Park
We recommend parking under the shady oak tree on the right side of the road after passing the little building where wash rooms are located. If the ground is wet, leave your car on the dirt driveway.
George McGraw, Dick Windham and Virginia McGraw [Plot 70]
George and Virginia McGraw arrived in Punta Gorda from Lakeland, FL sometime after 1928. They opened a small filling station and convenience store with a soda fountain called McGraw's Place, at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Acline Road. In the 1930 Punta Gorda census, George is listed as a 55-year-old grocery salesman and Virginia is a grocery saleslady.On March 25, 1931, George McGraw was killed in a shoot out. Virginia was the only witness and told a bizarre story of "an unidentified negro's attempt to rob" the station. "She said the negro entered the filling station, forced her and her husband into the bedroom of their home behind the station and there shot McGraw as he reached for a revolver under his pillow. Mrs. McGraw rushed for a door, was shot at by the negro, but escaped unharmed. Whirling on McGraw, the negro emptied his pistol into the filling station operator's chest, then seized McGraw's own revolver and fired five more bullets into his body as he lay on the floor. Almost dead, McGraw reached his shotgun in a corner and fired a single charge into the negro's head as the latter turned to leave. The negro died instantly."According to local legend, Virginia and her accomplice Dick Windham ran a bootleg operation behind the gas station which led to the filling station's nickname of Bucket of Blood. Bucket of Blood referred to Virginia's so-called Strawberry Wine which she made in big galvanized steel wash tubs. First she boiled water and then added a gallon of strawberry syrup and five gallons of moonshine to each wash tub. She stirred it with a broom handle, and then bottled the 70-proof concoction to sell. Many believe George McGraw was killed by Dick and / or Virginia because he opposed their illegal bootleg operation and possibly suspected they were engaging in an extramarital affair. Dick Windham was married at the time to Helen Koon (Helen is buried about as far away as she could get from Dick in Plot 261). Years later on April 29, 1946, Dick and Virginia were married.All three of these people are buried side-by-side in plot 70. George is on the far right, Virginia on the far left, and homewrecker Dick, in between in death as in life!Read more: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/was-mcgraws-place-known-as-bloody-bucket-or-bucket-of-blood-and-why/The story Bucket of Blood in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda is based on this true story. Available locally at Sandman Book Company, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com
Jim Lipscomb [Plot 84]
Charlotte County's first sheriff was James H. Lipscomb, a school teacher, former town marshal and long-time member of the local Masonic Lodge. The first sheriff resided on the second floor of the County Courthouse which was also the jail.Governor Hardee appointed J. H. Lipscomb as the first Charlotte County Sheriff on May 4, 1921. Thereafter the position of sheriff was determined by an election and Sheriff Lipscomb was handily defeated by Punta Gorda native son, Fred Quednau, in 1940.Sheriff Lipscomb is a controversial figure because three suspicious deaths occurred during his tenure, and he failed to investigate them:the drowning of 24-year-old fiances Thelma Johnson and Lloyd Edwards on July 25, 1926 the murder of George McGraw on March 25, 1931People today who are familiar with CSI techniques wonder why Sheriff Lipscomb didn't follow up on these mysterious deaths.On a side note, it was reported in the August 17, 1916 Punta Gorda Herald that then Marshal Lipscomb and Constable Leslie Lewis (later would become chief of police) observed a UFO around the Acline Road area. They said it was a "mysterious object, which they were sure was an aeroplane of some kind."Learn more about Punta Gorda Law Enforcement History: https://www.ccso.org/AboutUs/ccsoshistory.cfm
Gladys Kirby [Plot 89]
15-year-old Gladys Kirby married 50-year-old rancher Willie Wells in 1955. How did a school girl meet and marry a cowboy who lived outside of town? Some who remember the story say her own mother sold Gladys and her younger siblings in order to please her new husband. Willie beat up Gladys, nearly to death, twice. The first time she found refuge with a neighbor and stayed there for several weeks. The second time she went to her Uncle Cecil Silcox's home. One evening, when the family returned from the movies, Willie stepped out from behind the bushes with a gun. Uncle Cecil ran into the house for his own gun, but was too late. Willie said, "Gladys, I'm gonna' ask you one question. If you answer wrong, I'm gonna' kill you. Are you coming home with me?" Gladys answered "no". Willie shot her in the heart. There was an insanity hearing where it was noted that Willie's lifelong nickname was "Laughing Willie" and a psychologist testified that Willie was schizophrenic. The jury didn't believe he was insane, and Willie was convicted of murder and sentenced to the electric chair. He died in Union County Prison before he could be executed.
Marshal John Bowman [Plot 48]
45-year-old John Bowman was just starting his 4th term as a popular city marshal. It's said that years earlier John had a premonition about his death and for this reason he always wore a helmet on the job. He was known for his handlebar mustache, long black coat and billy club.On the quiet evening of Thursday, January 29, 1903, the Bowmans were packing for a trip to Wauchula to visit family. Two-year-old Lizzie was on her father's lap while the other five children were trying on the new hats their father brought home for them to wear on the trip the next day. The calm evening suddenly turned to tragedy. One shot to the back of Marshal Bowman's head killed him instantly. The buck-shot shell had been scored, a trick used by hunters to increase the killing power. Mrs. Bowman screamed. The terrified children begged their Daddy to speak.A man named Isaiah Cooper was convicted of his assassination and sentenced to hang. Years later after three executions were cancelled, his sentence was commuted to life in prison by Governor Albert Gilchrist, whose grave you'll visit later in this tour. Many people today believe that Cooper was an innocent victim of frontier justice. Sadly, the town locked up the wrong man and their sense of safety was false. There is reason to believe the true killer was none other than shady actor, Dick Windham, whose grave you visited earlier in the tour!Read more about the Bowman's: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/?s=bowmanJohn Bowman's beautiful headstone was provided by The Woodmen of the World insurance company. You'll see many more like it in this cemetary. Learn more about The Woodmen of the World here: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/woodmen-of-the-world/The story Sworn to Serve in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda is based on this true story. Available locally at Sandman Book Company, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com
Norman Hewitt [Plot 33]
The clever and enterprising Hewitt brothers, Clarence and Norman, came to Punta Gorda from Salem, Ohio in 1900 when they were in their mid-twenties. Norman owned a hardware store until automobiles came to Punta Gorda, when he quickly learned how to drive and maintain vehicles. The brothers opened a garage on East Marion Avenue where the Punta Gorda Post Office now stands. Clarence had advanced architectural skills and designed the garage with no supporting columns in the middle so cars could be driven into the garage and worked on indoors. Life was good, until the death of Norman's beloved wife Frances Boone Hewitt, on July 18, 1950.At that sad time, 76-year-old Norman felt lost and alone. He and Frances had been together 55 years! He didn't know how to live by himself without the comfort and companionship of a spouse. He set out in search of a new wife and soon found Madame Sybil Terry, a popular 63-year-old artist, dress designer and former psychology professor. They were married on November 3, 1950 in Sarasota.But as often happens when courtships and marriages are rushed, the two were unable to settle into a blissful relationship. Sybil left Norman. She moved back to Sarasota into a house next door to her daughter, Frances Terry White.On Friday the 13th of July 1951, Norman showed up at his estranged wife's daughter's home on East 16th Street in northeast Sarasota, carrying a black briefcase. In the briefcase he had stashed a .45 automatic pistol. He shot both women, killing them. When police arrived he shot an officer in the lung. (Fortunately, the officer survived.) And then Norman turned the gun on himself. Police later found an automatic .22 caliber rifle in his car. During the shooting, brave Frances took a shot at Norman with her own .22 caliber rifle but missed.During the midday murder-suicide, Frances White's husband Floyd was working as a bartender at Bobby Jones Golf Club. He recalled that Norman had shown up a few days earlier attempting a reconcilliation, and that he had the same black briefcase. When his mother-in-law, Sybil, tried to look in the briefcase, Norman slapped her. And then he left. They all thought he was gone for good. Unfortunately, they were wrong.Norman, his first wife and his brother now rest in a private family mausoleum, hauntingly familiar in design as their once state-of-the-art automobile garage. Many people feel the mausoleum is inhabited by the angry spirit of Norman Hewitt.
Ollie Bracket aka Big Six [Potters Field]
The most famous prostitute of Punta Gorda was Miss Ollie Brackett. Ollie ran a “disorderly, bawdy house of ill repute” at the west end of Marion Avenue, in the bad part of town. Miss Ollie served a few very select customers herself and managed her “stable” of seven “ponies” who handled the rest of the clientele.Once a week, Miss Ollie would ride into town to take care of her business. She rode sidesaddle on a big white horse, scandalously attired in a provocative dress, a hat with a plume, and her long red hair loose. She was the quintessential madam, except for one distinguishing feature. Miss Ollie was 6 feet tall, which earned her the nickname, Big Six.On December 5, 1894 Miss Ollie fell ill with dysentery, a very serious stomach virus. Her girls wanted to call a doctor, but Ollie wouldn't allow it. No matter how much they pleaded, she refused to let them get the doctor. In time, she fell into delirium. That's when the girls got the doctor. But it was too late. Miss Ollie Brackett was near death. As the doctor examined her, he discovered something startling and called for three witnesses to attend Miss Ollie's deathbed.Miss Ollie Brackett was a man!Witnesses opened a trunk in her home and discovered a marriage certificate in the name of Mariah Dempsey to William Patrick on March 2, 1892 in Hillsborough County. He left Mr. Patrick a few weeks after their marriage and moved to Arcadia where he took up the “wayward life” and acquired an opium addiction. From there Big Six spent time in Jacksonville, Sanford and Fort Myers before settling in Punta Gorda.Big Six’s true name was George Asbell. He fled Alabama at the age of 17 after pushing his cousin Tom off a cliff.Learn more about Big Six: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/miss-ollie-bracketts-secret/The story A Woman Scorned in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda is based on this true story. Available locally at Sandman Book Company, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.comBig Six was laid to rest at Indian Spring cemetery in an unmarked grave in Potter's Field (a part of the cemetery reserved for people who could not afford a burial).Learn more about Miss Ollie Bracket: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/miss-ollie-bracketts-secret/
Virginia Trabue [Plot 63]
Punta Gorda was founded in 1883 by Colonel Isaac and Virginia Taylor Trabue. The town originally was called Trabue and the streets were named after family members. The intersection of Virginia Avenue and Taylor Street honors the kind and beloved town co-founder.Virginia grew up in an affluent family of Savannah, Georgia. She was well-educated, including art and music. Her mother, Charlotte Scarbrough Taylor, was interested in insects and became the first woman entomologist in the United States. In those days, before cameras, scientists had to be talented artists in order to depict the natural world. Virginia and her younger sister Agnes assisted their mother in her illustrations. After their father, James Taylor, died, the mother and daughters traveled to the British Isles to study insects on plantations on the Isle of Man. Virginia made her way to New York City and met Isaac Trabue during that time since he was also in the area stationed at Riker's Island which was a military training ground during the Civil War. They married in the summer of 1865 at Chapin’s Church in Broadway by Rev. Edwin H. Chapin. Both were in their early-30s at the time of their marriage.Colonel Trabue was a very intelligent man, but also prone to sarcasm coupled with a fiery temper. Some townsfolk disliked him, but to the same degree they hated Isaac, they loved Virginia. She was gracious, kind, and an accomplished pianist and singer.After Isaac's death in 1907, Virginia remained in Punta Gorda as long as she could. But old age and lack of financial resources led her to relocate to the home of a nephew in Reform, Alabama. Virginia died July 4, 1924. She wished to be buried at Indian Spring Cemetery in Punta Gorda. At this point the story gets muddled. It is said her body was shipped back to Punta Gorda but it took several years for a marker to be placed upon her grave. Some believe her body was never interred.The placement of the headstones of Francis Kemper Adams and Mary Eloise Adams is very peculiar. If a headstone is placed at the head of the grave then it would appear the Adams and Virginia are buried in the same plot!Francis Adams came from Wisconsin where he was a successful farmer. The people of Punta Gorda obviously thought highly of him because he was elected to the position of judge in Punta Gorda. Judge Adams is a character in the story The Spiritualists in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda, available locally at Sandman Book Company, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com.
Thelma Johnson [Plot 39]
One of those deaths which occurred during Sheriff Lipscomb's term was that of beautiful Thelma Johnson. Thelma was the daughter of Captain and Bertha Johnson, a highly regarded family of Punta Gorda, and Thelma was the town sweetheart.The Punta Gorda Herald reported, "Miss Thelma Johnson and W. Lloyd Edwards, both 24 years of age, were drowned in Punta Gorda bay Sunday afternoon at 5:30 o’clock when the small motor boat in which they were riding was swamped by waves blown quickly from a gale that crossed the bay in its fury and as quickly subsided. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Whittemore, of Lakeland, their companions, were rescued by W. R. Sparks who heard their cries as they clung to the submerged craft. An immediate search for Miss. Johnson and Mr. Edwards revealed only open yawning water whose surface, again placid, silently told its story of death. When news of the tragedy reached the city Sunday evening hundreds of citizens swarmed the streets hoping to hear that the missing couple had been saved. Every available boat was put into use and the bay was scanned throughout the entire night by tireless searchers, and from 20 to 30 boats continued searching for the bodies the following day when a possible rescue was considered hopeless. The body of Miss Johnson was found afloat close to shore at Solana at 2 p.m. Monday and Edward’s body was found on shore at daybreak the following morning."Thelma's mother maintained suspicions about her daughter's death. Thelma had a 2-carat diamond ring which she told her mother she'd pin to her blouse for safe-keeping. The diamond ring was never found. Lloyd was an Olympic-level swimming champion, and it seemed inconceivable that he would die by drowning. Many people remain skeptical about the "accident" and believe the other couple killed Thelma and Lloyd for the diamond ring.The story Imperfect Alignment in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda is based on this sad event. Available locally at Sandman Book Company, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com
Mary Leah Sandlin [Plot 66]
Now you'll come upon the Morgan and Sandlin family plots. There is a lot to say about these founding families of Punta Gorda, but we're focused on Mary Leah. The 14-year-old daugther of Jim and Lula Sandlin has left the greatest impression on Punta Gorda than any of her entrepreneurial family!You may have noticed the Sandlin home on West Retta Esplanade. It's one block west of Carmelo's restaurant and catty-corner from the heritage banyan tree. It's yellow with a crow's nest on the roof, wrap-around porch and white picket fence.Leah, at 14-years-old, helped with the ironing, which in those days was an endless chore. Everything had to be ironed, even bedsheets and underwear. Because of their past good fortune, the family possessed a state-of-the-art gasoline-heated iron. It took just a split second of teen distraction for the gasoline to spill out of the iron and ignite Leah’s cotton dress. Leah jumped off the porch and ran down the street, completely engulfed in propellant-fueled flames. Neighbors put out the fire but Leah succumbed to her massive injuries within three hours.The Sandlin home is ranked as one of the most haunted houses in the United States. The burned part of the porch was only recently replaced because no matter how many times it was painted, the scorch marks still showed through. The families who’ve lived in the house since then (Smoaks, Hollanders, Wyns) all have reported ongoing paranormal activity within the home.Much of the paranormal occurrences, not surprisingly, have involved irons and laundry.Irons that mysteriously turn off or get unplugged on their own.Laundry baskets have been overturned or the clothes dryer turned off and the wet, wrinkled clothes found on the floor.It seems as though Leah is trying to warn people to be careful. Other manifestations of Leah are foot steps on the stairs all the way up to the crow's nest, rattling doors, pressure on the bed as if someone is sitting there, and fires that have started under mysterious circumstances.New additions to the house bring the total square footage to 5,600 feet. The family currently inhabiting the home spends most of their time in the elevated, hurricane-resistant addition behind the original house, a place Leah doesn’t seem comfortable visiting.Some local residents tell that through the years, Punta Gorda’s fire department has received calls from tourists about a frantic young lady in vintage costume asking them to report a fire.For more about Mary Leah Sandlin and gasoline-heated irons: https://swfloridawalkingtours.com/punta-gordas-most-famous-ghost-is-a-teen-age-girl/The story Scary Mary in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda is based on this true story. Available locally at Becky's Garden Shoppe, Punta Gorda Deli and Mercantile, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com
Albert Gilchrist, governor of Florida
Originally from Greenwood, South Carolina, Albert Gilchrist arrived in Punta Gorda in 1885 as a surveyor for the Florida Southern Railway. He lived in Punta Gorda many years and was involved in real estate, ice factories, cigar manufacturing, orange groves, and most notably, politics.An interesting side note is that he was born Albert Waller Kilkrease. After his father's death when Albert was 10-years-old, his mother, Rhoda, changed the spelling of their surname to Gilchrist which she said was the correct spelling.Albert never married. According to the family legend, his one true love died while he was in college at West Point, and that's the reason he didn't graduate. He was too heartbroken and grief-stricken to study. And, they claim, that's why he never fell in love again.Gilchrist was elected to the office of governor of Florida in 1908, and he left office in 1913. He was particularly focused on prison reform. Afterwards he relocated to New York City where he died on May 15, 1926.Notes of interest:His personal trademark was the three monkeys - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. He was the first person on the scene when Marshal Bowman was assassinated in 1903. Upon taking office as governor, he commuted the death sentence of the man convicted of Marshal Bowman's murder. In his will, he left substantial funds to the Florida Masonic Children's Home of St. Petersburg for orphans. He planted Royal Palms along the main streets of Punta Gorda and left money for more plantings. He established an endowment to provide free ice cream cones to the children of Punta Gorda on Halloween.Albert Gilchrist appears in the story The Spiritualists in the book Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda. Available locally at Sandman Book Company, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com
Katie Sloan
Kate “Sissie” Dick was an early resident of the new town of Punta Gorda. She came to Punta Gorda along with her parents, John and Amanda Dick, and her many siblings. The family traveled from Texas to Punta Gorda in a covered wagon.Katie worked as the assistant postmaster and married Alfred Sloan on Halloween 1888 at the age of 22. The young couple moved to a home on Alligator Creek across from Indian Spring Cemetery. In 1889 they had their first daughter, Celia. Within two years of wedded bliss, Katie was pregnant with their second child.One lovely spring day, Katie was attacked by a vicious dog. It mauled her to death, right there in the streets of Punta Gorda!Katie and her unborn baby were buried separately which seems to indicate the baby had been ripped from Katie’s womb during the grisly attack.Katie and Alfred lived on Alligator Creek. As you stand at her grave and look around it's not hard to imagine that maybe their home was right there where Alfred could look across the creek at her final resting place.Read more about the Dick family: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/?s=Dick+Family
