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1919 1921 1923 1926 1928

It becomes apparent that Lee Chevelier Corporation begins Ten Model Ts, one Elcar and twenty (August) After spending $1 million On April 26 the Trail is
County will not be able to complete construction of new route through men (“the Trail Blazers”) make a and fighting labor issues, there complete. A convoy of 500
link for financial reasons. Jaudon, their holdings. Construction comes grueling crossing of the Everglades remains 31 miles of the most cars departs Ft. Myers for
now President of the Chevelier to nearly a standstill in southeastern to help restart the project. The trip difficult terrain left to get to the the opening ceremony held at
Corporation, offers to continue Lee County (i.e., eastern Collier takes 23 days (instead of the 3 days Dade County line. Newly elected Everglades City.
Tamiami Trail from Dade County County) due to lack of funding. projected) and garners national Governor Martin pledges to
line westward to help link both The initial funding was based upon attention. complete the Trail.
sides, changing the original route population of a community. Naples’ Barron Collier pledges to finish The state secures “South Loop”
that was to the North. Commis- population is roughly 1,200 people. the Trail to the Dade County line. Road and Tamiami Trail. Barron
sioners of all counties agree to the Tommie Barfield pushes hard to Collier and the state move forward
route change. This road would later get state support. The state agrees with construction. D. Graham
be named Loop Road. to make Collier its own county, Copeland (of Alexander, Ramsay
separate from Ft. Myers. Work and Kerr engineering) becomes
progresses. chief engineer for the project.
Chevelier Corporation completes The same firm is simultaneously
19 miles of new route, expending working on the Immokalee to
over $300,000 in two years, to the Everglades road/railway.
northern portion of their property (September 18) The Great
along the Collier and Monroe County (Miami) Hurricane hits and causes
boundary. a tidal wave that destroys part of
Barron Collier, then, asks that the the Trail. In the Miami area, Red
original route (continuing through Cross estimates 347 fatalities
Collier County) be used and not to and $140 Billion in damages (in
accept the route just completed 2006 dollars). Florida’s land boom
by the Chevelier Corporation. This starts to falter. Workers are easy
recommendation infuriates Jaudon. to obtain.
The controversy continues until
January 1926.
Land boom causes high worker References:
turnover (as high as 50% per 1. “History of the Tamiami Trail,” Published by Authority of the
month).
Tamiami Trail Commissioners and the County Commissioners of
Dade County, Florida, Miami 1928.
2.“The Tamiami Trail,” a collection of stories by Maria Stones.
3. Mary A. Repko: A Brief History of the Everglades City Area.
4. Pielke, Roger A., Jr.; et al (2008). “Normalized Hurricane
Damage in the United States: 1900-2005.”

trail facts

Magnitude Viewed as Florida’s “Panama Canal.” Connected the Gulf of Loop Road A road looping south of Monroe Station and reconnecting
Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. with the Trail at the Dade/Collier line. The town of Pinecrest was known for
Length of Trail 275 Miles from Tampa to Miami 76 Miles are within Al Capone and the Gator Hook Lodge.
Collier County Note Tampa to North Ft. Myers was built prior to 1916. Death Only one known death during the building of the Trail - an accident
Trail Cost: Total Cost: $8,000,000/163 miles = $49,000 per mile (approx.) caused by a man falling from a dredge.
Pay 20 cents per hour First Road Accident Occurred just hours after the opening of the Trail
Workers’ Biggest Problems Mosquitoes, and Foot Rot (Muck Poison) on April 26, 1928
– similar to Trench Foot suffered by World War I soldiers. Road Assistance Barron Collier established the Southwest Mounted
Labor Pool Workers came from as far as Tampa, Georgia and Alabama. Police. The stations, located approximately 10 miles apart, were manned by
Prisoner Camp 50-70 black convicts serving life sentences worked on the uniformed husband and wife teams, who provided road assistance (also via
Trail. Their camp was located at Fakahatchee Station. Locals would motorcycles).
periodically attend prisoner boxing matches there. Captain Hansford oversaw Station Sites Belle Meade (951/US41), Royal Palm Hammock (SR92/
the prison gang. US 41), Fakahatchee Station (a.k.a. Weaver Camp)near the mouth of the
The “Tampa Kid,” one of the prisoners, was infamous for his escape from the Fakahatchee River), Monroe Station, and Paolita Station (by 40-mile bend).
camp. He was gunned down north of Ft. Myers while fleeing. Various Names Prior to receiving its formal name and for a period
Keeping Workers Difficult: During the land boom of 1923-1926 afterwards, Tamiami Trail (Tampa to Miami) was referred to as the Miami-
turnover was as high as 50% per month. Marco Road. Other names considered were: Miami to Marco Highway,
What Worker Ate Turkey and venison, at times supplied by local Indians. Atlantic to Gulf Boulevard, and Tamyami (“Y” added for Ft. Myers).
Also Snook - called “Soap” fish because of the taste of the skin (they didn’t
know how to cook it properly). The above items are summaries based upon various letters printed in “The Tamiami
Supplies Brought from Tampa and Fort Myers to Everglades (Port Trail,” a collection of stories by Maria Stone. Marya Repko, “A Brief History of the
Dupont) via boats, then transported north to the Trail via barge or oxen. Everglades City Area.” Collier County Museum, “Tamiami Trail, Florida’s Modern
An average of 40 oxen were on hand most times. Appian Way.”
Sleeping Quarters Bunk houses (4) slept 12 workers apiece.
Dynamite usage: 2.6 million sticks of dynamite were used on the last 31 miles
(Carnestown to the Dade line). If laid end to end they would stretch from
Tampa to San Francisco. Cost to dynamite 1 mile of Trail: $20,000
Life in Naples | April 2023 1919