 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
1. A brief history of the city - how it started, how it has grown, its main functions, key people involved etc.
As much as 14,000 years ago people were living in a much wider, much cooler Florida. So much water was still held in the glaciers that Florida was twice as wide as what it is today and megafauna such as saber tooth tigers, mammoths, giant sloths, horses and other large animals roamed the land. In the 16th century, when Spanish explorers reached the SWFL shoreline, the Calusa indians were the first people they encountered. The Calusa could tell right away that the Spanish were there to pillage their lands and resources and take over as if the area was their own. The Calusa were resourceful people though, thriving on the SWFL environment hunting deer, bear, raccoon, possum and others and using their canoes to ride up and down the Caloosahatchee. The two met and violence ensued, eventually leading many deaths including Ponce de Leon who died in Havana due to his wounds. However, two Jesuit missions were established by the Spanish only due to their ability to provide goods for trade. When they ran out of supplies at the Calusa capital (now Mound Key in Estero Bay), the missionaries would be forced to go home.
The Caloosahatchee River was named by the Seminole Indians in the late 18th century as a tribute to the Calusa Indians--a sign of respect. Due to European diseases, when Florida came under the control of the English, the Calusa people were dwindling in 1763. The few that were left are believed to have fled to Cuba.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
Fort Myers was orginally named Fort Harvie in 1841 during the Second Seminole War, but was later abandoned in 1842. However, it was eventually reestablished as Fort Myers when General David Twiggs named the city as a wedding gift to his future son in law, Abraham Meyers. After playing an important role in the Third Seminole War, Fort Myers was occupied by the Black Federal Troops in the Civil War when Florida was actually opposed to slavery despite being obviously in the south.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
The cattle industry thrived in Fort Myers and cattle were allowed to roam freely until 1908. After surviving in the heat, humidity, storms and bugs, this 'scrub cattle' was herded by early pioneers along Jacob Summerlin's ranch and Punta Rassa on what would become McGregor Boulevard (which is under construction again for the 43248th time). Eventually, most of this cattle was sold to Cuba for a better price.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
The waterfront originally came up to what is now Bay Street. This waterfront was crucial in the transfer of citrus, vegetables and fish out of the area. It wasn't until 1904 that the railroad finally came to Fort Myers, thus opening an entire new passageway into and out of the city. There was eventually a land-extension project originally intended for Sarasota that was miscommunicated to FM that extended the waterfront out to where it currently is.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
The Fathers of Industry, Edison, Ford and Firestone, all vacationed down here and eventually these great minds hatched an even greater plan: Edison would produce the rubber that Firestone needed for his tires that would be put on Ford's Model T. Later on, Edison Mall was built to honor Edison in 1964 but drew people away from Downtown Fort Myers (where they would usually shop) because Edison Mall became a huge, central shopping center. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates are on McGregor Blvd. and have an awesome Christmas display and are full of fun facts and history.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
2. What did you learn from the field trip about:
a) How the city government has addressed environmental issues - parks, water, buildings etc.
The city has tried to marry city life and the natural environment in keeping Downtown intimate and away from the feelings that so many big, concrete cities posses. For example, the Palm Park, which houses palms from all around the word, creates a nice, open, green space that promotes environmental literacy and peaks people's interest. It's break from the brick buildings and is just a short walk away from the waterfront. The fountains do aerate the water and likewise provide a beautiful focal point. The designed even incorporated the railing to resemble mangroves. The brick on the roads is utilized for aesthetic purposes and to promote walking (instead of noisy, carbon dioxide polluting driving) and to slow people down for some time.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
b) The conflicts between efforts of environmental, historical and economic forces in the decision making about the city functions
There will always be a dichotomy of forces present in Downtown--those that want the 'boom' in economic and tourist growth, and those that wish to keep the intimacy and history of the niche downtown area. A prime example is the 50 States Hall which I believe was originally a gathering place for people like Edison, Ford and Firestone for a night out and has been relocated to its location overlooking the water. However, no one has stepped up to the plate in terms of restoration and it just rots there. It sits on a prime piece of real estate and many people are fighting to have it demolished to build a lucrative hotel or restaurant to bring more business to the area. This would inevitably create a huge 'boom' and DTFM would never be the same again.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
3. How can you apply aspects of biophobia, biophilia and topophilia in the city?
Biophobia is definitely present in the faces of the people that want to tame the outside and refresh and refurbish everything to make it shiny, new and modern. However, at that cost, they destroy the historical significance of the area as well as many of the native species. For example, for the prior extension of the waterfront, thousands of mangroves had to have been destroyed for construction. These mangroves are vital to shoreline protection and without them, the coastal areas are left bare. Biophilia is present in people mending of modern + the outside in the eyes of the Eagle Structure. This huge oak tree was so badly infested with termites and beyond repair, that the city commissioned an artist to turn it in to a work of art. It thereby kept the environmental aspect, while also opening up the area some. I personally strongly embody the topophilia aspect because I am proud of where I'm fun and always look forward to showing off the Downtown area to my out of state friends as a neat place to hang out.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
4. How does the learning on the city relate to the readings and the course objectives
Getting us out of the classroom and seeing Fort Myer's own interpretation of sustainability is a vital component to this course. In terms of the nature deficit disorder readings, exploring Downtown on our scavenger hunt was a fun way to destress and get into where we are living and learning. I'm sure there were a few people that may now envision Downtown as their sense of place as it is a decent blend of modernized and natural--a place that is true to its roots but not afraid to be forward thinking.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
5. Anything else of interest to include in your journal?
I enjoyed the field trip because I have grown up in the area but have not necessarily have heard all the different factoids before. It was neat to hear that the different art columns outside of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center are all written in different languages and that the building is half limestone and half brick because the city ran out of money. It was neat to see the Time Capsule that the city established in 1987 because maybe I'll be around when they open it again and I'd want to see what was placed in it shortly before I was born. I also didn't know about the fountain where baby gators were place in it to attract the kids while the moms shopped--I was even more shocked that idea was even put into place, albeit for a short amount of time nonetheless. I had fun on this field trip because it was examining something I've alway been comfortable with in a new light.
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
 |
(Photo: Lauren Lukasik)
|
 |
| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
Comments
Post a Comment