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This is a pictorial history of the Moundhouse

Historical Photos

The view from the bungalow looking southeast towards Otsego Bay. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Ostego Bay
A sandy path that leads down to Ostego Bay. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Path to Water
A sandy path leads through beach grasses. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Sandy Path
A panoramic view of the foliage on the property. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Foliage
A young citrus grove. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Citrus Grove
View of the landing during the Case Family period. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
The Landing

Page 2

An auxiliary steamer passing by the shell mound. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Steamer Passing By
This grapefruit tree sat on the shell mound. the photograph was taken in 1915 and was in the Harold C. Case collection. Photograph courtesy of Bill Grace.
Grapefruit Tree
Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Grapefruit Tree (Back)

Page 3

A view of the shell mound from Ostego Bay. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Panoramic Postcard
Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Panoramic Postcard (Back)
Fruit Trees
Fruit Trees

Page 4

Fruit Trees (Back)
Fruit Trees (Back)
Figs and Tomatoes
Figs and Tomatoes
Description of the photograph on the front. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Figs and Tomatoes (Back)

Page 5

A view of a water purifying station through Elmer's Orchard of peach trees. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Water Purifying
Description of the photograph on the front. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Water Purifying (Back)
Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Wild Fig Tree

Page 6

Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Wild Fig Tree
Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
The Landscape
Photo showing the numerous coconut palms that grew in the area. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Coconut Palms

Page 7

A photograph from 1914 showing the Case's young lime orchard. The cistern is visible in the upper right corner of hte photograph. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Lime Orchard
Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Lime Orchard (Back)
Seminole Sands
Seminole Sands

Page 8

28Landscape_CrescentBeach
29Landscape_Bridge
By The Casino
By The Casino

Page 9

1953 Aerial View
1953 Aerial View
1958 Aerial View
1958 Aerial View
Estero Island, Early 1900
Estero Island, Early 1900

Page 10

Early Estero Island
Early Estero Island
1970's Aerial View
1970's Aerial View
Bayview
Bayview

Page 11

Dock and House
Dock and House
The Mail Boat
The Mail Boat
Beach Cottages
Beach Cottages

Page 12

Rowboat
Rowboat
Estero Island
Estero Island
Panoramic View
Panoramic View

Page 13

The view from the bungalow looking southeast towards Otsego Bay. Photograph courtesy of William H. Grace.
Ostego Bay
The Longs
The Longs
Palm Trees
Palm Trees

Page 14

The Dock
The Dock
To The Water
To The Water
The Longs
The Longs

Page 15

Development Begins
Development Begins
Aerial View of Development
Aerial View of Development
William and Milia with Grandson
William and Milia with Grandson

Page 16

Waving Hello
Waving Hello
Early Days
Early Days
Case and Teed
Case and Teed

Page 17

At The Dock
At The Dock
The Thompsons
The Thompsons
Portrait on the Mound
Portrait on the Mound

Page 18

Admiring the Citrus
Admiring the Citrus
Hitching a Ride
Hitching a Ride
Leisure Time
Leisure Time

Page 19

Grapefruit Harvest
Grapefruit Harvest
By the Palms
By the Palms
Case Family
Case Family

Page 20

One of the first cars on Estero Island
One of the first cars on Estero Island
Three Generations
Three Generations
Carleton & Harold
Carleton & Harold

Page 21

By the coconut tree
By the coconut tree
By the mango tree
By the mango tree
Examining the grapefruit
Examining the grapefruit

Page 22

Examining the grapefruit
Examining the grapefruit
Jack DeLysle
Jack DeLysle
Milia Case
Milia Case

Page 23

Gathering Oysters
Gathering Oysters
On the water
On the water
Good fishing day
Good fishing day

Page 24

Koreshans on Estero Bay
Koreshans on Estero Bay
Koreshans, 1910
Koreshans, 1910
Koreshans
Koreshans

Page 25

Dr. Cyrus Teed
Dr. Cyrus Teed
Teed's Tomb
Teed's Tomb
On the dock
On the dock

Page 26

William and Milia
William and Milia
Inside the Mound House
Inside the Mound House
Group Photo
Group Photo

Page 27

The Carlotta
The Carlotta
Three Generations
Three Generations
The Dock
The Dock

Page 28

A Days Catch
A Days Catch
Thanksgiving 1920
Thanksgiving 1920
Carleton
Carleton

Page 29

William's Houseboat
William's Houseboat
On the water
On the water
Milia
Milia

Page 30

William
William
Milia
Milia
Fisherman's Dinner
Fisherman's Dinner

Page 31

The Tent
The Tent
Fishing on the Dock
Fishing on the Dock
DeLysle and Edison
DeLysle and Edison

Page 32

William and Florence
William and Florence
Mound House
Mound House
Experiment Station
Experiment Station

Page 33

Mound House
Mound House
The Lab
The Lab
Fishing
Fishing

Page 34

New Windows
New Windows
Smoking Fish
Smoking Fish
Palmetto Products
Palmetto Products

Page 35

Portable Grills
Portable Grills
Mound House 1921
Mound House 1921
Kitchen and Cistern
Kitchen and Cistern

Page 36

Tudor-Style Kitchen
Tudor-Style Kitchen
Early Days
Early Days
1920's Additions
1920's Additions

Page 37

Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1950's

Page 38

Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1950's
Mound House 1958
Mound House 1958
Mound House 1965
Mound House 1965

Page 39

Mound House 1965
Mound House 1965
Early 1920's
Early 1920's
DeLysle's Deed
DeLysle's Deed

Page 40

Shell Mound Park Brochure
Shell Mound Park Brochure
Cuban Fisherman
Cuban Fisherman
Thatch Huts
Thatch Huts

Page 41

Historical Documents

Gilbert Patent
Gilbert Patent
1900 Census
1900 Census
1938 Marriage Certificate
1938 Marriage Certificate
1927 Marriage Certificate
1927 Marriage Certificate
05Documents_DeLysleManifest
Divorce Decree
Divorce Decree

Page 2

1966 Deed, Page 2
1966 Deed, Page 2
1966 Deed, Page 1
1966 Deed, Page 1
Shell Mound Map
Shell Mound Map

Page 3

1911 Plat
1911 Plat
1938 Subdivision
1938 Subdivision
1913 Plat
1913 Plat

Page 4

DeLysle's Deed
DeLysle's Deed
1921 Deed
1921 Deed
1921 Smuggling Article
1921 Smuggling Article

Page 5

Party at Crescent Beach
Party at Crescent Beach
Baseball Article
Baseball Article
First Ballgame
First Ballgame

Page 6

Mound House Archaeology

Measuring Depth of Unit
Measuring Depth of Unit
Preparing to Draw Profile
Preparing to Draw Profile
Exterior Walls of Exhibit
Exterior Walls of Exhibit
Pouring Concrete Walls
Pouring Concrete Walls
Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation
Preparing to Draw Profile
Preparing to Draw Profile

Page 2

Measuring Depth of Unit
Measuring Depth of Unit
Preparing for Concrete
Preparing for Concrete
Intact Pottery
Intact Pottery

Page 3

Shell Field
Shell Field
After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal

Page 4

After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy

Page 5

Excavation Lab
Excavation Lab
Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation
Setting Pillars
Setting Pillars

Page 6

After Pool Removal
After Pool Removal
Monitoring Demolition
Monitoring Demolition
Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition

Page 7

House Before Restoration
House Before Restoration
Window Before Restoration
Window Before Restoration
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy

Page 8

Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy

Page 9

Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy

Page 10

Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation
Pool Excavation

Page 11

Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Cleaning the Wall
Cleaning the Wall
Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition

Page 12

Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition

Page 13

Pool Demolition
Pool Demolition
Ready to Work
Ready to Work
Preparing for Concrete
Preparing for Concrete

Page 14

Preparing for Concrete
Preparing for Concrete
Preparing for Concrete
Preparing for Concrete
Poured Concrete
Poured Concrete

Page 15

Setting Rebar
Setting Rebar
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor

Page 16

In the "Underground"
In the "Underground"
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor
Unit Profile
Unit Profile

Page 17

Excavation Units
Excavation Units
Excavation Units
Excavation Units
In the "Underground"
In the "Underground"

Page 18

Installation of Ceiling
Installation of Ceiling
In the "Underground"
In the "Underground"
Installation of Ceiling
Installation of Ceiling

Page 19

Installation of Ceiling
Installation of Ceiling
Installation Begins
Installation Begins
Special Delivery
Special Delivery

Page 20

3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning
Laser Scan Data
Laser Scan Data
3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning

Page 21

3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning
3D Laser Scanning

Page 22

Completed Excavation
Completed Excavation
Backfilling
Backfilling
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy

Page 23

Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy
Ash Feature, Close Up
Ash Feature, Close Up
Mound Stratigraphy
Mound Stratigraphy

Page 24

Ready to Work
Ready to Work
Measured Profile Drawings
Measured Profile Drawings
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor

Page 25

Documentation
Documentation
Transit Used by Archaeologists
Transit Used by Archaeologists
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor

Page 26

Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor
Cluster of Ceramics
Cluster of Ceramics
Mound House Volunteers
Mound House Volunteers

Page 27

Volunteers and Archaeologists
Volunteers and Archaeologists
Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor
Excavation Units
Excavation Units

Page 28

Features in the Floor
Features in the Floor
Excavation Units
Excavation Units
Cluster of Ceramics
Cluster of Ceramics

Page 29

Pouring the Concrete
Pouring the Concrete
Preparing for Walls
Preparing for Walls
Poured Concrete
Poured Concrete

Page 30

Cluster of Quahog Shells
Cluster of Quahog Shells
Archaeological Feature
Archaeological Feature
Post Holes in the Floor
Post Holes in the Floor

Page 31

Excavation Units in the "Underground"
Excavation Units in the "Underground"
Preparing for the Concrete
Preparing for the Concrete

Page 32

About Mound House

Welcome to the Mound House, where you can experience old Florida at Estero Island’s oldest standing structure, which sits on an ancient Calusa Indian Mound.  Acquired with funds from the Florida Communities Trust in 2000, the Mound House has moved forward on providing high-quality educational programs to the public.  Through archaeology, historical research, and renovations, over 2,000 years of island life is revealed in a variety of tours and educational programs.

School Tour Opportunities

Grade school tours involve lessons in Florida history and prehistory, how we learn about the past through archaeology and historical documents, and the connection between humans and the environment.  Lesson Plans, tour suggestions, and FAQs are available on the Mound House website – www. MoundHouse.org.

Volunteering and Internship Opportunities

The Mound House is a community treasure that welcomes everyone to participate in our activities. Currently, volunteers conduct tours, help with special events, provide clerical support, and assist in the upkeep of the house and grounds. Tour guides are trained in the history of the house, Estero Island, and the Calusa Indians.

The Mound House also has initiated a community network of historical and environmental facilities whose missions to educate and engage the public are supported by volunteers. As part of the network, each organization provides training workshops for other facilities’ volunteers free of charge.

Internships at the Mound House are available for college and university students and are tailored to the students interests and Mound House needs. Interns have focused on a wide range of topics from public relations and marketing, journalism, history, environment, archaeology, and elementary education.

Contact the Mound House Education Coordinator for more information about how you can volunteer or intern at Mound House (239-765-0865).

Contact

Address: 451 Connecticut Street, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Phone: +1 239 765-0865
E-Mail: info@moundhouse.org

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