-Celebrating 100 Years-
Explore Punta Gorda & Southwest Florida’s Unique History
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The Blanchard House
The Blanchard House, constructed in 1925 by local builder Thatcher Johnson, is a notable example of Florida vernacular Craftsman bungalow architecture. This one-story, wood-frame dwelling reflects local traditions from 1905 to the early 1920s and was built in a style that dominated smaller houses during this period across the country.
The house features a front-gabled roof, a subtype common to about one-third of Craftsman houses, with a 6/12 pitch main roof and sheet metal 3V crimp roofing materials. It includes a rear shed roof addition and a front shed roof over the porch. The exterior has a rectangular plan and sits on 18-inch high concrete piers, typical of the area's 1925 building style. The foundation is made of concrete block, and the house’s interior features 9-foot ceilings. The exterior is covered in wooden German shiplap siding.
A distinguishing architectural feature of the Blanchard House is its diamond-shaped front gable end vent, a hallmark of Thatcher Johnson's designs. Originally, the house had four rooms: a kitchen, parlor, two bedrooms, and one bath at the back. The partial-width front porch, made of wooden tongue-and-groove boards, adds to the house's southern charm.
Alterations and additions include a 115 square foot extension across the back of the house, added on June 1, 1961, by Minnie, which enclosed the back porch. In October 2014, a new ramp and handrail were added to the side of the house.
The Blanchard House bears a resemblance to the nearby historic home of George Brown, a prominent African American shipbuilder, landowner, and founding father of Punta Gorda. Brown's home is listed in the Guide to African American Landmarks in Florida.
As one of the few remaining examples of Florida vernacular Craftsman bungalow residential architecture from the 1920s, the Blanchard House stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Punta Gorda. It reflects an early period when African American pioneers built a community that enabled them to overcome segregation and prejudice. The Blanchard House serves as a beacon for preserving and celebrating African American history and culture in the region.
Punta Gorda’s Unique Sociology
Punta Gorda occupies a point where the Peace River meets Charlotte Harbor. Its first settlers, Union Army veterans Fredrick and Jarvis Howard, came to Charlotte Harbor in the late 19th century, about a decade after the end of the American Civil War. African Americans played a tremendous role in the establishment, history, and growth of Punta Gorda. The town of Punta Gorda has been described as a unique sociological case due to its biracial settlement and development. Nearly half of the city’s original settlers were African American, and four African Americans were signers of the incorporation of Punta Gorda.
Despite Jim Crow norms, the pioneers created a society where shared prosperity and mutual respect prevailed. African Americans participated in the development of the town and owned businesses on the main commercial street. For instance, less than ten years after the first settlements in the area, railroads rolled into town, bringing the first land developers and Southwest Florida’s first batch of tourists. Punta Gorda became the southernmost stop on the South Florida Railroad, attracting industries that propelled its initial growth. One notable individual drawn to the area was George Brown, an African American shipbuilder and landowner. George Brown became an active participant in the town’s development, promoting economic growth through the many local businesses he owned and operated. George Brown built the first shipyard in the city and later sold the land to the county that became the site of the original courthouse. It is estimated that at one point, George owned half of the entire Charlotte County. Due to the many jobs he provided without racial discrimination, he is credited as being the area’s, Florida’s, and the nation’s first equal opportunity employer. As a result of his involvement in the town’s growth, George Brown is regarded as one of Punta Gorda’s founding fathers.
Friendships between members of the first families and settlers persist to this day. Because of this early history, Charlotte County was one of the first school districts in Florida to voluntarily integrate its schools in 1964. Early Punta Gorda was a model of biracial harmony and unity, and the history presented by the Blanchard House showcases what was possible for a small southern community during the Jim Crow era.
Punta Gorda was an exceptional southern community. It proudly stands among a small number of American cities that were ahead of their time regarding race relations, school integration, and inclusion. The story of the Blanchard House allows the Southwest Florida community to see its true history. It reminds the community in Punta Gorda and Charlotte County of its early roots and enables powerful reflection on how well present-day society aligns with the unique sociology embodied in the community’s past. This story, projected from the walls of the Blanchard House, is a reminder of what is possible when a community prioritizes the well-being of all its citizens above the norms of the larger society. This tale of “the little town that unity built” is critical to tell, especially given the divisions being experienced across the nation as a whole.