LaBelle in Hendry County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Fort Thompson

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, October 1, 2018

1. Fort Thompson Marker

Inscription. LaBelle's history begins here, along the Caloosahatchee River, on this old Fort Thompson site. Fort Thompson began c.1838 as a military post during the 2nd Seminole War, named for Lt. Colonel Alexander Thompson, who died in the battle of Okeechobee in 1837. The Confederates used the site during the Civil War to raise cattle for their troops. In 1879, former Confederate Captain Francis Asbury Hendry (1833-1917) acquired the property, making it his home in 1889. He established a cattle ranch and soon the town of LaBelle grew along its western boundary. In 1885, steamboat service carried passengers from Fort Myers to Fort Thompson, and in 1912, when LaBelle became a port on Florida's Intracoastal Waterway, it became a river paradise. In 1905, Edgar Everett Goodno (1858-1936) purchased Fort Thompson and built an ice plant and an electric plant to serve a growing population. By the end of the decade, the former fort had become the cattle and citrus town now known as LaBelle. Thomas Edison was known to have visited LaBelle, staying at the Fort Thompson Hotel. In 1924, Henry Ford purchased part of Goodno's property. It remained

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in Ford's name until 1942 when he sold it to one of Captain Hendry's cousins, Joseph B. Hendry.

Erected 2001 by The Labelle Heritage Museum, A Chapter of the Calusa Valley Historical Society and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-429.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 26° 45.741′ N, 81° 24.526′ W. Marker is in LaBelle, Florida, in Hendry County. It is at the intersection of State Road 80 and Collingswood Parkway, on the right when traveling west on State Road 80. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Labelle FL 33935, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Everglades.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of

Fort Thompson Marker looking east on FL 80 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, October 1, 2018

2. Fort Thompson Marker looking east on FL 80

America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Old Betsy" (approx. 1.8 miles away); Downtown LaBelle Historic District (approx. 1.8 miles away); Honor The Dead By Serving The Living (approx. 1.8 miles away); Dedicated to our Veterans (approx. 1.8 miles away); Nicholas J Cutinha (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Price of Freedom (approx. 1.8 miles away); You Are Not Forgotten (approx. 1.8 miles away); All Gave Some .... Some Gave All (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in LaBelle.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,247 times since then and 175 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.