This presentation will take a deeper dive into the history of the historic landmarks that have shaped our island’s history.  As we explore these lost icons, we’ll reflect on the broader themes of preservation, the evolving nature of our town, and the delicate balance between progress and heritage. “Vanishing Icons” is not just a presentation about lost buildings; it’s a tribute to the collective memory embedded in the bricks and mortar of our shared past.

Ellie Bunting came to Fort Myers Beach as a toddler.  She attended Beach School, Cypress Lake Junior/Senior High School, and Edison Junior College.  She moved to Tampa for a few years to complete her degrees in English and Reading Education at the University of South Florida and returned to the island where she still resides.  Ellie recently retired from Florida SouthWestern State College where she spent the last 43 years as an English Professor.  Publications include Breaking Away: A Lab Approach to Writing; GrammarWorks, Grammar Connection; Chronicles: The History of Southwest Florida (published by News-Press); Chronicles: The History of Cape Coral (News-Press).