Under a special arrangement with the Punta Gorda Historical Society, the Center is located in the historic Trabue Law and Land Sales Office at the Punta Gorda History Park.

Punta Gorda History Park
501 Shreve Street ~ Group Tours available by appointment

In May 1994, the Punta Gorda City Council set "aside approximately 2 acres … at the corner of Shreve and Henry Streets for the development of an Historic Relocation Site…." In May 1995, a lease was signed between the City of Punta Gorda and Old Punta Gorda, Inc., (a.k.a.) Punta Gorda Historical Society) for a term of 50 years at $1  a year.  Donations of many volunteer hours, money, and professional services completed construction plans, survey, design and layout.  Plans include moving the recently found "Calaboose" or first jailhouse of Punta Gorda to the site and constructing a gazebo.

Cigar Cottage

El Palmetto Cigar Company flourished briefly in the 1890's in Punta Gorda, but was defunct by 1901.  Built around their large factory at Virginia and Cochran Street were small cottages for their workers.  After the company holdings were liquidated, Del Huckeby of Cleveland bought a number of the cottages and moved them to Brown and Wood Street for his family; recent owner Mike Nickelson donated one of these cottages to Old Punta Gorda, and on October 12, 1999, it was moved to the park.

Trabue Law and Land Sales Office

Colonel Isaac H. Trabue, the founder of Punta Gorda, was something of a writer himself. He authored a book about chess and was considered to have at least "some literary ability," according to historian Eleanor Pearse.

In 1885, he platted and began development of Trabue, later incorporated as Punta Gorda.  This one-story, one-gable wood frame law office became the town's first "post office" because Trabue held mail for residents.  He also sold   He later added a kitchen and rented the cottage to winter visitors.  Bob and Norma Henry donated the building to Old Punta Gorda, Inc., and with the donations of many volunteers hours, money, grants, and materials, it was moved and restored in 1990.  In November 2002, it was moved to the park.  Today, it is the office of the Peace River Center for Writers.

Volunteer Restoration

The Trabue Office was restored with 100% volunteer labor.  Without the generous help of the following volunteers, the restoration of the center would not have been possible:

Harold Allchin
George Gale
Vernon Hain
Carl Kimberly
Gerald Neils
Roger Sigler
Richard Yando

A Special Collaboration
The Center staff serves as personnel for the History Park during business hours, offering tours of the Park by appointment, and giving information about the Park and the Punta Gorda Historical Society. Click here for more information.