Then and Now

EIHS News

January 2026

Many Events Planned this Month

Now that the Holidays are winding down, we are gearing up for another season of events. We will be looking for an alternate date for our Tea by the Sea which was originally scheduled for January 19. We will, however, still have a public meeting on January 19 as we have Jose Leal of the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum as a guest speaker. We will be meeting at Comfort Hall, 5601 William Drive.

Lee Melsek moved to FMB in 1951 and has written a book about what life was like on our island back in the 50s and 60s. Join Lee on Monday, January 12 at the FMB Library as he shares his memories of FMB back in the "Good Old Days."

Annette's Book Nook in Santini Plaza is sponsoring a book signing featuring local authors on Saturday, January 10 from 11-2. Former EIHS President, Lee Melsek, and present president, Ellie Bunting, will be signing copies of their books, Finding Huck and Lost Icons. Stop by and say hello.

Our popular Murder Mystery series will continue this month with a deep dive into the disappearance of Patty and Bill Kramerer who set sail in Kalia II in 1980 never to be seen again. Find out how this mystery unfolded on January 31 at the Cottage (161 Bay Road).

Diving Into the Decades Coming Soon

Deep Diving into the Decades- This series will explore island history decade by decade—from the days of the early settlers to the formation of the town in the 1990s. The exhibit will be up by the middle of the month and our mini-lectures will be scheduled soon.

Matanzas Pass Preserve

The county has been busy rebuilding the boardwalk at the Matanzas Pass Preserve. They hope to have the preserve opened again by the summer. In the meantime, the parking area around the cottage has become a staging area for construction. We still plan to be open on Saturdays from 10-12 starting later this month. You can park in front of the fenced area and follow the signs back to the cottage.

History Corner: What's in a Name?

What's in a name? According to Shakespeare, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It wasn't that easy for the early developers of Fort Myers Beach. In the 1920s, Estero Island was known as "Crescent Beach." The name was a logical choice because the island is, indeed, shaped like a crescent.

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