b'The History of North Fort MyersI n the late 1700s Jose Gaspar was aand the area, including the famed Jeanremaining crew were either captured or dashing Spanish Navy officer, withLafitte, and targets soon included shipskilled.a passion for adventure and danger.of all nations. Meanwhile, the trusted crew that had This included courting severalBy 1821 Florida was under the controlbeen stationed on the beach to guard young ladies, one of whom was theof America, which was very seriousthe treasure witnessed the battle and daughter-in-law of the King. about eliminating the threat of piratesthe sinking of the Floridablanca. They When the failed romance became anfrom its waters. Now in his mid 60s promptly ran away, taking with them embarrassment to the young lady, shea remarkable longevity for a pirate the ten treasure chests, which were determined to get even with Gaspar byGasparilla decided to retire. buried in various places throughout the wrongfully accusing him of plotting toThe accumulated treasure of decadesNorth Fort Myers / Fort Myers region steal the Crown Jewels. When Gasparof plundering was brought together in where they remain undiscovered to heard that King Charles III had orderedten large chests on the Florida beach, tothis day.his arrest, he commandeered a shipbe divided among the crew, as was theFrom the start, North Fort Myers was called the Floridablanca to make histradition of the pirate. a collection of settlements brought to escape. Just as they were in this process, alife by pioneers attracted to the pristine Gaspar brought the Floridablanca toBritish merchant ship was spotted off theand heavily wooded wilderness north the Gulf coast of Florida, and Charlottecoast. Gasparilla set the Floridablancaof the Caloosahatchee. The early names Harbor, which today is the North Forton course for one last raid. As theyfor the area included Samville, New Myers / Fort Myers area. approached the British merchant shipProspect, Bayshore, Cabana City and Angered over his mistreatment by thesomething appeared wrong. Under theeven Woodrow for Woodrow Wilson. Spanish Royal Court, Jose Gaspar voweddisguise of a merchant ship was really anBy the early 1900s North Fort Myers to plunder any ship flying the SpanishAmerican warshipthe USS Enterprise,had a population of 50 and it was the flag. Now calling himself Gasparillawhich suddenly and mercilessly openedhub of milling activites for processing his career as a pirate began in 1783fire on the Floridablanca, sinking her inold-world stands of pine trees brought and continued for almost four decades,short order. in from eastern Lee County near ranging over the waters of the Gulf fromLegend has it that Gasparilla plungedHickeys creek. While North Fort Myers North Fort Myers to Cuba. Gasparillaoff the bow of his ship still with cutlassis steeped with history, today it is a conspired with other pirates of the dayin hand and was never seen again. Thecommunity poised for growth.40 North Fort Myers Chamber 2023'