Page 18 - LIN APRIL All Pages

Spring

a time
to reminisce

by Lois Bolin, Ph.D., Old Naples Historian

pring offers us a time to reminisce; developing Naples, William Cambier, the town engineer, joined
a space to pine for the “good old days,” him in investigating a novel concept: Could a tax-exempt
Sthe “age of faith” and the “age of heroes.” organization be formed to fund improvements for the town’s
This longing for something we can barely define development? This could perhaps be the defining moment of
is woven with threads of melancholy called why Naples’ not for profit culture is such an integral part of the
nostalgia. These bittersweet emotions, which community today.
boost self-continuity, increases a sense of social A bond issue was planned and community stewards J.G.
connectedness and sentimental recollections of Sample, S.F. Briggs and W.B. Uihlein came forth to discuss
loved ones that can remind us of a social web alternative methods for raising money. On January 9, 1948, a
that extends across people – and across time.” year and a half after Mr. Smith’s election, The Naples Plan was
(Scientific American, 2016) Local history takes me to that space approved as tax-exempt by the federal government. (Side note:
when I reflect upon our pioneering forebears like Tommie Barfield, some say the hiring of Fred Lowdermilk from the Edison Home
Deaconess Bedell, Walter Halderman or W.T. Storter. in Fort Myers was one of the highlights of The Naples Plan.
Each decade brings its own age of heroes, such as Roy Smith, Mr. Lowdermilk was reluctant to come until he was promised he
Fred Lowdermilk, William Cambier, Polly Crews, and Pilar Montes could establish and run the city nursery. When we look upon the
(just to mention a few). This group of seemingly unconnected heroes wonderful plantings throughout the City of Naples today, we know
had faith that they could make Naples a better place to live. whom to thank.)
Coming Together Working Together
Entrepreneurs were not always held in the same high esteem On June 12, 1855, the Rev. Henry Melvill gave a sermon
that they are today. Fortunately for us Neapolitans, the paradigm on the evil consequences of setting a bad example: “Ye live not
on entrepreneurs had shifted by the 20th century and some unique for yourselves; ye cannot live for yourselves; a thousand fibres
entrepreneurs (those who used their own money) and "intrapreneurs" connect you with your fellow-men, and along those fibres, as along
(those who used others’ money) made Naples their home. In doing sympathetic threads, run your actions as causes, and return to you
so, they made an investment in not just in their own futures, but in as effects.” Bottomline: you get back what you give.
the future of our community as well. The Naples Woman’s Club was basically founded on this
W. Roy Smith was just such a man. In March 1936, Mr. Smith philosophy which began when Doris Gandees called a meeting
came to Naples to audit Standard Oil Company’s books. After with 17 original auxiliary club members from the Community
walking on the pier and looking at that long stretch of sandy beach, Church, the only church in town until 1930. The club motto was:
he decided this was where he wanted to live. “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress;
A man of action, he promptly went to the nearest phone, called working together is success.”
his boss and quit his job, then called his wife to tell her to get ready; One of their projects, the Veterans War Memorial at Cambier
they were moving. Park, still stands as a powerful reminder of giving back thanks
in part to Pilar Montes, mother of Lili Montes, a partner at Sea
Keeping Together
Salt, Barbatella (Historic Third Street), Grappino, and Dorona
Mr. Smith was interested in the politics of his new hometown.
restaurants (Tamiami Trail). (Polly Crews was mentioned as she
He held the positions of city clerk and town manager before he
was the founding Mother of SWFL Gold Star Mothers.)
became Mayor in 1946, where he served for an unprecedented seven
On April 8, around 5 p.m., there will be a special (and surprise)
terms. In 1948, he spearheaded The Naples Plan, a program that set
ceremony at Cambier Park’s War Memorial. Maybe we can
our fledgling town on its sure-footed path to success.
reminisce about the “good old days” next to the memorial of our
When Mr. Smith began outlining this plan in 1942 for
local heroes.
18 Life in Naples | April 2022