal land on the tax rolls.

In addition to a homestead claim, Tucker bought other large tracts along the Willow Pens path.

With so much growth, the old cattle trail was woefully inadequate. Tucker undertook to fix this problem, along with other DeSoto County country roads south of Charlotte Harbor.

Charlotte County was not to be split off from DeSoto until 1921. Folks south of the harbor felt they were neglected in favor of Arcadia. Tucker and other civic leaders prevailed upon the county commission to issue bonds for road construction in the Punta Gorda area -- as noted by the Herald in February 1915:

"Secretary A.B. Tucker, of the trustees of the Punta Gorda special road and bridge district, visited Arcadia in an official capacity on Saturday.

"He reports that the purchasers of the bonds have called for the balance of the issue amounting to $117,000. This is the last call, taking up the entire issue of $200,000. Draft has been made for the amount involved, and it is expected to have the funds in hand in due time."

Shortly after this, work began on a "grade" (road with drainage ditches) along the east-west boundary line between townships 41 and 42. Because of Tucker's close association with the effort, and his large property holdings along the route, his name became attached to the road through common usage.

The road was more important, however, than a convenient route to Punta Gorda's market and shipping facilities.

There was no bridge across the wide Caloosahatchee River at Fort Myers. The nearest one was up river at Telegraph Station (now Olga). This was a narrow place in the river where cattle could swim across, and a telephone line could span it. A maintenance way known as Wire Road paralleled the Interocean Telegraph Line from Arcadia to Olga. The line continued on to Fort Myers and Punta Rassa and thence to Cuba over the world's first undersea cable in 1867.

Wire Road -- now State Route 31 -- was the stage coach route between Arcadia and Fort Myers. It also was the only route available for "horseless carriages" which became popular after World War I.

Today's Tamiami Trail and bridge across the lower Caloosahatchee was not built until 1924. Thus, Tucker's Grade and Wire Road was the main route between Punta Gorda and Fort Myers.

With good access north and south, the settlers along Tucker's Grade prospered -- as disclosed by an article in the January 1920 issue of the Herald:

"The farmers of Willow Pens Township south of Punta Gorda met last Saturday evening and organized a farmers' institute.

"The meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Hertzke, a large number of farmers being present, and the gathering was an enthusiastic one.

"C. Overholser and Mrs. Hertzke both made interesting talks, after which the following officers were elected: George Yobst, president; C. Overholser, secretary; and Tony Rudin treasurer. Godfrey Belor and Mr. Madden were elected reporting committee.

"After the business meeting, refreshments were served and a social hour enjoyed. The next meeting will be at the home of Mr. Yobst."

In a separate article, Yobst extolled the advantages of Willow Pens:

"George Yobst, a well known farmer of the Willow Pens section, says that if truckers fail to make money in Florida, it is the fault of the man and not the country.

"He has had a successful Fall season raising peppers, beans, cucumbers and sweet potatoes. He is now preparing for a spring crop of beans and cucumbers.

"Yobst has been farming in Florida for nearly seven years. He is considering buying a truck to haul his stuff to the (railroad) station." The Seaboard Air Line Railway had a loading dock called Tucker's Woods on Tucker's Grade. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad also had a dock at the western end of Tucker's grade near a village variously called Broadbent, Lester or Rogers.

"Yobst homesteaded, but as he had never received his last naturalization papers has not received the patent for his land. He says the recent frost did no damage of any moment in his neighborhood."

The intersection of Tucker's Grade and S.R. 31 was known as Tucker's Corner. John T. Rose kept a general store there. The grade at this point is now closed by a fence opposite the entrance to Babcock Ranch. In the mid-1920s, the grade was extended east to Glades County through the ranch.

Visitors tour the ranch on part of the old Tucker's Grade through Telegraph Swamp -- the latter so named because of its proximity to the Interocean line.

The first leg of Tucker's grade traverses the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area and is open to hunters and wildlife watchers with a permit and a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Next Week: Cecil Webb Wildlife Area

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers

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Photo by Lindsey Williams

Larry Campbell, biologist manager for the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, points out the site of a former homestead at Willow Pens.

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Photo courtesy of the Charlotte Harbor Area Historical Society.

Allen B. Tucker was a prominent Punta Gorda business man, civic leader and charter member of the Rotary Club. He is seated, third from left, with other charter members.