Book Review: Where Do We Live? Research by a Seasonal Resident of Burnt Store Road by Graham Segger
As reviewed by Joseph Drips, Independent Homeowner, BSM
O.K. We’ve all heard the Legend of Burnt Store: trading post, Billy Bowlegs, a fire. Maybe we have even shared the story. It’s the first topic Graham Segger addresses in his new book Where Do We Live? Graham’s research indicates that there was a trading house and even identifies where it was located. From there, like with many good legends, much of the prevailing story comes unglued. As Graham notes, “Call me a spoil sport if you like, but it may now be time to give the other parts of the legend a rest!”
But if that disappoints you, take heart, the book offers many other factual stories just as interesting as the Legend of Burnt Store. Take the story of Nathan Zemel, a Polish Jewish emigrant, who worked on New York’s sewer construction project and slept in the unlaid pipes to save money so that he could bring his family to America. That family achieved great financial success and in 1950 purchased 10,000 acres of land between Tamiami Trail and Burnt Store Road for $6 per acre.
Graham points out that his view of history is often tinted by a commercial lens. He is a CPA, which may help explain the detail in his findings. For instance, check out his chapter about the commerce of Charlotte Harbor. The book depicts a history starting with fisheries set up by Spanish explorers who sent dried fish to Cuba. The cattle industry included the short lived McKay-Summerlin dock just south of Burnt Store Marina. Bird plumes, alligator skins, turpentine and lumber were all harvested in the area. A citrus industry developed starting with oranges and pineapples and all of Burnt Store Lakes was covered with gladiolus and Heritage Landings was a mineral hot spring. Two railways came through the area as a result of land grants of up to 10,000 acres per mile of track laid.
Several of the chapters have been previously published in the BSM Beacon. Graham defines many parts of Burnt Store Marina’s history. He answers the question of why Burnt Store residents live in Lee County but have a Punta Gorda address. He outlines the area’s hurricane history and concludes that hurricane shutters and appropriate insurance are a prudent investment.
Where Do We Live? portrays the evolution of Burnt Store Marina and the other area developments in the context of a long history of cyclical ups and downs. For the future, Graham describes proposed housing and road development projects which would fundamentally change Burnt Store Road’s complexion.
It’s hard to emphasize just how much detail exists in Where Do We Live? Former local resident and university professor Mike Barton has said of the book “Overall, A+ work in my view.”
It is a must read for those who live or work in the area or are contemplating doing so. Graham makes that easy. You can get a copy of his book at the Trading Post in Burnt Store Marina or at Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda. An eBook can be downloaded for $9.50 by visiting the website www.wheredowelive.com. All proceeds from the book go to the Burnt Store-PPYC Charitable Boating Foundation which runs marine related programs for local disadvantaged youth.