Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Maud Street Dock
At one time there were as many as seven companies that operated the fish packing houses on the Maud Street Dock. By the mid-1930s, three packing houses remained: the Punta Gorda Fish Company, the West Coast Fish Company, and the Rose Fishing Company. The pier was also occupied by the Gulf Oil Company and Matt Week’s Boat Shop.
In 1939, a fire destroyed the packing plants. John Willis, the houseman for the Punta Gorda Fish Company, his wife Rosalie, and their three-year-old son Edwin, perished in the fire. The West Coast Fish Company folded, but the Punta Gorda Fish Company continued to operate. In the mid-1940s, as the fishing industry declined further, a small crab packing plant was built on the pier, later expanding to include shrimp.
Over time, the dock and remaining buildings fell into disrepair, and in the late 1970s, the city council moved to permit its reuse as a shopping and dining attraction. In February of 1980, Fishermen’s Village opened on this site.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 26° 55.7′ N, 82° 3.783′ W. Marker is in Punta Gorda, Florida, in Charlotte County. It is in Fishermen's Village. Marker can be reached from West Retta Esplanade near Maud Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 W Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda FL 33950, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The King Street Railroad Dock (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Fish Dock Transformed to "Fishermen's Village" (within shouting distance of this marker); Punta Gorda's Fishing Industry (within shouting distance of this marker); Sport Fishing (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Spanish Anchor (within shouting distance of this marker); Theodore Roosevelt Sport Fishing in Charlotte Harbor (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Boating History of Punta Gorda (about 500 feet away); The Long Dock (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Punta Gorda.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2024. This page has been viewed 30 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on June 20, 2024. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
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